Messages

1756

SUP General / Re: First time SUP experience, loved it!

« on: June 02, 2011, 08:48:49 PM »

So far you can out board your girls.....seems about the time they hit 16-17 the days I out ski my girls are fewer....sounds like your a few summer boards short for your family.
Check out the NSI attatchment pads for sticking on your board. Fasten coolers and other stuff with these. I think they are the best ones out there. I found them better than the Surftech or Boardfisher ones. They even got a cooler too but it's pretty spendy for what it is. 
There is a guy on Lake Michigan in Chicago who has some good deals on some SUPs I have ran across. Some leftover demos from last year still. Paddleboard Specialists is also in your neck of the woods. Great, great, knowledgable shop. Both places will let you demo.

1757

SUP General / Re: Noob with questions...

« on: June 01, 2011, 04:07:24 AM »

Well, if you are looking at REI they have the Surftech French board. I am a bit bigger than you but not lots and have the 11'6" board. I paddle lakes and it has worked out well. I am looking at something more like the Naish now to go with it so you can start with one and go to the other at some point. They are two different designs. I have the 11'6" French and they also make a 12'. Cost is great, it is durable and it seems great. I haven't paddled to many other boards to compare it to. You will no longer miss your kayak and will end up with a couple more boards as the seasons go by.

1758

Gear Talk / Re: First Board

« on: May 19, 2011, 05:03:17 PM »

Yes. Absolutrely. If you are in the ocean and riding any surf talk to Joe Blair. His boards are coming in next week. They won't break the bank and you can spend $$$ on a good paddle. His production boards are right up your alley. Give him a call.

1759

SUP General / Re: Downwinding

« on: May 15, 2011, 05:16:19 AM »

Got ya. A shuttle like a river float. I wondered about that but thought, naw....they don't do that. Ok, what a blast that would be. Love it. I am guessing it would be way more fun without a displacement hull for sure.
Ok, here we go.......another board to get my quiver complete.......Gee, thanks. 

1760

SUP General / Downwinding

« on: May 15, 2011, 04:47:56 AM »

Please excuse my ignorance here but I am curious about something that I am not sure I completely understand. I see lots of discussion about "downwinding" and also some about "upwind".
Downwinding I am assuming is you board down wind with the wind to your back. A blast, no pun intended. If the wind is strong you have to turn back around and go upwind, right?
Do you downwind paddle before the wind is say past 15-20 or do you really paddle upwind against the wind at 20-25? At some point isn't it impossible to paddle upwind and where is that general point at? I got caught in the wind once and was worried I wouldn't get back where I needed to. I did and maybe it was my worried old age doing the thinking that day. Do you really downwind for good distances before going upwind?
If you were going to paddle in the wind most days wouldn't you always want the board better for upwind and always want something made better for upwind?
Wouldn't a heavier board better for upwind?
Excuse my novice and seemingly absurd question as I have followed here for a while but I don't think I understand this completely.

1761

Gear Talk / Re: Big gal needs a board ;) Bring it on!

« on: May 14, 2011, 08:54:26 PM »

Why wouldn't you get the SUP ATX as you've fallen in love on that board? 
Even fits the budget too.

1762

Gear Talk / Re: Looking for a board

« on: May 14, 2011, 04:42:43 PM »

check out Boga Boards, Lake Shore Paddle Boards, or Tahoe.

1763

Downwind and Racing / Re: wussed out

« on: May 11, 2011, 03:45:34 PM »

Boy, that MRI must have painted quite the picture. That experience thing we gain as we get older just always isn't quite the trade off it is cracked up to be.
I am sure you are checking things out but sometime over the last few weeks I have read about something they are doing or have out there now that will actually regenerate, regrow, or replace cartiledge out there. I think I saw it in USA Today but it may have been some blurb online. Something to research. I didn't read much more than the headline.

1764

Downwind and Racing / Re: wussed out

« on: May 10, 2011, 02:19:05 PM »

I would have to say that paddling flat water would be a great rehab for you and help keep the atrophie away in the leg. A bicycle, stationary or regular is definately needed for the knee recovery but paddling can be an extremely important part of the recovery from how I remember mine, which was before I paddled. I thought last year while paddling how good it would have been for me when I went through that.
You should be better than new by the 4th of July or sooner if you do it Friday. Paddling by 1st week of June or so I would think.

1765

Gear Talk / Re: PFD recommendation

« on: May 03, 2011, 03:19:37 AM »

You have the automatic ones like the belt ones that go around your neck and the big orange ones you can get for 8 bucks. Those are the ones that will float you face up. Most kayak and jet ski vests will just float you, either face down or face up. When the belt packs inflate you do have to put it around your neck and it's shape is similar to the big orange ones. The onyx, and i am sure all the others can also be inflated manually/with your mouth if the charge for some reason doesn't work.

1766

Gear Talk / Re: PFD recommendation

« on: May 02, 2011, 02:29:04 PM »

i have the onyx waist pack and like all else, I forget it is even there. Sit down, lay down, paddle, all you do it is not a bother at all.  After a few times out you will feel naked when you do forget to throw it on because when you do realize it's gone you know it's not there in case you do need it.  That, the Hobie and probably the others mentioned are all small and uncunbersome.

1767

Gear Talk / Hobie 12' ATR

« on: May 01, 2011, 06:14:30 AM »

Who can tell me more about this board. Durability? Stability? Is it a good choice for someone who is 6'4" and 235 lbs paddling on lakes?

1768

Gear Talk / Re: Board Bags

« on: April 28, 2011, 02:59:43 PM »

I did Midnite also for my board. Fits like a glove and took like a week. Absolutely no complaints. I emailed him first before I called. I think he may have even given me another number to call.

1769

SUP General / Re: New to sup'ing

« on: April 26, 2011, 06:15:05 PM »

Now I am in the hunt for buying a board.

Don't do that either. You will just be able to go whenever you want or wherever you want. Then you will figure out that you may need another board for different conditions or things you may do on it. Sounds like you are right near the water too and can go most of the year.  Don't do it.

1770

SUP General / Re: Anywhere there's water.

« on: April 22, 2011, 04:24:39 PM »

It also looks like all the buildings in Canada are white 

Buildings? I thought it was snow.