{"id":21198,"date":"2019-09-19T11:00:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T18:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=21198"},"modified":"2019-09-23T06:32:58","modified_gmt":"2019-09-23T13:32:58","slug":"how-to-skook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2019\/09\/19\/how-to-skook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Skook"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word \u201cSkookumchuck\u201d means Strong Water. When you visit the Skookumchuck Narrows on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, this meaning becomes quite literal. Having paddled waves all over the world\u2014from Africa to Quebec\u2014I can honestly say that Skook is one of the best waves in the world for freestyle kayaking. During smaller tides, the wave is smooth and friendly, perfect for intermediate freestylers learning their first tricks. At bigger tides, the wave is big, fast, and bouncy, allowing elite freestylers to throw every trick in the book. <\/span><\/p>\n

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But it isn\u2019t just the paddling that keeps me coming back. The entire experience is magic. The eddy behind the wave is filled with barnacles, mussels and purple starfish. Seals poke their heads out of the whirlpools, watching as kayakers work hard to make it back to the eddy in an attempt to avoid \u201cThe Tour\u201d\u2014a mess of crashing waves, boils, and whirlpools awaiting anyone unlucky enough to miss the eddy. The forest surrounding the wave can only be illustrated by watching a scene in Jurassic Park. And if you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time, you might see Orcas breaching in the marina just before the tide turns. <\/span><\/p>\n