Topics

1

Random / Erik Antonson interview with Stacy Peralta

« on: April 09, 2024, 06:36:30 PM »

Just when I thought the Progression Project couldn't get any better...
Whether your are a skater, surfer, SUPer, kiteboarder, foiler, do medication, there is something for everyone to appreciate in this interview. 
Loved it, gave me goose bumps. 
Highly recommend.
Enjoy...
https://www.podbean.com/site/EpisodeDownload/DIR1E1D5C376AN8Z
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-progression-project/id1206097336

2

Gear Talk / PaddleSurfHawaii 2024

« on: November 08, 2023, 07:35:08 PM »

For 2024, PSH has a new line of Rippers designed by Terry Chung:
7'7"   28"   4.25''        97 liters
8'1"   29.5"4.25''   117 liters
8'7"   30"   4.25''   127 liters
9'1"   30"   4.25''   133 liters
9'7"   31"   4.5''           147 liters

They come in two different kinds of construction. 
PX1 is composite Paulownia.
https://www.paddlesurfhawaii.com/products/2024-ripper-px1

The other type of construction is PCX which is composite Paulownia and Carbon Fiber.
https://www.paddlesurfhawaii.com/products/2024-ripper-pcx
For those not familiar with Terry Chung, he is a legendary waterman who previously designed boards for Laird Hamilton.

I for one am a big fan of the original PSH designs by Blane Chambers, especially the builds prior to Boardworks construction and before the fragile Bamboo construction.

3

Random / SUPs make awesome rescue devices

« on: October 20, 2023, 10:46:48 PM »

I know I am preaching to the choir...
I used to carry a SUP in my light wind kite arsenal to prevent getting skunked, but foiling has been so impactful, I have to admit that I have been traveling light with one kite, a foil board, and a surfboard in case the winds pick up.
This evening a woman was out and became separated from her board, then her kite ended up in the water.  The tide was high.  The current is not bad at this location.  I kept my eye on her and she was the last one out still in the water and we were losing daylight  She was making very little progress.  Thinking I sure wish I had my SUP.  I walk to the water with my surfboard when a pedestrian at the water's edge asked if I was going out to help the person in the water.  I said, I was thinking about it, but wished I had my SUP.  She said, I have a SUP and offered to let me borrow it. 
Paddled out to the very appreciative women in distress.  I help her onto the inflatable SUP and take control of her kite (proceed to disconnect the lines.  I put her in charge of winding up all the lines making sure nobody would get tangled.  I put the kite up in self rescue mode and started sailing back to shore with the two of us sitting on the board (something she neglected to try on her own (didn't know how).  We got about halfway in when the real fire rescue team met us on paddleboards.  One of them helped us paddle the rest of the way back to shore.
SUPS are awesome.  I wouldn't have been able to do anything with my shortboard.

4

Random / Magicseaweed - so long and thanks

« on: May 13, 2023, 06:56:45 AM »

Magicseaweed servers are shutting down on May 15 and being redirected to Surfline on May 15.
MSW will be missed.
I love the format and presentation of their website.  The fonts colors are black and easy on the eyes to read.  You can quickly scroll and get all the information you need, no need to use a mouse to hover.
First scroll down from the camera (I never look at cameras) and you are presented with current:
Wave Height Range
Wind Speed
Different Swells (Height & Interval)
Air & Sea Temp
Low & High Tide (Time and Depth)
First Light, Sunrise, Sunset, & Last LIght

Scroll Down and you can visually see the 7 day forecast
With each day you can see the projected wind at 6 am, noon, and 6 pm.
Windy days highlighted in red (wind sport days) and calmer days in green (surfing days).

Scroll Down and you can see the projected details (3h increments) for the day you are interested in:
Wave Height, Swell Rating, Primary Swell, Secondary Swell, Wind, Weather, Air Temp.
The forecast has been very reliable for my spot (Surfline model tends to over call and be wildly off on some days)
Example for those not familiar with the format:
https://web.archive.org/web/20230128024359/https://magicseaweed.com/Ocean-Beach-Surf-Report/255/

So long and thank you for all of the great forecasts.

5

Classifieds / 2015 Starboard WidePoint 8'10" Carbon SUP

« on: January 16, 2023, 05:45:21 PM »

If anyone is looking for a Starboard Widepoint 8'10" SUP, I have one for sale.
The Carbon construction is bomber at 18#.
Dimensions 8'10" x 32" x 4.2" 140L
Has connections for tail block handle installed.
Board is located in SF Bay Area.

6

The Shape Shack / DIY build of wood core hydrofoil wings with aluminum fuselage

« on: January 07, 2023, 11:11:39 AM »

Luke covers the complete build of a DIY wood core hydrofoil wing set with a DIY aluminum fuselage in a youtube series.
Here is a video of Luke testing his first v1 hydrofoil:

Her is a video of v2 test by Ryan Parsons:


Luke provided free plans of his v3 here:
https://flukeskitesurfing.com/hydrofoil-plans-v3

How to build:
#How to Build a Hydrofoil: Overview, Planning and Design (Video 1/15)

#How to build a Hydrofoil: Machine and Cutting Wing Outline's (Video 2/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Carving The Wing's Foil Shape (Video 3/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Wing Resin Sealer Coat (Video 4/15)

How to build a hydrofoil: Fibreglassing the Bottom Of Wings (Video 5/15)

How to build a Hydrofoil: Screw Holes and Trailing Edge Filling (Video 6/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Top Of Wing's Fibreglass Lamination (Video 7/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Wings Resin "Hot" Filler Coat 8/15

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Foil Wing Final Sand & Connection Holes (Video 9/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Fuselage - Design and drilling holes (Video10/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Fuselage - Shaping The Aluminum (Video 11/15)

How to Build a Hydrofoil: Fuselage - Tapping Threads (Video 12/15)

Coming Soon:
13. How to Build a Hydrofoil: Fuselage - Routing (Part 13)
14. How to Build a Hydrofoil: Assembly and Final Points. (Part 14)
15. How to Build a Hydrofoil: Riding it for the First Time. (Part 15)

These plans are most appropriate for kitesurfing.  But the build process is applicable to any size wing. 

7

Random / Using Image-J to quickly measure the area of a fin (or hydrofoil)

« on: January 01, 2023, 11:22:48 PM »

I thought I’d share what seems to be a quick and easy way to measure the area of a fin.  This could just be easily be used the area of a hydrofoil.

Futures fins typically lists the dimensions of their fins in the specification section.  In that you’ll find Area, Height, Base, & foil.  I find this very useful when comparing different fins.  But not all of my fins are futures.  How do you find the area of a fin that is not published? There are countless ways of measuring area.  But in the computer age, I wondered if there was an easy way to do this using a computer, that may actually be quicker. 

If you work with microscopes you may be familiar with a program called ImageJ.  In that program, you set a reference length, then you take a measurement.  Here is an example video:

Available free here:
https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/download.html

To measure the area of a fin we need: a picture with a reference length.
To test this program, I took a picture of a fin on graph paper (10 squares/inch).
#If you have a printer, you can print your own graph paper, see https://print-graph-paper.com/
#note graph paper isn’t necessary, just convenient.
I pre-measured the height of the fin, and the length of the base with a ruler.  I opened the picture in Image J. 
With the straight line tool, I drew from top of the fin to the base (base is where the fin meets the glass, ie. Top of fin box).

Analyze/Set Scale, I type in the known distance (height of fin).
With the straight line tool, I drew from the front of the fin to the back of the fin along the base.
Analyze/Measure: Look at the length of each measurement to see that it agrees with base length.
To measure the area, you select the freehand tool and trace the fin. 

Since my fin is on graph paper, I have reference for area.  I traced around blocks of 10 squares by 10 squares.  I used the zoom feature for this.
Analyze/Measure:  This gave me the area I was expecting, cool.
Next measure the area of the fin:
With the freehand tool, carefully trace around the perimeter of the fin. 
Analyze/Measure:  Look at the Area in the units of your measurement.  Mine was in the ballpark of what I was expecting compared to fins of known area.

Next I looked at an online picture of a Need Essential fin.  They only publish the height and base lengths, but do have a picture of the fin next to a scale (i.e ruler).  Can Image J be used to measure the area of a screenshot? 
https://www.needessentials.com/collections/accessories/products/8-single-fin
I took a screenshot of fin with the scale.  I opened the screenshot in image J.  With the straight line tool, I measured from the top of the fin to the base. 
Analyze/Set Scale, I enter in the known distance (height of fin).
With the straight line tool, I drew from front of the fin to the back of the fin along the base.
Analyze/Measure: Look at the length of each measurement to see that it agrees with base length.
Next I selected the freehand tool and traced the fin (don’t include the area of the fin that is inside the fin box.
Analyze/Measure:  Look at the Area in the results measurement.  Again the measurement was in the ballpark of what I was expecting.

If you want to easily convert units, check out:
https://www.convertunits.com/from/sq+mm/to/square+inch

#At first I looked into programs like vector drawing programs like Inkscape.  Too complicated and takes too long.  Then I looked at CAD programs like Librecad, same problem. 

If you have an easy way of measuring area that you like to use, please feel free to share.  And happy new year.

8

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Sciatica pain: What to avoid and what to do

« on: December 29, 2022, 01:55:53 PM »

Knight Wing's recent post which led me to this video:


In it there is a link to this video for sciatica pain:


There is also a video for inner knee pain (see first video for link).

I fractured my sacrum two years ago which led to a year of sciatica pain.  What I noticed is stretching made it worse.  Over time I found that strengthening the glutes helped.  These exercises look like a gentle way to strengthen the glutes without aggravating the lower back.

9

SUP General / SUP Surf Volume and Width - how much is too much?

« on: December 28, 2022, 09:13:12 PM »

sp25 8’8 "138l [gf=1.39]
sp25 8’11" 150l [gf=1.52]
sp25 9’5" 177l [gf=1.79]
sp24 9’7” 173l  [gf=1.74]
gf= guild factor (volume of board in L/ weight of rider in kg)

https://www.blueplanetsurf.com/blogs/news/sup-board-volume-recommendation-chart/

beginner [gf = 2.2-3]
novice/int in rough conditions [gf= 1.8- 2.2]
adv surfing [gf = 1.3-1.8]
expert surfing/pro [gf = 1.1-1.3]

My two cents is Rick's board test agrees with "SUP Board Volume Recommendation".  A 99kg rider may be comfortable a range 49L for an advanced surfer, 39L of range for an intermediate surfer, and 29L of range for an expert (or more for a rider who rides negative volume).

In my experience where you start feeling volume distribution is in rough conditions when water & wind is pushing on the board.  In offshore wind you can feel the width of wider boards.  Shorter riders can get by with less width imo.

10

Random / Storing stinky gear

« on: February 06, 2022, 01:31:44 PM »

I got to the point that I don't want to smell surf gear in my vehicle  This is the the solution that I came up with, Rubbermaid Action Packer:
https://www.rei.com/product/634286/rubbermaid-action-packer-8-gal

For now I am mainly storing my booties and less than fresh rash guards, along with misc other gear.  The 8 gal can easily fit the Neosport Explorer boots (and all of my other foot gear).

With SUP/surfboards it is challenging to use storage boxes on top of the vehicle.  I looked into getting a hitch and hitch storage but the price started going up fast, whereas this Rubbermaid Action Packer fulfills the job of keeping my vehicle from getting stinky.
I still hang dry my gear, but put the booties back in the action packer to keep odors down.
I like using limestone neoprene products in the winter as they dry much faster.

11

The Shape Shack / Gorilla glue diy pour foam

« on: January 18, 2022, 05:12:03 PM »

I have been using this technique to make gorilla glue foam:

I like that the gorilla glue cures faster and has smaller bubbles.
But sometimes, it expands more than I would like.
I recently came across this instructable, where Andy Callaway mixes gorilla glue with corn starch:
https://www.instructables.com/Gorilla-Glue-Foam/
This gives a rigid product that is fairly easy to spread, and dries with a very rigid surface.
I also experimented with premixing the corn starch with water, or vinegar, but that lead to an inferior product.  I definitely recommend just adding corn starch neat.  I would say the benefit of this technique is it doesn't foam as much as the above (vinegar/baking soda) technique, which could be useful for thin patches (< 1 cm) where you don't want to waste a lot of epoxy & q cell, which can be a little runny.  The jury is out on which is lighter.
I was trying to make a product similar to this foam putty:
https://www.amazon.com/Horizon-Hobby-Woodland-Scenics-WOOST1447/dp/B0006NARV8/ref=asc_df_B0006NARV8/
Inspired by this repair video:

12

Random / Omicron is here

« on: January 12, 2022, 04:50:43 PM »

In California, we are seeing a spike of cases since New Years.  I would like to share my opinion in the chance that it may help prevent you and your loved ones from getting this virus.

I have been an essential worker since covid started and always felt safe wearing a mask.  That is no longer the case with omicron. 

What we are seeing is omicron spread like the flu, regardless of mask compliance, vaccinations/ boosters.  The eye opening trend i am seeing first hand is:
1) Omicron is not prevented with regular masks.
2) Omicron is not prevented by vaccination. 
3) Omicron is not prevented by the booster.

I am of the opinion that the best prevention of omicron is wearing a n95 or kn95 mask.  If you don't have access to a n95/kn95 mask, I would encourage you to double mask.  Help prevent another lockdown by preventing the spread of omicron.

Did you go anywhere yesterday and spend >5 min around someone who may have been exposed in the last 48-72h?  In 48 h, you may start showing symptoms.  In 72 h, you will have a fever.  Early symptoms are body aches, feeling tired, runny nose.  The 3 day incubation comes with a fever.  The days to follow are a sore throat which gradually gets worse but may start to show relief 6 days after the initial fever.

Friends don't let friends get omicron.

13

Gear Talk / Stinky booties (high top), drying hack

« on: October 04, 2021, 10:27:13 AM »

This is my current approach for high top booties:
Hang dry, allow for evaporation. 

1) Use scissors to poke a hole every 1/2".  Peel off bottom.  Slide the cup into the ankle cuff of the boot (small side first).  Obviously do not use a lid.
2)  Hang dry (I hang by toes to encourage water to travel to heels).
Benefits: It appears to allow for evaporation.
My previous approach was to fold the ankle booties, then hand dry by toes.  Eventually, the boot would smell and I would pour in a little ammonia.  The ammonia would remove the smell but I am not convinced that it is good for the glue.
p.s. Another approach is to fold the boot inside out.

14

Gear Talk / Resource: What length should my SUP paddle be?

« on: September 22, 2021, 08:05:55 AM »

I am in the market for a paddle.  Over the years I have been going shorter.  This has helped my shoulder, but at the expense of my lower back.  Now I ask myself the question, do I continue to go shorter for more performance?  Or do I go longer to spare my back?  I ask myself the question, where am I in relative paddle length to my height, compared to other riders?  I came across this great resource by BlackProjectSup.
https://blackprojectsup.com/sup-paddles/how_to_choose_and_customize_your_sup_paddle/what-length-should-my-sup-paddle-be/

They break down discipline, rider height, and volume of board (which affects how high you are above the waterline).
The data reaffirmed where I have landed on my own with paddle length.
Thought others might find this chart useful.
p.s.  Also I would like to thank Supthecreek for his valuable input.

15

Technique / Prone paddling out over breaking waves

« on: September 20, 2021, 11:11:57 AM »

Anyone use this technique?

https://supboardermag.com/2020/09/19/prone-paddling-over-waves-with-a-sup-how-to-sup-surf-video/
You place the back of the blade against the board at an angle to the nose of the board, and the shaft goes under your shoulder.  You sit on the board, with the nose up, and pop over the wave.

Or how about this technique, Method A?

https://www.theseasonedsurfer.com/prone-paddling-sup-beginner-tips/
You place the blade between your legs and lie on the shaft with the handle near the nose of the board.

The technique that I have been using is Method B here.

https://www.theseasonedsurfer.com/prone-paddling-sup-beginner-tips/
You place the front of the blade against the board and make a sandwich with your chest and the board, with the handle facing the nose of the board.
I tend to use this technique when there is strong onshore wind and the interval between waves is short.
But I have discovered a flaw in this method B technique.  I recently discovered a crack in my carbon shaft, (located on the side of the front of the blade).  Theory as to how the damage occurred to follow.   Next, I reverted to DIY wooden paddles.  While going over a wave, the nose tilts up, then as I drop down the back of the wave, the shaft would snap towards the deck of the board, while my weight is on the blade.  That stress was enough to fracture the wood in the blade (note: the epoxy joint holding the shaft to the blade was unaffected).  I then came in and repeated the process with another wood DIY paddle.  Two snapped paddles in one session, both broke the same way.  Then I got to thinking about my carbon paddle, the carbon is stronger than the wood, so the failure happened at a different location, where the shaft whacked the deck of my board.  Now I am thinking I need to employ a new technique while prone paddling out to the lineup.  Does anyone care to share their preferred prone paddling technique to get back to the lineup with breaking waves, perhaps one of the techniques mentioned above, or perhaps something different.
p.s. I am aware of standup and knee paddle techniques, mainly just interested in prone here.
Thanks.