Topics

16

Random / Glad I didn't buy a place in Wilmington, NC.

« on: September 16, 2018, 03:41:17 PM »

I bought a place in Indian Trail, North Carolina and, despite being 3 hours from surf, I really like it here.  I have been considering buying a second place on the beach in Wilmington to rent out when I'm not using it as a surf shack.  Sure glad I waited.  After Florence, the place is a disaster area.

17

Training, Diet, and Fitness / How effective are TRX workouts?

« on: August 15, 2018, 12:15:02 PM »

I'm thinking of installing a TRX system in my new home in NC.  Did a little of it in a gym and thought it would be a pretty good workout.  Have you ever done a lot of TRX training?  Is it a good way to stay in shape? 

18

Classifieds / Ocean Kayak Nalu: Standup Kayak/Paddleboard $150

« on: July 25, 2018, 08:45:29 PM »

Selling my 12.5 ft Ocean Kayak Nalu.  It's a sit down kayak and a paddleboard all-in-one.  I've had a lot of fun on it, but have no room to take it on my cross-country move.  Local pickup only in Newport Beach, CA.  Surprisingly fast for what it is.  Indestructible plastic.  $150.

19

Gear Talk / Traveling with boards on car in intense heat

« on: July 25, 2018, 07:54:02 PM »

I'm only taking my two favorite boards to North Carolina; the Creek and the Starboard Element.  Because we are moving the dogs and don't want them on a plane, we are making an arduous, cross-country drive in the hottest part of the summer.

Both of my boards will ride on roof racks for 5 days.  My Creek has a vent, so I'm not too worried about it, but my older Starboard Element does not have a vent.  Both will be in bags.  Is the Element in danger of delams in those kinds of conditions?  Should I install a vent in it before I go? 

Sold the Edge and gave away the Jammer because the glass job was too crappy to sell.  (If Warren reads this he will probably go off on me again, sigh)  Selling the OK Nalu, look in the classifieds section if you are interested in it.  Keeping the Soul Compass (awesome board) in my mom's garage for when I come back to Cali to visit.

20

SUP General / I'll never be kind to someone blocking my driveway again

« on: July 22, 2018, 04:27:06 PM »

I live about 300 yards from the ocean and beachgoers from everywhere cruise my neighborhood looking for parking spots in the summer.  They rarely find any because there is a car jammed into every available crevice.  A couple of weeks ago, I had a young lady park her car blocking my driveway so it was impossible to get a car out.  I was considering immediately calling the city to have her car towed away, but I knocked on doors all around my house to make sure it wasn't anyone visiting a neighbor.  Several neighbors came out to help and looked in the car with me.  We saw a piece of mail in her car that listed an address around the block.  Didn't want to have her car towed away, so I walked over there.

I found her and said in a friendly tone, "Hi, I'm your neighbor and I think your car is blocking my driveway.  I normally just have the cars towed away, but I'm glad I found you so I can have you move it instead.  So could you please move it so it doesn't block my driveway?"

If someone said that to you, wouldn't you say something like "Yikes!  Thanks for finding me"?  I know I would.

Her response: Hateful, petulant attitude was instantly dripping off of her.  She argued that I could still get my car out.  I said no I can't.  She then said that she would move her car later, when she had time.  I said "No, you have to move it now."  She gave me a look that would melt plastic, spun and stomped off.  I wasn't sure she was coming back, but she appeared after a bit and stomped past me, keys in hand without saying a word.  I followed behind her around the block, and called out to her, "Thank you.  Sure glad I didn't have to tow your car."  I couldn't see in her car that well, but I think I might have seen a middle finger.  She squealed the tires and sped down the street. 

I have seen immature behavior, but this one takes the cake.  I'm just going to have cars towed away from now on. 


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21

SUP General / It's done. Guess I can't be called "Zooport" anymore.

« on: July 18, 2018, 08:17:17 PM »

The buyers released their contingencies on my house, so escrow closes on August 8th and I'm moving from Newport Beach to Charlotte.  I have tremendously mixed emotions about leaving my beach home of 38 years. http://www.35062nd.com/video.html

Losing: I'll be giving up my dream house that offers flat water paddling in my backyard and surfing about 300 yards away.  (densely populated neighborhood and crowded beaches though)

Gaining: I'll get to retire immediately, so I'll have time to do all the things I love and lots of room to do them.  I'll be 15 minutes from my grandkids who I love and enjoy tremendously.  The closest beach is Wilmington, which is a little over 3 hours away, but there is world class mountain biking only minutes away.  Just gotta adjust my expectations: Surf a little and bike a lot.

So I guess I should change my screen name    Any suggestions?

22

SUP General / Is the SUP industry tanking?

« on: July 10, 2018, 11:35:45 AM »

I'm seeing "cheapo boards flooding the market", not as many SUP events, not many SUPs showing around my home breaks, Dogpatch the only break that is still loaded with SUPs, SUP shops selling off, others disappearing.  WUWT?  I'm not worried about it because SUP is here to stay in one form or another.  But I was interested in opinions on the health of the industry.  Is the SUP boom over?  Will the general public be moving on to other fads leaving only a remnant of us dedicated SUPers to carry on the sport?

23

SUP General / Poll: Would you trade away living at the beach to be able to retire early?

« on: July 03, 2018, 05:56:12 PM »

Cast your vote in the poll above.  (Mostly doing this just for fun, so thanks for your patience and participation)

If I stay here at the beach where I can surf every day, I'll likely have to work until I'm 70.  If I move to North Carolina (3 hours from the beach) I can retire immediately at 60.  What would you do?

24

Gear Talk / How do I make my booties less grippy?

« on: June 21, 2018, 07:39:31 PM »

My Sunova Creek has a nice, soft, grippy deck pad that is great on bare feet.  My brand new booties have traction soles and they grip the Sunova deck too well.  Now I tend to trip over my feet when I walk the board because my feet catch on the deck pad.  I need to make the booties less grippy.  Suggestions? 




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25

Gear Talk / Ever tried these strange booties?

« on: June 12, 2018, 08:30:17 AM »

I'm looking for the most natural and realistic booties that don't mess me up while surfing.  I'm planning to surf Dogpatch and Trails (both hard on the feet) a lot this summer, and typical booties mess up my footwork.  Don't need warmth, just need protection.  Have you tried these?  They seem like they might be better, or maybe they are just weird, don't know. 

http://us.vibram.com/shop/fivefingers/men/new-releases/v-aqua-mens/M73.html?dwvar_M73_color=Black&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiZypkJrM2wIVlAR9Ch23SwfVEAEYASAAEgLXh_D_BwE#start=1

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SUP General / Would a trailer work for beach camping on the east coast?

« on: June 04, 2018, 07:52:57 PM »

It's looking more likely that we will end up in North Carolina before the end of the summer and I'm therefore thinking about a surf bum camping rig.  If I have to move to the Charlotte area, I will spend at least a week each month on the coast.  My wife has always wanted a compact travel trailer and I was wondering if I could successfully do the beach bum lifestyle, spending a week or two at a time on the coast, in a rig like one of those in the link.

If you were to spend a week or two at a time on the beach, what would you get?  What's the camping situation over there?  Would I be limiting myself towing around a little rig like one of these?  What would be the benefits and drawbacks on the east coast.  Should I just get a van and sleep in the back?

https://www.thespruce.com/glamping-worthy-camping-trailers-3017221

27

SUP General / RC surfer

« on: May 25, 2018, 02:02:43 PM »

This is a stupid and childish way to waste time and money.  I think I want one.

28

SUP General / Swami's: I've not seen so many burns and shoulder hoppers

« on: May 21, 2018, 01:36:10 PM »

Is Swami's always like this?  Seems like the shoulder hoppers got the best waves because they burned somebody behind them.   Never surfed there, but geeze!

29

SUP General / Is sunscreen really killing our coral reefs?

« on: May 11, 2018, 06:57:31 PM »

They are saying that the chemicals in sunscreen are killing the coral in the ocean and I wanted to know what you think.  The article below is chilling, but is this more environmental scare tactics?  How does the park service get that data?

http://time.com/4080985/sunscreen-coral-reefs/

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SUP General / I gave in; we are moving to NC. Want to buy my house?

« on: April 26, 2018, 08:30:57 AM »

I decided that family is more important than surfing daily, so I'm selling my dream house of 37 years.  Here's the MLS with pics of it https://matrix.crmls.org/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?ID=55704504531 If you know anyone who might be moving to the area, please let them see it. 

I know I'll never have something like it again.  Walking distance to several good beach breaks.  Flat water paddling right from the back yard. Really mixed emotions about selling it.

Things that are helping me be less miserable about this move:

1. The area we are moving to has world-class mountain biking only minutes away.  Another sport I love.  Certain neighborhoods have great MTB only a few hundred yards away. 
2. I'm getting some sort of surf bum, camper van and will spend a good amount of time cruising the NC coast and sleeping in my van.  Maybe I can follow SuptheCreek around. 
3. The National Whitewater Center is not too far.  I can try my hand at whitewater SUP and kayaking.