Messages

1

SUP General / Re: Puma/Laird board is good for something.

« on: November 13, 2012, 10:02:41 AM »

Yeah, it was a ton of fun! Flying the wing off of the 30 ft. platform was an awesome way to end the week. I definitely wanted to make sure I did not land on one of those Puma boards. The things are massive!

2

SUP General / Puma/Laird board is good for something.

« on: November 12, 2012, 04:10:15 PM »

I just got done with a week of training with Oracle Team USA in San Francisco. Great group of athletes that can really paddle. During my time there I helped train a few of the guys including skipper, Jimmy Spithill. Pictures and full story coming to your favorite SUP magazine soon.

At the end of the week I helped launch their Red Bull Flugtag entry into the bay. We used two Puma-Laird boards to recreate the AC72 capsize. Check out a video from our jump below.

ORACLE TEAM USA with pro surfer Ian Walsh at Red Bull Flugtag - AC Uncut

3

SUP General / Re: Frankenstorm, aka Sandy

« on: October 31, 2012, 04:45:34 AM »

Caught the end of the Sandy swell Mon/Tues in Cocoa Beach area. There was still plenty of size but the sandbars were destroyed from all the swell during previous days. It was still fun to get out in clean waves. Hoping everyone in the NE gets out of this mess in one piece.

4

Events / HUGE event in FL this weekend!

« on: October 22, 2012, 10:39:01 AM »

There is still time to register for the 3rd annual Fall Paddle Festival this Sunday, October 28th in St. Pete Beach, FL. We already have around 100 paddlers registered! Bring your Halloween costume for the team relays and prepare for a great day at the beach. Register at our website http://www.watermonkeyshop.com/fall-paddle-festival.

5

SUP General / Re: Where would you move for a year?

« on: October 16, 2012, 11:46:29 AM »

I spent some time in Noosa 4 years ago long boarding and absolutely fell in love with the town. Really great vibe and awesome variety of surf. Looking forward to getting back down there with my SUP.

I will be spending the winter in Puerto Rico. Plenty of breaks to find uncrowded surf.

6

Events / Coming out the gates in Chattanooga

« on: October 08, 2012, 10:02:58 AM »

Cool perspective from the start of the SUP Splash race in Chattanooga. Great event in a fun little city.

7

Events / Puerto Rico Winter Retreat-Surf, Yoga, Paddle.

« on: September 16, 2012, 12:44:13 PM »

Spend a week with one of the top stand up paddle competitors in the world, Chase Kosterlitz. Sign up for the all inclusive week for $2,200 double occupancy.

Visit http://www.watermonkeyshop.com/puerto-rico-sup-retreat for more information.

8

SUP General / Re: sup video of noosa area

« on: September 01, 2012, 03:05:19 PM »

Great video! I spent some time surfing in Noosa about 5 years ago and absolutely fell in love with the place. Walking through the park you see koalas in the trees and find yourself at an amazing right point break. Not to mention that there are 3 other bays, a river mouth, and beach break all within 20 minutes.  I hope to be back soon and with my SUP this time!

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SUP General / Re: 40 mph winds in Hood River

« on: September 01, 2012, 03:01:02 PM »

Spot on with your description of Hood River. After being home in the muggy Florida summer I am missing the Gorge even more. I think it could turn into a great place to spend the summer training. The downwinder is all-time and there are plenty of other things to keep you busy.

10

SUP General / Re: 40 mph winds in Hood River

« on: August 29, 2012, 11:47:30 AM »

Hood River is an amazing place. I highly recommend the Gorge Paddle Challenge as one of the best races I have attended over the last two years. Great organization and an amazing place to paddle.

11

SUP General / 40 mph winds in Hood River

« on: August 25, 2012, 04:41:24 PM »

On my way home from a great two weeks in Hood River. Amazing place for downwinders, kitesurfing and so much more. The Gorge Paddle Challenge is definitely a race you should consider traveling for! Check out this short video for a little of what the Gorge has to offer.

12

SUP General / Re: 10 tips for a better SUP race

« on: July 28, 2012, 04:21:52 PM »

Yeah, this is another reason running should not be included in a SUP race. Competitors are standing static on a board for over an hour and then have to bound from their position to sprint. This is a recipe for disaster for knee and lower body injuries. Name one other sport that requires a competitor to exert themselves in multiple disciplines besides triathlon. Runners do not swim the last 100 ft. , bikers to not run the last 100 ft, ect, ect....

13

SUP General / Re: 10 tips for a better SUP race

« on: July 27, 2012, 04:07:38 PM »

Great feedback! Also had a lot of good points brought up on Facebook. The lead and mid-boat captains MUST be informed on how their wake can effect the race and operate accordingly. A lead boat should not provide any competitive advantage.

I understand the beach running gets the spectators involved but I still disagree with it. I run 20+ miles per week but I enter a paddle race to paddle. Put a buoy turn 5 feet off the beach and you have the same effect.

14

SUP General / 10 tips for a better SUP race

« on: July 27, 2012, 06:12:37 AM »

I just put together a list of 10 things I think would make our SUP races even better. What would you add to the list?

From: http://watermonkeysup.com/blog/top-10-tips-for-a-better-stand-up-paddle-race/




10.) Lead Boat- If you have a race with multiple buoys or open ocean buoys, you must have a lead boat! Not only should the race organizer have a lead boat, but the lead boat needs to know the course. Communicate with race support and make sure everyone knows the rules and the course.

9.) Trail Boat- Stand up paddling is receiving huge increases in race participants. Conditions can be tough and challenging for new and experienced paddlers. Make sure there is a boat or paddler who trails the race to make sure there are no people struggling. A boat in the middle of the pack is good too!

8.) Don’t Make Me Run-  Competitors at stand up paddle races should not have to run during or at the end of a race. The BOP is one of several unique races that include running and this is fine. However, I am finding that too many races have a long run through the finish line or in between laps. Runners do not swim 100 meters at the end of a 10K! There is no reason to make a paddler run more than a few feet, if at all, at the end of a race. Same goes for starts. Water starts or as close to the water as possible is preferable.

7.) Let Us Eat- If food is included in the race, make sure it is available when the racers finish. I realize that the kitchen is not under your control, Water Monkey has been guilty of a delay. Schedule readily available lunch or dinner as close to the end of a race as possible. The best part of racing is the food and beer after!

6.) One Elite Class- There are not that many stand up paddlers in the world. When you start to divide everyone up into different board classes you end up racing against ever fewer people. I’m not saying to ban all the classes, but make ONE elite class at a race. This class will be the money class where the professionals will compete. For more reasons than I have room to put on this page, the elite class should be 14′ ft.

5.) Keep It Simple- If you have to tape a course map to the front of your board then the race is too complicated. Buoy turns are great, but don’t make a race overly complicated. A stand up paddle race should come down to who is the fastest paddler, not who is the best GPS navigator.

4.) 3….2…..1….NOOOO!- Whatever you do, please do not count down the start of a race!  If you count down the start, you can guarantee racers will leave early! Use a horn system and make a 30 second announcement. After the 30 second announcement the race can start at anytime. No one knows when the horn will go off so we cannot anticipate the start and jump the gun! There has been a false start at the BOP every year I have participated. This can easily be fixed, pass this letter on to Barrett please.

3.) Keep Us Informed- If you announce a race, make sure you have the courses and details available. There is no bigger frustration for a participant than not knowing the who, what, where, when and how of your race . The amazing powers of the internet and Water Monkey SUP can help you easily keep the racers informed.

2.) Kids Race- Grown-ups should not have all of the fun. Make a short kids race to get the little ones involved in the event. Today’s youth will be the first ‘SUP Generation’. Get them stoked on the sport now and the future will be bright!

1.) Be Flexible- No one likes to paddle into the wind or on one side for an entire race. We cannot control the weather but we can control the course layout. Be flexible with your course and cater to the wind direction. If it is windy, allow for as long of a downwind paddle leg as possible. Competitors like to be challenged, but paddling with headwind or sidewind is about as fun as eating a spoonful of cinnamon.

15

Gear Talk / Re: Strange white spots on Fanatic Fly Race (carbon)

« on: July 23, 2012, 02:09:56 PM »

I have never seen marks like that on any of my Fanatic boards. I would not worry about it as long as the areas are not soft. Someone else on the forum may be able to diagnose marks better than me.

Make sure you loosen the vent plug every once in awhile. Especially if the board is out in the sun for an extended period of time. This would not be related to marks though.