Messages

16

Gear Talk / Re: Backup Paddle

« on: June 24, 2018, 10:48:54 AM »

I don’t carry one but have recently started using an adjustable paddle as I experiment with shorter lengths and breakage is now a concern. Whilst I’ve never experienced a breakage myself I have had handles come unglued and seen a friend’s paddle blade come off. Both times we were about 1 mike off shore and got back okay. For longer solo trips I would take a 2 pc lashed to the deck.... or across my back samurai-style. 😁

17

Downwind and Racing / Re: Lake DW on unlimiteds

« on: June 12, 2018, 06:16:03 AM »

Looks awesome! Seems like you both were making good use of the rudder steering. What are the dimensions on your boards?

The Sunova is 18’ x 25” and  the Deep is a custom 19’ x 26”.

Those are long and skinny boards... Getting into surfski territory! But man they look a lot of fun in those conditions..

18

Downwind and Racing / Re: Downwind Daze.

« on: June 12, 2018, 06:14:39 AM »

Offshore - can you swim in your pfd? My problem with full pfds is that you can’t swim in many of them. But my best bet to survive if I got seperated from my board would be to swim to shore (possibly having operated my PLB). If I’m injured but not seperated from my board then I’d stay with my board. If I’m injured and separated from my board and can’t swim, I’d probably die of hypothermia before anyone would find me. I suppose the pfd would keep my body afloat which would be useful for my wife and kids for insurance purposes though, if they found it.

Area10, You have a good point. I only wear when it is big conditions, and then if the shore was not too far away I'd most likely take it off or tow it (I have a braid of paracord on it for this purpose). In these big conditions I always paddle with others and we stick together and would alert the coast guard if one of us did not show. But if all else fails, I'd pull the pin on the PLB and call on the VHF... One hopes that plans and careful consideration of the conditions would prevent this ever happening (including staying on shore if necessary).

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Downwind and Racing / Re: Downwind Daze.

« on: June 11, 2018, 04:55:49 AM »

That’s really good. Very relaxing to watch.

It certainly shows how good that Maliko is in those conditions. As a demonstration of the advantages of that board, it could hardly be better. Of course, it needs the right rider too though

And my Balin leash is my go-to leash for DW too. I’ve got many leashes but it is the only one that puts together all the little things you need when downwinding. Do you ever use it with a waist belt?

I have tried a waist leash but prefer the knee/calf.
It would be good if Camelbak made a bum-bag system with sturdy belt system that you could attach a waist leash to.

Yeah I’ve often thought that too. If you wear a waist hydration system plus a quick-release belt, they can often get mixed up with each other rendering the belt a very slow release one, which can be pretty dangerous. Ideally you’d want the Camelbak belt to be one continuous piece of webbing with the bag bit sewn to that rather than being 3 pieces sewn together as at present. And you’d want the belt and buckle to be more substantial. I should probably make one myself I guess... but then if you had to let your leash go you’d also lose your bag which is a vital safety aid... hmm, requires some thought.

Since moving to the US I've started wearing a full PFD for big downwind runs, with a pocket in the back for a hydration pack. It is possible to connect a waist leash to the pfd, but when I use a waist leash I use the belt that comes with the leash that secures around my middle. From a safety point of view there is no chance to mix up anything if I have to release the waist leash belt in an emergency.

20

Downwind and Racing / Re: Downwind Clash - vid

« on: June 09, 2018, 08:31:49 PM »

US East Coast... This was near Montauk in Long Island a couple of weekends ago... It gets pretty good out there but it is not as consistent as Hong Kong

21

Downwind and Racing / Downwind Clash - vid

« on: June 09, 2018, 08:10:13 PM »

Watching DJ's great Downwind Daze vid reminded me that I had prepared a vid back in January this year when I was still in Hong Kong of my final and epic downwind session there which includes something that has never happened to me before downwinding and that is a full on broadside collision (at 2:18). Somehow Youtube changed their music policies and you can no longer get access to the tracks that were on the Youtube creator studio so I shelved it.... Here it is now..


GoPro Hero 5 Black - Headmounted

22

Downwind and Racing / Re: Downtowning

« on: April 30, 2018, 02:00:19 PM »

DK, Great conditions there and you could see that you were flying on this board, making some great links, and what looked like some quick transitions from one side to the other. Awesome to see. 

23

Downwind and Racing / Re: Woo-Hoo downwinder.

« on: April 17, 2018, 05:32:44 PM »

Thanks.. I would encourage everyone downwinding to pair up with someone for safety reasons.. and if you see a newbie downwinder don’t leave them behind alone. I think too many people treat DWers as a race and the need to get your best time becomes their priority rather than just having fun with others out there.. 

Great vid DJ, and captures many many details that makes for a great run including the fries at the end..

I'm with you totally on pairing up, and sharing the stoke with newbies. Having moved from Hong Kong to the US, I'm starting at ground zero here downwind crew wise and so the only way to get fellow downwinders (apart from Burchas and a few others) is to get people out who have never downwinded before.

We had a day like yours here on the Long Island Sound at the weekend, and it was the 2nd downwinder for one of our local crew here having done a similar one last year with me.. "Is it always like this?" he asked when we finished... My answer was "I wish it was!". He's nailed two of the best downwinders I've done since arriving by chance!

One great thing about going out with paddlers new to downwinding is that you can "stop and go" as you stay with them, and really take in the whole experience of being out there in wild conditions rather than going flat out the whole way. It is those moments of sitting down on the board out there in the middle of the mayhem (wind and sea condition wise) while feeling totally at ease, that I remember more sometimes than linking bump after bump...

24

Downwind and Racing / Re: Sanibel Island Downwinder

« on: April 01, 2018, 06:27:32 PM »

Having you here would have been a pleasure my friend. Hopefully we'll all get together on Maui

Indeed. time to shed the winter pounds / kgs and get back in shape!!

25

Downwind and Racing / Re: Another downwinder from sunny Florida 🤙

« on: April 01, 2018, 06:13:32 PM »

Another awesome run and vid edit. And Gzasinets you were getting some great glides on that SB! Good to see Burchas feature as well. Those days are worth driving miles for!

26

SUP General / New world record wave surfed?

« on: March 27, 2018, 05:13:37 PM »

51 Year Old Australian Big-Wave Surfer Ross Clarke-Jones has just set a new world record riding a 130ft monster in Nazaré Portugal...

27

Downwind and Racing / Re: Sanibel Island Downwinder

« on: March 27, 2018, 04:56:18 PM »

Gzasinets and Burchas... Man I wish I was down there with you guys! That looked an absolutely awesome fun run! What perfect conditions . And you nailed that video too! Had to watch it three times in a row.. I'm hoping that the conditions up on the East coast thaw out enough to get some good runs in up here in April 

28

Downwind and Racing / Re: Negligent Operations... seriously!?!?

« on: March 07, 2018, 04:55:12 PM »

Our Long Island downwind Group have had a couple of call outs from residents living on the shore and seeing paddle boarders downwinding out in 20+ knot winds. You can’t blame them for calling in especially if they see us fall repeatedly. So we always call the coast guard there before any run and let them know our launch place and  time and destination and expected arrival time on the understanding some member of the public is going to call in and report us. They also made it very clear that we are to all carry VHF radios and that phones and PLBs were merely back-up pieces of equipment.

Such is the relationship with the local coast guard that they recently asked us if they could do a rescue simulation with us the next time we are out. And of course we will absolutely do that.

So whilst I think this is a regrettable incident and I’m sure won’t be the last, I think the comments above about getting to know your local coast guard and work out a protocol on what to do is a good thing. Always assume that some member of the public will call if they see you out there.  I’m sure at the dawn of windsurfing and kitesurfing they went through similar issues...

29

NorthEast / Re: HVH2O is Born!

« on: March 07, 2018, 04:36:12 PM »

Awesome to see this Ichabod! I really get your access to the water thing! I’m amazed how difficult and controlled everything is here in the US regarding access to the water. “What can be imagined can be achieved!”

30

Downwind and Racing / Re: Best downwind runs in New England...is anybody out there?

« on: March 06, 2018, 06:13:26 PM »

Yuval is right. Having moved from Hong Kong to CT I’m impressed with what is possible downwinding-wise here on the East Coast and I’m determined as the weather warms up to make the most of downwinding this coming season. In particular with the aim to pioneer some new routes over the year whilst getting some more people in the region into downwinding.

If you are like me who have raced and want something that gives you the same sense of community as racing gives but you want to have more fun then downwinding is where it is at. Currently I am involved with two downwinding groups. One out of Long Island near Sag Harbor where our main run is the H2O, Havens Beach to Orient Point and the other is the Tri State Downwinding Group encompassing CT, NJ and NY where we focus on Long Island Sound, the Hudson and Lower and Upper Bay. What I have learnt in the relatively short time I have been here is you need to be flexible and willing to travel to pick the best routes for the conditions at the time. It also is best when you have 2-4 people interested so you can car pool. This year I’m also going to focus on trying to get some boat support as we did in Hong Kong. When you have a person with a boat who can take 3-5 of you not only do you get more adventurous, but you can go in any wind direction and there is a huge safety factor when pioneering new routes when tides and conditions can change.

So if you you want to augment your racing or fitness or just SUP with downwinding, and are in the region of NJ, CT and NY States PM me. If you can imagine it, you can do it.

I’d also be up for a trip further afield if conditions look good and am sure Yuval would be up for it too! As some above have stated we have looked at some bigger runs from Orient to New London and even Montauk to New London which would be done with a support boat.

As an aside, the whole reason I stay paddle-fit now is not for racing but for downwinding.