Topics

1

NorthEast / Maine shop Closing

« on: December 06, 2016, 11:42:51 AM »

Soposup will be closing its doors at the end of January.  All paddles and boards are 35% OFF.  Prices on the Inventory page are already marked down (does not include Kialoa, Werner and QB paddles).  www.soposup.com

2

NorthEast / Big surf in Maine yesterday

« on: February 10, 2016, 10:44:25 AM »

https://www.facebook.com/Skylabmaine/?fref=nf

Hopefully I'm not breaking any rules linking a Facebook post.  If I did I'm sure admin will nuke the post

was very fun, super clean with size. 

Raf

3

Downwind and Racing / end of year video

« on: September 04, 2015, 12:21:45 PM »

Our race series wrapped up last weekend.  This video captures the casual, fun vibe really well.  It shows footage from about 7 of the 13 saturday races.  Luke, aka Board Stiff was lucky/deserving enough to win the grand prize, an SIC x-14 Pro.  Can't wait for next season!

4

SUP General / fun morning with Mo Freitas

« on: August 11, 2015, 04:19:30 PM »

A lot of you guys know who Mo Freitas is.  I only knew him as the poster boy for Focus, and from a bunch of pics posted here and in the mags. 
This morning, I had the honor and privilege of spending a few hours with Mo.  He is on a meet and greet tour of shops that carry his sponsors' brands, Focus and Body Glove.  It was his first time to Maine, and I was hoping to show him a little of what we have here.  Unfortunately, the clean surf was yesterday, and the weather this morning turned to crap and a beach demo/racing clinic was not going to happen.  But we did have a good bunch of wind, and conditions on the water were getting worse and worse by the minute....Time for a downwinder!
None of the usual suspects were able to join us, so the 2 of us launched alone for a 5.5 mile run off the southern point of Cape Elizabeth and headed north towards the Portland Head Light. 
What a treat!  We only had about 15-18 knots of wind, but there was a sizable short period swell perfectly in line with the wind, and we had an awesome time sharing bumps, me paddling hard to keep up, him effortlessly steering his way from bump to bump, turning a rudderless board on a dime, never losing his balance.
I've been lucky to paddle with a few really talented, fast paddlers, but this guy is on another level. 
You guys out in Hawaii are very, very lucky to live where you do. 
/respect to all Hawaiian watermen
PS.  I'll post some pics as soon as I get them

5

Gear Talk / 2015 Starboard Pro 8-0 x 28"

« on: June 29, 2015, 10:15:35 AM »

Had my Pro out this morning for the 1st time.  Conditions were chest to slightly OH sets every 5 minutes.  Very clean waves, nothing scary.  First 30 minutes I was worried the board felt corky and maybe too big, which didn't make sense since I could barely stand on it (I'm 170lbs).  Switch to half surf stance fixed the balance issue.  The next hour was filled with some of the most fun SUP-surfing I have experienced.  Board felt just like a short surfboard.  I have it finned out with stock fins; 4.5" sides, 5.5" center.  I am curious to try it as a proper thruster. 
I had the 2013 pro in same dimensions, and this one feels much better to me.  Easier to get into waves.  I always seemed to get my foot over the handle on the 2013 model.  Wasn't an issue with this model.  I believe the 2015 28" Pro has about 5 more liters volume than the 2013.  Great board.

6

SUP General / Maine's Maliko

« on: October 08, 2014, 10:18:55 AM »

We had some solid conditions for a downwinder yesterday.  This spot needs a south wind.  Its about a 6 mile run beach to beach.  Most of the time we get a groundswell from the east that messes with the set up, but if the wind comes from the north, the run can be even better in reverse.  Here are some pics:

7

Gear Talk / 2015 New Race board from Starboard

« on: September 23, 2014, 07:25:08 AM »

I had a chance to look at the new Race from Starboard last week.  Looks like a really fast board.  It is supposed to take the speed elements from the Sprint and blend them with the "user-friendliness" of the All-star (Starboard's wording)  I was surprised at the extreme concave of the bottom at the rear, as well as the oversized drain holes.  Overall the board seems pretty flat.  Another interesting thing was the overall plan shape of the board, with a pronounced "hip" at the standing area, and then tapering aggressively towards the nose and tail.  Anyhow, judge for yourselves:

PS. apologies for the sideways pics...they don't load that way when I import them.  Dunno why they came out that way on here.  Click on them and they will reload in the proper orientation.

Raf
Starboard dealer
owner of Soposup (the Maine shop with a LOT of 12-6s and 14s, many lightly used 2014 models)
www.soposup.com

8

SUP General / Latest Northeast swell

« on: August 30, 2014, 09:52:56 AM »

We had about 36 hours of great surf up here in Maine.  I know Mass and RI got great waves too.  Here's maybe the 2nd wave I caught on day 1.  post yours

9

Gear Talk / 2 fast 12-6s (pic)

« on: July 11, 2014, 06:35:34 AM »

I thought I'd post a side-by-side pic of a couple boards we got in the shop this week.  I'm trying to decide between them on a ride for myself. 
The Fanatic is very narrow, very fast and extremely slippery.  You can get it catching mini-pseudo bumps with one stroke.  I paddled it for about an hour and loved it on the flats.  Then I took it into heavy Ocean chop with backwash and just terrible conditions (Cushings backside for those who know what that means )  and it was awful.  To be fair, the other person I was with was on a 28" X-12 and they had a terrible time too. 
I've taken the 28" X-12 out for 20 minutes on flatwater and was very impressed with glide and ease of use.  Thats something I find with all SICs I have been on...they feel very organic and intuitive.  At 167lbs plus or minus, I would opt for the X-12 Pro, which is what you see in the pic.  Same board, just narrower.

Both these boards are for sale

Raf
owner of Soposup
SIC and Fanatic dealer
www.soposup.com

10

NorthEast / Race Skills Clinic with Jessica Rando, Portland Maine

« on: June 02, 2014, 06:13:55 PM »

Jessica Rando will be coming to South Portland, Maine on July 12th to give a couple clinics before our regularly scheduled Saturday afternoon race.  At 1pm she will give a stroke clinic.  Then at 2:45 she will give a race strategies and techniques clinic, covering things such as beach starts, buoy turns, drafting, etc.  Jessica came to Maine last summer and competed in the Lobster SUP Cup with Larry Cain, and promptly won 1st place in women's division, adding another accolade to an already impressive professional paddling career going back as far as 2002.  Each clinic costs $75, doing both together costs $125 and will also include registration into the weekly Cushings Island Race Series. 
On Sunday July 13th, she will hold a women only introductory clinic on Paddle-fitness.  This 1hour 15 minute clinic will start at 9am.  Boards will be available for rent through the shop.  This is a unique opportunity to improve your skills with a really fantastic teacher without spending a lot of money or having to go very far from home.  Sessions will top out at 10 people, so reserve your spot early if this is something you want to do.
Please contact me for more info and/or to sign up.

Raf
soposup@gmail.com
207-317-0425 

11

NorthEast / Portland, Maine Summer Races

« on: May 16, 2014, 12:46:49 PM »

Finally got the flyers done for the upcoming race series.  These are weekly races in Portland Maine.  For more info, contact the shop @ soposup@gmail.com or check out the race facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CushingSUP?ref=hl

12

Downwind and Racing / 2014 Cushings Island Race Series (Portland, Maine)

« on: May 16, 2014, 12:45:24 PM »

Finally got the flyers done for the upcoming race series.  These are weekly races in Portland Maine.  For more info, contact the shop @ soposup@gmail.com or check out the race facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CushingSUP?ref=hl

13

The Shape Shack / Painting a fixer-uper

« on: March 18, 2014, 12:50:00 PM »

So I've glued the 2 halves back together, splined them up nice, reglassed, faired it all well enough with 410, and now I want to prime it by hand and fill in all the smaller scratches.  I may simply sand this down nice and then apply another coat by hand and sand to matt 400 grit finish.  What should I use to
a) fill the scratches and get a white primer coat on (don't tell me squeegee epoxy with cabosil plz)
b) get a hard, pretty durable topcoat I can sand to 400 and be done with

Thanks for advice.

14

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Mainers going to Hawaii!

« on: January 30, 2014, 07:51:25 PM »

My shop partner and a couple of her friends are heading to Hawaii next month. 

"We're staying at the Westin Ocean Resort Villas in Ka'anapali - closest town with rentals is about 5 miles away called Lahaina I was told. I'm super excited!"

I don't know anything about the islands, but if anyone has any tips or can help point these ladies in the right direction that would be awesome.  Looks like they are about 20miles from Maliko?  What do they need to do to get someone to take them? 

15

Gear Talk / Tom Carrol's SUP

« on: October 29, 2013, 09:02:59 AM »

Does anyone have any info or insights on this very unusual shape?  It makes a ton of sense.  I've never seen anything like it (the cut in rails towards the rear).  I got a block of foam downstairs....