Topics

16

SUP General / Grey Whales do not like Costco boards

« on: May 12, 2015, 07:33:56 PM »

This is one lucky dumb s@*t;

http://www.keyt.com/news/surfer-lives-to-tell-whale-tale/32956896

Although it could have been me on my SUP any number of days this past week. My wife and I had a close encounter on Sunday while on a mother's day paddle. Heading East a Grey spouted maybe 50 yards dead ahead of us. We both stopped and just stood still not wanting to be threatening in any way. She turned the GoPro on her board away from the shoreline hoping to get a shot as the whale passed us by. It wasn't long before the mother surfaced directly next to my wife maybe 10 yards away on the shore side. The water was clear enough for her to see the calf swimming along next to the mother. It was quite a mother's day treat for her but a bit too close for comfort.

Earlier in the week I was heading out and there were two mothers with their calves very close to the shore line. The babies were jumping and putting on quite a show maybe 200 yards off the beach. Later I was on my return leg of my paddle and dead ahead of me a Grey pops up maybe 30 yards away motoring my way. I'm now super nervous and just stand there. Then comes the big whooshing sound of the exhale directly off my beam maybe two paddle lengths away as the Grey gives me the stink eye as she motors past. All I could think of was Moby Dick with me and my board wrapped around the beast by my leash. Then I remembered Moby Dick was a Sperm whale and I was able to relax a bit.

It's been quite the Grey whale season around here but I'll be glad when the migration of the cows and calves is done. The males passed by earlier and they seemed to stay more to the outside and were all business motoring back North. Although I did come across a group of three males as we headed in the same direction. All three popped their heads up to check me out and the one closest to me started angling toward the beach. I took that as a message and angled the same direction. They then dropped down and I never saw them again.

17

Downwind and Racing / 2015 Malibu Downwinder

« on: May 05, 2015, 01:12:58 PM »

While the OluKai raced was epic for the folks on Maui we in SoCal had a pretty good one that same day. The 2015 Malibu Downwinder was run in some really great conditions for around here. According to iWindsurf the wind was gusting 30+ at Leo Carrillo which is the finish for this race. The conditions on the 7 mile course were not perfect as there was a slight onshore angle to the wind and swell but it was about as good as it gets around here for a downwind race. While we didn't have the huge swells that the Maui course offered for glides, we did one better by having smacking shorebreak at the start and finish. The start was open water but you had to make it off the beach first. The first DNS was by some guy on his SUP not making it over a set wave on an ill timed launch. The result was a two piece race board but a healthy but poorer would be racer. After witnessing that misfortune, the following groups of prone and SUP's launching looked like a salmon trying to make a run up a waterfall as they feverishly paddled to get past the impact zone. The finish was almost as much fun. After rounding the buoy and heading to the finish line the wind and current would just sweep you down the beach. But you still had to keep looking over your shoulder to time your exit around the set waves. It was pretty easy to know if you had bad timing as the suck out from the approaching wave would drive you backwards no matter how hard you were digging. But it's all fun once you get back on terra firma. I think the issues some of the zoners had for the OluKai with finding their legs and finding their rhythm was true for this race as well. The angle of the wind and swell did make for some work to stay on course. Making the mid course adjustments was a challenge as you could be beam to the wind and swell for enough time to put you in the water more then once.
Many thanks to the organizers of this event. Always beer and great BBQ at the finish line and an excellent crew of lifeguards providing support on the off the water. The volunteers at the finish assisting with getting boards out of the water and onto the beach deserve special thanks as they risk life and limb trying to snatch some of those boards as they tumble toward them.
While it was a good downwind wasted for me as I just could not get my act together on the water, I did manage to have a brief chat with Joe Bark after the race. A few minutes later he pulled one his new Surftech 14-0 Downwinder boards out of his van and it went home with me for a 1 week demo. Joe Bark is one of a kind.

18

SUP General / Quite an remarkable man; Dorian Doc Paskowitz dies at 93

« on: November 13, 2014, 06:49:06 PM »

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-dorian-doc-paskowitz-20141114-story.html#page=1

19

Random / WTF car design

« on: August 14, 2014, 12:16:31 PM »

Ok, I know it's not allowed offer up any criticism of Tesla but this is one f@*#ing dumb design. Their model X is due out in the next year or two and has been designed sell into the SUV and minivan market. Cool "falcon" doors that can open in your garage. One big problem...how do you install roof racks??? Why the f would you design an SUV type car and prohibit this option? No SUP for you with this design.

http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx

20

Gear Talk / Rescue Tape

« on: June 23, 2014, 11:29:09 AM »

Has anyone tried this stuff?

http://www.rescuetape.com/

Seems like a good tool on or off the water.

21

Random / Great John Oliver segment on vitamin industry

« on: June 23, 2014, 09:20:19 AM »

Spot on take down of the vitamin and supplement industry;

22

SUP General / SUP getting lot's of love during World Cup coverage

« on: June 20, 2014, 11:33:06 AM »

Certainly SUP has come of age as every shot of the beach has someone paddling around. I think the sport is getting more ad exposure then any of the major sponsors and it's free!

23

Random / My have safety standards changed since '83

« on: June 18, 2014, 04:27:07 PM »

I find it almost impossible to imagine the incredible disregard for one's own life top tier drivers engage in. Especially in years past. 247 mph down a country road with just the protection of an armco barrier. Zero room for any mistake.

24

Random / Genuis Invention

« on: May 02, 2014, 05:40:35 PM »

It has nothing to do with SUP but this has to be the coolest tool I have ever seen.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/04/30/vipukirves_by_heikki_k_rn_a_new_and_improved_ax_that_makes_chopping_wood.html

25

Sneak Peeks, Rumors, and Wish Lists / 2014 Imagine Connector

« on: April 29, 2014, 11:50:55 AM »

This board looks interesting;

http://bigwindsblog.com/

26

SUP General / Kiteboat Project

« on: April 01, 2014, 12:38:27 PM »

Now this looks like fun!



They are working on a 65' version.

27

Gear Talk / A PFD some may like

« on: July 04, 2013, 08:31:07 AM »

Saw this PFD and think others may find it worth checking out,

http://www.aqualifeglobal.com/index.html

28

SUP General / Duct Tape Surfing

« on: June 24, 2013, 09:26:21 AM »

Another use for a SUP board and duct tape;

http://vimeo.com/68901496#

29

SUP General / This should be laminated into every beginners board

« on: October 24, 2012, 10:44:11 PM »

I saw this and think it is a very well done. Rules for all SUP'ers who venture into the surf for the first time.

Also a good read for for a lot of the Sup'ers who THINK they know. (that includes me)

http://purelinesurf.com/the-rules-of-surfing

30

SUP General / Live Streaming of the BOP

« on: September 29, 2012, 10:25:24 AM »

You can find live streaming video of the BOP here;
Supconnect.com