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Topics - abmatt

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1
SUP General / Jimmy Lewis Super Frank review
« on: August 29, 2019, 08:29:25 AM »
I was lucky enough to pick up an 8-6 X 30.5 Super Frank Lean in the carbon version, lightly used. Initial impressions were well-made and super-light (below 16 pounds?). Set up with stock quad fins. Clean design: mostly white, with orange and yellow sunburst design on back third. Plenty of float for my recent alarming expansion to a stress-related 210-ish pounds (it's slowly on the way down!). The deck pad seemed a little slippery the first day, but I've gotten used to it. I like the ledge at the end of the kickpad.

Finally got the chance to surf it the last couple of days here in North Florida, two early mornings. Neither day had much power. The first was semi-lumpy, chest-head-high lines that closed out eventually. The next day was smaller, waist-high, very clean, super, super soft, no one else out.

The board: It catches anything, easily, as easily as my 10-footer. I think it's that wide point forward. You can slide your front foot up to paddle for our weak waves. But then some sort of strange mojo kicks in and it's like the board surges forward; I easily caught swells I thought I had little chance to make. One time I even gave up on a wave and stopped paddling -- the board just kept going and I caught it!

Once on the wave, even those soft waves, it just wants to play. A lot of my surfing lately has been longboard-style point-and-aim, cross-walk up and back; the Super Frank instead invites -- almost insists -- that you roller-coaster it, top to bottom, and it was so easy to do, even if I don't always have my rear foot as far back as I should. The turns got me through some of the threatened close-out sections, gaining needed speed even in slow waves.

I tried a couple quick cutbacks and it came around in no time. I think it's the light weight that must help. Also tried some cross-stepping, no problem, and got into a nice trim on the front third of the board (my longboard and longboard SUP roots run deep).

In short: An extremely lightweight board that will put a smile on your face, turning uninspiring waves into fun. Can't wait to get it on waves with a little more oomph and some bigger faces to travel across. A new board can change the course of your surfing -- and I think this is one that will do that for me.

Not sure why the pic is sideways, but you get the idea. Now let's get this hurricane out of the way!

2
SUP General / Caught first waves on raceboard ... nervous fun!
« on: May 31, 2017, 08:16:53 AM »
  The other morning a friend brought his 12-6 Starboard displacement hull board down to the beach while he checked out a couple of my surfing SUP boards. He's a flat-water paddler and was having trouble making the transition so he eventually took the 12-6 out just to paddle. I traded with him after a while and -- first time on such a board -- was surprised by how unsteady it felt with that round hull. Got it figured out though and started going up and down the beach until a little swell popped up. What the heck -- I turned and paddled into it (first making sure the path ahead was completely clear) ... and found myself zipping down the line all the way to the beach. The waves were nothing much but I turned around and caught about five more.
  It was kind of a hoot.
  Very little control, but that was all part of the challenge. Made me wish for lined-up waist-high waves to try it out on.
  Does anyone out there surf such a board, just for fun/challenge?

3
SUP General / Some Black and Blue tip time, looks like
« on: January 25, 2017, 12:41:36 PM »
Saw this lucky guy (I'm at work) show up on the Jax Beach surf report, a few pics down.
http://911surfreport.com/2017/01/25/east-coast-surf-report-jacksonville-fl-109/

4
Classifieds / WTB: Laird Pearson Arrow 10-0 longboard style SUP
« on: July 18, 2016, 10:23:05 AM »
Just got one, used. A good friend now wants one too. Anyone have one that they'd like to see go to a good home? Thanks much. Matt.

5
SUP General / Early SUPers ... and armed!
« on: August 14, 2015, 11:17:35 AM »
This showed up on my Facebook feed from a Jacksonville Beaches web site ... That's quite an adventure these gentlemen are on. Notice the sidearm. Gators!

6
Gear Talk / Anyone surfing with a Werner small-blade paddle?
« on: June 07, 2015, 08:17:01 AM »
Want to go shorter with my surf paddle and am looking at the Werner small blade (6.75 inch) ... Now have the medium (7.25 inch, with a little bit longer blade). Does anyone have experience with the small blade in the surf? Pros? Cons?
I'm 175 pounds, strong paddler, experienced surfer.
Thanks in advance.

7
SUP General / First post-cancer surf. Boy did that feel good.
« on: February 08, 2015, 04:22:55 PM »
Back in September I noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. Yikes. All kinds of dark thoughts. Long story short, the next month, the week before my daughter's wedding, I got the diagnosis: Cancer of the neck and throat (lifelong non-smoker). The week after the wedding -- which was a really welcome distraction -- I had surgery, which found the origin point, near the base of my tongue. Got the prognosis, too: Very good, but only after a pretty grim radiation/chemo regimen.
 I've been out of the water since then because of a feeding tube they stuck in my stomach for when I wouldn't be able to eat. Finished the treatment the day after Christmas; docs and nurses said I was in the top 2-3 percent in handling the treatment -- to which I attribute surfing and all its attendant benefits. Then this Monday, they yanked the feeding tube out -- literally just yanked it ...
Just in time for a sweet little swell today. Cold water, glassy, waist-plus lefts and rights, absolutely nobody else but me, my buddies Tom and Russell, and Zoner TDE (Tim) and a cool wave-ski buddy. The famous JD Motes made it out a while later with his crew.
It was just what I needed. I have to tell you, the Zone was a daily stop for me during all this, and I had many vicarious moments watching videos, hearing of sessions, trying to figure out, along with all of you, what the next board or trip would be. It helped keep me going, along with thoughts of sessions just like today's. We got 2 1/2 hours in and caught tons of waves, after which I slept in the truck and then crashed for an epic nap to recover from all that fun. I'm 30 pounds lighter than I used to be, but also have a way to go to all my strength back!
It was a great day.
P.S. Always get strange lumps checked out ...

8
Good, old-school longboarding, that is.
How about you?

9
Gear Talk / Recommendations for surf SUP for big guy - 6-4, 250
« on: August 21, 2013, 11:21:51 AM »
I know there have been some discussions on this in the past, but not being a big guy I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to them. Besides, things change so fast around here ...

But now I've been asked to help find a board for a friend who's 6-4, 250. He's a low-intermediate SUPer already, and been riding an older 10-6 Surftech with no problems.

He's looking for a second board, something a little more surfy. It's for Northeast Florida conditions - generally small/weak, chop a factor, and the occasional great day.

Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

10
NorthEast / Anyone have a good deal for good guy in NYC?
« on: August 17, 2013, 05:44:06 PM »
My prospective son-in-law (hey, a dad can hope) is heavily involved in the rebuilding efforts in Rockaway. He's investing most of his time there as director of Friends of Rockaway and is now looking for a SUP to keep in the office. Maybe 9-6 to 10-6 for cruising and a little surfing. Any Zoners in the area have something they're looking to move? I'd like to see him on something good instead of the cheapie stuff on Craigslist.  Thanks.

11
So my friend from Barrington, R.I., is visiting me in Northeast FLA and after a day paddling around (remarkably well) on my old 11-2 Starboard, he vows he wants to get a board when he gets back home.
I told him I'd help.
Anyone in CT, MA, RI have a biggish (probably 10-ft or so) board they'd like to move? Mostly for casual flatwater/ocean paddling.
Thanks.
Matt

12
Gear Talk / Recommend a fin for big-board, single-fin noseriding?
« on: March 22, 2013, 10:19:43 AM »
Took my first board out the other day for a longish paddle, and along the way picked up some ankle/knee-high crumblers along the beach. Was reminded again how much fun that board -- an older 11-2 Starboard Blend with a single-fin box -- can be on micro waves (which we get a lot here).

But was also reminded how it used to slide out every time I got on the nose; also fun but hard to control. The fin that came with the board was tiny, a joke, so I stuck a 10-inch Wingnut fin from my regular longboard in there. That was better, but still not enough fin for that big a board when up on the nose. Maybe not a wide-enough base?

What's a good alternative that would allow me to get up there and be stable and confident? I'm thinking it might not even need to be that fancy a fin. Maybe even a big one from a giant NSP or something like that.

Any recommendations?

13
The much-talked about swell filled in nicely overnight, with chilly super-clean conditions here in Northeast Florida. Got a good 75 minutes in out back with a handful of SUP buddies. Where were all the proners?

(If it attaches) ... Here's a pic from Eddie Pitt's www.911surfreport, from one of our premiere spots. The Ocearch shark boat caught Lydia, a 14 1/2 foot great white, a half mile straight out from those poles ... Still, looks worth it!

14
Travel, Trips, Destinations / Nicaragua SUP surf sessions
« on: April 04, 2012, 07:22:10 AM »
Had a great trip to north-central Nicaragua (greensurfnicaragua on Facebook for tons of photos) with a mix of prone/SUP friends. I SUPed 95 percent of the time, even though the wind was too strong offshore the first few days. Once it settled down it was magic. Some pics, if my technological shortcomings don't let me down.

15
SUP General / Why we stand-up surf
« on: March 10, 2012, 06:07:43 PM »
So, days before heading to Nicaragua, a trip-mate, now chilling in the NC mountains, sends me this. Said the first line just came to him and he just kept writing. As if we could get any more stoked!

'It starts with standing up, on water.

Everything that follows is secondary and ultimately lesser.  And everything that follows is also unbelievably fantastic so that will put into perspective just how essential the standing on water part is. 

In the end, we surfers are drawn to the wave, the ride, the rush.  We find that we can catch the waves in a position we used to only dream of.  For those of us who are slow getting to our feet that hurdle is gone – we’re already up.  We see what is coming from a longer way off and we can establish position to make the best of the possibilities.  And then we ride.  And ride.  And ride. 

If you measure in smiles it wins the grand prize.  If you measure in terms of conditioning it will hold its own against virtually anything out there without the typically commensurate risk of damage-doing. 

And so we like it.  A lot.  And we do it, a lot.  Our friends and family suffer our incessant chatter about how amazing the last session was.  They barely tolerate our eyes on the ocean at all times attitude.  They recognize that they have lost a part of us.  We are comforted by the truth that they are also gaining more of us in so many other ways.

So we must ask some forgiveness for our excessiveness.  There is probably a word beyond exuberance – whatever that word is we are guilty of it.

Some would take issue with the fact that we feel like gods out there, walking on the water.  It’s an obvious conceit and a connection that any observer would easily make.  We don’t mean to say we think we are God, but we are clearly doing something outside our previous experience and we know it is special.  Earth and water beneath our feet, heavens above, and we exist between – connected, aligned, blessed. 

It starts with standing up, on water.'

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