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Messages - Blue crab

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211
Gear Talk / Re: SUP lights
« on: October 31, 2013, 11:29:33 PM »
Thanks Karl & Spookini. I am probably making a simple thing complicated! I prefer the notion of a head lamp to having a board that looks like a giant glow stick. On the other hand, might be cool from a special effects perspective to have a neon board during a nighttime downwinder….

212
Gear Talk / SUP lights
« on: October 31, 2013, 02:57:28 PM »
Wondering if there is any collective experience paddling at night. The fall / winter is a fantastic time to paddle in Seattle with crisp clear days, alternating with storms / downwind conditions.  Only problem is that the days are awfully short and it is typically too dark to paddle early in the AM or after work. Would be great to be able to get in some water time in the evening but would obviously want a really dependable light source. Any thoughts?

213
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 11, 2013, 10:01:30 PM »
That sounds like me for sure. Clothes fit the description & I was drifting pretty far to the east to avoid refraction.  I think that I even remember it though not 100% sure.  My race pattern on the Javelin was pretty entertaining: pass a bunch of people... fall in.... get passed by the same people..... repeat x 20.

The smile might have been half grimace. I've been very fortunate with this sport in that the only pain I have had is the good kind.... until Sunday. For whatever reason, my lower back was on fire.  The 2nd bridge was actually where it was the worst. Probably the stress of balancing on the new board putting too much pressure on my core. Who knows.

 Let me know when you are next in Seattle.  Would be a shame not to get some downwinds with your Glide in hand. With a wetsuit, the Sound is manageable all 12 month.  Our peak season starts now!

214
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 11, 2013, 04:47:30 PM »
Great to hear everyone had strong races.  I persevered on the Jav though there is little doubt that I would have been faster and more comfortable on the Glide.  On the other hand, I learned a lot about the board and the experience should make winter paddling on the Jav much more fun.  To dial in the balance issues, going to stick with it unless things get > 20 knots, which I hope is most days. :)

Super event overall.  My kids had a blast in their races and are stoked for the 3.5 miler next year. Only a few years before they are smoking me.

215
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 04, 2013, 09:55:30 PM »
A technique question for the group. Had another session on the Jav this evening and am falling in love with the board. Boy does it fly. The tips about moving forward ahead of the grip were really helpful.

Obviously a big focus at this stage is balance.  I borrowed a page from skiing and focused on keeping my upper body "quiet" which proved to be very helpful. 

What I  am wondering about specifically is the reach phase of the stroke.  Prior to this purchase, I was focusing on rotating my shoulder & hip forward as much as possible, which in turn meant that the other hip was rotating back. This was no problem on the glide. With the Jav, however, I find that this degree of hip rotation induces the board to rock onto the opposite rail, thereby decreasing speed & increasing tippiness.  I had more success tonight bending forward at the hips and knees while avoiding rotation.

Is this normal? Any thoughts?

216
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 04, 2013, 12:32:28 PM »
I have the 2011 glide. Will never part with it: I think that it is the ultimate board for DW, at least at my intermediate level of paddling. Super fun for introducing newbies to the sport as the board manages to find long, fast glides even on marginal 10-15 mph days.  Almost never pearls & I find it extremely easy to maneuver.  We use it a lot for surfing tug / freighter waves off shore as well. 

That being said, for RTR I am wishing I had the 2013 (or even better the 2014 from the sound of it!). The 2011 has a really "surfy" nose which is a feature that I generally love, except when going directly upwind or in flats.  Really seems to slow me down in those conditions (I am sure that some of this is my technique).  Hence, my indecision regarding Sunday....

Looking forward to meeting the PDX crew.... I'll be the one swimming behind a skinny white board  :o

217
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 03, 2013, 05:28:35 PM »
Again more great comments. Thank you. Probably most important is to not underestimate Lake W. I usually paddle on the sound so have come to think of the lake as a tropical paradise lacking jellyfish and orcas. Probably a bad idea.

Will no doubt have the full quiver at the race. Hope to use the Jav if winds permit just so I can get dialed in sooner rather than later. But will have years to learn the board if Sunday turns out to be gnarly!

218
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 03, 2013, 02:52:00 PM »
Thanks Jill,  Regardless of the board, will definitely have fun out there. No doubt about it.

 

219
Gear Talk / Re: Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 03, 2013, 01:25:58 PM »
Awesome advice people.  I suspect that the answer will be the Jav unless the winds are totally out of hand: my 8 year old just informed me that he wants the competitor for the kids' race! It is not open ocean so the worst that can happen is my wife will have to come pick me up from Bill Gate's front yard.... she has become used to this sort of thing. Perhaps I'll also stash a 6 pack of a local IPA at the north end of Mercer, just in case I can't find the Bark.

My limited experience on the Jav was that it handled upwind far batter than any board I have tried, with surprising stability. I couldn't believe the progress I made upwind (downstream) at HR despite 15-20 knots.  It also was really fun going downwind.  

The side chop is another story. I find the Jav quite challenging in these conditions.  Side chop is where I truly love the Naish glide: I find that I am able to get decent glides by dipping down the back side of swells, without much side to side rocking.  I actually seek out side chop when training on the Glide.

My other observation on the Jav is that things go well provided that my concentration level is unfalteringly high. If my mind drifts for even a second, regardless of conditions, then this is a recipe for getting wet.  I am hoping that this feature will ultimately be great for my paddling technique... just not sure that I can focus that intensely for 13 miles.

220
Gear Talk / Round the Rock dilemma: Naish Javelin 14 vs Bark Competitor
« on: September 03, 2013, 07:50:50 AM »
Hi everyone,

New to posting on this blog.  However, based on many great insights by paddlers near & far (http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=19851.15 for example), I just picked up a 14' 2011 Naish Javelin carbon.  My quiver also includes a Naish Glide 2011 carbon for DW. Prior to picking up the Jav, I would race (& get smoked) in flat water on my wife's Bark Competitor (a nice 12'6" board). My weight is 180 lbs. Been SUPing < 1 year but have taken on the sport fairly aggressively as I have good access to Puget Sound & have made a couple of trips to Hood River. Would describe my balance as "improving" which is part of the justification for the new board. Fitness level is good.

Round the Rock is approaching and I am on the fence about which board to use. Not the Glide for sure as I find it slow in upwind and flat conditions. Been on the Jav twice.  I had a great deal of fun paddling it upwind in Hood River to the Hatchery and then back downwind a couple of times. Balance was a challenge DW but things went far better than I would have expected. Yesterday, I perhaps foolishly took the Jav out for a late training run on the Sound, after already having taken a fairly strenuous bike ride. My legs were tired even at the start, and though conditions were mild, I ended up struggling with balance.

I am on the fence about which board to chose: the safer but slower and shorter Competitor, or the incredibly fun (but riskier) Jav. I am a bit concerned that if I bonk at mile 10, there will be no end to the race, particularly if there is side chop.

Appreciate any thoughts!

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