Messages

1

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: Sunova Steeze 10'

« on: December 28, 2020, 09:37:31 AM »

Thank you. Have to wait March likely due to COVID. I might be looking at a 6" of the same as a center but i still have to put plenty of jours on the board first....

2

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Sunova Steeze 10'

« on: December 26, 2020, 05:31:10 PM »

Finally got to try for the first time my brand new Steeze 10'.
Love at first sight. Easy to paddle. Stable. Wide nose makes it easier to catch swell in our poor local conditions (swell built from strong southerly winds in the Georgia Straight). Sleek tail makes it easy to carve (at least when I will be better at it....).
Now as soon as COVID restrictions are gone...I am taking us to Tofino for some real swell.

Further fin options to try out when I can get to real swell.

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Gear Talk / Re: Realising you have gone too small and in doing so- lost the magic of sup

« on: December 16, 2020, 06:33:31 PM »

A new contender for you. New size for this shape. Seems like a very good balance between performance and fun while keeping the SUP "feel"

More modestly, I got the 10' x 31" Steeze. Now I ama waiting improvement regarding travel within our province to go and try it in Tofino.....

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SUP General / Re: Sunova container has landed here's some of what is available in Foil and SUP

« on: December 11, 2020, 03:11:51 PM »

One is already down for the count Can't get here soon enough. Thx Creek

DriftWood Rev 2.0

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Gear Talk / Re: Anyone downwind the Bark Vapor Ghost Carbon ?

« on: December 05, 2020, 07:41:56 AM »

Different board teh Vapor is miles better than the the Downwinder which did not last very long one or two years.

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Gear Talk / Re: Anyone downwind the Bark Vapor Ghost Carbon ?

« on: December 04, 2020, 11:38:10 AM »

ps: The Ghost Carbon is at least 3 pounds lighter than the 2017 model reviewed by Area10. Not a big deal fro downwinding but nice in the light stuff.

7

Technique / Re: Paddle length for workouts

« on: November 29, 2020, 05:26:10 PM »

I am 72".
73" on my Salish 500 for everything on my Torpedo. Might go back to 73 1/2 to get a bit more on flat water.
74" on my Viento 520 for everything on my Maliko.
71" 1/2 on my Salish 460 for sup surfing.

So you’re only one to two inches above your head ...
Cool! Was a little hesitant to go down to 70” (I’m 68”) on my favorite paddle, but playing with my wife’s adjustable paddle it feels like it’s going to be good for the hard days. And the blade angle is 8 degrees so I think it’s gonna work well

I would suggest going there 1/2 inch at a time. It takes some time for the body and the technique to adjust. If you go several inches at once you might either hurt yourself or really dislike the new length. It took me several years to go from 79" to 74".
If I remember correctly the BP Hydro takes a bit longer shaft because of the shape of the blade and the blade angle.

8

Technique / Re: Paddle length for workouts

« on: November 29, 2020, 04:13:43 PM »

I am 72".
73" on my Salish 500 for everything on my Torpedo. Might go back to 73 1/2 to get a bit more on flat water.
74" on my Viento 520 for everything on my Maliko.
71" 1/2 on my Salish 460 for sup surfing.

9

Technique / Re: Volume issue ? Or skill issue ?

« on: November 27, 2020, 05:45:30 PM »

What you all are saying makes sense !
Probably shouldn’t just flip it out of frustration.
Definitely feels like a bit more of a learning curve than jumping down to the 21”.
I always appreciate everyone’s insight!

Still a fun board to paddle all around. Guessing once I get bigger balls for bigger runs it’s gonna be a blast.

Just to not fall on the sidewalls :-)

10

Technique / Re: Volume issue ? Or skill issue ?

« on: November 27, 2020, 04:24:57 PM »

TallDude, pardon my ignorance if I misunderstood, but you are talking when already on the tail of the board rather than rail steering from the middle, correct?
I have always believed and somewhat experienced that from the middle, weighing the opposite rail steer the board in the direction you wanted and when you get on the tail of a flat deck board then it is the opposite (like surfing).

11

Technique / Re: Volume issue ? Or skill issue ?

« on: November 27, 2020, 03:36:04 PM »

Volume is just one of many factors that affect stability. Unless you are shopping for a new board, keep practicing with what you have and continue to develop the skills.

Absolutely. The Downtown in 25 wide has a good reputation as a fast downwind board so it is not like you have the wrong tool for the job either....and the Blackfish has always been a great open ocean board.

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Technique / Re: Volume issue ? Or skill issue ?

« on: November 27, 2020, 02:54:19 PM »

For me the sweet spot has always be 26 wide 270ish L. I am 6' 170 lbs.

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Technique / Re: Volume issue ? Or skill issue ?

« on: November 27, 2020, 01:45:46 PM »

It is likely a bit of both with all respect.
I have been downwinding for some years and while I am still a beginner I still have some experience on different boards.
Downwinding a high volume big nose dugout style is a very different proposition than downwinding a low volume close to the water board.
You will get the advantage on speed as you noted but loose on control as you also noted which makes it a lot more technically challenging.
The high volume nose is likely the first factor.
I have a low volume pintail downwind board (Sunova Torpedo) that is easy to control and a low volume feet on teh water board narrow tail (Maliko 2020) that is even maybe easier to handle side and quartering chop and wind.
With experience on a particular board, you will improve your technique and take advantage of the specific. It might take longer and make it more difficult in some cases than if you started a progression in boards.

14

Downwind and Racing / Re: What gear are you wearing for DW runs in (50F waters) ?

« on: November 19, 2020, 05:21:41 PM »

The NeoSport Explore are not available so I decided to try these guys taking a size 12 so 1.5 size up for thick wool socks.

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Downwind and Racing / Re: What gear are you wearing for DW runs in (50F waters) ?

« on: November 19, 2020, 12:27:12 PM »

I was just checking out the SupSkin drysuits and they look pretty nice. Not quite as baggy as the Ocean Rodeo that I had. The great thing about these type of suits is that they are breathable so you stay fairly comfortable as the temperature fluctuates. It's also easy to remove or add an inside layer if you need to, and what a pleasure it is to take off the suit after a long paddle in the rain and/or snow and be completely dry. I often just wore my regular street clothes under mine.

Yes for me it has been the best outfit to date for normal paddling used in conjunction with layering. Waves are of course a different story and a 5/4 hooded is more to the point.