Topics

1

SUP General / curious

« on: May 21, 2014, 05:44:51 PM »

Just wondering if the women who sup in surf ever get the stink eye or run into problems in the line-up??

2

SUP General / maui shark attack update

« on: August 20, 2013, 10:35:07 PM »

The 20yr old tourist who lost her arm in the recent attack is on life support in ICU and fighting for her life. Not looking good at all I am afraid.

3

Gear Talk / Makes you wonder

« on: April 24, 2013, 09:23:37 PM »

I am wondering how MFG's and shapers come up with the stability/weight ratings for their boards. I am thinking they either guess or use a novice to try out the board for the most conservative estimate. Case in point: I am looking for a new high performance board for waves. I weigh 200lbs and have advanced skills. I am considering the Jimmy Lewis 8'7 or 8'2 stun gun. 8'2 is recommended for riders 150lbs or less. I take it out for a stability test and have no problem standing on it in semi choppy conditions. Had I paid attention to the rating I would never have even considered this board. One must keep in mind that stability is a combination of width, length, volume and how they are dispersed throughout the board. It is easy to get fooled based on volume and MFG recommendations alone. Bottom line: it pays to try before you buy. Now I just need some waves to see how it performs.

4

Gear Talk / feedback wanted

« on: April 22, 2013, 11:22:05 AM »

Anybody riding the Jimmy Lewis 8'7 Stun Gun. If so I am looking for wave performance feedback. Current lack of surf on Maui means I will have to wait to demo this board. Curious to see what other riders opinions are.

5

SUP General / Has this ever happened to you?

« on: January 08, 2013, 05:39:24 PM »

Went out a couple of weeks ago on a small 4ft but somewhat heavy day meaning the section was pitching up and breaking really hard with lots of close outs. I was somewhat desperate to get in the water but everywhere rideable was way crowded so I ventured to a spot where the waves were very challenging boarderline makeable. I felt like being a hero so I figured what the heck. Everyone else was probably 200 yrds or more away where it was more manageable. After a couple of pretty good rides I get nailed by a close out and my board knocks my head at my ear. My world goes in a spiral with everything spinning. For what seemed like an eternity, I tried to grab my board but was just too dis-oriented. I was getting pounded at the same time compounding things even more. When I surfaced I literally could not tell the sky from the water or make out anything around me. I pulled my leash to feel for my board and managed to bearhug it until things stopped spinning.  Luckly after about 3 minutes I started to regain my bearings. As I thought,  I broke my ear drum. Man that was scary. Doctor said I was very lucky to have not passed out given the size of the rupture. That would have been dire given no one else was around that could help.  My lesson learned: make sure someone is nearby just in case and don't be a hero.

6

SUP General / Another Maui shark attack

« on: November 04, 2012, 02:22:51 PM »

8:30am about 300 yards west of sandpiles a diver was attacked and has foot and leg injuries. It happened just before I reached the surf zone out there on my SU. Shark was estimated to be 12 to 14ft. I am sure it will make the news. It was great surf there today but hard to stay out solo when that happens and everyone leaves the area. Hope the guy is OK. Thats the 3rd attack on Maui in 2mths.

7

SUP General / another what would you do?

« on: October 24, 2012, 11:28:23 PM »

It's a really good day of surf at you favorite local spot. After 15 minutes in the water the lifeguards announce that a shark attack has occured about 200 yrds down the beach. For the sake of conversation lets say instead of closing the beach, you are given the option of continuing your session at your own risk. What would you do?

8

SUP General / shark attack on SUP

« on: October 18, 2012, 09:46:21 PM »

We were out early this morning on a nice chest to head high day at Kanaha with surf on the rise. Around 8:30am lifeguards advise us we all have to clear the water due to a shark attack. Turns out one of our local SUP shapers Dave Peterson had a shark bite his board and knock him off. He needed to use his paddle to get the shark to release the board and then proceeded to fend off the 6 to 8ft shark until he could get back on his board. Article is in the Maui News today. This took place out in front of Kite Beach which is about 200yrds from Kanaha Beach Park. Glad he was not injured. Those smaller SUP's are looking more like turtles I guess so beware!

9

SUP General / What would you do?

« on: September 29, 2012, 09:48:15 PM »

You drive 30 minutes to the nearest surf spot. You have worked hard all week and are really looking forward to a good surf session. You arrive and to your delight you find head high waves with long rights peeling down the line and glassy conditions. Of course there is around 20 in the line-up with a mix of prone and SUP. You can't wait to paddle out when you realize you have somehow forgot your leash.   The nearest shop is 3o minutes back to town. No one around has an extra leash. No breaks without a bit of a crowd anywhere so you are now faced with a difficult decision. You are a strong believer in wearing a leash 100% of the time while surfing  in consideration of others. You know you have the skills but everyone falls in surf no matter how good they are. Is it worth the risk to paddle out and chance nailing someone? What would you do if you were in this situation? 

10

SUP General / At what point do you throw etiquette out the window

« on: June 23, 2012, 11:13:48 AM »

Many of us have been there. A somewhat crowded line-up with a mix of skilled wave riders both SU and prone with many who are agressive and lots of dropping in going on. If you want to remain and have any chance of catching waves you are going to have to deal with the circus act. Although most would simply venture off to a different spot, suppose for the sake of discussion that this is not an option. Do you throw the etiquette out the window and join the circus or deal with this situation in another way?

11

SUP General / An interesting but effective comment in the line-up

« on: June 23, 2012, 10:28:30 AM »

I was out at a break on our South shore which is typically populated with longboard surfers. I see a confrontation between a SU and prone. The prone says to the SU, "why don't you just paddle somewhere else as this is a longboard spot". The SU replies "Oh what your asking of me is the same as me saying to you , your not allowed to drive your 6 cylinder car on this public HWY because only 8 cylinder vehicles are allowed so your will need to find an alternate way back home". The prone was stumped and had no reply. End of issue. Thought this was pretty clever.

12

Sessions / Just when you think you have seen it all

« on: June 21, 2012, 02:32:04 PM »

Pretty decent south swell hitting Maui over the past two days. Ventured out to spot X yesterday which rarely breaks but was looking fun with some well overhead sets and only two in the line-up both on SU. Had a really fun session. Decided to give it a go again today as the same basic conditons prevailed. This time I am joined by Dave Kalama, Jamie Mitchell, Kai Lenny and his brother along with a couple of others in the line-up. Everyone is ripping in standard fashion for this group until Kai does something sick that I have never seen before. He takes off on a head high wave just in front of his brother bottom turns and just before snapping off the lip he switches stance and rides fin first off the lip instead and then flips his board into the air pivoting it 180 and proceeds to make the section. This was done all while being within 3ft of his brother on the wave so his margin for error was very minimal. He was riding his 8ft Hokua. He is simply at another level than us mortals. Wish I had this on video.   

13

SUP General / Oregon Vibe

« on: February 09, 2012, 12:16:25 AM »

Friend of mine just spent 8 mths living, working and SUP surfing on the Oregon coast. He has solid skills and is very mellow. He is also an excellent surfer. He said he was amazed at how much anti SUP hate existed in many of the spots he frequented especially since some of these spots are so seemingly remote and away from big city life. Some of his SUP hate stories blew my mind. Apparently the locals are very territorial over there especially when it comes to SUP. Seems like one of the last places you would think of when you hear the term SUP hate.  So those of you on the Oregon Coast whats your opinion on the SUP vibe over there?

14

SUP General / DK Ripping on his new board

« on: February 08, 2012, 11:49:09 PM »

Very large swell today but the strong N winds pretty much made it victory at sea everywhere except one place,  the harbor. Biggest sets were around head high but the strong wind and current made it challenging to stay in position when the sets came. If you sat and waited the current would quickly push you way out of position in seconds. For this reason only a couple of guys who were willing to fight the conditions were out but the pay off was some pretty good rides. Dave Kalama was one of the guys out along with myself and one other. Dave was riding one of his new designs an 8'8. He was completely ripping in these conditions. Yes Dave rips on anything I know as I have been in his company many times. This session seemed different than the others in that he was able to go much more vertical top to bottom and snap turn of the lip with serious conviction much more than I have seen from him before. I am thinking he might be on to something here. I would not be surprised if we see a  line of high performance SUP boards from Dave in the near future. Take a number guys, I got first dibs!!

15

SUP General / WOW!!

« on: October 08, 2011, 10:53:39 AM »

I was checking out the Hunnington Beach Southside Cam this morning and our recent south swell was hitting pretty good. Only problem was there was around 100+ folks in the line-up. Interesting that there were surfers taking off from two different spots bulleting down the line toward each other in what appeared to end up with bit of a chicken match. So many close calls just in the short time I was observing. Haven't seen very many spots that break with right and left meeting in the middle. Seems pretty crazy to me but I guess those that frequent this break get use to it. No SUP in sight at this spot on this day which is where the SUWT event was held.