Topics

931

Downwind and Racing / Downwind How To

« on: February 14, 2010, 10:20:27 AM »

I posted the first installment of a long article on how to downwind on Ke Nalu this morning. Lots more to come. Most of the stuff in the article is swiped from this section of the zone. http://www.kenalu.com

932

Downwind and Racing / S 16 catamaran first test video

« on: February 13, 2010, 10:46:14 PM »

Mark and the boys took the new toy to the water yesterday afternoon. http://www.kenalu.com/2010/02/13/more-on-the-s16/  Make sure you click on the full screen logo, the video is HD and looks fine on a big display.

933

Gear Talk / New Stand Up Catamarans at SIC

« on: February 12, 2010, 07:38:01 PM »

Mark Raaphorst has been working on some slick Stand Up Catamarans on a semi-production basis. The hulls are hollow molded CF. The first one is ready to test. Gorgeous. I did a short article and posted some pics on Ke Nalu--click on the GEAR tab. (http://www.kenalu.com)

934

Sessions / Interesting morning at Kanaha

« on: February 12, 2010, 03:45:41 PM »

The lineup was super empty this morning--two longboarders, or SUP guy and me. I think most folks looked at the wavecam and said "no thanks". I left the house when it was too dark to see anything, so I had that going for me. There were a few times that I thought we were all gonna die, but it was mostly really, really good. Article on Ke Nalu http://www.kenalu.com

935

Downwind and Racing / Two Malikos

« on: February 10, 2010, 01:28:35 AM »

Did an article on Ke Nalu about the two Maliko runs we did yesterday and today. One pretty good, one not so good (for me anyway) http://www.kenalu.com/

936

Technique / Dave Kalama Paddling Article

« on: February 08, 2010, 10:34:33 PM »

I've been taking some paddling lessons from Dave. It's making a big difference, though it hasn't translated into speed yet, in fact if anything I'm a little slower because I'm still figuring this thing out. But what an efficiency difference. After a long paddle my arms and shoulders feel that warm buzz of an equalized workout, except the top of my left shoulder, which hurts like hell--but it's getting better. So I wrote a little article about it, and poached Randy's video on Dave's technique to illustrate the theory.

I THINK this is a pretty useful article. I'm working on a much longer one on downwind methods in general. As usual it's not my knowledge going into this, which is a damned good thing or I'd be setting you all back years. http://www.kenalu.com

937

Share the Stoke / Magic words

« on: February 07, 2010, 03:23:56 PM »

I never have the proper comeback to a slight--I'm a writer, not an orator. I usually think of the right thing to say about fifteen minutes too late. But yesterday I had one of those rare moments when the right words came. I tried to relate it to Randy in the lineup this morning, and didn't get it right!! I'm sure he thought "big deal".

I was in Kahalui Harbor. My plan was to paddle out to Pier One, but when I got to the mouth of the harbor the wind was right in my face. I saw a few SUP guys out there, but the waves didn't look great, and the prospect of a half mile paddle into 15 knot winds was too daunting. So I went back in to play in the little harbor waves. When I got to the middle lineup a guy on a longboard said "hey, no f***in stand up pukes here". Normally I'd either ignore him or say something lame, but a little red puff went off in my brain and I laid into him.

I said:
You know, I never get any grief from good surfers, or Hawaiians, or people in challenging waves. It's just you old haole guys that are mediocre surfers, wobbling around in little baby surf, with what's left of your hair in a ponytail that I hear anything from. Any real waterman is willing to try anything, and any real surfer doesn't care how someone else dresses, or what they think, or what board they choose to ride. It's just you grumpy old farts that are afraid to look like a kook on something new that want to tell other people what they can and can't do.

He said:
I don't care what you do, but those boards are dangerous. You should learn to surf first. You guys don't respect the lineup and the culture.

I said:
Are you shitting me, this board is six inches longer than yours. You're on a epoxy popup built from windsurf technology. I don't see you on a sixteen foot koa plank, as if you could actually surf one.

And that was that. He snorted and paddled away. I watched him paddle for and miss three out of every five waves, sitting right in the middle of the sweet spot. I pulled inside, caught leftovers and got almost every wave I went for.   I doubt my diplomacy created a convert, but it sure felt good.

938

Downwind and Racing / Lulu's Pali

« on: January 31, 2010, 11:21:29 AM »

Papalaua to Olowalu--hard to believe that was only 4.5 miles. I was toast from the start. I have a bad habit of conditioning myself poorly for races and long paddles. The cape cod paddle was prefaced with way too much wine and cigars. For this race I prepped by surfing a little more than five hours the day before. As soon as I started paddling I felt the burn. Ugh. Flatwater, into a slight headwind.

Good thing I like doing this. My Foote Maliko 14 was a godsend. It's not a flatwater board, but it's light and it glides. So I just settled in to a plugger pace and kept at it. Drank all my water by halfway. Good thing I had music. I finished fifth or sixth I think. Third in my class--also last in my class.

Olowalu is beautiful. I grabbed a beer and some food, found four adirondack chairs under a huge tree looking out at the ocean, plunked down with Diane and Sam and just drank it in. Really nice. Larry Risley joined us, I think Larry finished third after Jeremey Riggs and the guy with that whacky-fast 12' SIC board (I'll remember his name as soon as I press POST). Sam ate most of Larry's food. Good day for Sam.

939

Fish Tales, Stand Up style / Interesting Tiger Shark discussion

« on: January 25, 2010, 09:26:55 PM »

I had an interesting email discussion about tiger Sharks with a researcher at Florida Museum of Natural History. I told him I had seen a big one today that looked to be seven feet from Dorsal Fin to Second Dorsal, which would make it about 16 feet long, but that I couldn't see the tail. He told me it's a common thing, and the shark was probably much smaller. The upper lobe of the tail of a Tiger is long and raked back. It's common to see the dorsal and the tip of the tail and think its the second dorsal.  In that case the shark would only have been about nine to ten feet long.

940

Random / appeals to my ditzy sense of humor

« on: January 25, 2010, 01:54:10 AM »

Interpreting a Terrorist Alert….
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards" They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.

It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose".

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.

And in the southern hemisphere... New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the airforce being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us".
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

941

Gear Talk / New Foote Maliko 14

« on: January 24, 2010, 12:57:58 AM »

Whoopee.

I was sitting at Kanaha looking at piddly surf trying to talk myself out of paddling out. The offshore wind was cleaning the waves up, but I know how hard it can be to get into waist high mush when it's blowing ten knots up the face. My cell rang--Bill Foote--my board is ready. Saved me from a frustrating session.

As you all know I've been very patient, and only camped in Bill's yard and threw tantrums for a short while. Worth the wait of course. What gorgeous work this guy does.


Before pad. You can kind of see the bamboo foot reenforcement in the middle of the deck


Yum. Mine looks longer, but it isn't. It also looks narrower, and it is. Both of these boards are quite a bit thicker than the usual Maliko 14--because Bill and I are both lardasses.


My pad is seafoam green, but it's a bit lighter than I had in mind. I might airbrush the pad with some green dye. Have to test the effect first.


You can see my other new Footie on the jeep--son of Gecko. Great board.

The proof is in the pudding, Larry and I did a semi-flatwater run from La Perouse to Makena Landing. Choppy and a lot of groundswell and shore bounce from the lava cliffs. The board was great. I don't think I have the right fin on it yet, I tried a 14" Future Downwinder fin. The board didn't track well with it, I'll try that fin again in a real downwinder, but I'm also going to get a conventional raked low aspect fin.

I can't wait to get this board into real swells, it's stable, light and fast. Whoopee.

942

Gear Talk / Handles and Fin Whacks

« on: January 24, 2010, 12:35:38 AM »

I've gotten to be a bit tedious about tail handles, I'm a true believer. I don't have one on my new board yet (have the inserts, just haven't attached one) and as a result I got a nice whack on the inner thigh from my fin a few days ago when the surf was big. I thought at the time that if I'd had a handle it wouldn't have happened. the board spun around in the soup and the fin got me. I thought I might be cut, but no blood, in fact no mark at all--my boardies saved me. Of course this little charmer developed a few days later. It's still getting brighter and lumpier.



Between this and my twisted fingers I have two good reminders that tail handles work really well.

943

Downwind and Racing / Hood River Downwind Race Series--suggestions needed

« on: January 23, 2010, 12:22:51 PM »

So yeah, we're going to do this thing. We want to organize it so it's fun for everyone, but the hot shoes still have a reason to race hard. For the big prizes (what big prizes?) we're contemplating a handicap method. For the top trophy in board classes it will be pure speed and finishing position.

We're also aiming for BIG WIND. We want everyone to experience the sheer fun of blasting along at speeds approaching 20MPH on a board with nothing but a paddle (should we mention the terror? No, I don't think so)

Here's the sketch of what we're planning. Your suggestions will be gratefully received. Nothing set in stone yet, just three guys talking and the framework of a website. If that doesn't sound like a recipe for disaster...

Name: Pick one or add one:

Gorge Downwind Race
Gorge High Wind Races
Gorge Big Wind Races
(yeah, they kind of suck. Whatchu got?)

Race format:

Three races followed by a final
Three races of which one is the final

Board Classes:
Stock: 12'6" and shorter
Super Stock: 12'6" and shorter production board meant for surfing. Really.
Crapbox: Something never intended to paddle, like a huge old windsurfer or a tandem surfboard

14: Less than 15' with or without rudder

Unlimited: Monohulls
Really, really unlimited: Anything goes but motors and or sails/kites

Entrant Classes:
Men         Under 16   16-25  25-35 35-45 45-55 55+
Women      Under 16   16-25  25-35 35-45 45-55 55+

We will award medals for 1-3 in each class for each board.

Entry fee: $20 per race, $60 for all four (assuming four). All profits go to some charity (there won't be much). After party for each race

Rash Guards: Loose fit event jersey. We can probably cover this cost with sponsor logos on the back. Need a kick-ass design. I can get Diane to do it,  she's a designer, but she doesn't do wild. Know anyone who rocks for free?

As I read the statistics, the big months for wind in the Gorge are July and August, and the best times are usually Noon to 4:00. Probably the weekends would be best since evening winds are sketchy. It would be good to make sure the races don't conflict with anything major going on in Hood River. Looks like the Gorge Games is history, what other events take over the event center? That's not such a huge problem, since we're mostly looking for big wind the races can start and end wherever works best on a particular weekend.

We'll have a lot of open training sessions. People don't like to try stuff like this for the first time on their own. We will also host a partner calendar to enable easy coordination of gorge downwind practice runs, with group runs throughout the summer.

The races will start and end at various locations along the Columbia River so that participants can experience the incredibly rich downwind SUP environment that the Columbia River Gorge offers. Most races will be around 10 miles in length, with at least one long race tossed in to keep things interesting.

We await your suggestions. I've helped put on vintage car races before but never anything on the water. Should be interesting.

Interesting is the word that my mother uses instead of Clusterf*ck.

944

Downwind and Racing / Foote Maliko 14s on the fast track

« on: January 17, 2010, 07:59:36 PM »

I was at Bill Footes place and saw that he has three Maliko 14 blanks built. I asked who they were for and he said "no one, I just had a block of that new EPS out of California so I made up some". He said the glassers have some free time, so he could finish these three boards in a very short time--as little as 4 weeks. Since it normally takes forever to get one of these boards (I'm still waiting for mine, should be done this week) if anyone is looking to get one in a reasonable timeframe, this is your opportunity.

Some of you folks that are new to downwind/distance racing may not be familiar with these boards. They are absurdly fast, super light, and gorgeous. For most racing they fall into the best category, 14' boards with fixed rudders are generally either considered stock or are in their own class. In our downwind board test everyone was amazed at the speed of this board, even in flatwater. Here's a link to the test: http://www.kenalu.com/2009/03/13/2009-stand-up-paddle-race-distance-and-downwinder-board-showcase-part-2/

Since these blanks haven't been milled yet you can get them in the width and thickness you specify, so they could be shaped for anyone up to 270 pounds (maybe more).

If you want one of these things you could probably contact Bill via PM here on the Zone

945

SUP General / Revitalizing Board Reviews

« on: January 16, 2010, 12:21:19 AM »

The Stand Up Paddle Board choices have gotten kind of out of control. There are so many choices now that even experienced folks are a bit overwhelmed. I can't imagine what it's like coming to this sport as a newbie these days.

One of the most popular elements of Ke Nalu has been the Stand Up Paddle Board reviews, followed closely by the Paddle reviews. They are woefully out of date and not very accessible. That’s mostly because they were initially done as part of a big Stand Up Paddle Board showcase event we held on Maui two years ago. A great deal of information on boards appears here on the zone, but because it's a forum (primarily) the info disappears quickly. there is a product review area, but it's even mustier than Ke Nalu's reviews, and doesn't lend itself to accessibility. Ke Nalu is a more static format so the information persists, and I'm building a new matrix interface to the board reviews that I think will make them very handy.

I don’t think we’re likely to have another all-encompassing event. Diane certainly won't help me do another one, and that pretty much dooms the effort. For that matter it’s not really feasible for us to directly review boards–they are made in so many different locales now that it’s simply not cost effective. The Standup Zone probably represents the biggest source of experience available, and from what I read here, the largest total quiver on the planet. I'd like to call on you and your experience to help build a new board review section in Ke Nalu.

There are easy-to-use review forms for both SUP boards and SUP Paddles in the REPORT tab in the green bar at the top of the page. Or just click this link for the SUP Board Review: http://www.kenalu.com/report/stand-up-paddle-board-review-form/ or this link for the SUP Paddle Review: http://www.kenalu.com/report/paddle-showcase-form/

Thanks for your help with this project. Feel free to review any board you have access to. We welcome board reviews submitted by manufacturers as well.