Topics

1

Prone Foiling, Surf foiling, Pump Foiling / Dock Start Help

« on: April 28, 2023, 01:34:35 PM »

So, I have watched countless YouTube videos, made my own foil and board, and been out three times now. I no longer look like a compilation of dock start fails when I go out, but I am still falling after pumping the board just a few times. I was hoping someone out there could answer a few questions I thought of after my last session. I have no other foil experience and I realize that makes this much harder but I have no access to a boat to be towed by and I haven't finished the wingfoil board I am making yet.

1. Foil placement and foot placement. What does one get from having the foil farther back/forward and how does that change where your back foot goes.

2. Front foot placement. Often when I fall now I feel like I am not getting the nose of the board down enough and my pumping is pretty ineffectual. I am assuming I need to move my front foot farther forward, but was hoping for some insight there as well.

I will try to post a video later if I can, but my first three sessions have been on my own.

For what its worth I am using the foil I built from this kit https://www.clearwaterfoils.com/products/pump-v1-kit

and the board I am on is one I made as well. I modeled off of the Slingshot Dwarf Craft )https://slingshotsports.com/collections/kite-foil-boards/products/dwarf-craft-v2-kite-foil-board) Mine is a little heavier, but still pretty light because it is largely hollow.

2

The Shape Shack / Clearwater foil kits?

« on: April 14, 2022, 08:25:04 PM »

Would you all mind sharing your opinions on these foil kits? I know next to nothing about foils. i just bought a Duotone Slick and very much liked the price of these foil kits, especially since I already have epoxy/glass/etc in my garage.
https://www.clearwaterfoils.com/collections/hydrofoil-kits

3

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Wing with a SUP on a lake? Is it any fun or just for learning or?

« on: March 30, 2022, 11:39:50 AM »

I apologize if this is touched on somewhere else, but when I searched I only found posts from 2019 and I know wings have evolved quite a bit since then. I can’t, for reasons of marital stability, get a wing, a board, and a foil all at once. If I go with just a wing with a SUP is it still any fun(I know this a super relative term )or will I just be wishing for a foil right away? I will be on mostly lakes. Wind speed is pretty consistently between 10-20 mph. I’m 180 lbs. I have an 11’ by 31” SUP I could use and a 9’ by 28” one. I have some race SUPs too but I’m assuming my dugout race sup is a no go.
I would love to hear any thoughts, recs on a wing, etc

4

Gear Talk / Cracked fin and sadness

« on: April 14, 2015, 09:05:11 AM »

It took a while, but I got a fin I am happy with for my newish raceboard, and after my first race with it there is a spiderweb style crack at the tip, probably less than an inch in diameter; the fin itself has not had any pieces break off. I am comfortable working with epoxy and have plenty at home, so I think I can stop any further damage, but I thought I would look for advice on how to fix it here first before I get overconfident and ruin my fin.
Was thinking of reinforcing it with some fiberglass, or maybe just covering the cracked area with unthickened epoxy to fill in the tiny cracks.
I am open to suggestions on what I should do.

Thanks
Bret

5

Gear Talk / Paddle for a 6 year old

« on: April 06, 2015, 08:30:21 AM »

Hi Everyone,
Up until now my daughter has ridden on the edge of my board while occasionally "paddling" with my wife's carbon quickblade while I am on the board as well.  She wants to paddle more on her own, which is rad, but I am not sure what kind of paddle to get her.  I have looked at 30 canoe paddles up to 150 adjustable kids carbon paddles. I would rather get something that she will love and will last for a while, maybe even until her brother can paddle too, but I thought I would see if anyone else had some ideas. She will probably paddle on the same board with me a fair amount this summer, but may venture to her own board too. We will see.

Thanks
Bret

6

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Training for longer races/paddles without neglecting the family

« on: March 05, 2015, 09:58:39 AM »

I was hoping the wealth of knowledge out there could help me put together a training schedule. I signed up for the distance race at the Race the Lake of the Sky in late June, and ideally would like to keep up the longer paddles/races.  Having not raced longer than 8 miles before though I am not sure of the best way to get ready, especially with work and family also being factors. I teach high school so work is only an issue until late May, but tips on staying in summer shape once the school year starts again would be cool too, especially with the 100 mile paddle in socal being an eventual goal. Just maybe not this year.

Thanks,
Bret

7

Gear Talk / Help picking a fin

« on: October 10, 2014, 08:58:34 AM »

Hi Everyone,
For the past year and a half I have been racing on a CLC Kaholo, so I was just using the twin fins they provided that I glassed on when I built the board. I finally sprung for a carbon starboard, I saw one I couldn't pass up, but now I need to decide what fin to get with it.  Most of the races I will do will be distances rather than ones with lots of turns. I spend equal time in oceans and lakes, but more of the races I do are on the ocean anywhere from San Diego to Santa Barbara.
I am open to any and all suggestions.
Bret

8

Gear Talk / Help. I need to carry more boards.

« on: May 05, 2014, 11:08:02 AM »

My car is not big. A 2013 Prius V. I will soon need to start carrying three, one day four, boards on there as the number of boards in my garage expands and my kids start wanting to paddle their own board.  I was thinking about one of the rack mounts from Yakima or Thule that allow you to put a board on its side like the kayak stacker or the bigstack from Yakima. These are intended for whitewater boats, but I don't see any reason they would not work for a SUP. Has anyone used these for SUPs.

A possible board combination would be a Kaholo 14', which is the wooden board kit sold by CLC, a prone board, and a CorranSup Streetfighter. Or maybe two Kaholo's instead of the prone board. Eventually a 9'6" race board I will make for my daughter will be in the mix as well.

Thanks,
Bret

9

NorCal / Downwinders near Carmel?

« on: March 06, 2014, 10:06:30 AM »

It looks like I will be spending most of my summer in Carmel this year after not having a lot of time their last year. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on downwind possibilities anywhere in that area. I know there is some good stuff up in Santa Cruz, but ideally I would like to limit my driving. I thought about buying a membership with Ikitesurf.com for the summer, but figured I would rely on local knowledge first. This is also an open invitation/request to anyone who wants someone to paddle with for the latter part of June and most of July.

After growing up there I feel like I should be more aware of where there would be good spots, but most of my time was spent trying to avoid the wind instead.

10

Downwind and Racing / November/December races in socal?

« on: November 18, 2013, 01:15:39 PM »

For me, sup racing season starts when coaching boy's water polo ends. And although I would have liked a win in quarterfinals on Saturday, I am happy to have more time with family and more time to paddle.  I just finished looking at eatonsurf and supracer and didn't see a lot of races in the coming months besides a few in San Diego. Does anyone know of more in the OC or San Diego areas coming up? I will be near Santa Cruz for Thanksgiving so any info for up there would be appreciated too.
Thanks,
Bret

11

SUP General / Why are all the narrow race boards only in carbon?

« on: November 16, 2013, 10:52:09 AM »

At least this seems to be true. Is there really no market for the paddler who wants a high performance board but can't/won't spend well over 2000 on a board. Right now I am happy building wooden boards in my garage, but I still get frustrated about this. Am I missing a brand that does have non carbon but still narrow boards?

12

The Shape Shack / First time making paddles. Lots of questions.

« on: November 15, 2013, 10:18:25 AM »

This Thanksgiving break I am going to begin making my own paddles. I will make them out of wood since that is where more of my experience lies and it will match my 14'. I will make three, one for me, one for my daughter, and one for my wife. Here are our specs

Me: 6'2" I currently use a quicblade kanaha with a 110 blade face. I love it but I am looking for something different just to experiment. I will take any suggestions.

Wife: 5'5"  She also has a quicblade at a 100 blade face, and she complains its too small. She is a superb athlete and often complains about getting stuck with stuff "made for women"

Daughter: she is 4. She will probably be taller by the time I finish writing this. The question is how much taller than her can she handle. She is pretty coordinated and can handle the water ver well.

I would love to hear any suggestions.
Thanks,
Bret

13

Events / Santa Cruz Pier to Pier?

« on: July 03, 2013, 09:54:57 PM »

Does anyone know when this is this year or if it is happening? I did it last year and had a great time, and would like to race in it again.

14

Gear Talk / Rack for a Prius?

« on: June 30, 2013, 10:20:54 AM »

My Subaru's engine exploded the other day. I am being a little hyperbolic, but it is totally trashed. While it is covered under the warranty since I took good care of my car I am contemplating getting a new car and trading in the Subaru after the engine is replaced. Does anyone have experience with carrying a 14' on a Prius? I am not set on that car, but I like it. If it can't carry the race board though that's a deal breaker. Both the Yakima and Thule website make it sound like one model can have a rack and one can't but I wanted to get other thoughts.
Thanks

15

The Shape Shack / Surf Sup from wood surfboard supply

« on: May 16, 2013, 11:16:48 AM »

Is anyone familiar with this kit/board? http://woodsurfboardsupply.com/sups_short.html
Ideally I would like a smaller board for surfing, but I am not comfortable with designing my own yet, as I have only built one wooden board.  I would only use this board for surfing as the one board I have built that I just referred to is my touring and race board.
I was just looking for input on how it surfs
I am 6'2" and 170
Thanks