Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Best inflatable SUP for beginners?

« on: August 02, 2015, 07:28:29 AM »

Thank you Julian! That's also a huge help, now I don't feel like Im going into all this blind. A SUP board is quite an investment for me, so I want to make sure I get the best one for me at the moment that ill get the most use out of. Glad I finally know now! Thanks so much again!!

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Gear Talk / Re: Best inflatable SUP for beginners?

« on: July 31, 2015, 11:55:48 PM »

Got it. That helps a lot. Thank you again! The problem is what I want to do vs what's more practical. I think if I had to choose a purpose I want to focus on, it would be waves in the ocean and occasionally flat lakes and rivers

But unfortunately flat lakes and rivers are closer to me than the ocean, so I'm in a bit of a conflict.

I guess I could get a board good for the surf that is just ok for lakes and rivers since that's what I'm most interested in. That way I'll have the best outcome doing what I want to do most, even if it's not as often as I want it to be.

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Gear Talk / Re: Best inflatable SUP for beginners?

« on: July 31, 2015, 03:02:08 PM »

Thanks guys!

Weight is about 180 pounds (81 kg last I checked) but I'm losing weight from the lifestyle changes im making, so it could drop a bit in a few months if all goes well.

I would like a board that's good for everything, because I would like use it on the ocean. But I live about 1 hour from the ocean, and 2-3 hours from where it's considered good to surf. So likely I'll be on lakes or rivers between trips to the ocean.

I found this board on Amazon Japan, love the design, but need to translate it to see if it's a good fit for me.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/aw/d/B00JOWH71K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1438334774&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=SUP&dpPl=1&dpID=51SI8GN2gYL&ref=plSrch

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Gear Talk / Best inflatable SUP for beginners?

« on: July 30, 2015, 09:20:26 PM »

Hi again!

What do you recommend as the best inflatable SUP for a beginner? Because of my situation, portability and compact storage is a must. I'll likely have to bring it on the train to get somewhere were I can ride it.

Thank you!

5

Regional / Anyone in Japan?

« on: July 30, 2015, 09:16:18 PM »

Hey guys! Anyone doing SUP over here in Japan?

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SUP General / Re: New member - hoping for advice

« on: July 30, 2015, 03:32:31 AM »

Thanks guys! Glad I'm not looking like a troll after all. 

I think I'm finally making some progress, finally found a school that looks like a good fit for me! But it's 3 hours away (like all of the schools), so I need to see if that's even possible with my work schedule. Probably not sadly, but maybe when my hours calm down a bit. I'm working extra at the moment to save up for that trip to Hawaii next year.

As a plan B, maybe I can save up for an inflatable SUP board and hit a local lake to work on my balance and paddling like you guys suggested. I'm also thinking of dropping the hint that I'm interested in surfing at my hula school...who knows? Maybe one of my hula friends can also be my surfing buddy! Here's hoping!

Worst case, I'll research getting a surfing lesson when I'm in Hawaii so at least I'll have the experience. Then when the trip is finished, my hours should be calming down and I can look into that school I found.

It's heartbreaking when reality sets in, especially when your really exited to just do it!

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SUP General / Re: New member - hoping for advice

« on: July 29, 2015, 10:18:30 PM »

Yikes I didn't mean to sound like a troll! That's a first. Sorry guys!

If it helps, I could write up a little more about myself. Im 29 years old, and I do have grey hairs already, but that runs in the family. lol I'm from KC, Missouri. I grew up there all my life. 5 years ago I met my husband online, he is Japanese. We talked for a year. I decided life is short, take a chance, and moved to Japan to be with him. We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary this year.

Recently, I've been focusing on improving my health. I grew up overweight, and while I feel comfortable dieting now, exercise has been the most challenging. Like many people, I hate it! I've been trying to overcome that, I'm convinced the key is to have fun. I thought taking up hula dancing would be a good baby step, but I ended up falling in love with Hawaiian culture as a result. Not complaining! After getting a good swim in the ocean last weekend, the idea to try surfing sparked, and here I am learning everything I can so I don't go in completely clueless.

You guys are absolutely wonderful, I can't say that enough! I feel more confident to give it a try now, I was really downhearted and convinced myself I don't belong in the surf because of the reasons I wrote in my original post. But I'm willing to learn, try my best, and most importantly - have fun!

When I can get a lesson in, or make some progress whether it be SUP or prone surfing, I'll be sure to share an update. It'll depend on what I can find and how much money I'll need to get started.

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SUP General / Re: New member - hoping for advice

« on: July 29, 2015, 01:56:04 PM »

Thank you again! I'm checking everything out that you guys are suggesting and hashing out a game plan to get started. It's possible I might have to wait until next summer to start in earnest though, although I might be able to squeeze in swimming with a rented boogie board next month if I can talk my husband into it. Or I guess I could go alone, but it would be nice to have someone I know with me to make sure I'm still above the water! Haha. I saw boogie boards for rent at the beach we went to last weekend, but didn't have the idea to try surfing until we were already just swimming and jumping in the waves. Managed to have a great time just doing that though!

I do have a new question though - how do you practice off-season when you're not on the islands with wonderful year-round weather?

Unless I fly down to Okinawa, winters are mildly cold here and beaches will be closed by September. I live in Saitama, near Tokyo/Chiba/Kanagwa  if anyone is familiar with the area prefectures. Would love to get some practice in every month as a starter goal. I don't know anyone with a pool, and I'll look into it, but I'm not too hopeful the local public pools will allow any accessories in ther pools.

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SUP General / Re: New member - hoping for advice

« on: July 29, 2015, 09:19:42 AM »

Hi everyone! Thank you SO much for your encouragement! I'm feeling great about everything now! I still worry about the dangers of the ocean , as much as I adore it. But I looked through some posts here, and it looks like SUP and surfing in general is a lot safer than many things...I guess the news stories are good at building up worry over time. Especially something you've never done.

I found a surf shop near where I work, it's a bit of an extra walk, but I'm going to plan a day to check it out. I'm really exited! I'll need to save up for the gear though, and I'll probably need to get an inflatable SUP due to space because our apartment is small, we don't own a car, and primarily get around by train, bike or walking.

Unfortunately I'm not on the islands, I'm actually on the other island, in Japan! I'm originally from the U.S. though. Hula dancing is EXTREEMLY popular here, and anything Hawaiian in general. So naturally, there are a lot of hula schools. I wouldn't be surprised if the Japanese have already fully embraced SUP as much as they have surfing from what I've seen so far.

I'm so so so relieved there is already gear to protect myself from the sun! Last weekend I was swimming in the ocean, that's where the idea to do surfing (later discovering SUP) sparked. I applied a generous amount of very strong sun screen, twice. Still got burned, but luckily it didn't hurt, so the cream prevented the worst it seems. Just as I do on land, I find it much easier and more effective to wear sun protection clothing than sun screen.

Now the challenge will be saving up for gear and/or finding lessons. My Japanese is, em, passable. But for something where safety is really important, I might want to find lessons in English. Maybe I can find a woman's SUP group to join, always up for making new friends!

I do hope to plan a trip to Hawaii in the future, it will be my first time ever visiting there. I hope I'll be able to do some SUPing while I'm there, need to research where to go. I hope I don't tick off any surfers, I hear they can get easily ticked off at newbies who are at the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope that never happens, and I can learn where to go or not go so I don't step on any toes as a newbie. Would be awful to have bad experience ruin an fun time.

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SUP General / New member - hoping for advice

« on: July 29, 2015, 07:54:27 AM »

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get some friendly advice here. I'm interested in SUP, but I am in need of a reality check. I'm not completely sure what I'm getting myself into. I'm 29 years old, not athletic at all (couch potato), a basic swimmer (can keep myself afloat at least), and have very little experience with the ocean. I grew up in the Midwest USA, and my family never traveled to the ocean. As an adult, I'm sure I only visited the ocean under 10 times, only two of those times I actually went swimming. I really regret not being more pro-active getting back to the ocean. I really want to get in better shape, and have fun doing it. Even if it takes baby steps.

But as much as I love the ocean, I know it has a deadly side. That's always been a fear in the back of my mind when considering any sports on the ocean. I'm really not a thrill seeker at all. Also, I get sunburn extremely easily, and don't tan. If I did any kind of water sports, I would need to wear cover. I'm not even sure if such a thing exists for water.

That's the bad stuff. The good stuff is I'm absolutely enchanted by the ocean! It's so magical going swimming there, I treasure ever second I have had in the ocean. I'm also learning hula dancing - this just adds fuel to the fire because of how much the ocean is in Hawaiian culture. And surfing is certainly part of the culture too! They're even hula dances for surfers.

Anyway back on topic - I'm usually a very optimistic person. But since I am not athetic at all, and have very little ocean experience, I feel like a completely nut for even thinking I can surf! I felt a lot better when I discovered SUP, I thought, maybe I could at least manage calm water, maybe a few baby waves.

But there are surfing classes for young and old alike, so it's possible I'm really overthinking it. I would love to hear some advice from experienced SUP and surfing folks here. Could someone like me learn and enjoy SUP and possibly regular surfing down the road. Or should I back out now? Would it be more realistic for me to stick with SUP?

I'm completely new, so if I said anything stupid out of ignorance, I'm sorry! I hope I won't step on any toes with my first post here. Thank you!