Messages

1

SUP General / Re: La Fona Baja

« on: May 11, 2011, 11:38:37 PM »

Still good, still fun... no problems. Don't drive at night- but you already know that.

2

Gear Talk / Re: Werner Handle "The Conclusion" a must read!

« on: April 28, 2011, 08:20:45 PM »

I've seen three break- with one impaling the paddler in the face just below his eye. Their handles suck. Congrats on fixing yours- I hope you don't have any more probs with it.

3

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: How are you getting Primal?

« on: April 10, 2011, 10:26:37 PM »

Okay- looks like I've got some reading to do! Thanks SEA.

4

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: How are you getting Primal?

« on: April 10, 2011, 09:46:57 PM »

Hey ODJ-

Thanks for that LA Times article- I printed it out and will share with my high school students. I should back track for a second- I've lost more than twenty lbs in the last three months going low carb/high protein- my students are kind of blown away by it and they are interested in the approach. I think that article will be an eye opener for them.

5

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: How are you getting Primal?

« on: April 10, 2011, 09:23:00 AM »

Question regarding carbs for people who race:

First of all thanks for all the info about the different diets you're all posting here- this stuff is really interesting to me and I'm happy we've got resident experts.

I have one question- it's not loaded- I just want to know what you guys think. Specifically if you guys race stand up boards or run races or race bikes... competitive races not just, "let's go for a run, ride or walk or paddle" type activities.

What should I be eating and when to be properly fueled for a race of 6 - 12 mile length?

I'm really looking for responses from people who actually train and prepare for races. The intensity of a race is not matched by practice or leisure paddles (we try the best we can with intervals etc., and the old adage, "How you practice is how you play"... but the fact remains that on game day you up the intensity level- at least if you care about winning or results).

Particularly those of you who don't eat any carbs (I'm with you by the way- refined flours, sugars, grains = fat, diabetic people) and get their fuel primarily from fat.

I race stand up boards at least twice a month and practice daily- my experience has been that if I don't carb load the day before a race, I am DEAD on the course at mile 2.

So racers, let me know what you do- and please describe your level of competitiveness (ie: I race once a month and eat raw, bleeding, venison everyday except when I can tear into some warm liver or pork sushi  ).

Thanks!

John Ashley

6

Gear Talk / Re: Durability of Custom vs Stock boards

« on: April 10, 2011, 09:09:08 AM »

Popouts with sandwich construction are more durable... but they flex and surf differently than conventionally made (eps blank/glass/resin) boards- so there's a trade off there.

My boards are all customs (except my first one which is, by the way, 4 + years old and still going strong) and most have deck indentations where my feet go- this doesn't bother me at all because that's what happens to surfboards- and I come from a surfing background. Pressure dings on the deck don't affect performance at all- as a matter of fact, my feet like them because it feels like coming home  .

I also prefer customs because I'm used to fixing dings on boards made that way.

7

Gear Talk / Re: New Board Day!!!

« on: April 09, 2011, 11:17:25 PM »

Stamps rules... and his boards speak for themselves. He's really refined the foil on his boards such that they respond weight shifts quickly and still have the foam in the guts to provide stability and float. Notice how the nicely every part of the board flows together?

Nice grab- that is a real score and I'm sure you'll be stoked on that thing once you get on a wave that allows you to really open it up. All my boards come from Tim- that's not to say there are other great shapers here in SoCal- it's just that I've been getting boards (both prone and stando) from him for such a long time that he's got me dialed in.

That fin set up that you have will work fine but don't be afraid to invest in a set of Gerry Lopez thrusters and run that middle Gerry fin back in the box (try it about a inch from the back of the box). The Gerry's have an inside foil that produces lots of drive- couple that with a nice flexy tip and you've got a nice lively feeling set up. I do switch the middle to a 6.5 or 7" fin when the surf is bigger.

Have fun on your new board!

8

Gear Talk / Re: Looknig for a new surf SUP...what are you guys riding these days?

« on: April 06, 2011, 07:11:40 PM »

I've got an 8'6 Stamps that goes well:



Here it is with my 9'1- both killer boards:



Was just in Stamps' shop and saw these two getting done- the green one is a Grim Ripper 8'0 that wanted to go home with me:

9

Downwind and Racing / Re: Race Training???

« on: April 03, 2011, 11:04:49 PM »

I've been actively training for races since January- I've been getting faster and stronger. The advice that John G. gives is excellent- definitely build in recovery days- especially leading up to the day of a race.

Here's what I've been doing to get ready for the typical length race (4 - 7 miles) we have around here (So. Cal.):

I do intervals twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Intervals are tough to do on stand up board when both your hands are on a paddle and you can't work a wrist watch to time your interval and rest period. What I've done is map out two channel markers and have found them to be one minute apart if I go all out at them. I do ten one minute intervals with thirty seconds of rest between by the eighth one I'm in a lot of pain.

I like the intervals for psychological reasons- they teach you not to quit. I'm going to increase the distance of my interval course this week and see how it goes. After the intervals are over I'll paddle three miles at a moderate pace, untimed.

On Wednesdays I paddle a five mile course at a race pace- I go at it as if it was a race. I want to go into race day knowing that I've been practicing- again for me it's psychological stuff- I want to know I've been there before. I always time these practice race runs.

Thursday is interval day but without the three mile after-paddle.

Friday is an easy two to three mile paddle. I don't time this- I just think about doing as perfect of a stroke as I can- I listen to music while I paddle but I go slow and I just concentrate on the stroke elements that work for me: Lot's of reach, lot's of lean on the blade and then a clean release with a feathered return. At the end of a race, when you're tired, it's more important than ever to "go slow to go fast"- watch people at the end- they're not reaching at all and they're massaging the water- go slow, place your blade and apply power you'll finish strong.

Saturday is race day.

Sunday is no paddling day- I'll surf or mow the lawn.

Monday is a repeat of Friday.  

If on any day the surf is good, I'll blow off race training and just go surfing. I'll get my intervals done in the surf by riding a wave until my fin hits the sand and then sprinting back out through the surf to the line up. I'm a surfer first so I never miss good days to work out for a race.

Most important: I've been incorporating strength training with pushups, pull-ups, crunches (using one of those big rubber balls), dumb bells and MOST OF ALL kettlebell swings. Of all things, you've got to be strong on the paddle for your weight- I think dropping weight and getting stronger has helped me improve the most. My weekly schedule for that stuff is a whole other story but I'm getting results on the race course.

Good luck!

10

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: San Diego, Mission Bay--is it sup safe/friendly?

« on: April 01, 2011, 10:24:07 PM »

Don't forget the SD SouthBay we paddle here daily- no PFDs, nobody to hassle you... lots of nice flatwater paddling. Our spots are in Coronado and the Cays... see you out here. 

11

Events / Re: Sunset Pro 2011 Last Day

« on: March 15, 2011, 07:39:23 PM »

Some nice back hand surfing!

12

SUP General / Re: Matt Meola Vid

« on: March 06, 2011, 07:37:47 PM »

Oh Shit... ripping.

13

SUP General / Re: Maui warning

« on: February 28, 2011, 08:07:25 PM »

Are the cutting right through those straps with the steel cables sewn into them?

14

SUP General / Re: Drafting during a race

« on: February 28, 2011, 07:05:12 AM »

"He was 20 yo and I'm 45 - that should teach him...."

Which should be called the 1/2 rule: You're allowed to draft somebody at least half your age because beating punks using wily "Old Bull" tactics is fun.

15

SUP General / Re: What is the vibe in Santa Barbara?

« on: February 27, 2011, 05:20:44 PM »

Right on Shartz! I'll be surfing Ventura (you know the range of spots) Tuesday morning- eating a jalapeno crusted porkchop at Holdren's that night- then probably surfing Wednesday morning either Hobsons or maybe Pitas. You're totally welcome to try out the 8'6 GR. Gonna jam up to Monterey for a couple of days (checking the "J" on the way) and then back in town again for Fri./Sat./Sunday morning. Email me: john@paddlesurf.net if you want to surf one of those days.

Back to the topic: SB Rules... try La Super Rica on Milpas.