Messages

46

Downwind and Racing / Re: Thinking about a Race Board, what should I get?

« on: May 17, 2018, 05:25:29 AM »

Update to this - is there any reason to look at a 12'6" or is everything going to 14' only?

In Florida, men's has become pretty much 14' only, and many women are also switching to 14' as most races are making "14' and under" the elite women's class.

12'6 can still be a fun board to paddle if you're just racing against yourself, or going for fitness. But if you hope to race against other people, 14 is it. 5% faster than 12'6.

47

SUP General / Re: Is sunscreen really killing our coral reefs?

« on: May 12, 2018, 07:34:56 PM »

Based on the underlying research summarized in the abstract here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00244-015-0227-7

1. yes certain chemicals found in cheap sunscreen are having a negative impact on reefs
2. It is not scare tactics to report on or present empirical data and interpretations.
3. The park service provided access for sampling. The research was partially funded by the Israel Science Foundation, with local researchers collecting samples.

Fortunately, several prominent brands have already eliminated the problem chemicals.

Thank you for linking to the original peer-reviewed research article.

As a marine biologist I would just like to add that, while sunscreen can harm corals and it's definitely good to avoid using the bad kinds when you're snorkeling, sunscreen is not among the "big three" factors that bear the primary responsibility for devastating coral reefs around the world. The big three factors are:

1. Declining water quality due to increasing inputs of sediment and nutrients (fertilizer, sewage) from human activities on land.
2. Climate change- particularly an increased frequency of water temperatures >30C, which stress corals and disrupt their relationship with the symbiotic algae that keep them fed and alive. This leads to coral "bleaching" when the symbiotic algae are expelled. Bleaching can be fatal for the corals if it lasts too long.
3. Disruption of the coral reef food chain due to overfishing, which tends to eliminate herbivores like parrotfishes and spongivores like angelfishes, leading to overgrowth of the corals by seaweed and sponges.

The big three stressors interact with each other, worsening their effects. Even if they don't kill the corals outright, they tend to make the corals vulnerable to a slew of emerging diseases. I think most people don't realize how much coral we've already lost since the 1970s. In the Florida Keys we've gone from around 50% hard coral cover on typical reefs to around 5% or less.

48

Downwind and Racing / Re: Careful: we need new blood

« on: May 01, 2018, 10:16:36 AM »

I can sense a "plateau" phenomenon at multiple levels.

*Plateau in participation numbers
*Plateau in board speed / technology lessening excitement for new purchases
*Plateau in individuals' fitness levels and race results; sense of "this is as good as I'm gonna get"

Also:

*I can no longer close the middle drawer in my dresser because it's overflowing with shirts from SUP races from 2015 until the present.
*I am realizing that I am too poor and too busy to make a dozen trips a year for SUP races. I still do all the local ones, but have gotten much more selective about the out of town ones.
*I have succumbed to peer pressure to try surfski paddling, and the challenge of learning that "new" and faster paddlesport is dulling my desire to push personal limits on SUP.

Nevertheless, I think that amateur SUP racing WILL continue at some level because:

*A huge base of low-performance recreational SUP paddlers provides a supply of "latent" racers, a small percentage of whom are lured into the race scene at some point via fun-oriented race events like Poker runs, adventure races, etc.
*Participation by old people still counts as participation, and the stock of old people is continually replenished by young people getting old.
*Performance SUP paddling is very good exercise and races are good motivation to stay fit.

49

Downwind and Racing / Re: Mistral Race Boards

« on: April 28, 2018, 02:06:35 PM »

Nice website! The Interceptor really looks cool.

50

Gear Talk / Re: The value of an extra foot....

« on: April 27, 2018, 07:37:55 PM »

How much is the actual difference of adding about a foot - is it a big change?

There's roughly a 3% increase in speed per foot of length.

That's based on the equation for a boat's "hull speed" in knots as a function of its length, which is 1.34 x the square root of the length in feet.

The gains are greater at the lower end of the length range. Like, going from 14 to 16 is a bigger difference than going from 16 to 18. Also, factors like weight and surface drag start to increase with really big boards, so going longer stops being beneficial at some point. That point of diminishing returns may be reached earlier with lighter/weaker paddlers, but obviously a light, strong paddler like photofr is still benefiting up to at least 17'6.

51

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Re: My new ride!

« on: April 27, 2018, 05:59:56 AM »

Quick update that I’m a few months in now on the board. One thing is for sure, F-One has a hell of a board here. I’ve not seen any shortcomings on this board now I’ve gotten comfortable with it and like it even more after demoing a few others. It truly is a do it all board. Knowing where to stand helps a ton! Just a inch or two forward or back makes a HUGE difference! “Trimming” the board has given me noticeable gains whether upwind, downwind,drafting etc. Trying to optimize that is what I’ll now continue to work on. Still looks brand new, construction is top notch

Interesting. What "trims" do you use in what situations? I.e., when are you most forward, most backward, etc?

52

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: April 24, 2018, 06:30:32 PM »

So, I wonder if the same kind of "secret shape sauce" and lightweight construction technology that Nelo used on this highly acclaimed 14' board could be applied to an unlimited? It would be pretty rad to be able cruise at like 11 kph without having to sit down and chafe my behind in an OC1 or surfski.

53

Flatwater and Touring / Re: NELO is in for the games with Light Signature Race

« on: April 19, 2018, 08:15:53 PM »

That's interesting that the 14x23 Nelo was 1.2 kph faster than the 14x25 Ace on the 15 km loop. But what was the actual, average speed of each board?

Something like 10.0 kph vs. 8.8 kph would really impress me. Something like 8.6 kph vs. 7.4 kph would not impress me as much. Because the dream is a board that can more easily maintain speeds above hull speed, which is 9.3 kph for a 14' board.

54

Random / Re: Winter: Just Won't Leave

« on: April 15, 2018, 12:15:39 PM »

Having a related problem here in the SW Florida: The weather is perfect, but the snowbirds just won't leave.

55

Downwind and Racing / Re: Woo-Hoo downwinder.

« on: April 14, 2018, 12:42:05 PM »

Awesome! Good for you encouraging that new paddler. Fries in the car with the rain on the way back was a nice detail, too.

56

Gear Talk / Re: 14ft or unlimited

« on: April 02, 2018, 05:25:41 PM »

Riviera has had a badass looking 16'x23 custom on their "used" page for a while. I'd have been tempted myself, but they won't ship it outside of California. And I'm broke.

https://www.rivierapaddlesurf.com/collections/sup-used/products/rp-16x23-all-water-unlimited

57

Downwind and Racing / Re: 404 Go-Go Finarama!

« on: March 24, 2018, 02:43:31 PM »

Nice! I think I know what you're saying about more vertical fins "hunting".

58

Downwind and Racing / Re: Sanibel Island Downwinder

« on: March 23, 2018, 03:27:05 PM »

Awesome, dude!

How much better was it than the Bowditch to Bonita route? Worth the extra driving?

-J

59

Downwind and Racing / Re: Thinking about a Race Board, what should I get?

« on: March 20, 2018, 04:34:20 AM »

Definitely get a 14'

If the secondhand market in SC is anything like it is in FL, there should be a glut of cheap used raceboards to choose from on Craigslist, on the used racks in the local shops, facebook SUP groups, etc. I would get one of those "price is right" models ASAP to start getting some race practice under your belt, and then develop a better idea of what you like/dislike in a raceboard before you think about spending more money on a special model. Bic Tracer would be a fine choice.

Enjoy!

60

SUP General / Re: Leave politics out of it

« on: March 09, 2018, 06:42:02 AM »

I support Stoneaxe's suggestion to leave politics out of it, or keep it in the fringes like the "random" forum.

My experience in real life groups is that it's very helpful to stick to the group purpose, which unites the members, and to not reveal, or at least not emphasize, our opinions on potentially controversial topics unrelated to the group purpose. It's amazing how well that "stick to the group purpose" principle works in allowing different ages, political affiliations, education types, etc. to interact productively with minimal conflict.

As for what to do when someone does bring up politics, it helps me to remember the saying, "you don't have to go to every fight you're invited to."