Messages

1411

Downwind and Racing / Re: Greece downwinder

« on: August 23, 2016, 04:56:12 AM »

^^  I'd say with a bit of knowledge of your waters , wind and coast and a good downwind board just go for it. If ever it gets too tricky just kneel it. Go on windy days and scope things out at take off and landing spots.

I did my first downwinder in 35+ knots (40+ mph). Then later I got a downwind board. But I already knew my waters, winds and coast well from years of sailing, windsurfing and kiting.

Those are sweet troughs though. Nice riding, excellent camera and editing work. Conveys the experience well.

1412

Downwind and Racing / Re: Is this part of what Jim Terrell warned us about?

« on: August 23, 2016, 04:35:57 AM »

I fully understand the convenience of a rudder for general riding, most especially, or even exclusively, for sidewind conditions. But I wonder… as much as paddling on one side sucks and extra effort is supplied to keep craft from heading downwind isn’t a rudder cranked to keep the board heading into the wind a full-on hand brake.

In sailing being overpowered in the sails (then leaning and luffing) and compensating by a constant hard core bearing off at the tiller is as close as one can come to putting hand brakes on a sailing craft. Definitely the exclusive domain of kooks. Any sailor worth their salt refrains from such measures.

So I wonder about the usefulness of a tiller on recreational SUP. Could be a false comfort.

1413

Downwind and Racing / Gorge race

« on: August 21, 2016, 02:18:29 PM »

Any online coverage?

Or at least some vids taken?

1414

Downwind and Racing / Re: Boat racks for downwind boards

« on: August 21, 2016, 02:16:21 PM »

^^ it howls there!

1415

Gear Talk / Re: 2016 Naish Javelin 14' x 26"

« on: August 20, 2016, 10:19:47 PM »

The 2016 Naish Javelin 14' by 26 Maliko is awesome on flat water conditions. Really. Just slides right over the water surface. Seems to have to speed limit. The classic Jav is obviously tuned slightly more for flatwater. Crazy stable.

1416

Gear Talk / Re: jimmy Lewis water from gore valve?

« on: August 17, 2016, 10:23:31 PM »

how hard is it to do? my board is a few years old and I thought to do it but Rogue told to better not touch.

Is it a question of the right valve and the right tools? I might just do it this coming winter.

1417

Gear Talk / Re: Needing more feedback on Ke Nalu Mana

« on: August 17, 2016, 03:16:30 AM »

agree

Still. Water is pretty damn heavy, at least for this wimpy rider.

As always it's a "how much" thing. Going smaller the shape is more optimised and I guess I've learned to have it slip less so end up in same place (with less "shock").

I guess I should have said that for the given downsize I don't see a reason for cadence to increase by as much as I'm understanding it does form the posts. And if it is the case then looks like the "too small" point has been reached.

There obviously is a point of diminishing returns. Though I sure do look forward to using my Bz Cards when I get better.

1418

SUP General / Re: Best way to make a case to local leaders that SUP should be allowed on lakes

« on: August 17, 2016, 03:13:04 AM »

^ but gas powered boats are ok?

1419

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: August 17, 2016, 02:56:01 AM »

...
Are those kids or adults on the foiled sups?

It's all written for you in the vid.

Alex is the adult. Go foil.

The first kid, Finn Spencer, is 12! Big bro Jeffrey 15 i think. They rock. They've been in a few foiling vids.

[edit to add] thanks for making me rewatch it.

Is that windsurfer's yellow helmut a full face!!!???

1420

SUP General / Re: Beginner!

« on: August 17, 2016, 01:42:03 AM »

yep, and get a leash

1421

Gear Talk / Re: Needing more feedback on Ke Nalu Mana

« on: August 16, 2016, 02:23:13 PM »

I’m not subscribing to this idea that a smaller paddle blade requires a higher cadence. That would presume that your blade slips in the water.

I’m with Puakea that you set your blade and your cadence corresponds to the speed of your craft. Otherwise you’d be “spinning wheels”.

Moving to a smaller blade I found I learned better how to set it and it certainly didn’t mean automatic higher cadence. Yes, the return is easier to do quicker as they are so flickable.

At some point I guess a too small blade would slip. At 86 sq in that doesn’t seem to be happening for me.

1422

SUP General / Re: Most functional GPS for touring

« on: August 13, 2016, 05:41:19 AM »

The VivoActive HR is a pretty solid and not too expensive tool for that purpose and so much more.
It will last for way more than 8 hours at a time. Very intuitive and easy to use I'm my experience.

You view the routes on your phone or in your browser and get all the stats you'll ever need including
Heart Rate, total strokes, distance per stroke.

You could name your routes as well and share them, record the gear you used to track milage and so on.
If you really want to get scientific with it, you can connect an external heart rate belt and cadence sensor like the Vaaka.

You could also set vibration alerts so it will vibrate every 1 mile (or whatever you choose) for instance.
also includes a digital compass.

My experience with phone apps wasn't good for long runs. I prefer to have my phone ready and charged for emergency or any other kind of communication. The GPS apps I've used did suck the life of the battery.

Gone were the days of "4 hour" GPS watch battery life, eh?

I hear you on not wasting phone battery. SUP and bike I'll happily use battery to track. Skiing I won't. I'll save juice for map reading and JustInCase stuff. My SUP playground has lots and lots of places served by train. I can always get home.

1423

Technique / Re: Travis Grant's New Paddling Stroke

« on: August 10, 2016, 02:04:20 AM »

...
putting downward pressure on the paddle with much straighter arm.
...

Can you explain what you mean by that please?

Everything else is clear. I've also been working this for a couple of summers.

1424

Gear Talk / Re: SIC Wide Glide vs Amundsen TRT vs Custom

« on: August 09, 2016, 01:38:15 PM »

I prefer a pointy nose, "a la" Bullet, JL M14, JL Rail, Rogue DW, for busting through steep stuff: up, down or side. I've tried displacement , boof , even duckbilled (Naish Maliko) noses ... I definitely prefer pointy for the messy stuff.

I'm really not getting the overtly wide thing. It's has been. Then again I travel light and I'm the kind of guy that doesn't understand picnic tables for picnics either.

The whole downwind board thing is a very predictable (in French one says "healthy") kind of roll. More hammock kind of swing than the race board treetrunck roll. Basically something you tune into quickly. Anything with a displacement nose is liable to play tricks when the nose pokes.

I think there's a reason the wide boards aren't being seen in festive areas. What pono said.

1425

Technique / Re: The differences between surfing with a paddle and surfing without....

« on: August 08, 2016, 02:32:36 PM »

I cringe when I see that......
It's like watching a skier not using their poles. The paddle is part of the dance. It's just a different dance than prone surfing.

or worse: double poling