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Messages - Fish

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1
Gear Talk / Rocky Racks wall racks (for board storage)
« on: November 06, 2007, 04:09:15 PM »
FYI:

I have been using this wall rack to get my SUBs off the ground, and it works great.  The posts and arms are made of high-density metal (steel?) and the arms are well padded. 

I have it placed high on the wall so my SUBs are stored overhead.  I currently have 2 SUBs on this one rack and it's solid as can be (just make sure to bolt it into a stud or equivalent.  I learned the hard way that drywall anchors don't exactly do the trick.) 

The 2-board version that I'm currently using: http://www.rockyracks.com/surfracks/2-90.htm
I like this model because the arms stick out at 90 degrees, parallel to the floor; I only have to slide my SUB to get it down (rather than lift it out of an angled holder).

There's also 3-board version:  http://www.rockyracks.com/surfracks/3-90.htm

I used to stack a few of these and keep all my boards on one big wall. I have since relocated my shortboards elsewhere, but for anyone who needs a one-size fits all solution, these work great for me.

Of course, Rocky Racks make different style racks from the same material. Check em all out here: http://www.rockyracks.com/surf.htm

2
Gear Talk / Re: Documenting a transition: 12' Ron House to [9'9'] Joe Blair
« on: November 06, 2007, 10:53:21 AM »
First 3 sessions (30 min, 60 min, 60 min, all between 11/3 and 11/6, Santa Monica Bay, Venice, light winds, surf 1-4'+, closed-out and crappy):

Initial impressions:

When I first took the Blair out, my biggest concern was: How well will it float me?  From my very first step on the board, I noticed that it didn't ride quite as high in the water as my Laird (my feet were getting way wetter).  I also found it was difficult to find the proper forward/back sweet spot. In addition, it was certainly "tippy" side-to-side, but I remember my first few days on the Laird felt like this, so I'm not too worried.  What I found most interesting so far with this board is that I can actually sink one of the rails with one leg while leaning to the other side and remaining standing on the board (almost tilting the board 45 degrees to the water's surface).  This, of course, was not intentional, but resulted from my effort to maintain side-to-side balance in very wobbly water (winds were light, but refraction in Venice has been powerful with the high tides).  Though I would sometimes end up "frozen" in this position for a few seconds while I tried to catch my balance, the board seems to recover well from this position and rights itself pretty freely.

Paddling:

When I first jumped on the board, I thought I was too far forward since the nose looked like it was pushing water with each paddle I took.  Stepped back just a little bit and realized I overcompensated...now the tail is sinking and the nose is doing a wheelie (This doesn't happen as much on the Laird because the Laird has a huge round nose and thick squash tail.) Though I still haven't locked in the front-to-back sweet spot, I've found it occasionally, and am certain that with more time, this will become natural. Still, it feels that there is a much smaller sweet spot on the Blair compared to the Laird and there is much greater margin-for-error on the Blair if you are standing in the wrong place.  Bottom line, the Laird is floatier and more forgiving of improper positioning.

Since the Blair is much lighter than the Laird, it seemed much easier to get moving from a dead stop.  A few quick paddles can get this thing moving where as I feel like the Laird requires fuller, deeper strokes to pick-up initial momentum. It was also way easier to "spin and go" on the Blair.  While the Laird felt like a boat to spin around and requires effort and concentration to turn sharply while just paddling, the Blair spins with ease.  Probably helps that the Blair tri-fin setup is positioned 5" further forward (read: towards the nose) than ordinarily would be and doesn't suffer from rudder resistance like the single-fin Laird.

Once it was going and I was paddling, the Blair glided OK, but certainly nowhere near as far or as fast as the Laird. When the wind picked up and there was even slight bump to the water, it felt like the Blair just didn't want to glide much at all.  Not sure if this was due to reduced weight, reduced volume, or both.

Further, not sure if this is board design or just user error, but I found the Blair does not track as straight as the Laird.  A few side strokes on the left and the Blair immediately starts pulling right.  A few strokes on the right and I'm veering back the other way.  I'm certain there are better paddling techniques for paddling straighter on the shorter board, but so far, stroke-for-stroke, the Laird paddles straighter (and, as such, more efficiently).  Regardless, given the glide and tracking I have experienced with the Blair, in heavier chop and bigger days this would be a much harder workout than the Laird just to paddle to the line-up...and I doubt I'd want to paddle more than a couple of miles on this if given a longer board as an alternative...

Still, despite all this talk of sweet spots, paddle-ease, and tracking, I plain tipped over and fell in the water a good half-dozen to a dozen times just paddling around over the three sessions. I'm to the point on my Laird where I don't fall off it while just straight paddling, so this was frustrating at times, but also a source of challenge/fun.   

Surfing:

Of course, this board was not designed for distance paddles.  It was designed to be surfed.  And that's why I got it.  So far, however, I've had nothing but closed-out Venice shorebreak. Probably took off on no more than 6-12 waves total over all three sessions and had only 1 with any open face.  Rather than report on surfing characteristics in these conditions, I'll wait till I get it into rideable waves.

Barring something strange, I'm taking her down to San'O on Wed morning for dawn patrol. Will report back once I've had some real waves on it.
 

3
Gear Talk / Re: Documenting a transition: 12' Ron House to 10' Joe Blair
« on: November 05, 2007, 03:19:26 PM »
How funny.  I didn't know it at the time, but I bought the very board that Joe shows-off in that video: http://www.standuppaddlesurf.net/2007/10/13/chalk-talk-with-joe-blair-stand-up-paddle-surf-board-master-shaper-on-boards-for-big-boys-video/

Nice interview, by the way.  Now I know nearly everything I wanted to know about my new used board!

Per the video, it's 9'9', 28" wide, and 4.5" thick.  Generally designed as a surfer for small to medium sized waves for someone 170/175lbs or lighter...and apparently this particular one was shaped for a 130 lb female.  Now it's mine.

Again, I am currently at ~180 lbs, so it will be interesting to see how I fare.  I've been out for 2 sessions on it so far, and to say that I immediately noticed the difference in volume would be an understatement.

More to come...

4
Gear Talk / Documenting a transition: 12' Ron House to 10' Joe Blair
« on: November 05, 2007, 11:05:08 AM »
Hey folks. This weekend, I was fortunate enough to stumble across a lightly used Joe Blair 10' SUP on consignment at a local shop.  The woman who had it shaped for her rode it once (or so I'm told) and decided instead that she wanted a longer, floatier board for distance paddles.  Lucky me. 

For the past few months, I have been riding a 12' Ron House. The 12' was my first SUP.  It paddles great over distances, but is a bit of a boat in the surf. As I've been riding it for the past few months, I decided that I would really like a shorter board (or different shape) for better maneuverability in waves.  I even emailed several shapers recently to inquire about having a smaller board shaped. Having stumbled across the used 10' this weekend, I decided to buy it and give it a whirl.

Since I'll bet there are other people out there who are interested in making a similar transition from big board to shorter/higher performance one, I thought I would document my experience here...and answer questions anyone may have about it.

So to start here are some initial specs:

Me:  6'1, 180 lbs, 34 yrs old, surfing for 7 yrs, surfing/paddling stand-up for 3 months...

My first board, (for comparison's sake):  Ron House shaped, 12' long, 29" wide, not sure how thick. Big round nose, squash tail, single fin, very little nose and tail rocker.

The new board: Joe Blair shaped, 10' long, 28" wide, not sure how thick. Beak-nose, rounded-pin tail, tri-fin set-up with standard future fins.

Pictures:  Coming soon. Awaiting new digital camera.

--

I'll post more later today/tonight re: initial impressions of the new, shorter board as well as details from transition sessions 1 and 2 on the shorter board.

5
SUP General / Re: Catalina Classic 2008?
« on: October 16, 2007, 02:56:42 PM »
32 miles.  Held over the summer. 2007's was in July. Not sure if same month every year, but expect summer of 2008 for next race.  My understanding is that winds are a total crapshoot.

More here:
http://www.catalinaclassic.org

6
SUP General / Re: SUP in South Bay (Los Angeles)?
« on: October 16, 2007, 02:51:33 PM »
Gdub - Not certain about daily rentals or demos, but Action Watersports (Lincoln Blvd, Venice) has a bunch of SUBs as does ZJ Boarding House (Main ST, Venice/SM).   Probably worth calling them both.  AW has told me that they occasionally do demo days at Mothers beach, but I'm not sure when the next one will be.  FYI:  Horizon's West does not carry any SUBs.

Since I've been paddling for exercise more than I've been surfing my SUB, and since I live near the water in Venice, I've mostly paddled between piers in Venice/SM rather than driving somewhere else.  Have surfed along this stretch as well, though lately I've been getting hungry to drive for better stand-up waves (Bolsa Chica, Old Mans). 

I have a 12' x 28" Ron House board (hand-shaped version of the Laird).  If you wanna give a try before you buy something, I'd be glad to meet up and let you give it a whirl.

If you buy a board and want to paddle, give me a shout.

P.S.  Aside from the phantom guy I once saw from a distance, no word on other SUPers on the bay. 

7
SUP General / Re: Catalina Classic 2008?
« on: October 12, 2007, 01:21:31 PM »
Allan - Thanks for your reply. I saw your overview of the 2007 challenge.  Quite impressive (and inspiring)!  And that yellow beast of a craft just looks awesome.

I'm wondering what kind of training program would make the most sense to be prepared for event like this.
Having trained for marathons before, I wonder if same training principles would apply.

Did you do anything special to get ready for it?   Before the event, what were the longest paddles you were doing? 

Any input/advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.

8
SUP General / Catalina Classic 2008?
« on: October 12, 2007, 12:32:23 PM »
I am very intrigued by the Catalina Classic and the prospect of competing on a SUB. 

I saw that a few guys did it this year as a team. 

Anybody out there have an interest in training for/participating in next year's event? 

If so, I'd love to explore further with whomever may be interested.   

9
SUP General / SUP in South Bay (Los Angeles)?
« on: October 12, 2007, 12:23:54 PM »
Hey folks - I posted several days ago about SUPers in/on Santa Monica bay, but haven't heard much. 

Are there any South Bay SUPers who may want to meet-up for surf or distance paddles?



10
SUP General / SUP on Santa Monica Bay (or nearby)?
« on: October 04, 2007, 03:23:47 PM »
I've been paddling and paddle-surfing solo for the past two months or so.  3-5 mornings a week, I'll paddle between 2-5 miles between Santa Monica Pier and Marina Del Rey jetty (south of the Venice pier). All this time, I've only seen 1 other guy on a SUB but we never had a chance to meet.

Are there any other SUP'ers in the area that may want to get together for longer paddles (weekday dawn patrol or anytime on weekends)?

Please drop me a note or reply here if you have any interest.

Gracias,

Fish
Venice, CA

P.S.  I'm willing to drive anywhere for a fun paddle session, so if you're out of the area but looking to recruit paddlers, please let me know.

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