Topics

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SUP General / SUP Rental in Northern California

« on: October 17, 2007, 10:45:09 AM »

Does anyone know of any place to rent some beginner friendly stand up paddleboards in Northern California?  A good friend who I let try my SUP while she was visiting here in San Diego is now eager to try it again up where she lives in the San Francisco area - Santa Cruz to Stinson.

Thanks in advance.

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Sessions / Score! - No Incidents and Solo Dreaming in Baja

« on: September 23, 2007, 08:24:07 PM »

I was bummed to miss the IWaterman event.  I would have loved to meet all the other San Diego addicts.

Saturday morning, I packed up the truck and loaded up the 11'0" Infinity to head south of the border; a group of friends (all surfers) had rented a place at one of those American communities down in Baja south of Rosarito.  I was excited but I was also stressed given all the recent gnarl with car jackings and robberies that has been happening down there.  I left pretty late since it was raining and also because I wanted to drive down during "peak" hours, just for my own sanity.  During the drive, my nerves were on edge and my head was on a swivel just looking out for any trouble but I also remembered all the awesome times I have had down there - it was definitely mixed emotions.  For all it's faults and problems, Northern Baja is an beautiful place that holds some memories of great waves and awesome times for me.  It would be a great loss to not be able to head down south because of all the recent trouble.  Anyway, I finally got to the exit and breathed a sigh of relief - unpacked the boards and checked the waves.

There was swell but it was windy and junky, I went out board surfing just to get wet.  Went in and got a killer lunch of  tacos de pescado and tacos de camarone and a cerveza and just relaxed waiting for the wind to die. 

Got in a short session on the SUP in the evening.  Just paddled away from the main pack and searched out own peak.  Conditions weren't ideal with the wind and bump.  Paddled south surfing rights (and maybe an odd left there, since I AM goofyfoot) and found a great little peak reef set up a couple of miles south.  Surfed really fun waves by myself for about an hour.  Paddle back north surfing lefts.  Went home and hung with the crew comparing notes then went out and got some burritos de langosta and margaritas. 

Got up early and got in a solid session!  Waves were good this morning - 2 to 4 feet with some bigger sets.  I got out at grey light and surfed solo for about three hours up and down this little stretch of non-spots (Great term, John).  The little reef setup that I found last night had a left that was totally doing its thing this morning.  I was by myself.  I felt like predator eating after a big kill - I was getting my fill.  I paddled back to the community and there were about 15 guys on the main peak.  Walking back up to the house, a guy says, "Man, you were getting a lot of good waves out there."  Kinda cool...

Great trip because it showed me the potential of SUP in Baja.  And it was great trip because no incidents - I'm back in the states safe and with all my gear.  It was great to know that if you are careful and travel during times where trouble is less likely to happen (would you drive through Watts at night?), you can still go down and enjoy Baja.  I'm definitely going back.

3

Share the Stoke / Funny comment - The Janitor

« on: September 22, 2007, 07:03:52 AM »

I was checking the surf early in the morning recently where I live.  It's been really small here in San Diego pretty much all summer and there was a new southwest swell.  Since there was going to be a bit of size at a beach break, in all likelihood, it was going to be a 'little' racey and sectiony - not ideal for SUP - so I brought a 5'9" fish.  I had surfed the night before on the rising swell and had a lot fun on it - the little board was perfect for racing sections and then hitting/floating the oncoming section or just pulling in to get a little view before it closed out.

I saw my friend Dale checking it with his friends so I went over and said 'Hello'.  Dale knows that I standup surf too but, in the group, that was not discussed in the short morning exchange of pleasantries - so I was just another surfer.  So here we are, all part of the surfing tribe, just taking part in that time-honored ritual of checking the waves in the morning.  Waves look fun, there is already a crowd in the water including a couple of local guys on SUP - pretty much the normal crew.  A set comes and there is scrambling for position in the water.  The set has some pretty good waves on it and a bunch of guys/girls on surfboards get some good ones.  One of the guys on the SUP (I think it was Bob L.) strokes over and catches a good wave, one of the last of the set.

One of Dale's friends blurts out, "That was a good set, even the Janitor got a good wave!"

Just part of the deal...  I thought it was funny!

4

SUP General / Help, I'm buying too many standup baddleboards!

« on: September 06, 2007, 04:47:10 PM »

I don't know what it is about this damned sport!  Maybe it's just the state of the art is changing so fast.

I have an older 11' SUP and I already have a smaller custom SUP on order.

Today, I walked into Mitch's and just decided to buy another one, an 11'6" - you know, a bigger cruiser model for paddling and point-and-shoot surfing, paddling the bay for fitness, to do a little downwinder, or an adventure paddle (paddle, surf, paddle, eat, repeat)...  And it's perfect for a loaner for a friend who want to try SUP. 

I'm a longtime surfer, I understand the importance of a good quiver.  But I think I got a problem.

Man, there is something about this G-Damned SUP thing....