Topics

1

SUP Safety / What would you do?

« on: January 27, 2018, 01:33:10 PM »

This video's been circulating around the web. I couldn't help but cringe. The accident in Oregon involves 3 people on a fishing boat and another speeding boat speed crashing into their craft. I couldn't help but wonder, "What if that was me on my SUP?"
What would you do if that was you on your sup. Try paddle away? Unleash and bail to avoid entanglement on propellers? Be happy that you got your pfd on you? Would that boat even notice that he crashed onto a SUP?? Argh.. Scary thoughts..
The 3 got lucky despite the fact that they didn't have their FPDs when they took the leap of faith. Great message at the end of the video btw.

2

Flatwater and Touring / NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: May 16, 2017, 05:14:51 AM »

They have launched their 2 flagship flatwater boards.

Signature race 14 x 23" and 14x 24.75
Stripe V2 and Matchbox paintjob. Real eye candy.


What do you think?

http://www.light-sup.com/light-signature-race.html

3

Flatwater and Touring / Reinforced SUP nose for winter. Ice breakers?

« on: December 05, 2016, 05:39:00 AM »

Nose displacement boards may act like great ice breakers. Crunching the thin ice with each paddle stroke, but is there anything out there on market that we could place on the board nose as reinforced ice breakers? Maybe like those on cars but for displacement nose sup..



Temperatures dropping to freezing point out here in Europe and if you're in the region you'd probably also notice that the lakes and rivers are starting to freeze over. It's un-advisable to paddle when the ice gets too thick as this would damage the board, but while it's still  possible, I'd like to go out and paddle as long as I can before hitting the paddle machine. It's even more worrying if its a carbon board I think.

I'm actually tinkering to make a sup nose guard for this. But if its already out there, do let me know!

4

SUP Advocacy / Small compact inflatable PFD named RESTUBE

« on: November 28, 2016, 04:10:42 PM »

Another life lost from SUP in Lake Tahoe this week. Wind gusts. Toppled kayaks. A rescue attempt gone wrong.



I hear you. LEASH ON - we've been repeatedly drilled about it. And what if that breaks, the PFD would be your 2nd bet. But how many of us own PFDs? Safe to say more than half the folks who sup don't own one. And the one who does, only half the time use them while paddling. I think you get the picture. Even as inflatables, iPFDs are generally chunky and prohibits paddle movement. And good US Coast Guard Certified PFDs like the MTIs are pricey and still bulky if compared.


German company RESTUBE is pushing their iPFD for US Coast Guard certification on Kickstarter and this should be good news for us SUPpers. IF the Ultralite Inflatable Life Jacket gets certified, it might be the goto simply due to its compactness. In places where PFDs are required by law, or part of requirement during a race, a small pack like RESTUBE would make a great addition to the sup arsenal.

Checkout their site about the Kickstarter detail. $80 for smallest lightest life jacket. www.restube.com