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Topics - surfafrica

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1
Travel, Trips, Destinations / I needed that! (El Salvador)
« on: March 25, 2024, 06:41:15 PM »
Turns out taking 5 years off, getting 5 years older and having 5 surgeries doesn't inspire confidence in the water. Decided to spend the week in El Salvador to jump start my come back. I was scared sh-tless! But after a few days out, I started getting a bit more comfortable. I had to completely relearn my pop-up (due to new limitations from the surgeries) and it took some time to lock in on my standing balance. But it's coming. Had a great day today!

2
Training, Diet, and Fitness / Back surgery advice
« on: November 28, 2019, 03:23:37 PM »
Hey all,

I've been nursing a back injury for the past 6 years.  The good news is the injury is what turned me on to surfing standup (can't prone anymore).

Scans show a bulge in the L5/S1 joint that might be touching the root nerve. The doctors I've seen (including a neurosurgeon a few years ago) have recommended conservative treatments.  Well, I've tried everything over the past 6 years (and I mean everything) and no luck.  Symptoms are actually getting a little worse (more pain down the glutes and legs).  I'm starting to really wonder if a microdisectomy is in order to free up the nerves. 

Because it's nothing deemed urgent, it'll take me a good 6-8 months to see another neurosurgeon up here in Canada.  I'm starting to think about heading to the US and pay to see someone who really specializes in the back and spine.  I'm just wondering if any of you have any good recommendations for a surgeon or surgical center I could reach out to (especially in WA, OR or CA.....anywhere good too)?

3
Training, Diet, and Fitness / Busted! (heel)
« on: December 24, 2018, 09:47:01 AM »
Hey geezers. It's been a while.  I've been out of action with a broken heel (serves me right for doing shit out of the water!).  I was mountain biking....had some speed....took my foot off the pedal to stabilize on a corner....a root nailed my heel and broke it into three pieces.....nasty.  That was in early October.  I was on a knee crutch for 6 weeks then regular crutches for 2 more to start introducing some weight to the foot. I started walking in December, but it's painful (but I'm making progress).  I'm hoping to be back in the water by April, but might be out until summer.  Getting back mobility in the foot and ankle will be the tricky part (at least 3-6 months of diligent rehab). 

Looking forward to being able to post again about sessions, trips, and over-analysis of gear in 2019!

4
Gear Talk / Starboard Sprint - advice please
« on: July 16, 2018, 08:49:46 PM »
I'm looking to maybe pick up a flat water board so I can get out on the water locally between surf trips.  I have my eye on a used 2017 carbon Starboard Sprint (14' x 21.5") for a pretty good price. 

- I'm 5'7, 135-140 lbs.
- My surf SUP is 7'4 x 26, 81 L. 
- I'll probably paddle it in some ocean inlets (pretty sheltered), some lakes, and maybe some downwinders where things get a bit more choppy.  No open ocean stuff with surfable waves at the shore. 
- Pretty recreational paddling (not racing at all)

Think this Sprint (14' x 21.5") would be a good fit for me.  I'm totally ignorant on these flat water race boards.

5
SUP General / Whiplash (not the song by Metallica)
« on: April 25, 2018, 09:49:09 AM »
OK geezers....I need some advice.

I have some whiplash in my neck from my last surf trip.  Ironic thing is, it's from the bus ride to the airport on the way home--no head rest, 3/4 asleep, fast corner, jolted awake.  ....though that might not actually be irony, but hey, neither is rain on your wedding day.

I've had loads of injuries, but never whiplash and never something in my neck.  I'm about 4-5 weeks into the injury. My doc and a chiro have ruled out a slipped disc (though, that can't be fully ruled out without an MRI). They both think soft tissue damage.  My neck is stiff as hell, and if I have to look side to side beyond a snails pace (ie, driving), it hurts.  By the end of the day, my upper back stiffens up too.

I'm doing physio, trigger injections, massage, and active release therapy (from a chiro who doesn't do major adjustments).  I'm also careful not to over-treat each week--just one or two sessions of something per week (plus nightly physio exercises/stretches). My chiro says this might take 2-3 months (which compared to some of my injuries, is nothing). 

So.... any of you experience this before?  Take quite a bit of time?  Any advice?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGV0P6YuFcE

6
Gear Talk / The crew's quiver evolution
« on: April 14, 2018, 10:09:49 AM »
6 guys, 10 years, 20 boards

7
Random / Throw back - feel good vid
« on: February 05, 2018, 12:08:06 PM »
Having a down day? Let this classic pick you up.  You can't not smile.  Wapahh!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgQ5BJTSv9U

8
Gear Talk / Portal Surf Designs
« on: February 04, 2018, 01:34:44 PM »
Erik @ the Progression Project (Paddlewoo Podcast) has started designing boards.  I really like the look of the current shape he has available (called the Barra).

https://portalsurfdesigns.com


9
SUP General / Surfing saves
« on: January 30, 2018, 01:20:19 PM »
Paddle surfing has really helped me through some heavy physical traumas (and the mental load that comes with that shit) over the past 5 years including vestibular loss (ie balance), broken back and multiple shoulder surgeries. I had to quit hockey, snowboarding and surfing as a result--all the stuff I loved doing.  But then I discovered that stand up works for me and it has been a real savior.

Last week, my buddy and I had 2 days in the Cardiff to Sano corridor to explore some breaks. It was a whirl-wind trip and conditions weren't perfect (damn wind swell), but we had a blast and found some diamonds in the rough.  When we arrived at Sano, there were only 2 guys in the SUP zone and they were coming in (ya, we had over an hour of Sano all to ourselves which blew our minds).  As I was heading down the beach, I passed one of the guys coming in and gave the standard "how was it". He said some good ones were rolling in. The guy seemed familiar.  It was Paul Kariya.  All Canadians and any hockey fans will know who he is. He's an all-star and was just inducted into the hockey hall of fame. We chatted briefly about the current conditions and why I was there instead of Tofino (he grew up where I live) before moving on. 

The reason for this post is to share a video/interview with him from last year. Like many pros, he ended up having his career cut short due to concussions. One of his new focuses in life is surfing, including with a paddle (touched on, with some good surf clips, in the vid).  Surfing saves...again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1l31TA0MLA

10
Sessions / Hemflick 3 (a stand up mash up)
« on: January 15, 2018, 03:34:05 PM »
In the tradition of the ‘80s mixed tape, here's a mash up...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuTZ4jFMrtQ

Surfers:
Jess Leedy
Dave Boehne
Mo Freitas
Erik Antonson
Damien Antonson
Giorgio Gomez
Izzi Gomez
Sean Poynter
Lara Claydon
Fiona Wylde
Brandon Rambo
Annie Reickert
F-One Team

Music:
The Great Rhyme Dropper - Grand Analog (feat. Shad)
Zone 1 to 6000 - Nabihah Iqbal
Honey In Me - R.E.M.
I'm Not a Punk - The Descendents
King of Spain - Moxy Früvous
The Violence - Rise Against
Black Flies - Ben Howard (Scott Nixon remix)
Up All Night - The War On Drugs
I Don't Mind - Age of Electric

Clips by:
Norwell9
InfinitySURF
Mo Freitas/Modern Productions
The Progression Project
Vector Life
F-ONE SUP

11
Travel, Trips, Destinations / Hawaii in August?
« on: January 11, 2018, 10:59:23 AM »
Hey all,

My wife and I might have a kid-free week in mid/late August and are thinking of heading to one of the Hawaiian islands for 5 or 6 days.  We've been to Oahu, Kauai and Maui, but never in the summer months.  We'd be looking for fun intermediate surf/SUP.  Any recommendations on where we might want to look into for some relatively consistent summer surf (we'll bring our own boards)?

12
Sessions / vid - some nice longboarding
« on: January 05, 2018, 02:21:25 PM »
Dave styling....


13
Sessions / Post Session pictures
« on: October 29, 2017, 09:47:54 AM »
One of my favorite parts of surfing is coming in after for a beer and chatting with my buddies while on a post-surf high.  I thought I'd fire up a thread for people to post them and their crew hanging out with a bit of stoke.


14
SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Kronos "Big Guy" Nano
« on: October 10, 2017, 09:51:04 PM »
I'm really excited for this upcoming project with Kronos.  We're going to work on a big guy version of the Nano shape for one of my buddies. 

Rider: 6'0, 245 lbs, low intermediate
Current board: 9'6 x 32, 165 L SUP Sports Stoke (which has been great for him)

I sent Kyle @ Kronos a video I put together of my friend to give him a good idea of his skill level, riding style and typical wave he surfs. I also sent him down a picture to scale with some of my thoughts on size (my initial thoughts are 9'0 x 31-32, 155-ish L).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUw1GFmd5WY

The goal of my Nano was to come out with a board that had performance in its DNA, but had some tweaks to add some stability (similar goals as Creek had for his Sunova model). We're hoping to translate that goal here and allow my buddy to come down in size a bit but maintain stability.  I think he'll really benefit from the reduced weight too (my 7'4 came in at a feather weight 8.2 lbs).

Later this week, we'll jump on a call with Kyle to talk more about the goals and hear what his thoughts are.  Man, custom boards are fun!

15
Sessions / One of my crew (vid)
« on: October 05, 2017, 12:52:03 PM »
I haven't been recording any footage lately, but I really enjoy editing, so I went back and made a compilation of one of my good friends.  Due to the copyright, the video might not work on mobile devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUw1GFmd5WY

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