Topics

1

Gear Talk / Paddle Size for Surfing?

« on: May 23, 2012, 08:02:07 AM »

I've been spending a lot more time out surfing my SUPs in the ocean, mostly Cardiff Reef or Ponto.  I've been thinking I may need a different paddle set up than I like for flat water or cruising.

I love my Ke Nalu Maliko Elite paddle when I'm digging in on flat water and have a higher cadence.  However, I find that in the surf zone I'm not paddling very fast tending to keep the paddle in the water for balance.  Then, when the wave comes I need to just crank on the paddle and it seems like a paddle with more bite would be better so I wouldn't have to take as many strokes.

Does anyone else feel this way?  I hear a lot of people use even smaller paddles for surfing.  Maybe it's just preference.

2

SUP General / There's Still Aloha in the Water

« on: April 08, 2012, 09:27:59 PM »

I headed down to Cardiff Reef today around 8:00 am with the reasoning that everybody would be at church and I'd have the place to myself.  I was mostly right for the weekend   Pretty much super glassy with 2-3 waves with a mix of NW and SSW swells but who cares if it's glassy   I took out my new Wardog Stoke 9'6" which I'm definitely still getting used to and had a blast.

I was essentially flailing on catching the little 2 - 3 footers today when some very graceful, SUP/Surf Veterans (you know the guys that never get wet and look effortless) paddled over to me and said they were watching me and gave me some pointers.  I'm 44 and one of them admitted to 65 so I listened attentively and they gave me some really good advice that I greatly appreciated.  It basically came down to moving a bit more forward on the board  to trim it better so it would glide better and quit pushing water, plus taking a couple of extra strokes before dropping to surf stance so I didn't let the waves, "roll under me".  BTW, the adjustment was probably only 3 - 4 inches.  Thanks guys!

They were even complimentary that I had good balance and can paddle hard but, crap, I need way more time on the water.  I'm heading back tomorrow morning again.  I've got the bug bad!

This reminds me of the old days in the '80s when surfing was more fun and less aggressive and we all hooted for each other when someone got a great ride.  I spoke to one of the guys at the showers and he said he's been surfing for over 50 years, loves SUS, and told me it's really hard even if you surfed forever (I've only surfed 30 years), and he's right!

I just wanted to share some stoke.  It's not all about "hate" in the water, there's plenty of Aloha too!

3

Downwind and Racing / San Diego Downwinder Possibility

« on: March 25, 2012, 04:28:50 PM »

I woke up to a calm day in Encinitas with a building ground swell overhead.  By the time I got my act together the wind REALY picked up straight out of the S, SW.  It's been blowing around 25 knots half the day now with big rolling whitecaps out to sea.

I was looking to the South from Swami's all the way down to the La Jolla point and it looks like you could drop in somewhere around the cove and come straight downwind to land around Cardiff Reef.  I don't know how much fetch the wind had so there's no telling whether there would be any big swells but it would sure be fun.  When storms hit here the counter-clockwise rotation always produces strong S, SW winds before the rain hits.  Just time the storms and maybe it could be a regular thing?

Has anyone else thought about this possibility?

4

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Best Rental Place for Surfing SUPs in Waikiki?

« on: January 19, 2012, 08:34:21 PM »

Well I'm over here in Honolulu on a little business and wanted to rent a SUP to paddle out into some waves.  Most of the beach vendors just have big foam boards and actually prohibit you from heading into the surf zone.  I understand this rule for the regular tourists.

Is there a decent board shop on the leeward side that will let me demo a Naish Mana or the like?  I've got this really ugly rental car they call an SUV but it looks like a hearse.  The good thing is that I think a 10' board would fit inside.

BTW, I grew up on this island but haven't haven't lived here for years.  Kona weather this week so south shore is pretty choppy, so is Kailua too for that matter.  Any advice on rentals and locations?

Mahalo.

5

Gear Talk / Imagine Search?

« on: January 08, 2012, 05:57:43 PM »

Has anyone tried the Imagine Search yet?  It looks like a great cruiser with a good surf shape for our little waves down here in SoCal.  I may just take the 30 minute trip up to San Clemente to take a look at these boards in person.  Is it possible to demo this board.

I'm 5'9" and 190 lbs.  I have surfed for many years and just want a board where I can paddle around the coast here in Encinitas to catch waves without a huge lineup.

6

SUP General / 10 - 15 ft. Swell Predicted for SoCal Friday!

« on: January 01, 2012, 09:13:54 AM »

Take a look at Surfline.  It looks like a big one heading our way.  It will be too big most most breaks to hold around here in San Diego.  I'll have to check out San Onofre maybe.

7

Gear Talk / Ke Nalu Maliko

« on: December 31, 2011, 05:02:03 PM »

I received my Ke Nalu Maliko paddle yesterday and had a chance to set it up last night.  The "webinars" on how to cut and put together the paddle are a great help on the Ke Nalu website.  I read all the articles on how to measure the paddle for surf length even putting my board up on a cooler like Bill shows on his article.  Here's the funny part.  Measuring on the board and measuring by just allowing my wrist to bend over the end of the paddle when placed on end in front of me both yielded the exact same result, 78 inches. 

I got to paddle it today on the Carlsbad lagoon for a couple hours.  The first thing I noticed was just how light the paddle is.  I love the shark skin surface on the shaft; it doesn't bother me at all and allows me to relax my lower hand more as I don't have to grip the shaft so hard.  I'm really glad I chose the Maliko as I was able to keep a good cadence which I find easier than manhandling a bigger paddle.  I've noticed the higher cadence with less resistance keeps my shoulders from hurting too.  This paddle is almost "stealth" meaning that it doesn't make a sound entering the water on the catch or exiting on the recovery; it really makes it easy to concentrate on reaching for the catch and for me it was much easier to not paddle past my feet as the paddle just springs out of the water when I feather it.

The wind picked up pretty good on the way back so I was upwind all the way back with some nice boat wakes thrown in too.  This paddle is easy to grind on.  It doesn't flutter at all so more of the force I put into the paddle just resulted in going faster.

I like this paddle a lot.  I'll have to compare it to some other paddles fall on it in the surf a couple times to truly put it through the wringer.  All in all this is a great paddle.

Ke Nalu has great customer service too.  Bill answered any questions I had, and I'm sure they weren't the first time they have been asked.  He even delayed the shipment for me after ordering as I was on the road and didn't want the paddle sitting on my doorstep for a week.

Good stuff going on a Ke Nalu!