Topics

1

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   

2

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!

3

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

4

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

5

Downwind and Racing / Up North SUP

« on: October 03, 2017, 07:10:04 AM »

We will be vacationing near Traverse City, Michigan next summer, and I am pondering hanging around for a couple extra days to do the "Up North SUP" race in Beulah & Frankfort, MI:

http://upnorthsup.com/

Just wondering if anyone has been there in past years, and can comment if it's a good enough event that it's worth hanging around for a few extra days to do the race, if we're already nearby...

6

Downwind and Racing / Downwind vs. upwind

« on: October 02, 2017, 05:53:58 PM »

I paddle mostly on a small inland lake, so "downwind" for me is not what most of you probably think of with that term - but for me that means going in the same direction as the wind, with little 6-12" ripples on the water, 1-2 feet apart.  Some days there is a breeze on the lake, some days not.. but what I find is, if it is windy, I much prefer paddling INTO the wind, rather than with it or "downwind".

I'm sure relative to the land I am going faster downwind, but because the water is moving faster than me, it feels like a real slog getting any speed going.  On the other hand, going against the wind, since the water is moving past me, the "on the water" speed feels much faster, and I feel like I'm really zipping along.  I love that feeling.

This isn't really a question, just an observation I had while out today, and I wonder if anybody feels the same?

7

Gear Talk / What to wear in the Fall?

« on: September 11, 2017, 12:07:50 PM »

What do you wear to paddle in cooler temperatures?

I paddle mostly on inland lakes in Ohio, never more than 800 ft from shore... I hardly ever fall, only if I'm attempting something fancy like a pivot turn... I'm not gonna paddle in freezing temps, but my bare feet are starting to get cold when the air temp is < 60 degrees. 

I'm thinking something like NRS "hydroskin" pants and boots/socks is all I need, just to shed some water drops and keep my feet warm, vs a full wet-suit if I was surfing or something like that...

Thoughts or other recommendations?

- Thanks, Kevin

8

SUP General / Best SUP images from Harvey

« on: August 31, 2017, 02:20:07 PM »

I like this one - anybody else find any?

9

Technique / Tracking Tips

« on: August 28, 2017, 12:06:18 PM »

Let's hear your best tips for paddling straight (assuming it's a flatwater race).

How many paddles-per-side should I shoot for before switching?  I know it depends a lot on board size - I have an 11'6"x30".

Fin Placement: Is farthest back always the best?  Or does it vary depending on the board and rider?  Do I need to experiment?

Paddling technique - I've heard it possible to basically paddle on one side indefinitely with the right paddle stroke, but I've never managed it.. can you really go "out to in" and still get good overall speed?

Any other secret tips?

- Thanks, Kevin

10

Gear Talk / Boards & Speed

« on: August 28, 2017, 12:00:21 PM »

I've been paddling and comparing 2 boards for about a month now:  a 10'x33" inflatable (all-around), my 11'6"x30" Pau Hana (displacement type).  The inflatable is the easiest to paddle at slow cruising speeds on flat water.  Very little effort, and I could go all day.  But it feels like it has a maximum top speed, beyond which it is impossible to drive it.

The Pau Hana, on the other hand, takes more work to go at slow speeds, but feels like it will move faster if I paddle hard and fast.  It's also better when it's windy - seems not to get pushed around as much.

This is kind of surprising to me, 'cause I figured a board that's easier to paddle at slow speeds, would also be easier to paddle fast.  Does that seem at reasonable, or is it all in my head?

11

Gear Talk / Boards on a roof

« on: August 22, 2017, 11:55:57 AM »

How many boards can you transport safely at one time on a basic car roof rack (cross bars with padding)?

I figure you can strap the bottom board to the cross bars, put some foam tubes on top of that, then strap the next board to the next lower one. 

How many times can you do this?  2 / 3 /4 ??

- Thanks, Kevin

12

Gear Talk / What size paddle?

« on: August 17, 2017, 06:28:06 PM »

I'm looking to upgrade my paddle soon.  On my current paddle, if I pull easy, it seems right.  But when I try to paddle hard, with power, it feels like I get a lot of water "spilling" off the sides of the paddle and thus losing efficiency.  So I feel like I need a bigger paddle.

But it seems like most of the racing paddles are actually smaller than the "rec" paddles.  So maybe it's my paddling technique?

Is there a good rule of thumb for paddle size, or is it just personal preference, try a bunch out and see what works for you?

- Thanks, Kevin

13

Downwind and Racing / Rec racing

« on: August 16, 2017, 11:44:30 AM »

I just started paddleboarding this summer... been going for about 2 months now, every chance I get.

I thought it'd be fun to enter a local 2 mile recreational race, and I'd like to anticipate how much I'll embarrass myself  .

Right now I can do a mile in about 15 mins on a local lake, +/- depending on wind.  I wonder if this is low / high / average for a recreational race?     

Pretty sure I'll have fun either way, but it might be easier to come in last if I'm expecting it...

- Thanks, Kevin

14

The Shape Shack / Repair

« on: August 14, 2017, 04:27:34 PM »

I'll preface this by saying I have zero experience with repairing boards, but I am somewhat handy as a woodworker.

Is this a "ding" that is just cosmetic, or a "crack" that I need to fill with expoxy and repair? 

If it needs repairs, any tips or recommendations?

- Thanks, Kevin

15

Gear Talk / Pau Hana LL Bean Edition

« on: August 14, 2017, 07:48:08 AM »

I've got a line what seems like a good end of season deal on a Pau Hana "LL Bean edition" paddle board. 

11'6" x 30" wide x 6" deep, Displacement hull, recessed deck, 26 lbs. 

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/88144?page=llbean-seahawk-stand-up-paddleboard-116in

I live in Ohio, so no waves other than Lake Erie, and plan on doing mostly fun and fitness paddeling on large lakes, which sometimes get windy and choppy.

Anybody know anything about this board?  Wondering if this is a good fit for me.  Price is 40% off, I'm not really attached to the baby blue color, or the advertising, but seems like a good chance to save $600 (and put towards a nice paddle...).

Anything anyone knows or can guess about this board would be helpful.