Virginia Beach Surf Kayakers
VBSK Paddler Spotlight

Current VBSK Spotlight:  Aaron Applegate (AKA -Cracka)
Age:  32         
Joined VBSK:  Summer 2005 - hasn't officially signed up yet!!!
 Occupation:  Reporter for the Virginian Pilot
Growin Up:  Grew up in California, St. Louis, Pennsylvania and San Antonio and moved here from the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.


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VBSK: How long of you been paddle surfing?
Aaron:  One season.


VBSK:  What type of paddle craft do you ride? (ie - craft(s), manf, model, length, width, color...other)

Aaron:  A white Waveski Radical with some repair work (thanks Mark). 
 
 
VBSK:  Where is your favorite surfing spot (locally and overal)l?
Aaron:  I like 4th Street, mainly because it's somewhat close to my apartment in Portsmouth. Sandbridge is nice, too. Really, wherever anybody is going.

 

VBSK:  How did you become involved with paddle surfing? (please elaborate)
Aaron: I moved here and wanted to stand-up surf, but couldn't because of some foot problems. I had some scheme to rig up a longboard with knee cups --- or something like that. While surfing the Internet for supplies, I stumbled across a waveski site. The device immediately made sense to me. I eventually found the VBSK site and bought Dave Lowery's old ski. I have some background in whitewater paddling so it wasn't a huge jump.

 

VBSK:  What's your most memorable paddle surfing experience? (brief story or awards earned - try to frame the moment!)
Aaron:  Oh. Definitely the March of Dimes event, where in the span of 30 minutes I cracked both my waveski and my forehead.


 
VBSK:  What do you enjoy most about paddle surfing?
Aaron:  The chicks. Just kidding (obviously).

 


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VBSK:  Where do you see the future of paddle surfing?
Aaron:  I'll be doing it for a long time.
 
VBSK:  What is your opinion on the battle of supremacy between surf kayaks and waveskis?
Aaron: Not sure. I've never surf kayaked but would like to try it. It looks fun.
 
VBSK:  Any advice to beginner paddle surfers?  
Aaron:  Practice all the time, and go out alone sometimes when conditions permit.

 


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VBSK: Do you know any good, maybe local Virginia Beach Surf Kayaking clubs. If so, would you care to say a few good words about that club!?  
Aaron: VBSK is fun group of people serious about surfing. You can't ask for more.

 


Archive Spotlights:

Jerry Singer    Glen Thompson    Aaron Applegate

 

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