Messages

31

Technique / Re: How many steps to the tail?

« on: June 30, 2021, 02:21:23 PM »

Thanks! Yes, I feel fairly comfortable just going down the line - it's the more aggressive turns that I'm having trouble with.

Yeah, sorry it's really hard to see anything in the video. 

The video was really just to show the timing of my last attempted maneuver and, if you have a big monitor or 20/5 vision, how the board starts to wheelie on the last bottom turn and, thus,  I check up on my bottom turn a bit to take a shallower angle to just kick out the back (barely).

I know it probably depends on the wave-type/size but I would say this wave is typical of what I like to ride.  I'm just not sure what I should work on to get back to the tail of the board faster and more stable - LB-style cross-stepping? 3 quick shuffles? do the two-step? one giant leap of faith? Wider stance?

32

Technique / How many steps to the tail?

« on: June 30, 2021, 08:34:02 AM »

Relatively new to SUP surfing and after a few months on a 9'2" Nugg I bought a new 8'7" Starboard Wedge and have been surfing it for the last 3 months or so.

I'm very happy with the Wedge and feel like I catch my share of waves with it.  However, I'm having a tough time getting back to the tail to initiate a harder turn.

When I catch a wave and transition to surfer stance, my feet are roughly centered over the handle front and back.  Maybe 60/40 to the rear.  From there, I feel like I need to step back three times before my back foot is on the tail pad to initiate a proper turn.

I feel like I should be able to get back to the tail in two steps at the most but two steps seems too unstable and I usually start to wheelie.  Three steps seems more stable but takes too long. 

What should I work on?  Make my 3 steps quicker or work on my footwork and taking 2 steps to get to the tail?  Or does it just come with more time on the water?

Just for reference, I'm 5'11" and low-intermediate shortboard surfer so I'm used to just a quick small step to get to the tail.

The video below is an example of a wave that I am on where towards the end I'm trying to step back far enough to do a hard bottom turn to hit the lip but stepping back takes too long and I run out of time and just end up having to kick out the back. (Sorry it's so tiny, it's off of the Surfline cams)



Thanks!

33

Gear Talk / Re: Water Shoes

« on: June 26, 2021, 11:54:11 AM »

Vibram Five-Fingers
 
I use the EL-X model which are NOT water-specific.  They are close to retirement but they have held up to a couple of seasons of kitesurfing/-foiling and occasional SUP session.

I just bought a pair of the Five-Finger V-Aqua's which are water specific but haven't tried them yet.

The reason I like the EL-X though is because the sole is their thinnest (3mm) and gives more feel.  The V-Aqua's have a thicker sole (3.7mm).  I also sewed a loop on the heels of the EL-X and a made a short dyneema leash so I don't loose them in the surf.  The V-Aqua's have a loop already so I just need to transfer the leashes over.

They are a bit spendy but they have the occasional sale which bring them down to about $60 and is why I decided to try the Aqua's.

The have no insulating qualities though.

34

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: San Diego conditions

« on: June 11, 2021, 07:07:48 AM »

This popped up on my FB feed this a.m.   This was the Hilton yesterday - it was barely 11kts.  I see a 4,5,6,7M wings in use.  I don't wing but I was kite-foiling.

35

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: San Diego conditions

« on: June 09, 2021, 08:27:44 PM »

Tomorrow there is supposed to be some wind in SD.   They over-called today's forecast as usual but it was enough - mostly kite foilers.  If there is wind, there should be wingfoilers out at the Mission Bay Resort (but we all still call it the "Hilton") side of Fiesta Island.  I would stop by around Noon when the wind picks up and chat with those guys.

36

General Discussion / Re: Surf Rig - How do you hide your keys?

« on: May 01, 2021, 02:10:28 PM »

For my Toyota, on the fob - if you hold the lock button down while pressing the unlock button twice it will "turn off" the fob then you can hide and lock the fob in the car while taking the door key with you. just press any button to turn the fob back "on".

this was kind of buried in the manual so maybe the Chevy has something similar.

37

Gear Talk / Re: Infinity RNB vs Infinity New Deal?

« on: April 17, 2021, 08:04:32 PM »

Unless you are set on getting an Infinity board the 9'2"x32(160L) or 8'7"x32(143L) 2021 Starboard Wedge may be worth a look at. 

Disclaimer: I am a newbie SUP surfer as well so my $.02 are barely worth anything. 

I just bought a 8'7" Wedge after riding a 9'2" Riviera Nugg for almost 6 months as my first board.  I had a lot of fun and caught many waves on the Nugg but it was a CL purchase, older board and, truthfully, I just wanted something shiny and new.

I was debating the 8'8" RNB as well but, for no real reason, the Wedge looked better to me in that sizing. I had no demos with either board.

I've only had a few sessions on the Wedge but am super happy with it so far.

There is a noticeable decrease in stability while standing around and extra paddle effort required to catch a wave with the Wedge but I think that is probably just a function of new board, dropping volume/size and increased nose rocker versus the Nugg.

I'm not skilled enough to quantify it but the Wedge feels livelier and more maneuverable once you're on a wave and I think has more performance than I'll be able to fully tap into for a long time.

my stats: 5'11", 195lb/89kg,  50-55y.o

38

Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Anyone know the coastline near Ensenada Baja Mexico?

« on: April 09, 2021, 12:03:48 PM »

get this book

39

Technique / Re: Riding out the whitewater after a wave

« on: March 04, 2021, 02:29:52 PM »

I wouldn't say that I'm going to or want to "practice" riding the whitewater - just wanted to know what to be more conscious of when I do so I can look regal while riding to shore. 

I just re-watched a clip I have of one of my first rides that happened to be captured on a Surfline cam and I actually mostly ride out the wash after finishing a wave so maybe I'm just overthinking it now.

Thanks all for the help!

40

Technique / Re: Riding out the whitewater after a wave

« on: March 02, 2021, 01:47:03 PM »

If you're trying to straighten out and ride to the shore you need to prepare for the white water to push the board out from under you from behind. Weight the front of the board as much as you can with your front foot, squat down to lower your center of gravity, and place and weight your paddle behind you. Practice on smaller waves first and you'll learn to handle some pretty sizable wave.

@Tom - OK!  I think this is probably what I am missing - I need to exaggerate my crouch and forward weight-bias.  It is a much subtler and simpler movement on a shortboard and I'm not accounting for the extra float/length/width/weight of a SUP.

@Creek - I haven't caught a wave big enough to necessitate the pin-drop but hopefully someday! haha

41

Technique / Re: Riding out the whitewater after a wave

« on: March 02, 2021, 07:02:42 AM »

Wow!  Thanks for the responses already!

@Creek - Thank you for the detailed instructions and pics!   I think #2 is more what I am looking for since I actually WANT to ride out on the whitewater in this case.

@SurfinJ and Badger - yes, I usually try to do one last turn and come off the face of the wave with some speed.  but eventually the whitewater catches up and I fall. That SUP feels like it's on ball bearings compared to a shortboard though.  I guess I just need to anticipate the push better and crouch down more and keep trying.

@Dwight - Definitely true - I am only starting to use the paddle as a brace on rare occasions, mostly accidentally.  So I should be bracing to the back of the board?

42

Technique / Riding out the whitewater after a wave

« on: March 01, 2021, 04:17:27 PM »

Here is a noob question:

How do I ride out the whitewater after a wave if I can't kick out the back or if I'm finishing up a session and just want to ride the whitewater in?  This would be mostly 3-4' beach break waves.

I'm only about 15 sessions into my SUP surfing journey but I do prone surf.  On a shortboard, if I straighten out on a closeout or just want to ride the whitewater in I can do it no problem.

On my SUP (9'2" Riviera Nugg), if I straighten out on a wave, the second that whitewater hits, I am falling backwards.  I've tried standing in different parts of the board - more centered, more biased to the tail.  Standing centered might be marginally better but the end result is the same.  The board goes shooting out from under me.

Do I just need to crouch down more and anticipate the push better?

43

General Discussion / Re: I forgot how much fun it is...

« on: January 20, 2021, 08:09:09 PM »

According to iWindsurf Monday should be epic.

Not to be a killjoy but, if it rains, they usually advise that you stay out of the water for 72hrs in SD.  It'll be the first rain of the winter too.

https://www.surfline.com/surf-science/water-quality---forecaster-blog_13041/

44

General Discussion / Re: Wow, I suck at SUP surfing

« on: December 25, 2020, 11:50:05 AM »

ha ha... great post Pono!
Isn't it totally awesome to be clueless old guy?
When that happens to me, I just look at my feet and play the part 

With me it isn't the foil thing.... it's the wetsuit.
These days I become a total kook once I don a full suit.... so, I went to Florida 

Good plan. So far I'm wearing more rubber in SoCal than I do in Hood river. It was 42 this morning--grey and foggy.

Especially at Torrey Pines where you usually get the stiff offshores for the dawn patrol too.  Changing in and out of a wetsuit  can be rough.