Messages

1

SUP General / Re: Is regular SUP surfing dying and foiling taking its place?

« on: November 23, 2018, 08:08:28 AM »

SUP is God's gift to older men and I assume women. I don't think SUP is going anywhere.

2

Gear Talk / Re: What length is your surf paddle?

« on: November 05, 2018, 07:22:00 AM »

I've shrunk to 69" and my paddles are 78". I use the same paddles for flatwater and surfing. I tried shorter paddles for surfing and they became my wife's flatwater paddles. I'm surprised to see people using such short paddles. My first carbon fiber, a Kialoa Methane, is still my favorite, even after snapping it in half and having it repaired.

3

SUP General / Re: Surfer bitten by GW today on Cape Cod

« on: August 16, 2018, 01:45:35 PM »

One lucky guy to be alive...

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SUP General / Re: This is why I hate SUP..

« on: August 16, 2018, 01:43:09 PM »

The SUP market took about 5 years longer to saturate than I expected.

5

SUP General / Re: I knew my SUP mania would pay off..

« on: May 24, 2018, 12:53:09 PM »

In the mid 70s I surfed it once by hiking/paddling in from Jalama Beach and once by Zodiac from Gaviota Pier. Big fun, way before crowds on a weekday. A guard threatened us but did not find our tracks scrambling down the RR tracks at 0 dark thirty. Need to put that on my bucket list. Two miles is pretty easy on SUP. That hike was a ball buster. From the south we surfed a spot locals called Lefts and Rights that was clean & going off. Good memories.

6

SUP General / Re: Peeing in your wetsuit.

« on: September 29, 2017, 01:17:47 PM »

One way valves for diving drysuits work well but getting the external cathidor off without the glue doing permanent damage is a bitch.

I find urge to go is greatly reduced not sitting in the cold water while sweeping compared to crawling.

7

SUP General / Re: Beginner Must Read

« on: August 07, 2017, 07:01:47 AM »

I've always been surprised by the lack of serious surfing injuries in general where I live. A year before I started 50 years ago, a schoolmates brother was killed by being knocked on conscience. I'm sure it has happened elsewhere but I've not heard of it. I've been sliced by a fin and ground into to bottom and consider myself lucky. I can't remember seeing any surfer taken away by ambulance but have seen several tourists almost drown in rip tides. I have had four friends bitten by sharks but I was not there. Also a few broken noses and injuries from being run over. Now with foils in the mix and numbers should go up.

8

SUP General / Re: How did you learn to swim?

« on: August 07, 2017, 06:37:10 AM »

I really learned to swim in the days before leashes. I can still remember as a grom about 10 swimming in over and over on big days. Learning how to deal with rip tides and foot cramps, where I pulled on my toes and swam in with one arm, kept me in shape. My parents like most others were oblivious what danger we were exposed to but it made me good swimmer. This worked out for me since my career ended up being a professional diver.

Parents today are much more engaged. One local mom puts a shark repellent bracelets on 3 kids' ankles and herself before going out. Each bracelet costs more than my first board that I had to mow yards to pay off.

9

Gear Talk / Re: Naish Mana 8'10?

« on: April 22, 2017, 08:53:59 AM »

Love my 10' x 33" Mana on just about all Florida waves. It has to be overhead and hard to get out on a SUP before I break out my short board shape. Incredibly stable on choppy days.

10

SUP General / Re: What surf forecasts do you use?

« on: April 14, 2017, 01:49:33 PM »

Stormsurf

11

SUP General / Re: The future of SUP?

« on: January 16, 2017, 04:59:05 AM »

I surf with a 67 year old who bought himself a jet powered longboard for his 65th BD. It seems to work well for him. He uses it mostly for the paddle out or fighting the drift.

At 60 I hope to use my own power as long as I can but by the time I reach that age the battery and motor torque will be greatly improved. A blue tooth type control on the paddle would finish it off. 

12

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Re: Using a scuba tank to fill iSUP ?

« on: December 18, 2016, 02:46:53 PM »

Back to the original question; just don't use a SCUBA tank without stepping down pressure with at least a first state regulator or you might freeze a whole in your expensive iSUP.

13

Gear Talk / HexTraction Drawbacks

« on: May 26, 2016, 07:28:47 AM »

Forget about strawberry, banana or coconut scent.

I had forgot how good Frogwax smelled on an early morning paddle out.....

14

Gear Talk / Re: surfco textured rail tape

« on: May 23, 2016, 10:50:47 AM »

I used surfco textured tape on my first few boards. It was just about lifetime tape but worked very well. You need to come back with more tape or refurb the board after use....

15

Gear Talk / Re: Nose Deck Pad?

« on: April 15, 2016, 08:28:52 AM »

I had not seen the Rail Saver Pro Hexagons. Looks like the Ticket!