Do you ever feel like it’s getting windier?
Wind can kind of fly under the radar in weather discussions.
Forecasters rarely talk about it in any context other than windchill. And unless
you fly planes or harvest wind energy professionally, it’s probably the last
element you think about when checking on the next day's weather.
But wind has a huge
effect on our outdoor experiences. And with global warming whipping up
stronger storms, it stands to reason that worldwide wind speeds are on the
rise. This means the guilty pleasure of a more radical playground for people
who ride boards on water.
Paddleboarders sometimes overlook wind when dreaming up ways
to enjoy the sport. But “downwinders” are an essential SUP genre — a
challenging yet accessible opportunity to sample the surfing glide on lakes and
rivers.
Lake Champlain’s wind comes primarily from the South. This
means excellent downwind runs from places like Shelburne and Charlotte into
Burlington, or simply across the downtown waterfront from Oakledge Park to
North Beach.
There are two ways to accomplish a downwinder: 1) Do a two-car
shuttle, driving paddlers in one car to an upwind put-in while leaving the other car at your starting point, paddling with the wind back to the starting point, then
driving back to get the second car. Or 2), hug the shoreline as you huff it on
an upwind paddle as far as you can make it, then turn back downwind and enjoy
the return trip.
The sensation of paddling along a conveyer belt of windswept
waves — as high as 5 feet on the windiest days on Lake Champlain — is
second to none. It requires focus, balance, footwork and timing. You take a couple quick strokes, then
glide … over and over, each wave propelling you dozens of feet as you step back
on your board, then leaving you behind to catch the next one. There’s always a
next one when a strong wind is at your back.
So get your car shuttle partners lined up, keep your antennae up for windy conditions and add downwinders to your paddleboarding plans for 2018!
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