Messages

1846

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.

1847

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 18, 2014, 06:42:17 PM »

Fin Galore
My wife on her SB Cruiser and I share fins:

Gladiator Hybrid
Gladiator Pro
Laird Ocean
JP AUstralia Race

1848

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 18, 2014, 06:32:45 PM »

I received my board today:

1849

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 18, 2014, 06:30:30 PM »

They make the Sportster in a Flat Water version and also in an All Water version. 
Flat one of course has way less rocker. 
Hopefully you ordered the right one for your conditions.

I did order the FW or 28" wide which then has less rocker. I did not know that the AW or 30" has more rocker - not that it matters as I was looking at a narrower board than my Touring but with similar feel.

Cheers,

Luc

1850

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 13, 2014, 05:26:08 PM »

Thank you David.
Is that the exact same board but in carbon in the video. For some reason it seem to have more rocker in the nose?

Cheers,

luc

1851

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 13, 2014, 03:50:01 PM »

I have just ordered a JP Australia Sportster 14'x28" in wood construction.
Should arrive next week.
Any tips from people that have paddled this board will be very welcome.
Now I need to sell my SB Touring 14'x30" Wood or be prepared to long nights outside in the cold....

Cheers,

Luc

1852

Technique / Re: Larry Cain's technique drills and videos

« on: August 12, 2014, 10:11:15 AM »

You plant your blade, get a good catch, transfer as much body weight to the paddle as feasible and take your stroke  as best as possible without depressing the board.   The action of weighting the paddle will "unweight the board"  I simulataniously add a forward pushing with my feet, doing a subtle but definite forward draw on the surface of board as I pull back on the paddle.  It feels a bit like I am bringing my paddle and my feet towards each other.  This pulling back and pushing forward gives a definitive sensation of "unweighting the board". 

It is a common technique, though perhaps not as much for flatwater as downwinders. At least I think of it that way. In flatwater, unweighting your board to initially accelerate (trying to get light on your feet by putting extra weight on the blade) doesn't do much since you give it all back one way or the other. It screws up your stroke, and bounces the board.

Thanks for the clarification Bill & Bat. I was starting to learn/practice/use that technique but it looks like it is counterproductive in anything but downwind.

1853

Gear Talk / JP Australia Sportster 14'x28"

« on: August 11, 2014, 01:22:36 PM »

Hello,
Has anybody paddled this board on choppy/ocean conditions?

Cheers,

Luc

1854

Ke Nalu / Re: Ke Nalu's New Konihi

« on: August 04, 2014, 08:31:32 AM »

I got my Konihi 95 this week (before they were sold out in Canada :-) ).
I am somewhat of a beginner so I am not a very fast paddler nor is my technique where it should be.
The first thing that I noticed was "nothing". I started paddling and the paddle was unremarkable.
It just went in and out of the water without any fuss and subjectively got me moving as fast or faster than usual.

After more use I noticed three things:

1) I could increase the cadence if I so desire, without any extra effort other than cardio

2) to put some power and get some serious acceleration requires a good technique not just brunt.
There were a few times when the stars aligned and suddenly there were a few magical strokes that just feel incredibly good.
There is a perfect feed-back from the paddle almost if the paddle is "telling you" exactly where you are in the stroke and how much effort you are putting.
The board simply surge ahead. These lasted for a few strokes then regretfully went away...then later came back on the other side just to prove that it was real and again went away...
I was just thinking that is how it must feels to be Dave Kalama :-)

3) for me the blade requires an extra long shaft.
I am comfortable paddling my SB Enduro at 84" but the Konihi at 85" with the normal shaft feels way too short.
This is of course just me and might change as my technique evolves or under different conditions and so on...
It would make sense to purchase the Konihi with either the long shaft and cut as needed or the Extended T and adjust as needed until the perfect length is achieved (if there is anything like that).

Disclaimer - I am an oldish advanced beginner not race material 6' 170" fairly athletic and paddle in all kind of chop all around the quadrant

Cheers,

Luc

1855

Flatwater and Touring / SB Touring 14' x 29"

« on: July 26, 2014, 07:50:35 PM »

Hello,
Has anybody tried the new Touring 14x29?
I have the 14x30 Wood and a friend of mine just bought the 12.6x29.
12.6 is just too short for me but the 29 wide feels great.
I have gut feeling that the 14x29 a should be a fantastic board.

Cheers,

Luc

1856

Gear Talk / Re: Weird Konihi 95 Blade

« on: July 24, 2014, 07:29:37 PM »

Whoa, do I need all that to paddle faster??? :-)
I hope the Konihi I ordered come with a detailed manual.
For the paddle not for the Harrier...

Cheers,

1857

Gear Talk / Re: Fin for improved tracking and stability?

« on: July 21, 2014, 09:11:57 PM »

After going back and forth between the Joe Bark fin and the Hybrid, I seem to be getting about the same result from both.
I am wondering if I am too much of a newbie and too slow to make the difference .
The Hybrid should be by all account a better fin.

I did get a Gladiator Hybrid from Casey a couple of weeks ago for my SB Touring 14.
I cannot compare it to the Elite but I have the original Bark/Laird/Allison fin (the one that was coming with the Dominator and now sold by Future Fins).
In terms of stability the Laird fin is giving more than the Hybrid and tracks as well. But the Hybrid makes the board more lively. With the Laird the board is on a rail and it feels like nothing will happen. With the Hybrid, the board gives more feed-back and makes the ride more interesting. It also feels like it is somewhat easier to get the board planning downwind.
I am wondering what a Gladiator Pro would feel like.
I am doing a lot of cross-chop, upwind, quartering and bit of downwind (short sequence chop no nice swell) plus the inevitable board wakes.

Cheers,

Luc

1858

Ke Nalu / Re: Ke Nalu's New Konihi

« on: July 19, 2014, 09:42:59 PM »

A little bit confused, is there a zoner discount on the Kenalu store or not?
I want to upgrade from my SB Enduro Carbon Premium 525 for something lighter and better so looking at the last two Ke nalu as an option.

Cheers,

1859

SUP General / Re: Bitten by a Great White at Manahttan Beach Today!

« on: July 11, 2014, 05:26:28 PM »

Very strange response by the guys taking the video... watching a great white being reeled into a group of offshore swimmers is hardly what you'd call "funny"

Yes the terms idiotic or moronic come to mind. And yes I hope they got sued and that it is made public enough that others will remember. Wishful thinking idiots will be idiots regardless.

1860

Gear Talk / Re: Fin for improved tracking and stability?

« on: July 11, 2014, 09:42:00 AM »

I did get a Gladiator Hybrid from Casey a couple of weeks ago for my SB Touring 14.
I cannot compare it to the Elite but I have the original Bark/Laird/Allison fin (the one that was coming with the Dominator and now sold by Future Fins).
In terms of stability the Laird fin is giving more than the Hybrid and tracks as well. But the Hybrid makes the board more lively. With the Laird the board is on a rail and it feels like nothing will happen. With the Hybrid, the board gives more feed-back and makes the ride more interesting. It also feels like it is somewhat easier to get the board planning downwind.
I am wondering what a Gladiator Pro would feel like.
I am doing a lot of cross-chop, upwind, quartering and bit of downwind (short sequence chop no nice swell) plus the inevitable board wakes.

Cheers,

Luc