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Messages - andygere

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2
SUP General / Re: Add a Drone and Go Surf . . A Foil Would Help Even More
« on: September 13, 2016, 08:25:05 PM »
I don't care if it's really practical to do this today.  I dig the fact that somebody thought of it and made it work.  Purpose-built machines will follow, as will automated guidance so you can self-pilot.

3
SUP General / Re: SUP Demo Fees
« on: July 26, 2016, 01:18:40 PM »
I haven't purchased a new board in a while, but I've had pretty good luck with manufacturer's reps providing demos over the years. This may be a function of living in an ocean-side town with a strong SUP community, and number of races every year and a lot of good surf. It's also easy to see why most shops don't have a huge fleet of specialized race boards to demo, and why they need to have some sort of fee structure (credited towards purchase) for the boards that they do have.  Unless you are in an area where there is a big racing community and a lot of shops, it may be impossible to get a ride on all of your wish-list boards.  Before I bought my Bark 14 Dominator, I had a chance to paddle one at a race because the SurfTech rep had them there for that purpose.  I eventually bought a used one from a friend, who went custom shortly after buying a new production Dominator, but I already knew what I wanted by then.  Bottom line, you may be better off buying a board that you know you like because you have had a chance to ride it, rather than trying every possible model in an attempt to get the ideal board. At $2500+, I get why you want to try before you buy.  The reality is that the internet and catalogs are full of boards that rarely see the shop floors in any numbers, and the likelihood of finding one of these specialty boards in a local shop fleet is nearly nil.  I suspect that many of these high-end race boards are special ordered by dealers for customers, and often never see the rack.

I will share this data point: I was at a local race in Santa Cruz this weekend, and I paddled with a guy on a new D2 for a while.  He seemed like a competent paddler and looked really fit, but the board was borrowed and he was falling off a lot in relatively calm ocean conditions.  It looked really tippy to me, compared to my old-school Gen 1 Dominator, and the racer on it said as much. 

4
Gear Talk / Re: Any of you cold water guys ever used a heated wetsuit?
« on: October 08, 2015, 08:31:56 AM »
Gary was an early adopter on these, and wrote a comprehensive review on his blog.  Check it out here:

http://srfnff.blogspot.com/2009/11/quiksilver-heated-vest-review.html

5
Gear Talk / Re: SimSUP lovers what do you ride on good waves?
« on: October 08, 2015, 08:29:08 AM »
I ride my SIMSUP S2 8-0 x 30 1/4 in everything up to overhead surf in Santa Cruz.  If it gets much bigger than 1x overhead, I'm probably at work, coaching a Little League game or recovering from my latest injury, or at least that's how it seems.  The S2 is very forgiving even in windy, choppy and backwashy conditions, but it did take a little while to get it dialed in for the sloppier days.  I found that using a slightly shorter paddle on chunkadelic days is a big help.

My next board will likely be an ST with similar dimensions.

6
SUP General / Re: Come on Jouquin
« on: October 08, 2015, 08:22:15 AM »
Thanks to all for sharing the reports, pics and video.  Although I haven't lived in New England for a long time, it instantly brought back memories of the anticipation, planning and reward of chasing hurricane swells.  I'm bloody well spoiled with consistency here in Santa Cruz, but I still think those brief but glorious fall storm swells brought some of the sweetest and most rewarding surf days.

7
SUP General / Re: Only two stand up guys out!
« on: October 07, 2015, 04:18:07 PM »
What I'm trying to figure out is why the hell they are paddling out?

Big set coming after this one...

8
SUP General / Re: Sun Screen
« on: September 28, 2015, 09:27:51 AM »
+1 for Watermans, goes on thick but stays on and works.  I also use Burnout, excellent zinc-based product.  Really stays on in the water, not as pasty as the Watermans, and made with natural ingredients by a surfing family here in Santa Cruz.  https://www.burnoutsun.com/

Finally, I wear a surf hat.  There are a lot of goofy looking ones out there, but this one isn't. It's a  close copy of my old Patagonia Hood Ornament surf hat. Straps tuck away when not wanted/needed, but it stays on and in place even in heavy beatdowns.  Drys fast, fits good, works. http://crossensurf.com/

9
SUP General / Re: VW Bus
« on: September 24, 2015, 11:52:17 AM »
1950-1967 Split Windshield buses have been my hobby since 1985.  I have owned over a dozen in that period of time, from the rarest of the rare pre-1955 23 window up to a 1967 beater..  I currently own a 1952 VW bus that is a former ambulance.     

The craziest thing is how the prices have risen in the last 15 years.  The average Joe is completely priced out.  I see 23 window models sell for 100k + with the occasional rarer early "barndoor" models selling for over $200k.  These are buses that we paid a few hundred to a few thousand for in the '80s.  Driveable beaters now sell for $20k + and total rust buckets are $10k.

Take a look:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1837087

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1646892

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1825800

Madness, I tell ya.

Amen to that.  The prices on multi-window splits are starting to make Syncro Vanagon Westies look like bargains.  My wife said I can buy one of those as soon as I sell my Suburban Quadrasteer.  Since that tows the boat, it's a no-go.  For now, I have this cheap AC toy to play with.


10
SUP General / Re: Show up and blow up.
« on: September 23, 2015, 09:11:10 AM »
You can leave it in your car/truck and be ready to paddle or surf anytime.  Great for stealth recreation on business trips.  Makes a decent tender for a 22' boat that stows on deck when not in use...

11
SUP General / Re: Close encounters.
« on: September 21, 2015, 09:10:36 AM »
I was out for a leisurely evening paddle with my wife last night, and a humpback surfaced just a few feet away from me.  It was an awesome experience.  As others have said, there is a massive amount of bait in the water, and all forms of sea life are feasting on it, pretty spectacular to see.

12
Gear Talk / Re: Leash length?
« on: September 09, 2015, 02:33:35 PM »
For surf, I use a leash that is a foot shorter than my board.  This still allows plenty of length to get to the nose.  The purpose is to minimize drag and tangling in kelp, and to keep my board close for easy retrieval after wipeouts.  I always use a 5/16" cord.

13
SUP General / Re: ahh labor day weekend
« on: September 07, 2015, 12:29:45 PM »
Traffic horror shows on 17 are the only thing that keeps the crowds here in Santa Cruz from getting even worse.  I surfed early Saturday (I won't name the spot-it would only attract more crowds) and despite the highish tide it was pretty fun. By 9 a.m. It was getting busy and by 9:30 it was becoming a $#I+ show and I called it a day.  Didn't bother on Sunday despite the swell hanging around because the tide was really too high for the dawn patrol and I had no desire to be out there with the huddled masses who sleep late and clog lineups.  Fishing and whale watching was a lot more relaxing. From the boat, we saw some of the insanity while we ate our lunch after fishing.  Summer crowds, please go home.

14
SUP General / Re: Look who showed up at our beach today!
« on: September 07, 2015, 12:21:37 PM »
I wonder if it's the same one I saw at Coast Guard earlier in August?  They are much scarier looking when you see more than just the pectoral fin.  The behavior these big fish are showing chasing seals right up the beach tells me that if you are I the water, you have re-entered the food chain.  Spooky.

15
SUP General / Re: ahh labor day weekend
« on: September 05, 2015, 05:58:47 AM »
In  early and out early.  Too many boards on roofracks during my brutal commute home last night...

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