Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Let's talk fins

« on: July 07, 2020, 07:17:12 PM »

"I would second the Larry Allison fins. specifically this one:"

Do those fit in a "standard" fin box?  It doesn't look like the base is the same kind as my current fin, like this one:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0157TAYP4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0157TAYP4&pd_rd_w=EZHvk&pf_rd_p=a64be657-55f3-4b6a-91aa-17a31a8febb4&pd_rd_wg=k5zFP&pf_rd_r=CJPHCJBDYFCTDQ09F2K9&pd_rd_r=0c71607c-5051-4836-bfe1-1f4a6859abe0&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFQQzhRT1ZCTzZCRjQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3NzI3MzMyUlZMM0NKU0JVSzI2JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4MjYyMTEzUkJBNjJZMlNEQklCJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Sorry if I am slow here... land-bound Ohio person here, not much surf shops in this area...

2

SUP General / Re: Is something wrong with my board? 😱

« on: June 29, 2020, 07:29:41 AM »

I have similar thoughts every so often when go out:  "Man, my board feels really heavy today..."

But I've decided that it must be a combination of in-my-head, wind/water conditions, my own physical condition or weight that day, my technique slipping on me. 

"Feels" is also a bad measure - I notice that when I paddle into a slight breeze, I feel faster than when I turn around and paddle with it.

My solution is:  don't think about speed so much, focus on good form and rhythm, keep a smooth stroke & try to slip through the water, look around and enjoy the scenery.  If I do that right, I have a good session, and when fast/slow doesn't matter, I usually end up faster  .

3

Gear Talk / Let's talk fins

« on: June 26, 2020, 07:46:23 AM »

Photo below is the fin that I have on my new board right now.  I wonder if there is something better out there for me.

Mostly I am paddling flat water on inland lakes, sometimes into light chop, but almost never surfing.

My priority is speed and glide.  12.5' x 26" , ~265 L volume.  Will I notice a difference if I switch to something else?  What should I switch to?

Love to hear some recommendations.

- Thanks, Kevin   

4

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / My New Ride

« on: June 24, 2020, 06:23:31 PM »

My new ride for this summer:  12.5 x 26" x 8 (at the nose).  26 lbs, ~265 L volume. 

It may not impress everybody here... it's not a custom 14' x 21" dugout needle racer, or anything like that... but it's light, tracks great, turns beautifully, and I'm really starting to get into a nice rhythm paddling it.  Might be the board that gets me into my first 6 mile race this summer (if those are ever allowed again).

Noticeable change from my previous 11.5 x 30" SUP, especially with tracking.  I can get nearly twice the number of paddles in on one side. 

Fun times on the water ahead!  Hope you all have as much fun on the water as I will!

5

Downwind and Racing / Re: Faster vs. Longer - how to train?

« on: August 13, 2018, 09:13:50 AM »

Thanks for all the tips.  I decided to do the following:

I figure I need all 3 of: 

1) Speed 2) Endurance 3) Form

to really get good at 6 mile races.  So I decided to alternate between:

• Fast Days, where I paddle at race speed for 1 mile, take a breather, and then do another fast mile (with warm-ups and downs, of course).
• Slow Days, where I go somewhat slower, all the way up and down the lake (which is more like 3 - 3.5 miles), without a breather, but focusing more on good form than speed.

Form is the hardest for me, because while I can watch videos on "proper" form, I have a hard time judging myself on how well I am doing it.  I don't have a coach or paddle-buddy, so I probably need to talk my wife into coming along to video me a few times. 

I'll let you know how it goes - current goal is to get under 25 min for the next 2 mile race.

- Thanks, Kevin

6

Downwind and Racing / Faster vs. Longer - how to train?

« on: August 03, 2018, 12:44:19 PM »

Some background:

I started paddling about a year ago, and this summer I managed 4.34 mph in a 2 mile race (27:44 time), on my 11'6"x30" SUP.  That was 5 minutes faster than my time last year, and good enough to win my division in the Rec race, but nowhere near how fast the 6-mile racers were going.  For reference, the guys in the 6 mile 14' race were doing between 5 - 6 mph on the same course (1 lap was 2 miles, 3 laps for 6 miles).  So even if I could have kept up my pace for 4 more miles, I would have been dead last in the 6 mile race. 

As a personal goal, I would like to get up to being able to race 6 miles.  At 45 I'm not expecting to beat any 30 year olds, but I would like to not finish last.  A week after the race I tried to paddle at my 2-mile speed for as long as I could - I made it 2.5 miles before I totally crashed. 

So my question is, how to train for 6 miles:

• Do I first work on getting above 5 mph for 2 miles, and then work up to 6 miles?
• Is 5.5 miles mph even possible on my current board?  I gather from other comments on the forum that 14' would only make me 10% faster or so.  But should I start on a longer one?  Problem is, 14' locks me out of the Rec race category around here.
• Or would you drop speed, paddle at whatever rate I can do 6 miles at, and then work on faster?
• Or, a combination of the above?

Thanks for any tips.

- Kevin

7

Classifieds / Re: 2018 Infinity Whiplash - deep cockpit model (14'x25") - $1800

« on: August 01, 2018, 08:05:51 PM »

Looks sweet, but:

• I've never paddled a 25" before, don't know how I'd do.
• 10 hours from Cleveland is a long way for a test paddle...

8

Downwind and Racing / Won my first race!

« on: July 25, 2018, 10:16:26 AM »

I won my first SUP race on Saturday! 

https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/programs-events/2018/or/july/whiskey-island-paddlefest

It was only a 2 miler... and in Cleveland... and the 6 mile guys were doing all 3 of their laps faster than I did my one lap... and a 60 year old woman finished in front of me... but still, I won my first race!  I took over 5 minutes off of my time from last year.

Was lots of fun, would have been fun even if I didn't podium, but it was fun to be up there.

- Kevin in OH

9

SUP General / Re: SUP industry exposed?

« on: October 12, 2017, 04:42:20 PM »

But do not expect to convince your wife "why" you need another sup.  That could be tough.  What worked for me was to get a couple of boards for her to keep her preoccupied.  Then slipped in the AS one day when she was looking the other way. 

At the moment she prefers to kayak.  That gives me an idea for a plan though:

• Buy wife a new kayak.
• Paddle a few times with her in the kayak.
• Explain I need a faster board to keep up with her in the kayak!

10

SUP General / Re: SUP industry exposed?

« on: October 11, 2017, 05:45:08 PM »

Just a thought.  Maybe one way the companies can revive or increase their sales of raceboards would be to push the idea that they can be fun boards to paddle even if not actually racing.  If I were on a flat inland lake I would enjoy increased speed a a raceboard.  Also the slice though much better going upwind that a regular all around board.  And downwind?

Exactly right.  I am a perfect example.  I started to SUP only this summer.  Started on a 33" inflatable.  Quickly moved to a hard 30" because I wanted to go faster.  I am now pretty addicted to the feeling of gliding fast through the water, and I want more.  I will probably buy another "race-ish" board next summer, if I can find somewhere to demo them (and if I can convince my wife why I need ANOTHER SUP!), but I will probably actually race it only once or twice a year.

11

Gear Talk / Re: What to wear in the Fall?

« on: October 09, 2017, 04:13:03 PM »

Weather was cooling down a bit here in the midwest (finally), so I tried out the neoprene boots I ordered today... and I swear I lost a minute on my mile pace from not having the connection of bare feet to the board!  I had no idea what a difference in feel it would be without bare feet!  Not just terms of speed or balance, but just enjoyment - somehow without that connection to the board I lost something important.

Still worth going, but you better believe now I'll be in bare feet till I'm nearly frostbitten! 

Somebody had to make some sort of spray-on coating, right?

12

Downwind and Racing / Re: Up North SUP

« on: October 05, 2017, 06:34:46 PM »

Sounds excellent!  Thanks so much for responding!  We will try to look you up if the event coincides with our vacation plans for next summer!

- Thanks, Kevin

13

Downwind and Racing / Re: Up North SUP

« on: October 04, 2017, 05:16:27 AM »

great event...I've done it the past 5 years and it's on my "can't miss" list.

Awesome, thank you!

If you don't mind, how old are your kids?  Do they all race?

14

Downwind and Racing / Re: Downwind vs. upwind

« on: October 04, 2017, 05:04:08 AM »

Or forget that and keep looking down because that feeling of clipping along over the ripples is oddly satisfying.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

Exactly!

15

SUP General / Re: Pacific Paddle Games at Doheny this weekend..question

« on: October 03, 2017, 08:30:26 AM »

Does anybody have a link for watching?  All I can find on youtube is a few highlight clips...

- Thanks, Kevin