Topics

1

Gear Talk / SIC Maui Fish 8'8" ...anybody?

« on: September 13, 2014, 10:05:34 AM »

Hi to all

I've been looking at this 8'8" x 29.75" board on my local shop for awhile. It's clean lines and thin rails are quite attractive, as well as it's fish shape and wide tail. Plus, it's a SIC.

Very curious about it's volume, stated at 110 L. Since it's rocker is so flat and it carries width into it's tail, with a very subtle V back there, one might think it could be more stable at rest (waiting for the wave) than it's volume suggests. And i can be wrong too. 

I understand, as per SIC's catalog for 2015, that a bigger fish, at 9'5 and some 145 L, is in the plan.

Has anybody surfed this 8'8" or the 9'5" for instance ?

Thanks and be well
 

2

Downwind and Racing / 2013 Amundson TRX 14 -durability ?

« on: July 13, 2014, 09:01:51 AM »

After a long time away from dw adventures, mostly concentrating on sup surf due to long time issues with a recalcitrant old shoulder injury, i had the pleasure of returning to action.
I used a rental 2013 Amundson 14. The course was short, perfect test of my shoulder rehab status, winds at around 15 kt and seas 1-2 ft.
I was pleased with the board's behavior on the course, since it was capable of catching little runners and glide for quite some time. Even though it feels a bit slow to react upon acceleration and benefits from active walking to trim, it kept a nice average speed, to my peer's dismal (on the 6 km course, it came ahead of a Bark Laird 14', a Bullet 14' and 2 Bark Expedition 14').  The board has a very interesting rocker line, and it doesn't pearl at all on the short period bumps, displacing water on the bow without losing momentum. It tracks like on rails, even with the stock hatchet fin, it never broached, even though some times i stood ahead of the handle to get it into runs.

It does have some down points, not big issues though. I feel it has a bit too much volume for me at 175 lbs, since it rocked in reaction to the diagonal ground swell, although i didn't fall off, since it's secondary stability is very good. Or maybe this behavior is caused by it's boxy and sharp rails. Along those lines, the board, since it tracks so well, on the marginal wind and sea conditions, took a bit more energy to redirect on the runs.

I noticed, since it's a rental board, that it was pretty banged up and patched, not very meticulously, and i suspected it had absorbed water through one of those injuries, specially the soft-feeling ones.

When i returned it to the shop, the owner offered to repair it and sell it to me, at a bargain price. I do fear that the long time mistreatment it's been subjected to on rentals has caused hidden damage to the board and in the long run, may be cause for concern.

I would like to return to ocassional dw runs, since my shoulder is much better now, this is a good opportunity to get a board that goes dw well, at a great price. Any thoughts on the durability of this board?

Thanks for reading, be well !

3

Sessions / A short vacation south- Puerto Rico

« on: November 15, 2013, 04:01:05 PM »

Escaped ! Guanica town, south of the island, hot and dry weather, clear days and lots of water time....sup and swimming...  Area also has nice mountain bike trails (rain soaked last week) hiking trails and nice roads for longboard skating...!
Now we need a vacation to recover....LoL

4

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / A nosey fin

« on: September 22, 2013, 12:43:58 PM »

Got this fin -FCS Fluid Foils Fatboy 10"- wishing for easier noseriding on my break's small/weak surf. I'm on a Surftech Takayama 11' x 28.5....
Fin behaves differently to the stock 9" dolphin from the start, making the board a little tippier while at rest and while patrolling around for a wave. Once on the wave, the board became looser and tighter turning...but this isn't what I needed (although not unwelcome)....yes, it actually made the board faster when walking forward past the handle and beyond, whereas with the stock fin I either required a steeper section or a bigger wave to avoid the nose dive while walking beyond the handle. It even allowed to continue dancing upfront while gliding after the wave died.
Seems this fin helps to surf the board from up front, keeping the board trimmed, also allowing for slight direction changes.
I'm no noseriding expert not affiliated to the fin manufacturer. For the record, I'm 180 lbs and the board I'm surfing (in waist to chest mush) is 162 liters.
May all be well....and nosing ahead

5

Random / Mountain bikers, show your bikes....

« on: June 14, 2013, 07:21:14 PM »

As a continuation to the conversation on clipped riding, let's see what types bikes of bars, tires, frames, etc we all have

All mtbker couples welcome !

Single speed Jamis 29er, steel, rigid. 32 x 19 (mostly)...

And a classic at the end....any thoughts, DJ ?

6

Gear Talk / Surf zone safe gear

« on: February 07, 2013, 07:09:03 AM »

I've already seen some peers using helmets in the surf zone. Even though i haven't seen actual flotation been worn, i wouldn't say they weren't using it. This trend starts to be noticed in crowded lineups, lower tides and rockier bottoms.

A wetsuit vest gives some marginal flotation. A short sleeve vest is what i can manage in our tropical waters. Thicker or sleeved, and i'll fry.

On the other end of the spectrum, a pfd would be ideal to float an unconscious person head up but i feel there has to be a less obstructive way of aiding the body to stay afloat or emerge from the depths with less stress, a vest to increase flotation without hindering movement.

Has anyone tried a similar concept to this?
http://www.bodyglove.com/products/pfds/

CO2 inflatable systems look very promising as long as one can deploy them (and they inflate).

Our whitewater peers could shed some light in this respect too.

Thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

7

Sessions / Flatwater bliss

« on: April 15, 2012, 07:30:16 AM »

 I share some pictures of our excellent 3 hr session yesterday. Flatwater, mangrove coastline and cays. Salinas Puerto Rico.
We paddled in the last few hours before a cold front arrived, conditions started sunny and the wind was very light...almost no powerboats in the area ! Within hours, thunder, gusty winds and rain changed the panorama.

In all, it was a blissful session....Who says flatwater is boring?

We certainly don't think so !

Enjoy

8

Downwind and Racing / Starboard ACE 14' x 25" first impressions in brushed carbon

« on: February 12, 2012, 06:31:31 PM »

Well, it has finally arrived 

After reading, researching, watching and asking, i pulled the trigger and after some weeks of anxiety, it has arrived ! Not without 2 beautiful pencil sized punctures underneath, thanks to the charismatic treatment it was subjected to while in transit. Punctures repaired and claim under way, it was time to test.

I chose a secluded, mangrove lined bay in the south coast of Puerto Rico, by the town of Salinas. Please see attached picture. I just wanted to be sure to test this board in calm conditions to get the feel for it. Thankfully, the wind that day was light, no more than 10 knots with some better gusts but no whitecaps.

In flat water: After some initial tipiness management which lasted around 10 minutes, i started to feel confident in this board's excellent secondary stability. Primary stability is comfortable for a 25" wide board, but I had to pay attention, specially at low speed. Interestingly, once over 5 kph, the board feels quite stable and urges one to power on.
I noticed how well this shape tracks with a beam wind. A little counter steering with paddle and leeward rail pressure and side winds were effectively dealt with.

In open waters: Ater 3 kms of paddlng I approached a section of open waters of about 1 km, in which 10 knot winds were blowing at about 45 degree angle to the bow and chop (1 ft ) threatened to change intended course, which was to a small offshore cay. Even facing several sections of confused waters due to boat wakes, it was easy to keep intended course and balance was never an issue. Did i mention this board is incredibly stiff? Hitting some bumps head on, i never noticed any vibration whatsoever !

"Downwind": i quote the word downwind here since the wind was so light, but, since small windswell could be used to one's advantage, may it qualify? Anyway, i feared stability would be an issue once running with the swell, but my worries were quickly dispelled once i set course for a 2.4 km section...downwind. Never did i need to slide my feet back in the footwells, which, by the way, were very comfy, and that bulbous nose just floats over the ramps ahead! The board averaged 8-9 kph and connected the tiny ramps so easily.

What else? I plan on a paddle session on my local inlet where ocean swell comes in through a small opening, after breaking on a shallow reef and reforming. All this with strong side to on shore winds. Quite a testing area !
Pictures coming soon...

I must thank Gary Stone from Paddleboard Specialists for having the patience to deal with my research process and all of my questioning, finding me an excellent deal on a new board and relieving my anxiety after showing him the puncture pictures.

May all be well

9

Technique / Hip thrust ? Rotation? Paddle angle?

« on: January 30, 2012, 04:23:08 PM »

Hi to all !

I found this technical advice and wanted to share it with you all and, most importantly, hear your comments on it.

Taken from an OC technique conference, by Kamini Jain. I feel that her credentials speak for themselves: http://www.rightangleperformance.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=65


In the video the presenter (Kamini Jain)explains that, once extension happens at the hips, with added rotation on the vertical axis, there's incremental power on the paddle, but it quickly fades into a negative angle because of rotation.
She exposes how timing the hip extension before the rotation helps to extract more power from the blade's positive angle.
 
This thread might be seen as a continuation to "Conner's style" http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=13521.0

May the discussion and brainstorming continue !
 

10

Travel, Trips, Destinations / SUP rentals in Schuylkill - Philly ?

« on: June 24, 2011, 04:30:04 PM »

Hello fellow paddlers

Will be visiting Philly next week and would love to paddle in the Schuylkill. I am aware there's a vast paddling community there, rowers, oc, dragonboats, kayaking, etc....
Is there any place around Boathouse Row that would rent sup's?
I will be staying nearby.

Many thanks

jd

11

SUP General / SUP'er rescues stranded frigate bird

« on: June 12, 2010, 09:46:35 AM »

Hello to all

Please read the following text in which a friend of mine, recently converted from sitting paddling to sup, describes how he rescued a stranded frigate bird.

While SUP (standuppaddleboarding) yesterday 7 am, I discovered a young
frigate bird  (about 6 foot wingspan for adult) hanging limp and
exhausted from a mangroove limb by a fishline tangled up in the
mangrooves, and a fishhook thru his tongue  ( I know, yuck!)   Almost
impossible to disentangle him standing on a 12 foot paddleboard with
him 8 feet above me, but  I managed to snag the line with the paddle,
break it, and the bird fell into the ocean. still had a little life in
him, so I took out the hook  (double yuck, but his bites weren't that
bad), pulled about 20 yards of line thru the tongue, and tucked him
under my arm and paddled kayak style to home, some 600 yards.   put
him in a dog carrier to immobilize and catch his strength, and after
an hour, took him out to dry off more, and he seemed to be strong
enough to flap, but certainly not to "take off" from a treebranch.
So we "dried him out a bit" by flapping, and then a stronger wind came
up and we launched him.  He found an updraft to hang out on and get
his bearings.  Saw him later in the day near the house, recognizable
as the young ones have white heads, and his tail feathers were still
rather askew and barely working.  But, he made it. sniff....  jr
Nature's best.

As you all can see, sup paddling brings us closer to nature, and this rare opportunities, which under other circumstances would be missed, are ours to make true.

Allow me to add that my friend has to be happier since starting up paddleboarding because his wife, not a morning person, now gets out of bed early to go with him ! 

12

Downwind and Racing / Bark Expedition 14

« on: May 10, 2010, 04:17:03 PM »

Hello to all paddlers. Among those who have paddled the Bark Expedition, what is the consensus regarding it's performance? Not much said about it elsewhere, ... it's shape looks quite promising for a range of conditions, say, 15knot downwinds, flat distance, even small surf.  Thanks to all, see you on the water !