Topics

31

Gear Talk / Two boards or one board

« on: October 08, 2015, 07:00:07 AM »

After going through two phases of wanting one specialized board for flat water and one specialized board for downwind and then wanting one board doing everything and reading plenty of diverging advice on the subject I came to my own conclusion that everybody was right...it just depend on the mood of the time....

To me it all come down to two conflicting factors and which of these you can live with on any given day 


1a) On glassy water nothing can reproduce the feel of a full displacement nose. The Bark Downwinder comes close in terms of both speed and not "pushing" as much water but still not the same feeling.
1b) In choppy water/downwind, nothing is as comfortable as rocker. The Allstar is fairly stable for a 25" but it is still more work than when on the Bark.

=> having two boards one displacement and one with rocker


2) I hate to switch boards. Going from one board to the other takes some adjustment in many forms and takes a bit of paddling before comfort come back which is wasting good paddling time

=> have one board that covers 90% or so i.e. 2016 Allstar, Bark Vapor, JL Rail (?), SIC FX14 (?), 2016 Rogue Downwind (?), Bark Downwinder

32

British Columbia / Paddling with grey whale

« on: September 14, 2015, 07:51:51 PM »

Last Saturday we paddled between Ambleside and DUndarave and met a grey whale feeding (I think) not 200 m from teh Seawalk.
It was going in circle disturbing the sea bottom and we followed it for 5 or 10 minutes.
This was just an incredible experience.

Of course in the process of paddling while trying to take pictures with my crappy cellular phone, the phone went to the bottom of the sea.
I wish I could have had some pictures as I was fairly close not enough to count the barnacle on the jaw maybe but almost.

Today the whale is back to the North SHore and many people did take pictures. The first picture is from Saturday Sep 12 at the location we meet the whale. Not sure if the one from today are from the same whale.
http://vancouverisawesome.com/2015/09/14/grey-whale-dips-into-burrard-inlet-to-pay-respects-to-stanley-park-deer/

33

Gear Talk / Bark Downwinder - Pro Elite durability questionable

« on: September 12, 2015, 06:24:01 PM »

Bummer today.
Took the Surftech Bark Downwinder for the second time - brand new board.
I use board bag (nice Riviera bag) and pads FCS and DaKine.
When strapping the board, it looks like the seam of the bag move a little bit and come on top of the rail.
I do not strap very tight but just the same there was a huge dent on the rail. The skin did not break so likely I do not need a repair yet.
It does not bode well for a downwinder board.
I never had a problem with the Allstar in the very same bag.

Somewhat ruined my day...

34

Gear Talk / SpeedPuck speed damping

« on: August 16, 2015, 06:35:44 PM »

Hello,
I have been using my SpeedPuck a few times now. Assuming I paddle 30 stroke a minute at a relax pace and 40 stroke a minute when pushing, during a stroke I seem to get two speed values - one low one higher than my average speed i.e. 7 km/h and 9.5 km/h which I assume show the acceleration.
Would it make sense to set-up the SpeedPuck to dampen speed at 1s to get the "average" speed reading rather than the peak. Mind you I found it also helpful to see the peaks when doing a sprint exercise to keep me "honest".

Cheers,

Luc

35

Gear Talk / Variable conditions 14' x 26" race board

« on: July 05, 2015, 05:34:36 PM »

Just curious to know if anybody in the 165 lbs/ 75 kg weight range has tried out several of the following boards:

1) Starboard 2013 Allstar carbon 14' x26" (I have not seen any second hand or for end of stock sale so probably not an option anyway)
2) Starboard 2015 Allstar glass carbon (green) 14' x 25"
3) Blackbox Uno 14' x 26"
4) SIC x14 Pro 14' x 26"

I have read the various separate reviews/videos on the internet but it is not always easy to have a good idea of what "very stable for its width" or "faster than a wider board" means for each reviewer to have a kind of baseline.

I am looking at these from the point of view of an all-around board that is still exciting on the flat with great glide, provide enough stability on heavy chop that you still have fun and go reasonably fast and can down-breeze moderate chop/wind under 20 knots.

My Javelin with a large fin is almost there but not quite on the stability front, I am still guaranteed a trip in the water and shaky legs after a while :-)

Cheers,

Luc

36

Gear Talk / Does it really matter that much?

« on: March 21, 2015, 07:28:27 PM »

I have been keeping tab on my paddling since I got a Canmore G102 GPS.
Coupled with GpsPro software, I check on my speed for every paddle.

I have kept the following data:
1) average speed over the paddle removing any break
2) average speed of the three best km - a measure of a consistent effort
3) average speed of the three best 100m - a measure of what my top speed is

While there are not that many data, I am slowly building up the information a week-end at a time.
This has been mostly flattish water with one exception open ocean and one exception lake.

I have attached summaries.



I noted:
1) I am slow at 8km/h top speed - not much of a surprise there
2) I am faster with the Konihi 95 than with the Olala 84 - I am not a fast cadence paddler so it might make sense
3) the fin does not seem to make much a difference at my level for flat water

Cheers,

Luc

37

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Just arrived Larry Allison/ Jeremy Riggs Aercor fin

« on: January 11, 2015, 02:35:21 PM »

I received my Aercor from Jeremy who was extremely nice and easy to deal with as already well known.

It is the click-it version. Epoxy and sanded where it needed to, to make a snug fit in the fin box of my Glide.
Took it out for a paddle this morning in our local inlets on flat water.
I did get a barge wake to get a taste :-)
As expected, the directional maneuverability is fantastic. A quick swipe of the paddle get you in the right direction.
When going side chop/wake, no problem the board stays on course.
Tracking is a little bit less than with a dedicated flat water fin like the Ninja but nothing to be ashamed of by a long shot.
I am so much looking forward to use the Glide/Aercor in the spring in open ocean conditions.

I also changed to the Ninja to first try it for the first time with the Glide and get a comparison with the Aercor.
The Ninja feels like a more classic fin while the Aercor kind of feels like not having a fin at all - if you know what I mean.
The tracking was better with the Ninja.

When I finished paddle, I was convinced that the Ninja was the fin to use in flat water as the tracking is better than the Aercor and I felt that I was going faster when looking at the nose of the board.
That is until I had a look at the Doppler data of the two runs:

Run#1 Aercor
Average speed 6.28 km/h
Best 1km speed 7.37 km/h next 6.23 km/h next 5.56 km/h

Run#2 Ninja
Average speed 6.25 km/h
Best 1km speed 6.80 km/h next 5.90 km/h next 5.66 km/h

Ok granted in between the two runs the ebbing tide had likely started getting some momentum so the difference in current might account for the small difference but both runs were made in the same place 3 km back and forth so general effect of the current was the same.

I will be damned:
1) with the Ninja I feel like I was going fast when I pushed (fast for my standard of course)
2) with the Aercor I was simply going fast without getting the feeling of going fast

Of course that is not enough data to be relevant but still it is interesting.

Now I still keep my general impression. On flat water, I will ride the Javelin. The Glide cannot equate the feeling of smooth effortless glide of the Javelin.
For picking-up board wake, it is the same the Javelin planes easier.
Now if it was summer and water was warm, would I even try to consider trying the Aercor on the Javelin for flat water paddling and picking-up board wake when possible..uhmmm...maybe :-)

Cheers,

Luc

38

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Naish Javelin 2011 Carbon 14'

« on: November 22, 2014, 04:25:53 PM »

I am thrilled. I just got locally a used Javelin Carbon 2011 at a really good price and in great shape.
Regretfully I do not get to try it yet as we are flying tomorrow to France for a couple of weeks.
But as soon as I am back I plan to take it out on our inlet for some flat water goodness.
I have a Makani Kawa that I hope will work like a charm as I do not have a Ninja.

I plan to sell my JP Australia 14x28 to keep a two boards quiver Glide and Javelin.

Cheers,

Luc

39

Gear Talk / KeNalu 90FLEX versus xTuf(s) stiffer

« on: November 08, 2014, 05:15:51 PM »

Hello,
I need another shaft to mount my Konihi 95. I plan to leave the Ho'ola 84 on the Elite 100Flex shaft but get a more flexible shaft to add extra help fro a separated shoulder.
Is there a lot of difference between the two?
I am not sure what is the difference between 90 and 80 on the Kenalu stiffness scale?
This to use the 95 with a moderate cadence for Touring.
I keep the 84 for working on a faster cadence on flat water.

Cheers,

Luc

40

Gear Talk / New Naish Glide 14'x27.25 2013 (v2) GS

« on: November 04, 2014, 12:19:16 PM »

I got my board and now had two week-ends to paddle with it.
My first impressions.

Construction
Quality and finish are looking great. The board definitely feels stiff and strong even when slapping the nose on a chop.

Flat water
It is my first planning hull and it feels so different than a displacement.
The board seems to be as fast as my 28" wide displacement and 27" feels better than 28" :-)
Once/if I get used to the different feeling of the nose not piercing the water (best thing about FW paddling), I think that this board could very likely replace my displacement even for flat water winter runs.

Side Chop
I first took the board with a Makani Kawa Race fin that I had used with good success on flat water with the Glide and as an all-around with my displacement board.
I did not like the feel of the board with that fin, it felt "constricted" if such thing is possible and did not feel very stable.
I then switched to a RFC Pivot 9.5 classic fin. Different story altogether. The board seemed to loosen and the side chop suddenly was not a problem anymore.
The ride started feeling a lot smoother.

I have not tried yet the Gladiator Hybrid or Gladiator Pro that I usually put on my wife's board but it looks like the RFC Pivot will stay on the board for Open Ocean and the Kawa for inlet flat water paddling. Been always curious about fin, I wonder if a RFC Chuck Patterson Great WHite fin would be a good match for an all conditions fin http://www.shop.rainbowfins.com/CWP-Great-White-925-cwpgw.htm.

I am hoping for a little bit of predictability with the wind pattern so that I can manage at least one upwind/downwind run soon. Otherwise, cannot wait for spring and summer to take the board downwind.

Cheers,

Luc

41

Gear Talk / Downwind Board new shapes

« on: October 07, 2014, 08:23:21 PM »

Hello,
Has anybody paddled both of these boards and compared the benefits of each?
The new shapes are becoming very interesting as an all around board when choppy waters and downwind are a good part of the diet.

1.   Rogue Rage 14x27 255L
2.   SIC Bullet V2 14x27 269L
3.   JP Australia Open Ocean 14x26.5 265L

The other approach is to have a flat water board that can handle chop well.
Both approaches seems to meet in the middle so even two boards quiver would make sense if money is no object.

Cheers,

Luc

42

Gear Talk / Curtis Fin Bluewater,Eelgrass and Rainbow RFC pivot, pivot grande

« on: October 02, 2014, 07:52:10 PM »

Hello,
Anybody has experience with these fins on a 14 "race" board for mixed water conditions.
The large Eelgrass and Bluewater seem to be 43sqi and 35sqi so would be a nice set of fins to cover most conditions including downwind.
The RFC pivot and Pivot grande are 9.5" and 10.75" but no information on the surface and could also be a nice set.

Cheers,

Luc

43

Gear Talk / Speed Puck alternative for "live" speed reading?

« on: September 01, 2014, 12:25:54 PM »

Hello,
My new board comes with a FCS mount on the nose. I am most definitely not planning to buy a GoPro as there is really nothing to film about.
On the other hand I would love to have an immediate feedback of the current speed as a learning tool.
I am looking for something really simple not a multi-use gadget.
The Velocitek SpeedPuck would fit the bill with possibly two exceptions:
1) There is no attachment to fit on a FCS mount
2) The price is rather hefty for a simple device
I do have a Garmin GPS that I use for hiking but it would only give me very approximate speed after the fact and forget about reading the small letters on the screen while paddling..

Is anybody aware of a simple alternative to the Speed Puck?

Cheers,

Luc

44

Technique / Trimming square tail board - what to look for?

« on: August 30, 2014, 03:26:33 PM »

Hello,
I am just starting to use my newly acquired JP Australia Sportster FW 14x28.
It has a wide square tail. Coming from a SB Touring with a pin tail it is different :-)
I am trying to learn to trim the board. Regretfully I do not have one of these nice tools that measure your speed and show it in big letters.
So I try to get a good glide going and then turn my head/torso to look at the release of the tail.
I have been spoiled with the pin tail where there is really not a lot to look at so the relase of the square tail look like a typhoon when I look at it.
What should I been looking for or expecting?
I had a look at David's video on his Javelin which shows a little bit of the tail release but would love to see more so that I can recognize the symptoms better.

Thank you in advance.

Luc

45

Gear Talk / Fin galore

« on: August 18, 2014, 08:08:19 PM »

I am stoked with plenty of fins to try on my new board.

Gladiator Hybrid
Gladiator Pro
Laird Ocean (9")
JP Australia Race 8.3

and a Large Future Fins Carbon Keel that I was selling but that I might try out with the new board.