Topics

1

Training, Diet, and Fitness / BAH! Local fruit and veggie stand goin' down...

« on: January 02, 2015, 12:33:27 PM »

My wife taught these kids.  Went to their ball games.  Ate like kings from their work.

Shit.

 

2

Downwind and Racing / Might be on the Islands soon...

« on: January 01, 2015, 11:46:12 AM »

I have a sick relative on Kauai.  Plenty of support there, but she may not know me down the line... Yeah, that.  So I may be flying halfway around the world (again) to say... I don't know... before she's way gone.

Anyway,  I don't want to make this a complete doom/despair trip and am wondering if anybody has a bit of urge to take a downwinder novice on a run or two somewhere.  I've been down there twice (months) and have surfed, sponged, bodysurfed, and dove on four of the islands so I'm not a complete noob (But the F'n Hoale moniker kinda comes with the plane ticket from FL).  But open water downwinding is outside my experience.  No solid plans yet.  Just testing the waters (sorry,  couldn't help it).  Any help with equipment supply and/or accompaniment would be much appreciated.  Does anybody actually run commercial downwinders yet?

Love Kauai, but I will hop to any island to get some aloha and paddling time in.

Thank ya.

3

Gear Talk / Inflatables?

« on: October 06, 2014, 10:39:47 AM »

OK.  Got the start of a quiver.  Wife bought a SUPLOVE 10 footer that's a gorgeous bamboo lam. board.  But 50  lbs of wet dog on the bow doesn't work.  She loves my big boards and Max rides comfortable.  But they are too much board for her.   I have paddled inflatables on whitewater and was less than impressed.  But the weight and throwing it in the Subaru seems like a good deal for her.

How far have they come?  Seems like they are pretty popular.  I'm wondering about a tourer for her.  I'm going to get to some events this winter and will likely get on some flatwater inflatables but would like some input before I drop the bucks for another board.  Thanks.

4

Whitewater and River SUP / Summer on the Nantahala WNC

« on: September 27, 2014, 12:37:14 PM »

I've been paddling this river for over 30 years.  Kayak, canoe, even a river board.  Haven't touched my kayak or canoe in 3 years.  Some pics from this summer.



Don't look this next paddle stroke.  My form sucks.



Yes,  I made these next 2.

5

Whitewater and River SUP / Nantahala Summer

« on: May 31, 2012, 04:26:49 AM »

I'll be on the Nanty this summer several times a week. I'm 15 min from NOC.  Be up there from about June 9 or 10 into Aug.  Gonna try and pick off some sections of the Ocoee as well.  If anybody wants to SUP some and wants some company...

6

SUP General / Hey FL How 'bout Ophelia

« on: September 28, 2011, 07:10:29 AM »

3 days of good stuff for me.  I'm exhausted.  Ya gettin' some?

7

SUP General / Bih jellyfish in C.FL

« on: September 16, 2011, 02:58:44 AM »

What's with the Frankenjellyfish here in central FL that floated in.  Man,  they're huge!  And all the prone surfers whining and crying about it.  I didn't feel a thing.

8

Gear Talk / Didn't tighten my plug

« on: August 20, 2011, 12:07:55 PM »

I didn't tighten my plug down yesterday and surfed for a coupla hours with it in but loose.  Should I just open it up and let it dry out?  Or something more. 

9

SUP General / Smart alec remarks

« on: April 20, 2011, 01:58:20 PM »

We all get 'em.  Most are trying to break the ice, not insult, but...
The other day my buddy and I were SUPin' on the Silver River, FL (70 miles from the ocean).  A very, ahem, large lady in garish makeup paddling  one of the cheapo little sit-on-top kayaks with the crappiest paddle imaginable (think free paddle with Walmart inflatable kind) sneered... "Is that your idea of surfing? Ha ha!"
I said,"Yeah, is that your idea of canoeing?"  She didn't get it.

10

SUP General / Dolphins and cannonball jellyfish

« on: February 18, 2011, 05:09:20 PM »

One of the many unexpected pleasures of SUPing over prone surfing and canoeing/kayaking is the increased visibility into the water.  I'm surfing and paddling familiar (30+ yrs) waters but seeing them in a whole new light.  We were surfing Ponce Inlet, FL today and observed a dolphin seemingly mouthing cannonball jellyfish (they were thick out there) then spitting them out.  It went on and on.  Never saw this behavior before.  Are they eating the innards and spitting out the skin?  Or is it a purely sensory thing...curiosity?  Looked like a full grown dolphin.  Anybody else stoked on the better view from  your SUP?

11

Gear Talk / Dog mat

« on: February 01, 2011, 06:53:59 AM »

Max loves to ride the nose (hangin' 8 baby).  But I didn't want to glue a pad all the way to the nose.  So I got a bathmat with those suction pads on the bottom, cut it to the shape, stick it on when Max goes with me, now he can stay on thru the boat wakes and I can take it off when he doesn't go with me. FWIW.