Messages

3466

Gear Talk / Re: NSP Durability Test

« on: December 12, 2013, 08:35:28 PM »

I'm sorry, but it hurt to watch that video.  All those beautiful boards...destroyed... (sigh)

3467

Gear Talk / Re: ONeill 3MM Mutant Split Toe Boots

« on: December 12, 2013, 08:30:52 PM »

  A bit uncomfortable between the toes and it is kind of bugging me    

That's what I have always hated about split toe booties and boots.  So stinking uncomfortable that I end pulling them off and going without.  Of course, I'm in a much warmer clime, so that might make a difference. 

3468

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: Surftech Laird/Quickblade Carbon paddle Newbie Review.

« on: December 12, 2013, 08:27:31 PM »

Sounds like a very nice paddle.  May I ask what you paid for it?

3469

Gear Talk / Newbie's perceptions on going from a 10'6 barge down to a 8'10 AllWave in surf.

« on: December 12, 2013, 08:10:16 PM »

I took the AllWave out in the surf for the first time today and noticed a number of interesting things that happen when you are a beginner who goes from a 10'6 beginner board to an 8'10 Allwave.  

6AM, 46 degree air temp, 57 degree water.  O'Neil Psychofreak wetsuit, hood, booties. (I got too warm) It was high almost tide, so I had the joy (cough) of dealing with backwash off the beach.  Waves were coming from the shore as well as from the ocean, so although it was calm, the ocean was pitching from a few directions at once.  This made balance interesting.  I know all this is probably a revelation to no one but me, but here is what I noticed:

1. A lighter, shorter board reacts more violently to an uneven ocean surface.  I fell over a couple of times until I got the hang of that.
2. The AllWave offers less side-to-side stability than the barge.  I fell over a couple other times until I got the hang of that.
3. Slightly bent knees and a paddle in the water is more important to staying upright on a smaller board.
Cool Stuff:
4. The AllWave paddles almost as fast as the 2 ft longer barge.  I think it accelerates much faster.
5. This one surprised me: I think the AllWave catches waves MORE easily than the bigger board.  I had no trouble catching and riding the mushy, knee-high waves.  
6. The AllWave feels very comfortable on a wave and turns easily when you have a foot on the tail.  
7. The AllWave weighs less than half of the barge; so much easier to carry back to the Jeep.

Conclusion: I love this board.  Thanks Carl for selling it to me.  Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and encouraged me to go all the way down to 8'10.

3470

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: My New AllWave 8'10

« on: December 12, 2013, 07:01:16 PM »

I went a very similar route as you in my board progression.  I started out on a 10-6 barge and stepped down to an 8-10 Blair in just a few months.  I live in Costa Mesa and mostly surf at the inlet at Bolsa Chica.  I sometimes surf at San Onofre.  I used to prone surf a lot at the Newport Pier but it is so crowded there I have not taken my stand up board.

Oh man, you are not kidding about it being crowded in Zooport, I mean Newport.  I've yet to try the Bolsa Chica inlet, but it seems to be the hot spot for SUP surfing.  Gonna get over there sometime soon, it's just so easy to go out closer to my house that I'm too lazy to make the extra 15 minute drive.  Wow, you really did follow a similar path; I started on a 10'6 barge and went to an 8'10 too.  I fall over a little more often, but I love the board. 

3471

Sessions / Re: SUP Lofoten - north of the Arctic Circle

« on: December 12, 2013, 08:35:49 AM »

Wow, that's beautiful!  50 degrees is not as cold as I thought it would be.  I'll bet winter water temps are in the 30's.

3472

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: My New AllWave 8'10

« on: December 11, 2013, 07:44:42 PM »

Thanks, supthecreek!

3473

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: My New AllWave 8'10

« on: December 11, 2013, 06:06:56 PM »

Too late; I already love it.  I didn't know what a barge I was riding until it tried this board.  LOL.

3474

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: My New AllWave 8'10

« on: December 11, 2013, 10:22:10 AM »

Yeah, Carl is an awesome guy and a good resource for gear for us locals.  

I live in Newport, so I surf mainly at River Jetty, Newport Pier or HB off the Power Plant.  Sometimes I go down to San Onofre for the peaceful vibe.  I'm always scrounging for someone to go down to SanO with.  Have any interest in that?

Would be cool to get together.  A bit of a hike though.  

3475

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / My New AllWave 8'10

« on: December 11, 2013, 09:03:28 AM »

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to get together with Carl Cambilargiu, who made a special trip just to let me try his 8'10 AllWave demo board, and then was kind enough to sell it to me.  Holy cow!  What a great board!  

I was concerned that I would just fall off of the 8'10 being that is was almost a 2ft jump down in length from the beginner barge I was used to.  I started off tentatively, but I quickly realized that I could handle it and was instantly stoked.

My thanks to everyone who gave me advice.  Thanks especially to Carl for the help and the great deal.

-Mike

3476

Gear Talk / Re: Ocean Kayak Nalu?

« on: December 10, 2013, 08:21:22 PM »

Thanks so much, I'm going to check those out. 

3477

SUP General / Re: Fun Day At Kanaha

« on: December 10, 2013, 08:13:37 PM »

I was not out. I live five minutes from Rincon. This has got to be the worst fall EVAR for surf in SoCal. Salt in the wound was Thanksgiving Day when every off work surf starved person tried to get a piece of the swell pie.  I passed on it.  Someone tell me things will change. At least I've been able to kite with some regularity.   But I wanna sup some real surf.....

You SUP at Rincon?  What's the vibe like with the proners?  I love that wave, used to prone surf it a lot when I was a teenager, but it is so dang crowded.  Truly one of the best waves in California, IMO.

Agree about the terrible surf this year.  This fall was dismal; very few good swells. 

3478

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Maui - What area to stay in

« on: December 10, 2013, 07:25:28 PM »

JD.  Where did you end up staying in Maui and how was it?

3479

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: SUP the sea caves on Santa Cruz Island, CA anyone?

« on: December 10, 2013, 10:44:29 AM »

I think that a nice inflatable would be perfect for Santa Cruz island.  

I don't think that I'd trust my board in the caves and I wouldn't trust it being handled by the island packers crew.  Don't get me wrong, they're good people. The kayaks are very durable and get stacked on the back of the boat, paddled to shore and dragged up onto the beach.  I don't know if a SUP would get special treatment.

On an ideal day it would be fun to paddle from Scorpion to Prisoners in the morning before the wind came up.  Do a hike, eat lunch, and then paddle back to Scorpion with 15-20 knot winds.

Cool, you've been there.  Yes, that idea sounds fun.  There are a number of caves that I think would be OK to enter on a SUP.  Scorpion Cave, Elbow Cave, and Neptune's Trident caves come to mind.  There are others that I would not enter on a SUP such as Seal Canyon or Marge Simpson cave and a few others would be too narrow or shallow.  

But you are right, a trip that hit only the biggest caves and took advantage of the downwind opportunity for the afternoon could be really fun.  

You say that the Island Packer crew is really good.  I suppose you are right, but I have had troubles with them from time to time.  If a SUP trip materializes, I might explore other boats to get the group over to the island. 

3480

Gear Talk / Re: Ocean Kayak Nalu?

« on: December 10, 2013, 10:38:40 AM »

Versaboard, cool, never heard of it.  I'll look into that. 
Thanks!