Messages

1

SUP General / Re: santa cruz - the hook - first bad SUP experience

« on: May 27, 2023, 10:59:53 AM »

Good for you for sitting on your board and harmonizing with the surfers, how you act makes a big difference and reflects on all of us. I still think the e. side can be surprisingly crowded and hostile, no matter what you ride, and there are still a few crazy characters who will yell or try to bully sups or longboarders if they think they are out of place in "their" sacred hook shortboard lineup. I had an unpleasant encounter at sharks of all places with one of those kooks on a bigger crowded day. I'm guessing now that surf sup is declining or holding steady it probably feels less threatening to the surfers. For me personally I think its a good thing if the shortboarders have some spots where they don't have to mix with longboards and sups, and I don't go to those places in santa cruz. I hate crowds and feeling like I have to wait around to pick off a few scrap waves so I don't annoy anyone.

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SUP General / Re: 8'6" new deal.

« on: February 09, 2023, 11:09:36 AM »

My 2 cents is the 8'6 infinity will have a bigger sweet spot front to back than the quatro due to the longboard nose which has less scoop and wider, and the board is longer. But these are pretty high performance boards with narrow tails and rails so it might be tippier side to side. I would look at it more as something different to try. If you want to progress in sup surf on smaller gear you will have to work for it and be more active with the paddle and your bracing, no free lunch on any board. You can go short and wide like the wide speed and other similar models from the other brands or L41 and that should be pretty stable and fun in beach break.

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Gear Talk / Re: l41 bruce wayne Need Help with Volume

« on: October 07, 2021, 09:19:36 AM »

The problem is you only have these 2 much bigger boards for a reference. If I had to choose between width and volume I would go lower volume thinner rails every time (assuming reasonable positive float 1.2 and above). This is low hanging fruit, a big increase in surfing without sacrificing that much stability.

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Gear Talk / Re: l41 bruce wayne Need Help with Volume

« on: October 06, 2021, 09:03:45 AM »

I have a bruce wayne and went 1.2 ratio as my small/med wave "performance" option. I'd say the shape is stable for what it is, but this kind of board is going to prioritize wave riding over standing stability. Attached is a pic of it during a recent swell.

For my winter "step up" board I have on order close to 1.4 ratio to account for added length and desire for more paddling speed. I feel like volume is often used as a proxy for stability since the production boards get wider and longer as the volumes go up but in actuality the outline is what gives most of the stability.

I think you would be fine at 110 liters or a little less. 29.5 sounds very doable, I can't say for sure the outline will be stable enough for you and your conditions, it will take some adjustment and more energy/fitness to stand and paddle a smaller shape. Enjoy your new L41 I think these are super fun boards!
 

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Gear Talk / Re: Paddles! Surf vs flat water...

« on: July 14, 2021, 04:49:50 PM »

Well if I were you minimizing stress on my shoulder would be high on my priority list for paddles. SUP can mess up your shoulder as easily as strengthen it. That would imply a smaller blade and careful not to go too long in length, with some shaft flex. I don't think you can go too wrong with any of the high end paddles: ke nalu, black project, werner, quickblade etc. Black project table of size recs isn't a bad place to start. Surf and flat water paddles can be a bit different also so you might want to decide which is your priority.

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Technique / Re: How many steps to the tail?

« on: June 30, 2021, 12:48:31 PM »

I had trouble seeing what you are doing in the video but it looked like you were surfing down the line pretty well. Try getting some weight on the paddle to help move/shuffle your feet. On your last turn/kickout you needed to make a better quicker bottom turn if you want to cut back off the top.

If you have a bump in the pad it can help you locate your back foot and just keep going until you feel it. Even if you can't get your foot all the way back keep moving your back foot rail to rail on the turns.

I have same problems going to a sup as I was never a longboarder before and had to learn to surf a bigger board. This is where some of the old guys who grew up with longboards have an advantage.

Lastly a smaller board always helps, but then you have to be able to stand and paddle it.

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Sessions / Re: L41 ST Demo session

« on: June 26, 2021, 05:48:42 PM »

I have the L41 bruce wayne GF 1.25 so I don't know how relevant to the ST but it does have a relatively wider nose and tail similar to some of kurts other shapes.

I can use this board in a wide variety of conditions, but not super stable to stand around on for me. Anyway it has a very pronounced double concave/spiral v. I find the effect of this is to help split the board so when you are on rail your not feeling the width, and it also feeds from rail to rail very quickly. The trade off to me is it is hard to wrap a cutback all the way around or pivot off the tail. 0 to 90 degree turns no problem. If you've ever surfed a wider tailed fish surfboard thats kind of what I'm feeling more like a fish but still can carve it up in overhead surf. I have no problem with it being too fast or slow, but I would say it is happiest on fast down the line waves.

Kurt makes a variety of stuff so it's hard to generalize, my friend has a more traditional pin tail of his that he likes.

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Gear Talk / Re: New board next week!?

« on: April 21, 2021, 11:43:33 AM »

Its not so much the width, going from 9'8 to 8'4 your putting a lot less surface area on the water. Quatro is a very solid brand good sup reviews, but if you can't try it out first I would go with the 8'4 when making such a big jump in size and going to your first performance shape.

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Random / Re: the Corona Virus, One year of Covid-19

« on: April 09, 2021, 11:00:37 AM »

2nd pfizer yestd. Feel sick, bad nights sleep taking it easy today. Looking forward to better times and some sup/surf travel, yeeeha!

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Random / Re: the Corona Virus, One year of Covid-19

« on: March 22, 2021, 11:32:23 AM »

Sorry you were laid up sup leave, I also had some symptoms after pfizer 1 (arm sore, mild headache, fatigue), I understand it is not unusual for a couple of days. The symptoms show your immune system is reacting to the vaccine which is good, you are making anti-bodies. Its possible healthier people might respond more. This is way better than the effects of even a week or 2 of non-hospital covid, and to be able to travel with more confidence or gather un-masked with others who are vaccinated (as per CDC guidelines) is well worth it.

Please everyone do your part to stop the spread and get your shot before the next wave or variants.

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Gear Talk / Re: Different board for different conditions?

« on: February 28, 2021, 10:37:27 AM »

You should try NVS c-drive quad fins probably med., to get more drive and a little more stability on that board. Worked great for me. I usually don't change fins for the day unless I'm experimenting, changing boards instead. For e. coast waves you describe having a performance oriented long board (not too high volume or wide) would be what I would want to ride many days. Some swear by super short wide also for small waves for quicker turning. Creek is right about trying diff. boards if you can that is best way to figure it out.

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Gear Talk / Re: Different board for different conditions?

« on: February 28, 2021, 08:37:12 AM »

You don't mention wave size or shape thats the main factor for me to change boards, but it could be good to have a "stability" board or longboard for junk/small.

1. yes performance sup if waves head high or bigger whatever that means to an individual
2. Shortboard prone surfing, getting blown backwards on a sup isn't my idea of fun while watching great waves go by.
3. longboard sup
4. windsurfing
5. depends on size, maybe longboard sup
6. downwind sup/foil

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General Discussion / Re: Moving to Santa Cruz..

« on: February 07, 2021, 10:24:12 AM »

I've never sup in socal but I shudder to think of anywhere more crowded than santa cruz. Like everywhere this year has been the worst for crowds on the water especially in town. Depending on your tolerance for crowds and conflict you can pretty much go anywhere, but I would look for other sups, isolated times/locations or stay far out of the way until you get a feel for the various spots. Wind, chop, limited tide windows are often an issue, thus the windsports advice.

The good part is you should see more consistent swell than down south, and you can be alone on the water with a bit of driving n. or south if you want to brave trickier conditions and or beach breaks. Most of us sheeple prefer the cleaner and easier reef/points in town where we can bicker together and complain about how crowded it is.

Good luck and see you on the water!