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Topics - WhatsSUP

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17
NorthEast / Hah....just scored a pic on the Newport Surf Report
« on: February 26, 2018, 05:05:15 PM »
My SIL just called me to tell me there was a pic of me on the Newport Surf Report page today......that's a first. Great time on the Creek!

  :o :o

http://www.newportsurfreport.com/

18
Foil SUP / Kai at Surf Expo 2018
« on: January 27, 2018, 02:05:49 PM »
Not sure this has already been post(??)  Might be of interest to enthusiasts.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qykg5ceaetI

19
SUP General / WhatsSUP's New Sunova Board Review
« on: December 08, 2017, 12:31:06 PM »
Hope some folks get some value (entertainment or other) out of this.  :)

Disclaimer: I really wanted to include some good vid footage to go along with the following text.  Friggin Hero Session has been acting up on me so I've got little....sorry.  Between inadvertently hitting the tiny button on the back putting the cam into photo mode and having a full sim card after 20 mins of videoing I didn't get a lot.  Super small waves too....but I'm glad I went out and tried her out....had a blast!  Some (vid) is better than none I guess.....even with a paddle mount angle  ;)

Here goes.....Pulled the trigger on a 9'4" Sunova Creek after several months of reading reviews, watching hours of manufacturer videos, youtube videos, talking on the phone w/ folks, and of course reading different SUP forum reviews.  All along, my goal was to find a replacement for my 9'5" Fanatic Allwave which was my first SUP purchased about 4 years now.  Yeah, in a perfect world I would have demo'd a bunch of boards but it wasn't in the cards.

I tried a 9'2" Speeed last summer and a 10' Style that didn't do it for me.  I immediately took to the Speeed and liked a lot so all this time I thought the Speeed would be the front runner to my Allwave replacement. After a rather extensive review it was clear that the Creek was likely a better fit.

Review (Main points):

- Me: 56 years of age and 6'1" and 175lbs. Goofy foot. I still consider myself a novice SUP surfer and more a smaller wave guy.  I can (fairly) easily paddle into waves and initiate a left or right turn and ride clean water and do a bit of trimming. Nothing really anything more fancy than that. My experience and comfort is just not there at this point for anything head high or over.  I like thigh to chest high best at this point. 

- Cosmetics on the Creek are crazy good.  Paint lines are super clean and no noticeable flaws. I do think its sharp looking board.

- Board (to me) is super light..especially compared to my old 9'3" Allwave. Lift handle easily slips in and out. Yeah I suppose a pocket might be better but the handle is zero issue.  I've got a larger SUP with a similar handle so I'm already used to it.  Oh, I've already put RS Pro tape on the rails.

- Stability:  ARE you freaking kidding me!!  Its been right at 3 weeks since I last rode my B&B (10'1") and I jumped on the Creek and easily went from my knees to my feet careful to position my feet just left and right of handle.  Rock friggin solid!!  I am absolutely blown away at how quickly I felt comfortable and at one on this board.  There is zero, I mean ZERO getting used to standing on this board - I am truly amazed!  Granted the conditions were small and the water surface was glassy but my oh my....this is way more stable than the 9'2" Speeed and my old corky ol' Allwave.
 
- Waves were really small but I was easily able to paddle into waves without issue.  I caught the first half dozen or so waves I paddled for with no problem whatsoever.  What is incredibly apparent to me (no doubt as a result of being used to my B&B nose rider w/ great big ol' single fin) is how quickly I can spin the Creek around to catch a wave.  On average I would say that it took 2 to 2.5 paddle sweeps to spin 180 degrees.....easy breezy!!!!  Very refreshing to get around this quickly!  The Creek was picked up by these small waves and thrust forward with no issue and I found the board handled the weakness of the waves without issue in terms of staying w/ the wave and not being over run it that's makes sense.  I found that the board responded easily to very small (back) foot adjustments....it doesn't take much at all to turn this puppy. 

As I've mentioned, my passion is to learn and become somewhat proficient in the nose riding department.  As such, my Jimmy Lewis Black and Blue Machine (B&B) will continue to me my go to board day in and day out and I'll break out the Creek on bigger days or whenever I want to take a nose rider board break. 

For me, this board is/was the perfect upgrade/replacement and combined with my B&B I feel like I've got about a complete a 2-board quiver as I can possibly have.  So happy!!!

In short summary, here's my 4 top take aways:
1) There ain't no getting used to standing on this board.  Virtually zero learning curve!
2) Spins on a dime!
3) Catches even the smallest wave with little effort.....surprisingly so! 
4) Initial turns are easy breezy...

The Creek is a winner and I think it'll out perform (in sales and wave performance) in time if it hasn't already.  So far its a 10 out of 10 for me!!!  Sunova did right in listening to STC on this model......they nailed it with his board reco's!!!!

Best,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyoeb2rxlzg

20
Classifieds / 9'5" Fanatic Allwave: $550
« on: September 16, 2017, 09:23:25 AM »
Located in Middletown, RI.

Just got it back from the shop to have a couple small dings repaired ( (one small nose, one small tail).  No water intrusion....both dings were more cosmetic and repaired for for preventative measure.

Board has RSPro tape as well as GoPro nose mount.

Asking $550.

Reason for selling: To buy another board of course.

:)


21
SUP General / My Summer that Wasn't....Looking Ahead
« on: September 12, 2017, 05:54:11 AM »
I can’t begin to express my sincere appreciation for this forum and some of the Zoner’s  I’ve met and come to know.  As many here on the forum know, my wife and I bought our dream home last fall here in Middletown, RI.   The plan all along was to transition full time from Maryland by spring, but as sometimes happens, life threw us a curve ball.  Over Easter weekend I discovered a lump in my neck which I got checked out right after the holiday back in Maryland.  At this point we were less than two weeks from breaking the tie with Maryland altogether and going to Rhode Island lock, stock and barrel.  What started with some poking and prodding quickly led to ultra sound scans, CT scan, full body PET scan and a bunch of medical appts.  Within a matter of a week or so I was diagnosed with stage 3 head/neck cancer.  How could this be – 56 yrs old in very good health, fit, non-smoker….I was numb.   To say I was a bit of a mess would be an understatement.  Ironically, my wife is an ENT surgical nurse who had just left Maryland job.  Nonetheless, in no time she had me set up with an amazing group of medical professionals.  Although we had already sold our home in Maryland we determined the best course of action was to stay there and get thru the whole situation.  I had surgery Memorial Day weekend to remove several lymph nodes in my neck and my tonsils.  By the end of June I was healed up enough to start a 7.5 week radiation treatment plan.  Monday-Friday radiation treatments weren’t bad the first two weeks but they’re accumulative so the side effects and discomfort over time became brutal. I finally finished treatments two weeks ago and have been recovering since here in Rhode Island. 
 
Thru the entire experience I would visit the forum multiple times a day in an attempt to escape from my situation.  I told just a few folks here on the Zone of my situation.  Supthecreek was one of the first.  Through my entire ordeal Creek would call every couple of weeks and we would sometimes talk for hours on end about SUP surfing, life, kids, marriage, you name it. I always felt so much better after our conversations…..I’m forever grateful for his encouragement and pick me ups!  PDLSRF too would routinely drop me a line and check in with me and offer words of encouragement.  This forum and a couple of its members became my lifeline to keeping my sanity and looking forward to the future.

Last weekend Creek came to visit and we had a great half day of just chilling at my house and catching up and of course talking SUP.  Thanks Creek!!!  Your visit meant a lot and I look forward to a session with you soon!  Then, this past weekend while taking a walk on the beach with my wife and pooch we ran into Mr. Big, PDLSRF, and Stoneaxe.  To see and catch up with these guys in person was just what the doctor ordered.  Some laughs, stories, and of course lots of stoke.  Waves were a bit too big for me considering my somewhat weakened state so I watched these guys have a blast along with a ton of other guys in the water.

The waves subsided yesterday to about thigh to waist and it was super clean so I decided it was time to give it a go.  I caught the first several waves I paddled for and was rewarded with some very satisfying green water rides…..it seemed like the whole world was lifted off my shoulders after about 20 mins.  I lasted for a good hour before getting tired so called it a session and was greeted by a nice couple when I came out who commented they were watching me and that I had some really fun looking rides.  I smiled and told them it was a long time coming and they had no idea how good it felt.

Time to break out the GoPro and guitar again and think about some goofy little video’s as my quest to be a somewhat proficient nose rider continues!

Thank you forum and Zoner’s……See you on the water!!!

22
Random / Bird is the Word!
« on: August 04, 2017, 10:54:18 AM »
Total stoke dance at around min 1:30...

 :o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gc4QTqslN4

23
SUP General / Building a Vintage Board?
« on: July 02, 2017, 08:31:00 AM »
Have any of you Zoner's built, or contemplated, building a vintage-style longboard or SUP for home decor purposes?

Wife and I have talked off and on about hanging an school style wooden longboard in our home entrance (vertically on a stairway wall, or horizontally across the main entrance second level hallway).  I know prices for a vintage board can run in the $K's, which would be cost prohibitive as far as wall art for me.  I was thinking it'd be really cool to have a board displayed that has a neat back story (notable shaper/rider, etc)....of course that likely means more money.  Anyway, I came across a website this am that offers kits (http://www.grainsurfboards.com/store/plans-kits/), as well as workshops, that I thought was pretty cool.  The "Root" kit board looks sweet.  They also offer 4-day workshops ($1750).  As far as a back story, I think it'll be super cool to have a board that looks super vintage and be able to say I constructed it...even if from a kit.  I'm pretty good (and patience) in building stuff but if something like resin and fiberglass is part of any sort of project then all bets off as I have zero experience in that area.  Maybe a super fun winter project (??)  Or am I better off trying to play one of the American Pickers and run around New England trying to find an old board worthy of display(??)

Thoughts and ideas welcome!

 8) 8) 8)

24
Random / Need a Rack for my Tundra
« on: June 17, 2017, 04:29:50 AM »
Been looking on Craigslist (in Rhode Island and Maryland) for a used Trac Rac to fit my Tundra bed for at least 6 months and can't find anything used that's going for less than $800, which is more than I want to spend for my model year 2007.  My Tundra has 180,000 miles on it and although I'll likely run it for as long as I can (still in great shape) I just can't bring myself to spending upwards of a grand for a new rack system.

I'd like to find a system that looks good, in decent shape, and slides....any cheaper alternatives to Trac Rac?

Anybody got anything that'd fit my Tundra, reasonable price, slides, and looking to sell? 

Thanks, Todd

25
Random / NOAA Corps Recruiting Vid
« on: May 25, 2017, 04:15:53 AM »
Hey All,

Given we're currently in college grad season I thought I'd post this for anyone who knows of young college grads in the science, engineering, or math field looking for something a little different.  Quick back story...I graduated with a BS in Marine Biology back in 1983 and was looking for my first job when I lucked into an interview at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI).  I didn't get the staff biologist job I was interviewing for but the PhD told me about "The Corps".  I ended up attending an OTC course and was commissioned an Ensign in 83 and ended up retiring the very end of 2014 with just over 30 years as a Captain (06) with 5 sea tours (two major afloat commands) and a number of interesting billets ashore.  It was an amazing career for someone like me who was easily bored and antsy if I spend too long in one place doing the same thing.

More than happy to answer any questions if anyone has someone in mind...

Best,

https://youtu.be/SOo88hqw24c
     

26
Gear Talk / Leash Test...for what this is worth.
« on: February 03, 2017, 04:29:54 AM »
"no science involved"

http://magicseaweed.com/news/tested-to-destruction-oe-worlds-strongest-leash/9966/

I think I'd rather have a leash stretch less and break sooner as opposed to having a leash stretch too much and do the ricochet rabbit with the board to the head, no?

27
SUP General / SUP Goals for 2017
« on: January 05, 2017, 08:21:25 AM »
Note to self - My SUP goals for 2017:

- Be able to Hang 5 on my B&B on a somewhat consistent basis,
- SUP surf on at least a couple of new spots,
- Start turning out of rides before closeout,
- Buy either a Speeed or Skate for non-JL B&B days,
- Lot's more time/sessions SUP surfing!
- Meet more Zoner's!

Seems pretty attainable...we'll see come December 2017!

You guys?

28
NorthEast / Wetsuit thickness these days.....
« on: December 15, 2016, 07:56:40 AM »
You guys in RI still in 4/3's for the most part?  I suspect after this cold snap it'll be 5/4's at the least(?)  I get cold relatively easy but I'm hoping my 4/3 with a separate hooded vest (adding another mil or so around the torso) should keep me okay down to the lower 40's.....I'll find out next week! 

And Creek, you're disqualified cuz you ain't human....I suspect you're still comfy in a spring suit and no gloves or booties..   ;D ;D ;D

 8)

29
Random / Pearl Habor Japanese Sub Dive: LIVE
« on: December 07, 2016, 09:32:06 AM »
Live footage currently being broadcast....

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/media/exstream/exstream.html

30
Sessions / Ralph goes Surfing...
« on: December 04, 2016, 07:16:44 AM »
Ralph the T-Rex goes surfing!!

Prepare for laugh!!!  (I hope this posts)

https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos/2982906711756499/

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