We are a sea tribe who paddle long boats in rough water conditions in the northwest of Spain.

Our playground is the chaotic frontier among the mighty Atlantic ocean and the ancient Galician coast, where it was said, in the ancient times, that the world ended and the maps showed terrifying creatures……

Rockgardens, ocean surfing, currents, cliffs, big swells, uninhabited islands, gale force storms………… Once you have been paddling between dragons, is not possible to paddle like a human again .

It is a one way trip.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

ICE WAVES "RESACON" & OTHER WEEKEND GOOD MOMENTS



Last weekend THOD drove to A Coruña again. 


Few days ago we visited these lands in "Ice Waves Bastiagueiro ", where we knew several seakayakers and surfkayakers. And on Saturday some of us were going to be present at the annual assembly of the AGKM (Galician Association of Sea Kayak), so we proposed to our friend Jakoi to do an informal meeting with the Ice Waves People to catch a few rides together.




Jakoi spoke with Javi, The "godfather" of kayaksurf in Galicia, and he arranged to meet on Sunday morning in the "Ice Waves Resacon", a day of brotherhood sharing waves and knowledge with different boats in an undetermined beach.





 

On Friday we took the van and went to Miño avoiding to have to get up early the following day. Not more sleeping in the soil or shrunk in the van seats!!!!! This time I came with my new hammock … … .the better invention of the humanity … .. My little snorer warthog and I slept so tight …..






Since Xose was sleeping in A Coruña and Jakoi was not available on Saturday, we decided to conquer his seas before the assembly, taking the advantage that Hercules Tower would be defenseless.




We waked up early and drove late to A Coruña, after two or three breakfasts and greeting the people of the AGKM who was going to paddle in the Betanzos Ria. Xose was ready and waiting for us in San Amaro Beach, so when we arrived he told us a few words to give the weather report and.... to the water Dragons!!!…





The references that we had from another people were that this spot is a dangerous zone with lots of submerged rocks, in addition none of us had kayaked there before, so we decided to turn on a more conservative safety protocols




-          Xose on Friday took charge of the meteorological forecasts and to examine the zone looking for satellite images in Internet to locate potentially dangers.
-          Once in the water we paddle in close formation and without approaching in excess to the shoreline.
-          While paddling we kept an eye in the breakers and the lines of foam far in front of us to have a clear idea along several series of waves.
-          When we were in rocks we waited for more series than habitual before doing the crossings, etc.


This is a good moment to say that last month is the second time that we meet a inussual huge wave after the big ones in a serie appearing from nowhere..... just to remind to be cautious out there!!!




 






Close to Orzán Beach we found a rocky place where we play for long time, wet exit included and laughs making Xose go crazy contradicting him while he played the role of the rescuer in charge... 
what the F*** is he doing between the kayaks??!!  Grrrrrrr

 


Man......Never steal the kayak from the Mad Sister of the Rock!!!!!



 
Time passed by, and Berto had the idea of going out of the water climbing the rocks at the shadow of Hercules' tower, why? .... and why not???, so we land and while Xose and I were going up and down like mules carrying the kayaks over the shoulders, Berto was running across A Coruña to the Parking, stuffed in his drysuit in the middle of the city… you can imagin the face of the people… LOL!





From the Tower we returned to Miño to be present at the assembly and to the AGKM dinner…



After that, and some coffes, licours, chats and several laughs, we conquer the area of the tennis club to pass the night … .. in order to prevent an attack from the local people, we set a missile ready for the assault in the roof of Juanillas’ Tank.





Early next morning, we drove to Ferrol to meet Mr R., Jakoi and the kayaksurf people, a quick breakfast and... let’s go to the beach to ride waves.

















To see the seakayaks, kayaksurfs and waveskys sharing waves was epic, it was a morning of little waves but great people. Some good rides and some trumbling in the foam. 
There was time to exchange boats, to make jokes, laugh with crazy moments and to take advantage of the maneuvers of the short kayaks to make various captures just where the wave was breaking … the shoots were good but also they cost me a good number of wave slaps in the face… .. at less I was wearing the helmet with ears protection...

There is not words to explain the "RESACON"......let the shoots talk themselves.........








Best of all, we knew new people, good people that we hope to meet soon in future trips and meetings.


In few words, another GREAT weekend in the water with greater company ….DIFERENT BOATS, SAME PASSION!!!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

ICE WAVES BASTIAGUEIRO



 By Fugy

Last weekend in Bastiagueiro beach was celebrated the " ICE WAVES BASTIAGUEIRO " final round of the Iberian Cup of Kayaksurf and Wavesky.
Javi Diaz, the organizer of the event, put in touch with our friend Jakoi, who made an invitation in the forum www.kayakdemar.org in order to join the larger number of sea kayakers using the competition as a meeting for all kayak modalities.


THOD come on Saturday evening and take advantage of the last Sunlights to ride a few waves and to verify why this event was called ICE WAVES.


 



 






FIRE AND FOAM




1-1-1     Tie Game

Once out of the water and already dry and dressed, we started the van with the intention to have dinner to A Coruña, but mysteriously we appeared in a bowling alley, where a beautiful Cuban waitress forced us to play 3 games to gain our freedom




We could finally escape the bowling alley; it was late to go to the dinner, and we had to conform with a few hamburgers in a den of misery.


We returned as we could to bastiagueiro with the help of the FPS (Fugy Positioning System) and finally with the help of a local sweeper. Before lying down in the van to pass the night, we take a few drinks of Kiwi's liquor sat in the sand of the beach to attack the cold and humid wind that was flogging the place.

Next morning we get up early to see the finals with the company of Jakoy and his family.
Jakoi in the middle



 
The sea betrayed us...... after a week of good waves, Sunday dawned with small two-footers, and the surf-kayakers could not delight us with their best tricks. Even though  that, we had a great morning seeing their maneuvers. 




R2-D2 little brother???
Later an octocopter recorded the competition and we all whirl around the operator to see the images closely on his screen. 

Within a few minutes a smiling face came over to where we all were and she said to us: "Remember to take shoots to the girls, we are here also!! ".
 That is true..........
a greeting to all these female warriors who tame the waves!!!!..maybe some day we will have also a Dragon Amazon in the tribe.

Our initial intention was to surf all together in the FREE SESSIONS of the evening, but due to the sea conditions, the participants for whom a long travel was waiting on the way returning home, decided to gather their boats and to take a well-deserved rest. Despite everything, in land we share information and knowledge with paddlers and kayaksurf manufacturers so the day was very gratifying and wealth-producing

The Rest of the Warrior
thats the test we like!!!!
Talking and laugthing all the morning

Jakoi paddles  VS  Pantoque Paddles


Next year we expect to be able to share with all of them lots of good moments in the water.
Javi...always smiling....GRANDE JAVI!!!
 
A special thanks to Jakoi for warning of the event and to receive THOD with opened arms and to Javi for organizing this impressive event, you can feel very PROUD Dude,





Family shot




Different boats.......... Same passion .............good waves for all of you!!!!!!!






Thursday, November 7, 2013

TOGETHER IN THE FOAM AGAIN

By Fugy


As we said in a previous post, for diverse reasons all the 4 THOD have not gone together to the water. So we decide to do a Tribute to the Gods  and … … … IT WORKS!!!!!!!


 

Last Weekend The Four dragons were again on the Ocean Board Game, fighting against dumping waves in a cloudy day.Up and Down, rolling over and over in one of our favorite spots of surf.




 


 In addition, as compensation to these long weeks of wait, Xose came with a friend … …. Cris




great kayaker and blogmaster of http://mundokaiak.blogspot.com.es/  one of the reference kayak-fishing pages in our country.  See also his Youtube Channel MUNDOKAIAK

The day began early beside the beach with chats and coffees while the dragons were appearing in their cars. The first ones going to the water were Xose and Cris, so when the rest of us were going to the water, we already had a good reference that waves were striking hardly in the sand.
 



  



Finally we all enjoy good surf and with the passage of the morning, waves of better quality made their appear in the rissing tide.




Finally, one morning all together, passing a good timet and with new and renewed ideas in mind for the next weeks … … .like the Phoenix, THOD re-arises with new energies after this small break


 ....STAY TUNED!!!!!