another "which board" question

[PonoBill]

The best board for you is the one you've got.

[Larry2c]

Thanks all for the encouraging words and Spoonbill for the suggestion on the side bites - that was something I thought about and then just didn't get to it in my haste to go out & paddle!

Supthecreek - if this gives a little back to the site, then that makes me feel even better. I have learned a lot from reading posts on this forum and getting a lot of questions answered. As a rookie at SUPin' I don't have as much to contribute as the seasoned vets but if some if the things I post help somebody avoid a mistake or get more enjoyment out of the sport, then that's just icing on the cake.

Nalu-SUP I do plan on giving the board plenty of water time and now that I feel a little more secure on a blustery day, that just gives me more opportunity. Regarding where the board is made, I mentioned that for a couple reasons. First, I do understand that a lot of boards are actually manufactured in Asia (some say 90% or more) so I did my homework to find one that I thought was well built. I have worked most of my life in aerospace and for the last 5 years I have had the unfortunate job of helping send much of the work we did here in San Diego south & west. That hurts me  on a personal level but it is the way the world of manufacturing works  right now and since like most people, I need a paycheck, I do the best I can at my job - even though it means sending work overseas. For most of the board companies, to make a board that is at a price point they can sell to the average person, getting it manufactured overseas is is almost a requirement. Unfortunate, but true...

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

Larry, it took me a lot longer than one session to get the side bites off my first board, so don't feel silly!