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Topics - lopezwill

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3
Gear Talk / Tried the Jimmy Lewis 9'3" Destroyer today.
« on: February 13, 2020, 07:08:25 PM »

  I had a couple of surfs on the JL Destroyer in 3 to 5 foot sand beach break conditions.  I'm 6'4" 220, 64.  The board surfs much smaller than the length.  Feels more like a 8'10".  It's easy (with that pin tail) to whip around and catch waves.  Volume and stability is very good...maybe a little "Corky" for me.  The first thing I noticed when I stood up on it is the domed deck.  On the 9'3" it's very pronounced.  I much prefer a flat standing area.  There is a pronounced flip - rocker - in the nose.  It goes over white water and on coming waves great.

  It seemed to push water from the nose when paddling.  It has a lot of rocker and once on a wave it wants to be pushed and surfed from the tail.  It's easy to whip around on a wave and surfs really well.  It reminds me a little of the Starboard 8'10" Widepoint I tried once.  I think it would be a great board for a punchy beach break or reef wave as long as the surf is not to big.  I changed the fins out to a 4 3/4 sides with a 7 inch middle fin.  Seemed to surf the same as with the JL fins it came with.  I probably should have changed out the thruster for a quad set up but didn't have time. 

  Sup surfing is very subjective so take my opinions with a grain of salt. I'll compare the 9'3"Destroyer to the 9'4" Creek which I have owned for a couple of years.  In short... I didn't get along with the Destroyer that well.  I'm certain it would be a "Magic" board for many people but that domed deck and that nose rocker made it paddle uncomfortable to me.  Paddling into a wave took more effort with the JL probably due to the nose rocker.  I prefer a board that has more glide like my Sunova Creek 9'4".  The Creek is more comfortable to stand on and surf for me. The JL likes to make short- quick turns in the pocket while surfing.  These quick tight turns are a good thing and some riders might enjoy this.
 The Creek has better glide and catches waves with not as much effort.  The Creek carves into the wave and speeds out to the flat faster than the JL.  The fit and finish with the JL is outstanding!  The board is very light and made well. 

  As with most sup designs it is really worthwhile to try out a board before you purchase it.

 

   

4
SUP General / Dakine Peahi 12' big wave leash
« on: February 03, 2020, 05:46:43 PM »
  I hate loosing my board.

  I just bought this leash for my 12' Paddle Surf Hawaii sup as I broke my (less than 6 month old) leash this week.  I usually buy a new leash at the start of each winter.

  This Dakine is a monster of a leash and looks promising.  I paid $69.99  I'll attach it to my waist leash and see how it lasts?

5
SUP General / New Calif. Swell. Buoy at (14 feet @ 20 seconds)
« on: January 01, 2020, 05:50:16 PM »


  What do you do when your sick with a cold and a new swell arrives?  I drove down to the beach before sunset to take some photos with my trusty Canon PowerShot. 

6
SUP General / Info on big wave sup boards?
« on: December 29, 2019, 05:08:11 PM »

  Is there any new sup developments for surfing larger waves?

  I'm not talking huge Mavericks or Hawaiian big wave but something near this size. 

  Go to 16:00 -- 21:00 for wave size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=58&v=ejZxt5Zwe44&feature=emb_logo


I've used several different Sup boards for the larger California surf we get in the winter and every board seems to have drawbacks for me.  I'm 6'4" and weigh 225 for reference.

I've tried the old, All rounder, Paddle Surf Hawaii 10'6' 29" across and that board worked good but it's since been destroyed.  They are very hard to find now.
The PSH 12 footer is a great board but at 12 feet was dangerous getting caught inside.  It was just to big.
Had the 10'6" PSH gun ripper which worked alright but at 32" wide was too wide and became dangerous in off shore winds and sucking type reef waves.
I'm currently riding a 9'10"  31 across 140 volume, Laird Surrator which works ok but when the surf gets around 10 to 12 foot faces starts to get squirrly on the bottom turns.  Even having changed the fins to huge quads and thrusters.?  My search continues.
Now I'm thinking about a couple year old 10'2" Jimmy Lewis Stun gun but that board is also 32 across?

I realize the board I'm describing is a niche board but I thought I would just put it out there? 8)  I think it should be near 150 or more volume, pintail, and very stable.?




7
Gear Talk / Look what I did to my 9'4" Creek?
« on: September 01, 2019, 09:38:51 PM »


  I put a long board fin box in the middle...replacing the FCS box.  I really like this set up with the side Halo fins.

  I was using the Takayama Halo 5 Inch side fins but the middle FSC single box made the board spin out...even when using larger FCS middle fins.  It just never surfed like I thought it should.  I suspected the middle FSC fin was placed to far forward.  I put the long board box in and just moving that middle fin back and forth a few inches really makes the board surf differently. In smaller and medium surf I use the Halo's and the 4 inch fin.  The board paddles faster , surfs much better and catches waves earlier.  It is slightly less stable but surfs way better in my opinion. I should note the Creek already surfed good with the fins that come with the board.  I just felt I could get more performance out of an already excellent shape.

  This new fin arrangement has made my 9'4' Creek almost a total quiver killer for me.  I use this fin arrangement 75% of the time.  I sometimes use a 5 middle when the waves are slightly bigger.  Using the Halos and a 7 inch longboard fin makes the board slower but turns the board into an easy nose rider.   All this of course is my opinion and your findings may vary.

I switch to my 9'10' Laird Surretor for large and hollow surf...but that doesn't happen all that often.  It has a very thinned out nose and tail and holds in the larger surf.  The fin arraignment is a two plus one.  4 3/4 inch regular side fins with a 7 inch middle fin.

Anyways maybe somebody could benefit from this.  I'm hoping "Creek" could maybe try this out so we could get an official opinion. 8)

Those FCS 5 inch fins are hard to come buy.  I bought them a few years back in Hawaii but can't find them in Calif?

8
SUP General / front yard wave?
« on: August 02, 2019, 05:09:08 PM »


    As long as I'm dreaming...I would love to have this wave in front of my house 8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT1IkPand8k

10
SUP General / Recent findings after asking for tip in the line up
« on: December 10, 2018, 07:53:18 PM »

  I could write a book on these last three weeks sup surfing in crowded prone surfing spots where I live.

   I much prefer sup surfing in open beach break areas with plenty of room and waves.  I will always pick a beach break wave of less quality as my first option.  Always!  When the beach breaks get large and closed out I move to the crowded prone surfing spots out of necessity.  In years past I would just ride my bike for a work out or sup surf large closed out waves or spend the whole day traveling for surf.  This winter I've been sup surfing at all the popular surf spots where I live.  Here are my findings if anyone is interested.

Expect stink eye and the occasional under the breath, "Sweeper" comments.

I prone paddle (even though my board is 9'8" 141 volume and I can comfortably stand up paddle all over the line up) everywhere.  I straddle my board in the line up and ONLY stand up and paddle when an approaching set is coming in.  Prone paddling around a busy line up is a key point and appears way less threatening to the crowd.  I ride a Laird Surretor with a pointy nose and thinned out high performance nose and tail.  This board looks like a silver bullet and is bad ass.  I think a wider round nosed board would be accepted much less in a crowded surfer line up.  Surprisingly to me, many people commented on the look of my board and how it doesn't at all look like a normal sup.

Expect to catch a lot less waves.  Your wave count will go way down.  Personally I don't care about wave count and never have.  I just want to catch some good set waves. 

You have to have your "Quick turns" down pat!  I can't imagine sitting on my sup and then quickly jumping up, paddling out for a wave and blowing the quick turn or falling.  It just can't happen.  Do not, "Call out waves" to anyone!  If the surf is large they know exactly when and where the best waves break and don't need our help!

When you pick out a wave and have sort of waited your turn for a good one (I say this tongue in cheek because most surfers at good surf spots want every wave and there is always some kind of hierarchy going on) take off on the wave and paddle like you own it.  This means paddling aggressive, confident and that the wave your paddling for is all yours!

Expect to be, "Cut off" sometimes.  I had two of the "Top surfers in the line up" cut me off down the line of the wave I was on.  They both politely and immediately pulled out when I caught up to them at full speed.  At a second crowded surf spot I sup surfed I was "Cut off" more than a few times on good waves caught close to the pier.  I was forced to be behind the foam and watch them rip in front of me.  These same prone rippers seem to disappear into the crowd after they kick out.  I did manage to catch a few really good waves much deeper then the crew.  I would just barrel down the wave and blast past them near the pier. These were some of my most memorable waves.

You are not going to be as physically tired as when sup surfing at a beach break with plenty of stand up paddling going on.  There's a pecking order, prone surfers working constantly on positioning and little maneuvering games going on constantly in the line up.  The advantages of sup surfing are so large.  It's easy to stay put and position yourself in the best spots in the line up.  By just sitting on your board and half paddling you hardly loose any ground while prone surfers seem to drift out of position.

The familiar aches and pains of prone paddling around in the line up are all back.  The back of my neck and right shoulder are both sore from the prone paddling of my sup.  Small price to pay for me really.  Thats why I enjoy sup surfing at 63.  No pains for me.

In these last three weeks I've had 6 different "Go outs" in crowds.  At the end of the day...sup surfing in crowds is not for the faint of heart.  Plenty of my old sup surfing friends and older prone surfing friends will not sup surf at these spots because its to crowded and stressful for them.  I don't blame them. 

I must say I have had some GREAT waves these last couple of weeks!  It's been really fun and challenging for me!  I'm sure there are other places in the world where sup surfing is more accepted in a crowded prone surfing line up.  Here in central Calif. "It is what it is."

Finally...I got to sup surf my local beach break wave yesterday at about 3 to 4 feet with just a handful of people and plenty of waves.  I much prefer that sort of sup surf where I'm standing up paddling around all the time.  I appreciate all the, "Tips" I received here for sup surfing in crowds.  All in all this winter is starting out really good! 


 


11
SUP General / Tips needed for discretely fitting in the line up.
« on: November 23, 2018, 09:08:25 PM »


  Where I live has gotten very crowded with surfers in the last 4 years.  Most of the time there are only a few stand up surfers out but plenty of lay down surfers.  I have noticed a down swing of stand up surfing in my area in the last two years.  There are only a few spots to surf so traveling to a less crowded location is out for me.

  I'm polite out in the water and always try an spread the stoke.  I give a lot of waves away, let entire sets go by and try and be patient.  I've been surfing many years and I do get some good ones.  I've shied away the last couple of years from the crowded spots on good days and chose to surf closed out beach break waves instead.  I really have to psych myself up for surfing in these crowded areas but it's the sign of the times here in California.  I've decided this winter I'm going to try xtra hard to fit into the crowded line up and sup surf it more often.  Sup surfing the closed out bigger days that I used to has become dangerous and no fun.
 
   I usually surf the crowded spots when the winds pick up, tide isn't right or when it looks less crowded.  The stink eye I get and the bad vibe just paddling out really affects me when it happens... but it's just the way it is here.  I'm a lifelong surfer with a bad neck and dodgy right shoulder.  That's why I enjoy sup surfing so much.  It doesn't hurt my body.  I would continue lay down surfing in these crowds if I could but thats out. I'm coming to the Stand Up Zone for any good tips while sup surfing in the crowds.?

12
SUP General / What's your favorite sup surfing maneuver?
« on: August 25, 2018, 08:42:53 PM »


I like this one.


13
SUP General / good price on a Laird surrator
« on: August 24, 2018, 09:49:41 AM »


  Found this deal on a Laird surrator board.  Msrp $2000.00  going for $699.99. 

  Don't know anything about this company but just passing it on.


   https://snowdealsnow.com

14
SUP General / Warm water in San Diego
« on: August 03, 2018, 09:51:37 AM »


  I live near Pismo Beach, Ca. where the water has been hovering between 51 and 55 decrees all summer...pretty typical.
 
DIABLO CANYON METEOROLOGICAL TOWER DATA
  SEAWATER TEMPERATURES:
    Seawater temperatures will range between 53 and 55 degrees
    through Friday, decreasing to 51 and 53 degrees on Saturday
    into Tuesday.

I took a trip down to San Diego near Oceanside last week and the water was a very comfortable 73.  Now I find out the water is even warmer and set a new record.  I have no idea if it will improve surf in the future?

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/sd-me-scripps-pier-20180802-story.html

15
SUP General / How would you rate this last winter for sup surfing?
« on: May 14, 2018, 02:40:19 PM »


  It's always interesting to find out how your sup surfing location did this last fall and winter?  I live near Pismo Beach, Ca.  This winter was warmer and milder than most with nice weather during most of fall and early winter.  Surf stayed smaller than usual I would say.  Only a few large swell events really.  A few locations that handled smaller surf and break well with steeper north swells were very good. 
 
  I asked the same question to some of my proner friends and we all agreed this was sort of a crappy winter for surf?  On a positive note the beach breaks (which typically close out all winter due to large unruly surf)  stayed surfable and fun mostly all through the winter. 8)

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