Topics

166

Gear Talk / Paddle Jacket recommendations.

« on: January 14, 2012, 09:35:59 PM »

Ok, I love my new suit. It's a 3/2 and stay dry inside most of the time. (unbelievable) However, I have next to no meat on my bones and so I get cold paddling. I don't think I need a 4/3 on the colder days, my legs and all are fine, I just need a little extra up top.

I've seen some of the jackets mentioned here. I'm thinking of throwing a jacket on top of my wettie when the winds are up. What's the consensus?

I can't see adding bulk on my legs when I never have an issue with warmth there or in the water. (We ain't sitting there)

Cost is not really a factor, so should I just go 4/3 and shut it or add one of those oneil or isurus jackets up top when it's extra chilly.

167

Sessions / Ventura to Santa Barbara

« on: January 14, 2012, 09:31:48 PM »

I went up to paddle with a friend who's just starting but is living for the month of Jan. on the sand in Montecito so while she's  got the rad pad, I had to come put in, paddle, and be able to have a hot shower to take your suit off in.

We had a great paddle up and down past the 4 Seasons there and there are little breaks all up and down the coast. Caught a couple small ones and ran into a few sweepers out.

On the way up, cruised by through the breaks North of Ventura and it was glassy and beautiful. Not a lot of size due to the tide when I got there, but if you can, while this weather is in, sneak up there a get some. I know now why all those photos from SB look so beautiful. The waves are nearly perfect on that stretch of coast.

If you can, get to it while it's good.

168

Sessions / SoCal Sunday Warm & Mellow

« on: January 10, 2012, 11:02:49 PM »

A good 70º day in SoCal January. 58º water and some good friends from Coreban showed up and we filled the lineup with 'em.

169

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Oahu, South Shore Winter, How small is "small?"

« on: November 14, 2011, 11:48:21 PM »

Hey guys, they've dropped the prices again to Hawaii and the wife and I are looking for a weekend getaway. Waikiki makes it easy. No car rental, tons for her to do, etc, but what is "flat" over there in the Winter? Flat here means nada, but I know that Hawaiian flat can mean waist high.

I wanna hear from the locals. What's the surf like on the South Shore in Winter?

170

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Malibu - 3rd point during the week?

« on: September 13, 2011, 09:27:01 PM »

Invited out for a birthday surf with some prone buddies that I usually ride with. They're hitting 3rd point at the Bu on Thursday am for a session/hang on the beach.

I'm going to my usual spot first for some SUP, but I wanted to ask if any of the crew other than Steamroller would brave 3rd point on a weekday am or if I should just borrow a longboard? (I know, I know, I could use the experience.)

Second question, am I correct to not leave my board locked to my car in the lot there while I surf, due to the hate, or has it mellowed?

Just looking for local 411 before I roll in and drop a tu#d in the punchbowl.

171

SUP General / Body Boarder lost at Sunset Beach - #LASwell

« on: September 01, 2011, 09:55:22 AM »

Last night on a sunset session at Sunset Beach (not "Sunset" in LA) a body boarder was last seen about 200 yards offshore.

On the news today his Mom said that he was a strong swimmer but "didn't know the ocean". Immediately after that she said she suspected foul play. More to come but it's sad that people don't understand that swimming is only one tiny fraction of the skills needed to safely be in heavy water.

172

Travel, Trips, Destinations / North Shore rentals?

« on: August 21, 2011, 09:02:11 AM »

Anyone on the zone ever rent from Uncle Bryan?

http://www.surfnorthshore.com I remember hearing about him here but it was a while ago.

I'm looking for a North Shore rental so that I can swap boards depending on conditions, so someone in the area up there would be best for me.

173

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Maui October?

« on: July 30, 2011, 03:49:16 PM »

Ok HI locs, I'm planning the Honeymoon and the girl and I are thinking Maui. I'm wondering what the surf will be like. I dig small waves suitable for an in shape beginner surfer but can handle up to head high if necessary.

I also love cruising so there is no "bad" water to me.

What's gonna be the fun side for that time of year. I saw the latest post on the vacation but any resort recommendations would be great (4 star at least).

I'm thinking maybe a little time on the North and a little on the West, or should we just go NorthWest and stay in one spot? Let's hear it!

174

Events / Santa Monica Pier Race - who's going?

« on: June 09, 2011, 08:52:06 PM »

http://pierpaddle.com

Santa Monica CA Saturday the 11th (this Saturday!)

I'm thinking of hitting the fun race (2 miles) and maybe the relay, since I'm out of training. But I'm sure some fun folks will be there. Who's in from the Zone?

175

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Headed to Galveston

« on: May 21, 2011, 08:23:17 PM »

I'm coming to Galveston next weekend to relax and hang with the family. Anyone got a line on a decent rental shop?

Also, if any of the local crew could give me some intel on the spots around there, I'd appreciate it. Hit me here or PM me.

Thanks in advance. It's gonna be good to be back in Texas!

176

SUP General / Photog Celebrity meeting

« on: May 21, 2011, 10:12:14 AM »

I love LA (mostly) and I love my job.

I was in an editing bay this week and the guy watching the cut was introduced to me as Mike Prickett. I was completely star struck. He's been the ASP official photog for 14 years and has done tons of commercials and feature films from surf stuff (um, the 3D Slater Tahiti film?) to, (I hear rumored) the Pirates Of the Caribbean films.

As we talk, turns out he lives on Oahu, (of course) and own a few standup boards and loves it. I was in a client shop that's full of proners and so it was nice to have some "backup".

Nice guy, humble, a total pro and ba!!'s of steel, as all us SUP guys should be.

177

Gear Talk / closeout wetsuits

« on: May 12, 2011, 08:31:50 AM »

I'm ready for a good suit and I've been seeing some deals on 2009 and 2010 wetsuits and I'm assuming they still made great suits way back then.

Is there any penalty as far as age for buying a new "old" suit from a couple of years ago?

Also, second thing. I have found a deal on a ripcurl that's Elastomax 2 instead of the Elastomax 3 they use now. Is it really "one better?". Anyone have a suit out of this stuff or own a 2009 rip curl? There are some closeout guys in LA selling $300 suits for $150 and so I'm wondering.

I defer to my elders.

178

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Airline changes -

« on: April 17, 2011, 08:36:37 PM »

This is cool, the folks at the Punta Sayulita Classic got Alaska Airlines to up their size restrictions to 12'6" so that race boards could travel.

If they could do it once, why not all the time? I so wish they'd make this a policy, or option.

http://puntasayulitasurfclassic.com/alaska-airlines-authorizes-surf-boards-up-to-126-as-checked-baggage/

179

SUP General / North Shore slo mo 1000fps - amazing video

« on: March 27, 2011, 10:13:28 AM »

Simply awesome -

180

Technique / Caught in the big stuff - how to deal

« on: November 29, 2010, 09:09:26 AM »

Ok, I don't want to hijack the nose leash plug thread but I found myself in a situation recently where I bailed when I shouldn't have. I need, as a newb (who by the way, is pretty solid on a wave), some info on what to do:

Head high plus wave, near double,  caught inside on the way out. (I got to my feet after a fall and looked up to see one breaking/curling 40 feet from me) There was no way to make it to a safe spot in time.

I lost my board and yeah, I feel crappy about putting folks in danger so I'm coming to the pro's for some knowledge. (I've already beaten myself up enough on this one, trust me, so try to take it easy on the "don't do that" comments unless you were somehow magically never "new".)

With no way to spin the board and grab the rear in time, do I:

1 - try to ride over it standing - (no way that I can see this working and so a sure loss of board)

2 - drop to the rear, lying down and try to let the board go up and over. (won't I end up dumped over backwards with a board coming down on my head?)

3 - jump off and hold the nose of the board?

Obviously avoiding the situation would be best but I have to believe that it happens to the best riders from time to time. Also, trying to turn and "catch" the wave lying down isn't an option in the short wave period I'm talking about.

I'm assuming 3 would work best but I'm not sure if I could, or how to, keep the board. (wax my nose?)  2 seems doable but I'm not clear on the mechanics of waves, would I poke through or go over backwards and really endanger myself?

Experience would be more useful here than "thoughts" and theories. I'd love to hear from who's done it. But I know that as I get into bigger surf, I'll need these skills and I intend to learn to deal with waves correctly for myself and those around me. I see it as the next step in my progression and I want the right info to be in my toolkit when I'm in a tight spot.

Thank you all for going before me.