Topics

61

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / Sunova is looking to make some waves...

« on: February 13, 2017, 10:39:37 AM »

Just caught that on SupRacer: http://www.supracer.com/sunova-race-team/

Sunova is building a race team and Sneak peeking some nice new ocean boards
to boot.

Any one has more info on the boards?

62

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Spartan!

« on: January 29, 2017, 10:06:33 AM »

Review of the new Larry Allison Spartan downwind fin

I was lucky enough to score one of the first production Spartan
fins from Larry Allison just before going away on vacay, and this
fin couldn’t have come in a better time.

The fin comes at 7.5” deep and 50Sqi with a 7.75” base.
As usual with LA fins, this fin too is weedless.

According to Larry, this fin comes ONLY in a 7.5” deep & fiberglass
construction to achieve the type of flex he was aiming for & it was
designed for rough conditions.

I also got the “Click it” version for a 3 second installation which
is very helpful for inflatable boards. It has 2 safety pins that keeps
the fin secure in the inflatable’s fin box.

I’ve been using “Click it” fins for a long time with several types of
fin boxes, hardboard and inflatables, never lost a fin. One could
get it with the traditional screw, the only reason I can see for that
would be if you intend to use it in the surf and it’s likely the fin
will be hit from behind with force that might loosen it.

While away I’m using my new Red Paddle Elite 14”x25’ board,
and this board needs all the support it can get, especially
in open ocean conditions.

I usually use this board with the Larry’s Dolphin Pivot which
is 9” deep with a 56Sqi and up until now that was the only
fin that made the board manageable in conditions other than
flatwater.

Knowing the Spartan fin is “only” 50Sqi I was somewhat concerned
being under-finned, I did test this board with the Gladiator shape fin
which is also tip dominated with 53Sqi and 9” depth and it DID NOT
feel good and that was river conditions so I had good reason to be.

I can say that after my first test my concerns are all but quashed.

In the vid you can see the board through various conditions, be it headwind
up against nice size bumps, quartering wind close to a surf brake and a
downbreezer for good measures.

Broaching is a very real issue with this board due to its rounded shape and
happens all too often, usually when it does the board sends me swimming
and this is where the Spartan fin shines! The flex of the fin gives me that
split second I need to recover as you can see in vid. I can’t wait to test
this fin on my Blackfish, it should be the ultimate fin for it on windy conditions.

63

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / Going Ballistic

« on: December 26, 2016, 10:57:00 AM »

Just in time for the new year…  my custom 2017 Blackfish

64

Gear Talk / No late drops please

« on: December 13, 2016, 08:22:01 PM »

I'm looking to get a board with good stability and enough speed
to maximize my wave count, especially in small mushy conditions.

A board that catches early, I'm a little tired of late drops... especially now
that winter is here.

Was looking for something in the range of an 8'5 (no storage room for much more than that) with enough stability for choppy conditions for this newbie (5'8/175).

Any ideas?

65

Random / The future of water shoes?

« on: December 05, 2016, 06:32:33 AM »

If you just dying to find out how your future water shoes will look like
and you have $700+ to throw away, this is for you:

https://www.nike.com/launch/t/hyperadapt-1-0

Any takers?

66

Gear Talk / Kevlar Cord - Extra thin, Extra strong

« on: November 17, 2016, 09:39:24 AM »

Been using kevlar cord to secure the leash to the board and to secure gear
to the board while on the water (phone case, speed coach, GoPro etc).

My SIC board was supplied with this extra thin extra strong kevlar cord that holds really well under heavy usage while exposed to the elements.

I bought few products that looked to be similar to that cord such as:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00746VAU2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But none held well under heavy usage. they all fray and the tie eventually breaks.

Any recommendations?

67

Travel, Trips, Destinations / New Zealand Downwind spots

« on: November 17, 2016, 09:01:00 AM »

Planing on going to NZ this winter. Anyone has tips for a good downwind spots
hopefully close to some good surf spots.

I read some good stuff about the Northland as far as surf, not sure if there are any good downwind spots there.

Either North or South Island, have no preference.

Also, does RV make sense in NZ?

68

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / RED 2017 14'x25" Eilte racing machine!

« on: October 31, 2016, 12:22:33 PM »

With the 2017 14’x25” Elite, Red Paddle Co really took it up a notch! The good old RSS (Rocker stiffening system) is now joined by the all new FFC (forward flex control)  to make up one hell of a stiff board! This model takes the rounded rail/bottom one step farther. I can’t stress enough how rounded it is (see attached images), that, along with the new pintail, translates to a very fast, alas, very tippy board.

After few rides I still can’t decide which is it, faster or tippier. According to some specs I’ve read, this board has the volume of 340 litters, which makes it sit very high on the water with my average weight of 175lbr.

Riding with the usual crew on some usual rides made it very clear that this board is super fast. The guys with the Starboard All-Star 25 had hard time keeping up, especially on the bumps where this board really takes off, that is of course until it sends you swimming. I switched with some people who ride a 24” or 25” boards, non wanted to stay on more than a couple of minutes, “too much leg work” they say.

I think this board RED just killed off-shore’s “will it downwind” series. Sorry off-shore.

Bottom line, this board is a pure flat-water machine and it will give any hard board run for its money. I don’t have any speed tests results yet since I have no pure flat water lake in my vicinity but I can tell that I did register  a 7mph once in slack water, with no obvious current or wind assist. This will have to be verified with some true testing so don’t take my word for it.

If however, you’re like me and want to take it to rougher conditions, this board is a great workout machine that will keep your legs engaged at ALL TIMES. Hey RED here is a slogan for you “The Cool Balance Tool™”.

It’s a while now that I’m not getting good leg workouts on my SUPs, worse, with my current 27” and 26” boards it became apparent that it is way to easy to wander-off and just go to touring mode. This board changed that and now I’m back to feeling my legs after a 2-3 hour session. I bought it specifically for that reason so I’ll be more than ready for my upcoming 24” all-water board.

Another fun fact about this board, compared to my RED 2015 Elite, I’m schlepping 10-12LBR less weight. And the difference is felt both on and off the the water. I had this board alone at about 21LBR yet still feels durable as the old one. Time will tell.

The board has 4 really comfortable well placed handles that I’m actually using as a tie-down and leash plugs for the leash and the dry bag with all the equipment in it (pump, carry bag etc) Deck pad is also very comfortable and grippy.

Red did a good thing changing the fin box this year, they say it’s an 8” us box, but don’t expect to put a fin with an 8” base in it, 7.75” is what will fit in. Still, the box is improved over last 2 years models and can accept many standard fins.

This year Red realized that they have to up their fin game so They are offering Larry Allison fins as an up-sellll to their existing inadequate fin. If you are going to buy a fin specifically for this board (which you’ll probably need), you better off buying a click-it fin for a 3 second installation and removal.

Make sure to buy Larry Allison's Click-it for inflatables that has a dual lock safety pin for these specific boxes. Either Dolphin pivot fin or the more aggressive dolphin keel fin will do. For pure flat-water you can even go down to the 7’ stinger if you’re willing to give up some stability. Almost anything will be better than their stock fin. I would avoid other brands click-in fins as they do not include a safety pin and the flexible fin box walls will eventually loosen, leaving you at risk of losing your fin.

The Red Titan Pump is, as with previous models, very helpful. if I’m diligent enough with my pumping, I could get it pumped to 22PSI ( which seems to be the recommended  pressure ) in 5 minutes. Add 3-4 minutes to the setup if installing the RSS and the FFC. Another minute for the fin. Realistically, don’t expect to be on the water in under 15 minutes and longer on the cold days when Impaired by thick gloves.

The boards carrying bag is a good comfortable bag to take with you when traveling, though It’s not the bag I use for the day to day, for that I have a very lightweight mesh bag that doesn’t absorb water and doesn’t require constant cleaning.

I can’t find bad things to say about that board other than its price tag, at $1799 is seems RED is following the bad trend in this industry to jack-up prices out of the reach of many people who do want to race.

Good thing we have Julian of Green Water sports to give us zoner discounts and first class customer service. Julian was able to score me the this board 1 month before my contact at RED North America was able to!

Pros:

• Fast, really fast board! Catches every bump
• Dual stiffening systems (RSS & FFC)
• Lightweight ( especially  whencompared to previous  models)
• Good ergonomics (handles, deck pad, velcro attachments for RSS battens)
• Better fin box. can accommodate many current fins
• Great Titan pump (now comes with several adapters for other applications)
• Great Quality bag and accessories

Cons:

• Very Tippy in anything other than flat water (you’ll be rolling over even on your knees)
• Stock fin is a joke
• Overpriced

69

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / 2017 Puma... really liking this shape

« on: September 21, 2016, 06:45:24 AM »

Just go a glimpse at the new 2017 NSP Puma 14x24. It looks exactly like the shape I was thinking about
for a custom board...

Looks like a good balance for the volume distribution, nose volume not exaggerated and nose kick seem to be perfect as well for my needs.

To seal the deal,  a rounded bottom.

Fin forward placement seems to sway from the common practices as well.

Anyone has insight about the rail shape, volume and weight for this new boards? couldn't find official data on that.

70

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / 2017 SIC Maui Catalog

« on: September 05, 2016, 07:49:24 PM »

Just came across their new catalog here: https://issuu.com/cutform/docs/2017_sic_cat_revised-compressed

They expanded on the FX series. it looks like they are banking on that shape (it's a good thing imo). I was hoping to see
the board Kenny Kaneko used to win the HK race Off-Shore posted: http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,30510.msg331047/topicseen.html#msg331047
from the pictures posted, it like a dug-out version of the FX. Maybe 2018?

71

Downwind and Racing / The Bump Whisperer

« on: August 04, 2016, 03:09:57 PM »

I was wondering how a good Maliko run looks like for the elite guys. I went out with Jeremy Riggs for a session, caught few very nice long glides but for the most part I was working hard to connect bumps but wasn’t doing much damage other than to my shoulders.

I could’t help but thinking I’m missing some fundamental understanding so I asked Jeremy to have a hands-on session where he breaks down the technic blow by blow. Jeremy said the best way to do it is on an OC-2 with him, where he does the steering and dictating the pace. Boy was he right, that was probably the best downwinder I’ll ever get to experience. Jeremy is a wizard or as my wife puts it, the Bump Whisperer.

Here is a short edit of the session. I had hard time editing the highlight reel as almost the entire run is an highlight reel. We were hammering hard! Not much downtime when you’re doing the full Maliko run in 56 minutes.

72

Classifieds / QuickBlade V-Drive 91 Blade

« on: July 16, 2016, 06:01:51 AM »

The blade has some minor visible scratches but otherwise it's in a great condition. No dings, cracks or anything that
will prevent you from using it to its full potential. I will swap it for a V-Drive 81 blade or give it away for $180
Including shipping. Blade retail was $270 (plus shipping).

73

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Hood River attractions

« on: July 15, 2016, 05:29:35 AM »

I'm coming to Hood River early August for a week. What other attractions you'd suggest for the non paddlers in the group?
Both indoors & outdoors.

74

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / The New all in one vario-flex paddle

« on: June 07, 2016, 08:21:25 AM »

• 2 piece (equal length) travel paddle
• 3 different flex levels
• 4 inch height adjustability
• Oval tapered shaft
• Super durable blade
• 16-17 ounces
• 100% made in America

I have never seen a travel and/or adjustable paddle that didn’t suck one way or the other IMO:

• Too heavy
• Too much wiggle
• Takes too much water
• Compromised shaft
• Rely on hot-glue

These are the usual symptoms of these kind of paddles. The only paddle that came close was the Blue Planet KaiZen, but it had few shortcomings I could not live with: Limited choice of paddle area size, not height adjustable and also relies on glueing the pieces.

I turned to my first paddle maker, ZRE, for some ideas. ZRE has long been
a paddle of choice for champions like Annabelle Anderson, Georges Cronsteadt, sonni vonscheid etc.

I took a while but Bob finally found a way to modify my favorite 13.6 ounces 1 piece paddle into a 2 piece travel adjustable paddle by essentially modifying his paddle adjustment mechanism and put it in the middle of the paddle.

He sent me the prototype for testing, after a month of testing I was very impressed with it but had few adjustment and than it also hit me that with the use of his stiff shaft (which is the lightest) I could create a length dependent Vario-flex shaft.

The 2nd prototype has 2X40.5 inches long pieces, 4 inch adjustment range (mine is 73-77) and can be adjusted on the fly. At 77inch (most flexible) to 73in (stiff) the stiffens goes down according to the application of the paddle & in accordance to the QB chart:

• 77 - Touring
• 76 - Performance long distance
• 75 - Competition / performance
• 74 - Sprint
• 73 - Surf

http://www.quickbladepaddles.com/SUP-paddle-sizes/

In reality, I got 3 different paddles Touring, racing & surfing, which I’m also able to travel with, all while maintaining the quality and weight of a 1 piece paddle.

The paddle is practically water-tight, only after the most wet days I found it sometimes took-in few drops, so insignificant & unnoticeable it will NOT require you to open & empty it (like on my Werner Travel paddle).

The ZRE blade is similar in feel to the QB trifecta only it’s more stable & forgiving on a less than perfect stroke. It’s way more durable than the QB blades! I don’t even bother to put protective tape on it. And as with all ZRE paddles you can customize the crap out of it:

• 80-135 SQi blade area
• 62-94 inches shaft length
• 0-15 blade angle
• adjustable paddle
• and now this 2 piece travel option

My only concern with this paddle was that by putting the ferrel in the middle it will be more susceptible to breakage. This concern was all but eliminated during my time testing period. The ZRE ferrel is actually almost identical in properties to my QB flyweight elite shaft which I’ve been using also for a while with no issues (my weight ranges from 190 to 175 dependent on the season)

At this point I would not recommend the 2 piece paddle for paddlers over 200 LBR but for anything below that, it really looks promising.

Now I’m only left with the search for the perfect shaft texture, to promote better grip and reduce blisters on long runs.

I Would love to hear what you think about it & maybe get some ideas to implement on the 3rd iteration.

75

Technique / Surfing smaller boards 101

« on: June 02, 2016, 10:35:17 AM »

I recently got the ULI Totem 7’6 as my main tool for learning to surf.
The main reasons for buying this specific board for learning:

• The max length hard board I could fit comfortably in my apt. is an 8’6
• As a small inflatable it's much safer for me and the pips around me with my skills (or lack there of)
• It’s a good board to learn without worry about dings.

Up until now the smallest board I’ve surfed was a 9’5, but for the most part I was on 11-12’6 boards.
With the bigger boards I had no issues catching waves as I could generate enough speed to compensate
for my lousy timing and force my self on the wave.

With this board I can’t do that. it’s a super slow board. I tried placing my self closer to the break, but that
prove to produce wipe-outs rather than rides.

So few questions:

• What would be the best technic to get some good rides with this board?
• I watched few videos and noticed that the riders are already in surf stance way before the wave catches the board, is that a thing to do?
• What size and kind of waves should I aim for? (I tried 2-3 ft)
• Any tips how to generate more speed on this kind of board?

For the recored, I’m 5.8 175-180. The board is super stable for me (feels like a 160-170 litter)
even in very choppy conditions. The board turns like a mad dog. you can easily do 360 bottom turn
on it.