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While I do agree with practicing launching and landing, I think you should bring your gear (just make sure to strap it down really good and no hooks to get caught on) A loaded kayak handles different than unloaded and you need to practice under the same conditions you'll be launching/landing in. I took my PA 14 with no gear down when I first got it just to see how difficult it would be and had zero issues. Next trip while jumping into the seat managed to hook myself in the calf. Not saying it wouldn't have happened anyways but just going based on my practice I wasn't considering having 3 poles with hooks laying on the side I board. Then consider the added weight (your not moving as quick anymore) and timing the waves becomes that more critical. I own two PA14s and for awhile when I took my buddies out I would load all the gear on mine so the launch wouldn't be as tough for them but then the first time I left the gear on theirs all 3 of them on 3 separate occasions wiped out, once again not saying it wouldn't have happen just that it seemed they had gotten comfortable with the way the kayak handled empty and got complacent so when it came time to launch loaded they probably weren't as alert as the would have been their first few times.
ALTHOUGH La Jolla is probably the most forgiving when it comes to wipeouts and surf is rarely very big.
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