Topics

1

Gear Talk / Price of paddles justified?

« on: March 18, 2021, 02:12:58 PM »

I'm noticing some price creep.

Black Project has released a $600 paddle.

A quick survey of other makes has them at mostly above $400. Some above $500.

Do the high cost of paddles bear any relationship to the cost of design/production/distribution?  I know the answer is yes to a degree, where they're made, etc.

But is delta between cost of mfgr and retail price on a $400 paddle $200?  $300?  $20?   

Or is it just luxury item pricing - what the market will bear.

2

Travel, Trips, Destinations / How are the crowds at SanO?

« on: October 29, 2020, 09:57:50 PM »

Has it calmed down?  Still 4:00 AM entrance lines? 

3

General Discussion / Post-worthy shark tips

« on: September 23, 2020, 09:52:45 AM »

How to avoid run-ins with the landlord:

https://www.theinertia.com/surf/10-important-tips-for-surfers-to-avoid-an-adverse-shark-encounter-from-a-shark-expert/

4

Travel, Trips, Destinations / New 25 mile bike/surf trail in Tofino

« on: September 20, 2020, 02:39:06 PM »

Cool news... especially for brother Bob/FRP ...
I’ll have to get up there someday...

https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/action/vancouver-island-surf-bike-trail?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=inline&utm_campaign=related

5

Environment / ...and in today’s shark news

« on: August 08, 2020, 11:02:07 AM »

Good article on the great white presence in the N.E.

https://news.yahoo.com/amphtml/summer-of-the-shark-after-maine-attack-shark-experts-say-the-beasts-are-here-to-stay-020602175.html

“As human beings we have to understand that we don’t belong in the water,” Sulikowski said. “We go there to enjoy it. So, if we start thinking of removing and changing ecosystems so that it fits our pleasure zones, then we really have some issues as a race.”

6

Random / A Breed Apart - I want to live in 1966 (again)

« on: July 14, 2020, 12:18:43 PM »

This 1966 Bronco intro is awesome, it has a man's man shooting the Colorado River rapids in a bathtub toy, Broncos hauling ass up and over everything at high rates of speed, visions of a simpler time... and prescience about SUVs in America 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9XlOFaMh2Y

7

SUP General / things evolve - Santa Cruz lifts surfing ban

« on: April 19, 2020, 05:13:10 PM »

https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2020/04/16/parks-beaches-reopen-surfing-ban-ends-in-santa-cruz-county/

8

Foil SUP / Foil lessons in Santa Cruz

« on: March 09, 2020, 11:59:56 AM »

Olivier (super cool guy) at Covewater Paddle Surf has a great boat rigged out for lessons, and various foil gear AND teaching ability.  Highly recommend. 

I went out once with him last weekend and got the feeling of what it’s all about. Using the boom was helpful for sure. Tow rope will require more T.O.W.  The sunset foiler is not me ...yet... : )

I started on the big green JL Flying V- 7’11 and 180L . Don’t remember the area of the wings. But used same mast/wings on a small FOne Rocket , which was I think the 5’10 90L. Which there was no way I was going to stand on if not using the boom, but tried for the sense of what a smaller board allows you to do.

[What would cause the photos to be blurry? Small file size?]

9

Gear Talk / A 9'8 Jimmy Lewis Destroyer as a performance longboard - It works

« on: February 21, 2020, 02:38:06 PM »

There’s been some good reviews/discussion of the Destroyer in its “appropriate’ size… how it surfs small…  (MilSurf, LBsup, Lopezwill, BigZ )

But I’ve always been on the lookout for a bigger high performance board, and I’ve found it in the 9’8 Destroyer (9’3x31.3@160).

I’m 190 lbs (58 yrs) at total intermediate level. So when I say I like a cruisy board to carve longer turns, it’s true, but also a function of my abilities : )  But this board… it fixes my perceived issues with past boards.  My New Deal – domed deck more than I like, and less stable than I like in choppy conditions.  The Destoyer – its deck is slightly domed, but not enough to be bothersome after a few hours. And with my feet inboard a bit, it’s even less noticeable.  But yet it results in nice narrowish rails. Even at 160 liters, the rails are mostly in the water. I can turn it from basically anywhere on the board.

It’s super capable:  With its tanker shape and size it catches pretty much anything that you think could be caught. Rail related, I had a shoulder high wave where I found myself floating on top… looking down, wondering how the hell this is going to work out… after a couple of seconds with me still up there, and I decided I’d drop and turn at the same time, and it worked.  The rail bit in and it took off.  The takeaway there is that the board is better than I am, so great for the ego.     

Rocker wise, the front is at a sweet spot where it either avoids or forgives pearling. I’ve happily watched the nose come up out of the water several times when I would have been toast in the past.  I also had a Stun Gun 10’2x32.5 @160. That was a nice board but appropriate for bigger waves than I surf.  That also had enough rocker that a few paddle strokes, when turning and catching a wave, would turn the board too far. The Destroyer in contrast allows me to stay on track and get up to speed without that overturning. The narrow rails also allow me to dig the paddle side rail in a bit to counter steer the board against the paddle’s effect if that makes sense.   I don’t feel like its pushing water when I paddle. Nor does it feel super glide-y. It's fast enough.     

Stability wise it’s easy. In chop it’s a little iffy, but you never fall. I think the little bit of instability is just because of the lack of battleship rails.  Volume wise, it doesn’t feel corky to me. I had a World Wide 9’9x33@171. That board felt corky, and it had volume out in wide rails. Plus I spend most of my time on 14’ flat water boards with 6” rails so maybe it’s just the contrast. 

It came with a 6” center fin and side bites, I’ve been using an 8” center that I like. Haven’t tried the smaller yet.

Paddle - Separately - I moved from a Werner 89” blade Rip Stick to a 79” blade Rip Stick.  I prefer the smaller blade. It is also has the narrow circumference shaft. That is also fine, but that shaft has a smaller handle accompanying it, which I suppose I can get used to, but it just feels like my hand overwhelms the handle. I should have gotten the standard circumference.   

Anyway… super stoked with the board. Because of where I live, sometimes months pass between surf sessions. So progress isn’t as fast if I could surf all the time. Maybe my needs will change as I get better, but I’m cool with this for the foreseeable future.       

10

Classifieds / WTB unlimited prone paddleboard

« on: January 25, 2020, 09:59:44 PM »

Does anyone have or have a line on a 16 -18 foot prone paddleboard for sale?
On the west coast? A friend is in the market...Thanks

11

Downwind and Racing / Jeremy "Maverick" Riggs - love this video

« on: September 27, 2019, 02:45:08 PM »

This made me smile ...

https://youtu.be/I0mL3s7Jicc

12

SUP General / Any ideas how to remove painted graphics from carbon paddle blade?

« on: September 09, 2019, 05:37:39 PM »

...without damaging the epoxy?

It’s a kids paddle... to be given to someone not fond of the flash...
Thx!

13

Random / Happy Labor Day

« on: September 02, 2019, 12:44:01 AM »

Hope lots of TOW for everyone...

14

Classifieds / Starboard Freeride - possible wing sup

« on: August 26, 2019, 04:50:46 PM »

Ok shamelessly leveraging the wing buzz... It’s supposedly a great windsurfing SUP, so good with a wing, too...

But in any case it’s a great board.  This is the first gen Freeride. I think it should go in the SUP board hall of fame. I’ve had four over the years.

It’s fast, sized right, handles anything thrown at it.

In Seattle, but I get around the region so could deliver.

$750
LENGTH:   12’2”
WIDTH:   30”
Electric Blue construction.

Video:
https://youtu.be/RLCAUZzctFA

15

Gear Talk / Move over wings - there’s a new kid in town

« on: August 12, 2019, 09:23:38 AM »

For advanced practitioners of the immobile arts: