Messages

121

Gear Talk / Re: Pics, feedback needed for New Bark 14' Dominator

« on: October 12, 2010, 07:33:46 PM »

All meant in good humor, Neil.  Sounds like a fun race!

Yep, custom Bark boards come in lotsa cool colors and styles,

both stand-up (top view of a board like yours on the right)



and prone

122

Gear Talk / Re: Pics, feedback needed for New Bark 14' Dominator

« on: October 11, 2010, 07:47:08 PM »

Hey Neil, I know you're from kayaking,

...but SUP means Stand Up Paddle ON the board, not beside it.

much easier when the water gets deeper too.

123

Events / Re: Sept 18th SUP Race on the San Joaquin River in Central CA

« on: September 09, 2010, 05:02:24 PM »

The 2010 Tahoe Fall Classic looks to be the following weekend, September 26.

http://tahoefallclassic.eventbrite.com/

124

Whitewater and River SUP / Re: Kern River Weekend

« on: September 07, 2010, 07:32:46 PM »

nice photos, Corran!!!

... and impressive riding by all, especially by the character on the yellow rapidfire 
(did see the soles of his shoes in one frame)

can you "Imagine" what it would be like during the spring run-off? YIKES 

125

Events / Re: Cross Fit Journal Series, Sept. 18. Newport Aquatic center, Newport Beach. Ca.

« on: September 03, 2010, 07:42:44 PM »

"... a bit lacking in any details"  --  you're too polite, Roland - that link is useless


here's some info I found at http://watermansappliedscience.com/blog/?p=3569

Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010 @ 9:00 AM PST
Location: Newport Dunes Beach Resort
Fees: $35 Early Registration / $50 Day of Registration
All proceeds benefit the NAC Junior SUP Program

The challenge, or WOD, consists of the following:

One lap for time
2000M           Row (C2 Rowing machine)
400M             Run
400M             SUP (12’ Standup Paddle board and paddle will be provide)
25                 Burpee
400M             Run

not much paddle involvement unless ya hafta run with one

126

Sessions / Paddlin’ the Bear – Big Bear Lake in SoCal

« on: September 01, 2010, 09:52:31 AM »

Big Bear Lake sits at 6700 ft in the Natl Forest just east of LA and Orange counties (~2 hr from the beach).  It gets a lot of waterski/boat traffic summer weekends, but Mrs levity and I were able to sneak up on a Tuesday.  The lake is only ~6 miles long but has a lot of coves and bays.  By hugging the shoreline and bagging all the No-Wake buoys, we were logged 14.8 miles circumnavigating it.

Here’s a view of the lake setting from the Butler Peak Lookout tower




The air was cool and the water was glassy when we launched near the west end at 8 AM




Cal Tech has a small observatory mid way along the lake




We swapped boards for a while at the east end of the lake




You can see runs on the Snow Summit ski area just south of the lake




One of many small inlets along the shore - these were nicely protected from the wind




By late morning the wind picked up. Paddling back west was a workout so no pics.  Some rock outcroppings near the dam at the west end provided protection and nice paddling again.




The ride back east to launch site was fun with a good tailwind and small windswell.  Next time we’ll probably put in on the east end to take more advantage of the late westerly winds.

127

SUP General / Re: Looking for a Spinal Doctor in So. Cal

« on: August 26, 2010, 08:59:48 PM »

gladwell4,

I PM'd you the name of a spine surgeon who is medical director of a center for spinal surgery at a SoCal university hospital.  He can evaluate your condition, and if surgery is required he may be able to use minimally invasive procedures that allow you to return to full activity pretty quickly.

He operated on me a few years ago after I ruptured a disk in a motorcycle crash.  He had to remove disk and scar material that was pressing on spinal nerves and crippling me.  Eight weeks after surgery I was snowboarding, and I haven't had any recurrent problems.  Gotta say that based on my experience with a variety of physical activities since then that SUP'ing is probably the best exercise to strengthen one's core and prevent future back problems.

128

Gear Talk / Re: Why not more sunken deck boards?

« on: August 22, 2010, 09:08:22 PM »

Easy Rider--how about DavidJohn's comment about having to lift the paddle over the board?  Do you notice that?  Or is it something that was awkward at first, but that you got used to?  It's something I hadn't thought of until he mentioned it.

You can usually get away with a shorter paddle on a board with a sunken deck, and that can reduce the problem a bit.

I don't have an issue with my regular length paddle hitting the deck on my Starboard K15, but the the deck is only sunk about 3" and the bow is flat.  However, when I paddled the Starboard New (9" thick with a deep footwell) for the first time the other day it required a conscious effort to lift the paddle over the tall raised bow. I had to adjust my technique a bit but would probably get used to it after a while.

129

Gear Talk / stabilizing the K15

« on: August 20, 2010, 09:08:04 PM »

The rounded bottom on the K15 gives it good glide but has less initial stability than a flat bottom planing-type hull of equal width.  Ralph’s right, a new K15 comes with at 15” center dagger (for windsurfing) that can help stabilize the board, but it adds drag, can contribute to yawing, and snags kelp.  You might ask PSW to contact the original owner (Paul knows him) to see if he still has it.  We got one when we purchased our K15 from Sup-Position and are not using it if you want to give it a try.

The best solution is to practice – at 30” wide the K15 has pretty good secondary stability (after the initial tippiness). The displacement bow should cut through chop and small wakes if you stay on the power, maintain speed ( no "poke 'n float"), and try to approach larger swells as close to 90° as possible.

Another thing you can do is to replace the skinny OEM fin with a larger aftermarket fin.  The K15 fin box is short, but Larry Allison (Fibre Glas Fin Co.) now makes a version of his Keel fin that fits and is pictured below (http://standupfinsbylarryallison.blogspot.com/). It’s much larger than the OEM fin, ~8.25” tall with a total sweep of ~14”, and it both provides added stability and helps with tracking. You’re welcome to try ours out some time if you want to come over and paddle in Newport Harbor.

130

Gear Talk / Re: LAIRD coast runner or BARK expedition

« on: August 15, 2010, 09:10:10 PM »

I demo'd a Laird Coast Runner for about an hour in a harbor and about 30 min in open ocean.  It was very stable, but felt slow and heavy, barge-like. As I paddled back into the harbor I decided that while it may be stable, it just wasn't fun to paddle (I'm 165 lb.).

As I approached the beach I happened to see a guy with a Bark/Surftech Expedition. When I asked him how he liked it he offered to let me paddle it.  What a difference! The 14' Expedition is wide (30") and no feather weight (~33 lb), but if felt light and nimble compared to the Coast Runner.  It also seemed to be just as stable as the Laird but to have better glide.  I ended up buying a used Expedition and have found it to be a good all around board. The nose and tail rocker and slightly square tail seem to work well on downwind type swells.

It can even be raced, and some choose it when ocean conditions are rough. Here's a photo of Morgan Hoestery riding the board (before I bought it) to first place in the women's division at the Jay Moriarity Surftech SUP race, Santa Cruz, this June.



http://surftechsup.com/news/2010-surftech-jay-moriarity-memorial-paddleboard-race-results/

131

Gear Talk / Re: a custom Keel fin for the K15

« on: August 14, 2010, 08:03:00 PM »

I am interested in trying these fins but can't figure out where to buy one.  Any help appreciated.

I think Larry Allison's contact info is on the website but here's his

phone:   (310) 530-1383

and email:      Larry@ProBoxfinsystems.com   or   fibreglasfin@gmail.com

132

Gear Talk / a custom Keel fin for the K15

« on: August 14, 2010, 04:46:37 PM »

... Some of the K15's have a short fin box, looks like 7" is max length.

Ralph’s right – the fin box opening on the my ’09 Starboard K15 is only 7” and won’t accommodate many fins.

“Probox” Larry Allison of Fibre Glas Fin Co. (http://standupfinsbylarryallison.blogspot.com/) now has a version of his Keel fin with a custom base to fit the short slot.  It’s ~8.25” tall and has a total sweep of ~14”.  Compared to the narrow, vertical stock fin the Keel should help with tracking and snag less kelp – I’ll let ya know.

133

Downwind and Racing / Re: Anybody try the Infinity Racer in Aviso Technology?

« on: August 13, 2010, 08:52:05 PM »

link: http://avisosup.com/blog/wordpress/?cat=1


Tommy Lloy, one finger carry, Dana Pt. ('nuff detail?)

134

SUP General / Re: newbie question

« on: July 06, 2010, 02:44:48 PM »

Corran,

Your pics probably promote the sport better than any others.

Keep 'em coming. 

135

Gear Talk / Re: Calling all Engineer-Types

« on: July 01, 2010, 05:46:00 PM »

Canyonering folks use an assortment of dry kegs (up to 20 L and crushproof) as well as dry bags.

Some are shown here: http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/shop/home.php?cat=257