Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Short board for Big Boys- really big boyz :)

« on: December 26, 2013, 03:25:41 PM »

Aloha gents!   Just coming up for air after an intense Christmas with 30+ grandkids and many families together over the last couple of days....kept me off the water and off the forum, and great to see there has been some discussion happening!

TallDude:  Love the photo with the WS sail - amazing how close that looks to what we do with a wave-sailing kit - love that photo! 

Thanks to all you other boyz for the stoke!   

Wardog: Always appreciate perspective, sharing waves and stoke...and all the photos!!  Your perceptions are right-on with regard to us big guys and what we go thru...and it's just so cool of you to make boards that we can have fun on!

Yep I almost always hoot after a good wave - just can't help myself!  Essentially I understand just how special it is to get a good wave - to release adrenaline - and not get hurt...not to mention, stay in decent enough shape to get out there when the conditions are good! Fun is subjective - and my whole point was that board has given me the biggest fun-factor in SUP-surfing since we started in this sport - with the least amount of down-side (for me).

It's a very simple but deep appreciation for "the moment" - those snapshots in your mind, and the feelings that never leave your being.

Thank you (or more appropriately in this last case, thanks to Deb) for capturing the moment(s)!

Peace, Aloha, and wishes for good health and good waves into 2014 to all of ya's

Big Will

2

Gear Talk / Short board for Big Boys- really big boyz :)

« on: December 24, 2013, 10:28:25 AM »

Had a fantastic session on my new carbon production HAMMER 9'5"x 33" @178L yesterday and needed to report out to my comrades...    As of today, just after a nice healthy breakfast, I weighed in  at 260lbs...uuugh, I need to lose a few lb's!   But yet, I now have a board that rocks!

I am an advanced paddler, and the board felt as stable as my 10'3" x33 SUP SPORTS MAHALO...but it surfed significantly better in terms of cut-backs and overall speed on the wave face.  The Mahalo surfs well - but for me, this is a significant improvement as the board seems perfectly sized and matched to my large frame.

I was fully suited up with my 4/3 and booties, plus a little clothing to save others from looking at that huge blob of rubber standing up in front of them

Dropping into some fast sections yesterday at a fav beach break with overhead set waves - I was a little unsure if the board would come up to speed with me on it quickly enough  - super stoked that it did - and then just "asked" to be thrown around!

The wider tail allowed me to keep up speed during transitions, and keep on rolling down the line after off-the-top smacks!   

By the end of the session I was confident enough to walk up to the nose right after the initial drop and just "claim it"...board kept pace with the wave - and then I just walked back and cranked a nice cutback into another BT/OTL sequence before having to bail from being too greedy!    Oh I love that....  A great finish to an outstanding 1st session...

If any of my fellow heavyweight (250lbs+) need any advice, just let me know...Wardog has posted some pics on his HAMMER thread (on The Zone)...and the BLOG:  http://surfingsports.com/hammer.asp   Wardog can make ANY size of this board, basically complete custom capabilities are available to us.

Never thought I'd go any shorter than 10' - have a 9'5" board is just so sweet!  Swing weight is greatly reduced - and the hydrodynamics of the board's bottom cannot be understated - very, very intelligent use of proven technologies put to use in the smallest package possible (at least for now    The Chisel Tail is amazing - definitely releases easy and effortlessly...wow!

Thanks again Wardog for making gear that allows us to go off to the best of our abilities!  Can't wait to really learn how to max this board's performance capabilities!   I know I can go vertical and snap it 180 - just wants to scissor right  around!   

Floaters off the lip will now be way easier - plus more fun nose rides!

Man, I am so addicted to adrenaline!   Windsurfing gave that to me EVERYTIME I went out - now I have a way to release it once again

Stoked for Life! boyz!

Big Will

3

The Shape Shack / Re: High volume traditional short board shape.

« on: April 03, 2013, 08:11:21 AM »

Hey TallDude,

You are def spot-on in keeping speed during transitions - speed is everything in increasing the fun-factor for sure...hate dropping speed when making moves, especially when going for a BTOTL attempt

That's particularly why I am excited about the new HAMMER shape Wardog is coming out with...wider, optimized tail and overall shape to help keep speed,  plus nose-rider for those smaller clean sections....fun shape!!

Whoa - stop the day-dreaming and get back to work....not!

C'mon new swell!!

Big Will

4

The Shape Shack / Re: High volume traditional short board shape.

« on: April 02, 2013, 08:12:41 AM »

What's up!   hey Wardog, love those shots!!  Glad we scored some of the cleanest conditions this year already!! 

So yes, you have seen now that we go rail-rail regularly on our widest boards - they are designed that way, and they work!  I am simply not a "straight-line" surfer....need to go off to the best of my ability whenever possible.

I am really looking forward to the new HAMMER series because as a big guy (250lbs @ 6'4") I know that a wider tail is going to help me carry speed thru my transitions...especially on smaller surf - plus I like to nose-ride in smaller surf.

It's all about learning your board's strengths, and limitations....and of course time on the wave-face on any particular board, in order to get dialed-in.

Big Will.

5

SUP General / Re: Insane SwitchFoot StandUp at Mysto Slab

« on: January 25, 2013, 07:00:16 PM »

Wish there was a LIKE button for that post Glider....good Karma on ya!  So spot on...

Today IV was pumping nicely - the 10'3 MAHALO was super sweet on the faster OH waves today - also nose-rising on the smaller stuff was super fun too! 

I am looking at getting on the 9-6 x 33.5 STOKE model and the 11'11  ONE WORLD soon!

I still have "Big Red" and it surfs pretty darn good, but Wardog has really enhanced a number of areas from that board...  Can't dis Big Red - she is a beauty - always will be.

Enjoy the ride

Big Will

6

SUP General / Re: Insane SwitchFoot StandUp at Mysto Slab

« on: January 25, 2013, 09:50:13 AM »

Yo - that is some awesome stuff - and what a great guy to boot!   Way to go Bennett and Wardog - we knew that you nailed that these boards' design, shape and construction...   All those years we spent windsurfing big waves pays off - and of course the 40 years of surfing - all brought to bear for ANYONE to enjoy!!??  You da man - and thanks for creating awesome gear for us to go off to the best of our abilities!!!

Congrats on getting world-class footage of your gear on the water!

Big Will

7

Gear Talk / Re: wave sup for 230 lb rider

« on: September 26, 2012, 07:05:53 AM »

Hey Weed! 

Yep, that's me   I still Windsurf - only chase it when waves are big and wind is big ( now since I have kids...)   But for light air I started kiting - picked that up pretty quickly, super easy...

SUP since Wardog and I went to Maui mid 2000's...   SUP is just so easy to do - really love it.

BigWill

Hey there Paddlesurfer75,  I weigh 250 and SUP surf on a 10 footer by 33 with 185L of float - and it's perfect for me...  I would think something around 10' by around 31 with 170L of float will do the job nicely for you...depending on conditions you want to be in..

Let me know if you need a reco...be happy to chat with you about it.

Big Will

The same Will V that use to windsurf and post on rec.dot?

8

Gear Talk / Re: wave sup for 230 lb rider

« on: September 24, 2012, 02:41:50 PM »

Hey there Paddlesurfer75,  I weigh 250 and SUP surf on a 10 footer by 33 with 185L of float - and it's perfect for me...  I would think something around 10' by around 31 with 170L of float will do the job nicely for you...depending on conditions you want to be in..

Let me know if you need a reco...be happy to chat with you about it.

Big Will