Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Need help: flatwater hard boards for long-distance racing/touring

« on: July 23, 2018, 04:51:13 PM »

  I’ll come out and be the first to actually say it. Don’t buy a 23. Start out at 25 or if you really feel you need to then get a 24. A 23” board won’t offer you anything more than a 24 or 25 will besides instability. Your racing results are going to ride entirely upon your fitness, not your board, provided said board is intended as a race board. The difference in speed between them is far less than you probably think it is.

100% agree with this.. racing starts alone will test your balance, and it's not about just being comfortable... it's about being completely at ease so that the board width isn't sucking energy from your stroke. Fighting balance (even a small amount) uses a surprising amount of energy... if you can focus on just your stroke technique you will be significantly faster.

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Gear Talk / Re: ZRE vs. Quickblade Trifecta

« on: July 20, 2018, 12:59:28 PM »

Burchas, what size would be most comparable to the Trifecta 86? One thing I like about the Trifecta is the even pull through the mid stroke - it doesn't load up at the catch like the V-drive or have heavy pull throughout like size comparable Wiki or other wide base paddles. How do you best describe the ZRE? Also is there a flex option in the shaft- do you configure Kevlar for more or less stiffness. Thanks

For me I got more or less same results with the ZRE at around 82sqi. ZRE has an 18in blade and they
adjust the size based on width in quarter inch increments ( the range is HUGH from 5.75in to 9.75in).




It does load at the catch slightly more than the Trifecta due to fuller outline (in the tip specifically)
and less scoop overall. Just like you, I prefer a smoother catch, that's why I sand down the tip
to my desirable outline (see pic above), that takes care of it. Thus power delivery is balanced
throughout the stroke. Cleaner exit as well.

Bob has used to kevlar to add texture to the shaft (which is a real joy) and when I asked for
flex he incorporated a little more of it in the shaft, I've been paddling one of those for the
past 5 months and it quickly became my favorite shaft.

Recently he sent me a new flex shaft without the kevlar (pictured above with the unique finish)
in response to my comment that some of my fellow paddlers didn't like the textured shaft
(go figure, right?) that one can get really flexible, seemed super strong and yet still relatively
lightweight. Seems promising though I haven't been testing it for that long that I feel comfortable
singing its praise.

So I would order an 85 sq" paddle and sand it - is that what you are saying? Thanks for the feedback

3

Gear Talk / Re: ZRE vs. Quickblade Trifecta

« on: July 20, 2018, 09:51:38 AM »

Burchas, what size would be most comparable to the Trifecta 86? One thing I like about the Trifecta is the even pull through the mid stroke - it doesn't load up at the catch like the V-drive or have heavy pull throughout like size comparable Wiki or other wide base paddles. How do you best describe the ZRE? Also is there a flex option in the shaft- do you configure Kevlar for more or less stiffness. Thanks

4

Classifieds / Kings AC 14' x 25"

« on: April 26, 2018, 01:36:50 PM »

Kings AC in excellent condition, has a modded round tail instead of traditional Kings squared tail. Sanded most of the paint off to shave some weight  Added kick pad. Nice all around, durable all carbon board for a great price. $1200 Board is approx 25 lbs.

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Classifieds / Velocitek Makai GPS Speed Unit

« on: February 28, 2018, 11:38:10 AM »

I have a barely used Velocitek Makai GPS speed unit for sale. $220.00 + $10 shipping. You will need to purchase a baseplate separately. Includes USB charging chord.  ...  ($19 on Vela)

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Gear Talk / Re: NSP Ninja 14' x 25"

« on: September 02, 2017, 09:45:29 PM »

JEG,
One two days to go on the new one. I suspect down-winding on our typical 6" waves (on a windy day) might work as well. Thanks again for your input.

I've paddled the 25" several times, it moves extremely well and going into current it's one of the fastest boards I've paddled. I watched T2 ride a large boat wake on a narrower Ninja and he was flying... I suppose 4- 6ft swell would be fine if you are a skilled downwind paddler.

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Classifieds / Re: In search of 2016 Starboard all star carbon 14 x 25 or 14 x 23

« on: May 06, 2017, 12:17:38 AM »

This one I know is in great condition, not sure price is accurate. https://www.gorgeperformance.com/starboard-allstar-14-0-x-24-5-used

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Gear Talk / Re: Paddle suggestion for SUS with bad shoulders

« on: March 26, 2017, 07:59:42 PM »

I look at it like cycling, pushing smaller gears is way better for foundational strength and puts much less stress knee joints. I like the QB Trifecta 86, or Werner Grand Prix/Trance in a similar size - both have a narrower longer paddle blade and less pull at the catch.

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Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Fatigue, shoulder tension

« on: March 07, 2017, 12:23:17 AM »

Quick update... A friend suggested supplementing B Complex and Magnesium and holy shit what a difference. Based on how my body responded I am thinking I was seriously vitamin deficient, B complex is the likely hero but from what I've read about magnesium helping mood,... that is also a possibility. Thank you for all the other tips, paddling is such great mental therapy it's hard for me to stay off the water.... even when I should rest. 

Interesting. As a member of the over fifty club, I will check this out. Everything that can help.....

Excellent Luc ... I hope you have positive results. Start with B Complex for a week then add magnesium 1000 mg per day, that way you know if one or the other makes a bigger difference. Not directly related but another supplement that I highly recommend for over 50 y/o is Tumeric, a natural anti inflammatory. There are several formulas these days one of the best being "Zyflamend" by New Chapter. I've been taking it for 4 years and it's done more for my joint pain than anything I've ever tried. Cheers!

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Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Fatigue, shoulder tension

« on: March 06, 2017, 05:25:06 PM »

Nice, you can also give yourself a physical break by simply using a lower volume paddle.

Already do that Bean, use a Trifecta 86 and it's a teddy bear on my shoulders.

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Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Fatigue, shoulder tension

« on: March 06, 2017, 03:45:37 PM »

Quick update... A friend suggested supplementing B Complex and Magnesium and holy shit what a difference. Based on how my body responded I am thinking I was seriously vitamin deficient, B complex is the likely hero but from what I've read about magnesium helping mood,... that is also a possibility. Thank you for all the other tips, paddling is such great mental therapy it's hard for me to stay off the water.... even when I should rest. 

12

Gear Talk / Re: Naish 2017 Javelin Maliko?

« on: March 03, 2017, 05:54:53 PM »

Paddled the 2016 Maliko 14 x 26" 3 times now, I think the balance is outstanding on this board. Loved it in side chop, off the wind in smaller waves and on the flats. I found I could really lock in on this board and my stroke was better every time I paddled it.  It's hard to explain why a board works for you sometimes but this board really made me smile. Can anyone compare it to the 2017? I'm 5'9" 179 lbs

That's very much my view of the 2017 board. This will sound like the usual team rider BS but I'm 6ft 3, 94kgs and a big unit and I find it a really confidence inspiring board (and I personally need that). If I were not racing, this would be the everyday board I would keep as it covers up for poor technique and mistakes pretty well. However, whether this is the best board for someone's actual racing is a very different question and its too soon for me personally to comment on that. If I could make minor changes though, at my size I'd personally like another 10-15 litres of volume on it and an inch off the width as I've had to put a really small fin it to try and make it work my balance skills a little harder - its that stable. Bear in mind, I'm a team rider though so I'm going to have some degree of subconscious bias so demoing any new board is always essential in my view over any reply you'll see on here.

Thanks for the feedback ... I'm 57 and paddle a lot (4 days a week)... shorter distances (4-5miles) with really short intervals of sprinting. I'm about 7 months in now and just starting to feel like I can execute occasional good technique and feel it happening. (I think that will make sense to you guys) I was paddling a Bic World Series 14 x 24.5 Tracer which I loved, and before that a 404 V3 25.5 which I thought was nice but a bit low volume ideally. What I noticed with the Naish is it felt lively enough to work my balancing muscles (cuz it's got a bit of side to side), but is stable enough I can lock in my stroke and focus on good technique. The Bic was very stable for a 24.5 but I had to be more careful, when the paddle slipped I was going in the water. My brain wants to push me to go narrower but I think being getting a 26" is a better call for now, especially since I'll be doing down wind runs in the Gorge later in the spring. Btw I bought all the boards as demos and sold them to buy the next in case you guys think "3 boards in 7 months... this guy is loaded"  lol. New Maliko is way too expensive, that's why I asked.

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Gear Talk / Re: Naish 2017 Javelin Maliko?

« on: March 02, 2017, 04:45:51 PM »

Paddled the 2016 Maliko 14 x 26" 3 times now, I think the balance is outstanding on this board. Loved it in side chop, off the wind in smaller waves and on the flats. I found I could really lock in on this board and my stroke was better every time I paddled it.  It's hard to explain why a board works for you sometimes but this board really made me smile. Can anyone compare it to the 2017? I'm 5'9" 179 lbs

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Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Fatigue, shoulder tension

« on: February 18, 2017, 11:21:50 AM »

...I've had severe depression since I was 20 which is adrenal related so this post could be answering my own question ...

It seems you may have answered your own question Stefan.  For some of us, exercise is not enough, the body/mind needs a dose of healthy excitement to produce the right chemistry.  What has worked for you in the past?

Thanks Bean and everyone, your responses mean a lot... being obsessive like I am I need perspective. Bean I do standup comedy as a side activity (no puns please lol) and it gives me an opportunity to socialize with a different crowd... it's pretty cathartic and therapeutic. The rest thing I totally get, I honestly don't think I'm over training (but I will pay more attention) because I don't go out and hammer, I am building myself up slowly so I keep my pace reasonable. That being said the current has been raging lately so... output is demanded at times. I am happy with my progress to date... balance and strength are significantly better. Aside from cycling etc. I plan to get a surf ski for crossover water training... I literally hate being indoors in gyms but I fully admit upping my home gym time might serve me better on the water. I just watched some kettle bell exercises that look pretty cool. You guys are awesome, thanks.

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Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Fatigue, shoulder tension

« on: February 17, 2017, 07:21:15 PM »

Stefan, your shoulders fatigue can be well related to the length of your paddle - too long. But since you mentioned that you feel fatigued overall - i would look into your diet first. What's your macros split? I think that many issues can be resolved with simple diet changes. For example, if i do a longer paddle i prefer to not eat at all and rely on my fat storage to provide me with long lasting energy. But if I have a little bit of carbs by mile 5 i feel gassed. That switch in our bodies from glycogen to lipids sometimes can be very tiring. So that could be one of those things. But many other factors could make you tired too.

Thanks, I was a bit tanked going into the paddle... and it is quite possible that my chemical imbalance is featuring a bit strong right now. Also I may not have let my morning meal digest enough... but my instinct tells me it's stress and/or my chemistry being shitty. I view this as a multi year project to get to peak paddling strength so I want to do things sensibly. (I'm 57)  Do you have any recommended sources for diet and caloric schedule... and if you have any supplements you might like I'm open to ideas.  Everyone is different so I have no expectations of dramatic change... Love this sport! Cheers