Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => Downwind and Racing => Topic started by: SoFloSupChick on October 21, 2018, 05:00:46 PM

Title: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: SoFloSupChick on October 21, 2018, 05:00:46 PM: Fairly new to supping here, and I recently got my first "grown-up" board (Naish Maliko) with the hopes of downwinding someday.

Today the stars aligned in East South Florida, and we had the right conditions: 15-20 kt North (along the coast). So I convinced my husband to try this downwinding thing.

By my estimate, I spent about 50% of time in the water, 30% flailing about on the board, and 20% catching short glides, but I'll be damned if it wasn't fun! ;D Since it was our first time, we drove up a relatively short distance (2.5 miles from the end point), so sadly the fun was over just as I started getting a feel for things.

Main takeaway: I definitely need to practice moving around on the board more, and also bracing. Also, must have more, haha!
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: Luc Benac on October 21, 2018, 05:33:49 PM: Welcome to the club. There is NO going back ever now.....enjoy. It gets better fast. And then it is a lot slower learning curve.
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: stoneaxe on October 21, 2018, 05:49:49 PM: Very cool...have fun. I wish I didn't suck so bad at downwind..... :(
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: JEG on October 21, 2018, 09:00:59 PM: you need a dw prescription ;)
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: PonoBill on October 22, 2018, 06:59:36 AM: Now convince your husband you need to spend a few weeks in the Gorge next summer.
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: yugi on October 24, 2018, 01:24:31 AM: Cool.

The fun part is progressing each time.
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: SoFloSupChick on October 27, 2018, 07:12:56 PM: Awwyeah!
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: Luc Benac on October 27, 2018, 07:29:45 PM: Get a group of friends that like down-winding or make them discover down-winding and make it a social events too:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009636853140 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009636853140)
(http://)

Shuttles become second nature and getting everybody fire-up.
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: FloridaWindSUP on October 28, 2018, 06:44:42 AM: Way to go SoFlo!

I reckon you'll start learning to move and brace pretty quick if you keep doing these. Sometimes when I can't get a real downwinder together I'll just take my board to the beach and do relatively short distance (a couple hundred meters at a time) upwind / downwind intervals. That helps a lot with practice. Works best when the wind is enough to make some chop, but less than 15 knots.

-J
Title: Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
Post by: bing on October 29, 2018, 08:38:42 PM: Great to hear we have a new downwind convert. Definitely try getting others into the sport. So addicting - you will look at flatwater differently now as well as the waves. PonoBill is right - try planning a trip to Hood River next year in the summer. Some of the best downwind water you will find anywhere. Also - Big Winds is an excellent place to rent/demo some great downwind boards.