Messages

961

Gear Talk / Re: Should I buy a Fanatic AllWave?

« on: January 19, 2015, 12:50:56 PM »

JimK:  Is it possible to try the 9'1" and the 9'5" if I was to make a trip to Atlantic City come April/May?  FWIW, I live here in Annapolis, MD, about a mile or so from the Bay Bridge.....I mention this because I think you commented a year or so ago that you sometimes come down this way(?)

Let me know, supthecreek makes an interesting observation/point so given the price of boards it'd be awesome to try before buying.

Thanks!

962

Gear Talk / Re: Should I buy a Fanatic AllWave?

« on: January 16, 2015, 01:42:30 PM »

JimK and STC:  Awesome...thanks for the quick comments! 

JimK:  I'll give you a buzz once I get thru tax stuff....I've got to wait and see what I'm be you owing "the man" for 2014.  I've also  got a trip  to   La Jolla the last week in Feb (for work but I'll have a day or so to get in the water).  I think I'll give Mitch (Mitchs Surf Shop) a call and see if he's got any Allwave's for rent.  I've rented a longboard from him last spring for a few days and he told me at the time he rents SUP's...might be worth a shot to try.

I'll be in touch....stoked to here an Allwave would be likely be more stable that my NSP....hard to imagine given the NSP at 11' is a foot and a half longer than a 9'5 Allwave...that's pretty cool! 

963

Gear Talk / Re: Should I buy a Fanatic AllWave?

« on: January 16, 2015, 09:42:24 AM »

I'm feeling the need for an Allwave after reading all this info and question whether I should consider a board in the lower 9' range vice 9'6" or so.

Background:  Ben SUP surfing for a couple of years now in largely 1-3 mushy East Coast stuff.  My favorite surf SUP (of my two boards) is my 11' NSP Element (11'x31"x4.25" at 190ltr vol), which allows to me catch small waves pretty easily and ride down the line quite nicely without much problem.  Its super light to carry which is really nice but it does get a little bit tippy in wind chop. 

I only get in the ocean for a few weeks a year so I try to practice quite a bit in flat water.....walking about the board, turning/spinning, etc.  At this point I can crossover walk back and forth up to the nose and back in flat water so I'm definitely getting more comfy on the board.  I've managed only a crossover step or two in the surf thus far but feel I'll progress there with a bit more work.  I run my board with a smaller single fin set up about mid-point in the box which allows me some turn capability (I found the board to be too lose when sliding the fin all the way forward...one paddle or so and the board tracks off).

I'm 6'1" and 200lbs....any suggestions based on this and my ability described somewhat above?

Thanks!

964

SUP General / Re: My just released book

« on: January 16, 2015, 03:20:20 AM »

Ditto on PDLSRF question!!!!

965

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 15, 2015, 04:55:30 PM »

SlatchJim:  NICE!!!!  I'm sure your boy was delighted to find himself in the top of the group in the open water beach guard swim!! Good on him!  You're a brave man to have put a used car on the line against a 17 year old!!!!!  Bold move!   

pdxmike:  Interesting!!!!  I have already started to notice my freestyle stroke is getting out of sorts (pulling to one side) in that I've only been breathing on my strong (right side) every .  Tomorrow's pool session will DEFINITELY be laps whereby I start breathing (both sides, or lateral) even though I fully expect to be doing mostly side, breast, and back when I  start getting into Bay and open water stuff!

966

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 15, 2015, 03:29:37 PM »

I (personally) have gleamed lots of great info him from this thread as I have stated before....I clearly understood well before starting this thread that whatever I do in a pool would in no way, shape, or form prepare me for what occurs in the ocean on even the calmest of days.  Once the weather breaks this spring here in Annapolis (April-ish) I'll start swimming in the Bay along the shore in order to start exercising/training in a more realistic environment (murky water, no walls, or lane lines, some wind chop, etc).  I also plan to SUP away from shore to get more used to being off the shore and in deeper water. For now, I'm on my way to getting in "swim shape" as far as practicing and knowing my endurance limits in the pool which I'll continue to work on through the winter.....come this spring I'll evaluate my pool abilities to help inform a transition to open water (swimming and SUP paddling).  For me, its a slow methodical process in an attempt to get to a place where I'm totally confident and comfortable to pick up where I left off last summer SUP surfing in an effort to push beyond my current limit of 2-3' waves and minimal wind.....My goal is to get to a point where I know I won't panic and can get back to shore when I get to the point of feeling confident in pushing off the beach for a session in 3-5', or maybe even a little better!       

967

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 15, 2015, 07:20:50 AM »

Whoops!  I know realize that my swim was 33 laps, or 1650 yards which is only 0.94 miles.  I also realize it probably took me more in the 50-60 min range to complete vice 45 mins as I previously estimated.  As such, I believe my pace for 100 yards was more on the order of 3.5mins/100yds.  No speed record that's for sure but I'm glad I was able to complete this continuous swim without stopping or pushing off the walls.

Time now to start looking into swim workouts to build endurance and efficiency!

968

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 14, 2015, 04:02:10 PM »

Video's of these athletes is sooooooo cool!!!!  Good on them......and their parents and grandparents!

SlatchJim:  Duely noted.  Your comment about reaching the coast, even from 5 miles, "eventually" resonates......... 

ESPECIALLY, since my pool session/workout tonight was the first time I've probably ever swam (swim, "swam", swum...I guess that's a word) 1 mile.  I wanted to see if I could do a mile (continuous swim) so I did one lap each of breast/side/freestyle/back in a very casual pace with little to zero push off the wall/s.  Ended up taking something between 30-45 mins....probably closer to 45 mins as I'm not exactly sure of the minute I got in the pool.  I want to get a bit more proficient w/ each stroke as of right know I suspect I could do a mile (eventually) with each of the strokes with the exception of freestyle.  I guess I need to try to sets of freestyle laps building from 2 to 5 to 10, etc...

Great dialogue!

969

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 14, 2015, 11:53:29 AM »

Pic of the woman doing fly stroke is sheer elegance!

and pdxmike... I did not forget to include it. I can't even begin to tell you how many directions my arms and legs are flailing - its the chew gum, rub head and stomach in opposite direction thing.    A total mess!  I do, however, have another stroke lesson this Sunday with my teacher.......I might have to bring it up! 

Headmount:  What's the Perth meet composed of?

970

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 14, 2015, 10:22:46 AM »

VERY VERY Cool!  Best of luck to him this weekend!

I'll be hitting the pool later today after work.....I'm thinking today's workout will be some underwater distance swims and I'm thinking of just doing continuous laps (free/breast/side/back) until I'm wore out to see how many I can do/how far I can go.  Regardless of stroke I always avoid grabbing and pushing off the wall in an effort simulate continuous swimming (i.e, ain't no walls in the ocean to push off).   

971

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 12, 2015, 09:43:29 AM »

Actually, I have a Quatic Inflatable rash guard (http://quaticapparel.com/products/inflatable-rashguard) that I've wore several times.  I like it just fine but as someone mentioned before they're not crazy about relying on things like CO2 cylinders....I tend to agree.  Although Jeff Clark's surf vest (not this rash quard...visit Quatic for info on the "surf vest") has probably saved quite a few folks out there at Mavericks and else where!

I'm actually a bit more intrigued with this: http://www.oneill.com/wetsuits/products.html?c=7&p=1037, which provides a bit of mid-section protection and some float as best I can tell.  Interested in hearing if anyone has used this for SUP surfing and thoughts.

(Disclaimer: I recognize one should not rely soley on any one device....as in no substitute for experience/swim practice in ocean without aides.)   

972

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 11, 2015, 05:31:24 PM »

Subber/PDX:  Appreciate the feedback and excellent tips!!!

DEFINITELY need to add several 25yd (length) underwater reps., as well as things like swimming close-fist'd, and more swimming without goggles (I'm REALLY glad I did that today!!!). 

I've not been pursuing speed although I know recognize there's a place/time for it (e.g., broken lease and striking out for board before next wave carries it inshore). Rather to the contrary, I've been working on improving endurance!  At the end of today's workout I put on my fins and swim (hand) paddles and did a couple hundred yards of crawl.......easy breezy as one might expect and I did my final length at full speed which seemed ridiculous fast.  My normal stroke count is 18-19 per 25yds which I think is about right, so I think I'm getting some decent technical skill which I'll continue to work on but I've got a lot more work in the department of feeling totally comfortable in the water.....this (to me) includes two major elements: 1) mental attitude, and 2) open water physical comfort.  Firstly, #1 refers specifically to "not freaking out" in my water surrounding no matter what........several or you have commented that you have full confidence in getting to shore no matter what situation arises - would I love to acquire that mental attitude/confidence!  Secondly #2, refers to gaining more comfort in open water - specifically, in chop or current, stained/muddy/water, distance from shore/shallows, etc.  I can't wait for the spring to so some flat water work in my neighborhood Chesapeake Bay to gain some more experience/comfort here. 

Everyone's support and comments continue to be VERY interesting and helpful! 

973

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 11, 2015, 11:39:29 AM »

When I started this thread a couple of days ago I really didn't think it'd illicit the feedback it did.  I hope I'm not the only one who has benefitted from the discussion. 

Today's pool session was a good one and I included several suggestions.  In short, here's what I did:
- opened up with a 200yd crawl followed by a short 2-3 min rest then several hundred yards of breast, back, and crawl.
- 2 min tread water with no hands, 2 min break
- 30 mins tread water, 2 min break,
- 2 min tread water no hands again
- several hundred more yards of crawl with fins and paddles.
(Oh, I also did a short set of crawl, 1 lap (50yds), with no goggles.....holy cow, that was weird in a good way...need to do more of those!)

With each pool session I'm feeling a bit more comfy but I know there is no substitute for the ocean. 

974

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 10, 2015, 06:24:05 AM »

balance_fit:  Great points!  I really like the idea of swimming practice after a SUP session with the paddle as well as prone/knee paddling.   

For me, and I suspect others, a pool is the only reasonable option during inclement weather (i.e., winter) and/or proximity to the coast. I really like the idea of the under water hockey suggestion which triggered my thought of looking into seeing if there's any water polo activity close by that might be an option.  I have to believe water polo could be an awesome workout in that there's lot's of splashing, treading, sprinting, etc., as opposed to simply swimming laps and treading in calm water.

975

SUP General / Re: Define "Competent" Swimmer

« on: January 10, 2015, 04:05:20 AM »

Thanks to all to have responded.....this has all been very insightful, inspiring, and educational.

Couple of take away's for me:
- need to keep swimming,
- need to spend more time under the water,
- floating is good!
- introduce and practice the combat swim stroke
- leave the board on the beach from time to time and swim/train in the surf zone
- continue to stay within one's comfort zone, but don't be afraid to push limits within reason
- And like Aaron Roger's recently said/spelled out in a media interview: "R-E-L-A-X"

This forum is tops!