Messages

91

Gear Talk / Re: Starboard Pro for heavy hitters

« on: April 29, 2017, 05:15:40 PM »

i got the 2017 starboard 8'5" pro, have my first sesh, whoa! back to learning, at my size this board is under water and feels like paddling through oatmeal. a whole different kinda of balance and paddle.

i was able to catch a few waves and the board feels great, but only being able to stand for a few minutes at a time makes for a lot of plop, plop, fizz, fizz. hope i get to master this.

will report back in a few weeks......................

92

Gear Talk / Re: Starboard Pro for heavy hitters

« on: April 24, 2017, 03:33:44 PM »

LW - good question. i live in SF and been in san diego, linda mar, santa cruz, privates and even sharks on a steep day. nothing very much over head yet.

the jump from a 9'7 x 31" 136L to a 9'0" x 29" 139L seemed like it would be fairly straight forward. it was not. the stability of a 29" vs 31" is HUGE. even paddling through the surf on my knees was a challenge the first few sessions. the pro has more rocker throughout and softer rails, where as the JL has nose scoop so no pearling, but is flatter in the tail with much sharper rails which makes for a really fast board going down the line, but i really had to get back and dig for turns. the pro feels amazing going top to bottom! its like going from carving on a snow board on hard pack vs light powder kinda. i can easily stand on the JL without much bracing, but really need to keep the paddle in the water most of the time with the pro.

i was able to always catch waves on the pro, but i would stand, plop, stand, plop, repeat, etc, a bunch. granted it has been pretty soupy due to storms this season here in nor cal. on my second or third session a fellow SUS came by and simply said it will take 3-4 weeks and then it will all click. and boy did it! dealing with a narrow side to side balance and then throw in the front to back yaw and hard headed football player mentality made for some frustrating sessions, i had to eat my pride and keep at it. it was better that i did not go out with any of my regulars so i was not conservative and kept trying different things, lots of bracing, small changes in foot position based on currents, wind, seaweed and wave direction was key.

then it clicks and now i am aggressively paddling thru waves both kneeling and standing and making many as the thinner nose cuts through, i have begun aggressive pivot turns to catch waves. late take-offs are not scary, head high and lower so far. i am able to catch pretty small waves which was surprising to me with some pumping. i am now learning to pump on the waves to gain speed, sticking some bottom turns and soft off the lips (i want to throw some spray one of these days!, but that many be down the road). the bottom line is that the pro in more fun on the wave for me, but if i am out for a long session i will occasionally sit down and rest.

i have not gone back to the JL yet, i will do that before deciding whether it will stay in my quiver as it is a super fun, fast, stable board that can handle some real size.

this experience has me super jazzed and thinking that the 9'0" and 8'5" would be a great 2 board quiver. i will keep the big easy and hero for bolinas, small summer stuff as well as friends and family.

i just read a review that the 2017 8'5". in order to thin the rails and keep the volume, they had to add thickness which domed the deck and is "notably less stable than 2015 and 2016". i am planning to demo the older models soon.

93

Gear Talk / Re: Starboard Pro for heavy hitters

« on: April 24, 2017, 12:14:18 PM »

i appreciate all the caution for the large step down and the enthusiasm! i have been trying see if can get a demo without any luck so far.

i feel like both sides are whispering in my ears.....devil and angel........

94

Gear Talk / Starboard Pro for heavy hitters

« on: April 23, 2017, 10:01:34 AM »

Zoners -

I have become a SUP believer. I am 6'2" and 205lbs.

I have the Starboard 9' XL pro (139L), it took about 3 weeks to get it wired and I love it, even in small waves. Looking at having a quiver the next step would be the 8'5" Pro (112L).

Would like to hear any expierince with going this small. Is this a reasoanable step down or will it just be collecting dust?

PO

95

Classifieds / Re: Starboard SUP 8'5" X 29" PRO Blue Carbon 2017 (New) Los Angeles

« on: April 22, 2017, 08:22:28 PM »

hi DWA -

i am interested in this board, but do not want to have the same issue. how much do you weigh? what is your experience?

96

Gear Talk / Re: Going Thin....the board not me

« on: March 09, 2017, 02:00:07 PM »

how many boards do you have to choose from??!!

97

Gear Talk / Re: Going Thin....the board not me

« on: March 08, 2017, 11:09:59 PM »

i have never heard of the glide factor. to be honest 215lb is naked in the morn after a leak, ha! i would guess after i water up, add wetsuit and paddle more like 223 or a glide of 1.38. i have been on the pro XL, 139 for 2 sessions and it is def a step down , but i am getting the hang of the stability and position to catch waves. once on the wave it feels amazing!

my buddy was also recommending the regular SB 9' (128L) saying that having more board under the water is actually more stable. it seems to me that a jump of s6" shorter and 2 inches narrower AND 10L less would be too much?

the pivot turns throw me off a bit and having to lean super far forward to catch the smaller waves is tough, but carving is so much better.

PO

98

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Trip report - Nosara Paddlesurf

« on: March 05, 2017, 03:32:51 PM »

im headed there the first week in april, what size board(s) did you end up using? was it very choppy or mostly smooth?

99

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Things got interesting in Costa

« on: March 05, 2017, 03:18:37 PM »

thanks for the tips, im heading to nosora in a few weeks. what board did you bring/need? im thinking to bring my small pro, but wondering if a larger board would be better.

100

Gear Talk / Going Thin....the board not me

« on: March 04, 2017, 12:31:53 AM »

i have been surfing a jimmy lewis stun 9'7" 31" wide 137 liters (215lbs), been talking with a few friends who have been encouraging me to go to 29" wide.

seems to be some discussion that a narrower board will go rail to rail much better and that 29" or lower is the way to go. i am considering the starboard 9" x 29" wide 139 liters.

any thoughts on going narrow, as opposed to going shorter or down in volume?

101

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Reasonable priced flights to Costa Rica??

« on: February 15, 2017, 12:33:01 PM »

i am flying from San francisco and finally booked points on united. it looks like southwest is good except no weekend flights.

how much will united charge me for SUP? $150 probably

i booked a saturday to saturday camp at nosarapaddle and wanted to minimize my vacation days and maximize my surf days. next time i will look around more, thanks

102

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Reasonable priced flights to Costa Rica??

« on: February 13, 2017, 01:13:11 PM »

flights to cr are big budget, anyone know how to get to san jose or liberia for reasonable rate?

103

Gear Talk / Re: full on log long board to sup surf

« on: July 05, 2016, 06:00:12 AM »

i demo'd it and wow it surfs really well. i have added it to my quiver and really like it in small to medium waves and especially when there is chop and wind.

104

Technique / Re: strong side paddle into wave

« on: July 04, 2016, 07:00:33 PM »

i am goofy and left is my strong side, i practiced paddling on the right, i def am not as fast and cant get the last bit of umph i can on my left. so i paddled on the right and just switch to the left at the last moment. also a buddy of mine gave me invaluable feed back............look where i want to go, sounds so simple but it really helped me. i started looking to the right and it was easy to catch the wave and head down the line.

now to practice in larger waves, come on big south swell.............

105

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: jimmy lewis stun gun!

« on: July 04, 2016, 06:52:34 PM »

101 surf sports in San Rafael has them, he said they are not in any catalogue yet...............