Topics

16

Events / the chicago flatwater classic

« on: September 16, 2007, 06:22:44 PM »

the chicago flatwater classic event occured earlier today.

it was run by the friends of the chicago river to promote activities along chicago's water ways. they are the people responsible for enforcing the cleanup of this city's water arteries.

i only heard about this event a couple days ago and offered to team up with kayak chicago who provide stand up paddle board rentals at montrose beach. they seemed a bit surprised that i wanted to do this on a stand up but agreed to let me use their equipment to promote the sport during the event.

i'm happy to report that it was a raging success for the world of stand up paddle surfing in my home town. this race was a great opportunity to bring this activity to the public eye right in the middle of town. almost everyone i spoke to had never seen stand up paddle surfing. being the only one there riding a sup made me the sensation of the event. i finished the course with a respectable time of around 3 ½ hours. i "raced" in the open class but being that i had no other competition wasn't able to use my time in comparison with my fellow travellers. for this reason i maintained a consistent speed but didn't really try to carry a faster speed. in any case the stand up paddle provided a lot of entertainment for the participants as well as the occasional tour boat that gave the tourists a view of the city from the water. i was able to introduce the sport to avid watermen (and women) who would otherwise not have seen stand up for some time. four of these high ranking kayakers vowed to enter in the stand up division next year!

i met many new friends, one in particular one who is a consultant in educational program development, something that strikes my interest at this point in time. i met bob at the put-in and struck up a conversation that continued through the course and well beyond the end of the event. being single, there's no doubt that he used our new friendship as a passport to conversations with the women who flocked around the novelty of my board. with his insight and kayak chicago's rental fleet i hope to be able to spread the aloha in this sport!

17

SUP General / weird but true... the midwest's "early" days in paddle surfing

« on: September 04, 2007, 10:53:38 PM »

way back in 1965, well before people rode what is commonly accepted as the snowboards of today, sherman poppen of muskegon, wisconsin had a healthy business marketing and promoting the snurfer. jake burton liked the idea so much that his first backhill model was a pretty close copy of the snurfer right down to the rope handle that secured to the front of the stick.


click on the picture for the link to snowboarding's history

i was one of these earliest practitioners of that sport, later on participating in the resurrection onto the binding revolution. i've been riding dimitrije milovich's winterstick swallow tails since 1979, only later retailing burton snowboards at chicago's first surfshop in the early 80's.

some of you may be aware that back in the 1930's, tom blake, a wisconsin native, travelled to california and hawaii on his way to reinventing the modern surfboard with his hollow rendition of the surfboards of his day. later on he came up with the first fins and even attached sails to his boards in the 1940's. jump to 1975... tom wiltse of elkhart, indiana, purchased another company's molds which had already been making paddle boards; something akin to the boards that we enjoy today and they make a 9½' soft version to this day.


click on the picture to the history link on their website

so the reason that stand up paddling's recent revival may not be so "new", is that my earliest recollection of them were way back in 1973, when i first encountered the boards as a summer camp waterfront employee. this was even before the company was purchased by mr. wiltse, then marketed by a company called gobuoy who made them available primarily as a water safety and rescue device. i remember standing on the boards but since they had no fin, they were quite difficult to keep on a straight line. the kayak paddles we used somewhat corrected the issue but there was still a little wobbling to contend with. i had long forgotten about those puppies until only recently, but while thinking back on the funny old water-walker "boots" it occurred to me that these existed back then too. some of you may remember the water walkers as pontoons which you wore and kind of skied on without the need for a boat to tow you around!

in retrospect nothing is really new, not even the ancient sport of paddle surfing (not here in the midwest anyway).

well, there is one thing. heheheh... maybe one day i might tell you about something which i innovated, and to put it simply: it was a frisbee you can ride.

18

Technique / forum: howto (gettin' tricky)

« on: August 28, 2007, 04:50:06 AM »

just thought i'd let you guys in on a couple of ways to post whenever you're getting zoned...

howto: link your word(s)...

1) choose the word(s) by highlighting them. 2) click on the url button or insert the bracketed code to look like the example below. Code: [Select] [url]your word(s) here[/url] 3) edit it to reflect the following. you can cut 'n paste the target url behind the first bracketed code like so: Code: [Select] [url=http://www.your.url.here.com]your word(s) here[/url] ...and the outcome should look something like:

your word(s) here

go ahead click on it... can you believe that someone has actually registered www.your.url.here.com?

howto: link a picture...

1) cut 'n past the url of a picture onto the message area. 2a) insert the bracketed code. 2b) or choose the url to be displayed and highlight it then click on the img (or picture) button to insert the bracketed code around the highlighted area to look like the example below. Code: [Select] [img]http://www.my.url.here.com/your_sister's_picture.jpg[/img] 3a) edit it to reflect the following. you can cut 'n paste the target url behind the first bracketed code like so: Code: [Select] [url=http://www.your.url.here.com][img]http://www.my.url.here.com/your_sister's_picture.jpg[/img][/url] 3b) you could highlight the whole whatever then press a selected action and it will automagically place the selection within the code, then edit. ...and the outcome should look something like: well, guess i really couldn't post that... but you ought to have the picture by now. hope this helps somebody out there! always at your service, alan ps: one good way to experiment before getting postal is to use the preview button...

19

The Shape Shack / gary young's bamboo lamination art

« on: August 21, 2007, 06:24:32 PM »

as a self taught craftsman i have come to admire the work of gary young. i never met the man but i've been lucky to have developed a conversational friendship with him over the course of a few phone calls.



unknowingly i first became aware of his work while i was deeply enmeshed within skateboard manufacturing circles when a company out of australia started producing bamboo surfboards and skateboards. working in secret at the time, i had managed to develop techniques for reforming bamboo into hollow structures as it was meant to function in nature. so i gave the bamboo board makers a call to see if i could find some involvement with their venture. i went as far as contacting their taiwan counterpart (the wife of the australian manufacturer) and as luck would have it they weren't at all interested in my attempts to assist.

as it turns out these people had wooed gary overseas to glean as much as they could from his process and then proceeded to lock him out of the picture. over time this problem was resolved and the austalian/taiwanese company folded leaving gary only slightly jaded but not surprised. you see, since introducing his initial work of laminating veneer onto foam decades ago, others have followed his path without giving proper credit.

my path has always been a little different though. for three decades i have worked on a skateboard platform that would perform asymmetrically for either goofy foot or regular on the same board (not an easy task). at the same time i nurtured a style of skating which enveloped the fluidity of surfing efficiently harnessing the machine. unfortunately a student of mine took this knowledge and squandered it even after i had assisted him to become successful with his own products. these experiences allowed gary and i a common ground to build our understanding.

while on the big island of hawaii earlier this summer, a mutual friend put us in touch with one another. mike had given gary a motor for a vacuum pump when a fire took out his shop a few years ago. with little time to make arrangements for a proper visit we relied on the phone. gary offering places to catch his handiwork and me dropping hints about the hollow structures i had created in secrecy over time. we entertained the idea that one day we'd have a chance to work together though in my mind i would be honored just to be around.

once back on the mainland i decided to purchase one of gary's bamboo creations. i found a seller in arizona so i thought i'd get pope to bisect it for me to make it travel easy. as it turned out pope didn't do those conversions (any more) and the deal fell through due to the sellers misguidance. speaking to thane pope, i found out that they were soon receiving their latest offering of a stand up paddle board so that is how i came to purchase the first trisect.

i still long for the day to own one of these masterfully crafted bamboo boards of gary's, maybe a sup now, who knows. or better yet have a chance to learn more about the craft from the master himself.

if anyone is interested in one of gary young's creations he can be contacted at: gazaboo@yahoo.com or gazaboo@lava.net



always at your service,
alan

20

Gear Talk / cork the natural deck pad alternative

« on: August 20, 2007, 07:13:25 PM »

after having tested some low profile strips of cork on my new board i am confident that cork underlayment would work great as an alternative to the ethyl vinyl acetate foam versions, which are popular today. with one source offering a roll of 4' x 50' x 1/8" (200 sq. ft.) (3mm) at $99.99 per, not only is it quite economical, but in my mind wood really gives our boards a lot of soul. so if you can't afford the usual or just want another option to try... think about putting a cork in it.

21

SUP General / duke kahanamuku remembered

« on: August 15, 2007, 09:49:37 AM »

i chose oak st. beach, located in the downtown chicago, to put out on my paddle today.
as i was assembling the pope trisect on a small patch of grass along side division st., two elderly gentlemen happened along arm in arm. they walked very slowly apparently because of their age, one was obviously well over 90. when they came up along side the stopped and asked me if what i had was a surfboard. my reply was yes, it was one large enough to stand on and paddle. the older man spoke only in whispers preferring to speak to me through what i would guess was his caretaker. he asked me if i knew the duke. i told him that i knew of him and that he was the inspiration for this type of surfing. he straightened up as a smile took over his expression, informing me through his friend that he knew the duke back then and that he still had some things at his house to remind him of his old friend. he said that he would have been proud if he were around to see this and then with a far away look he began to show his age again and motioned his friend to continue on their walk. as i stroll through my old neighborhood on the way to the water i hearkened back to those early days, as i've done so many times before, when duke would swim our shores during one of his jaunts across the country way back in his day.


here's the view off of oak st. beach from my paddle this morning
inset: Lew G. Henderson, Vincent Genoves, Duke P. Kahanamoku and E. K. Miller. ca. 1920

much respect.

22

Share the Stoke / just taking it in stride

« on: August 10, 2007, 11:37:09 AM »

i really have to commend the administrators for taking a proactive approach to this touchy subject. as one who frequents some of the more lively and influential forums which pertain to the landlocked lakes of the midwest, i can attest to the vehement behavior of the prone surfers within these isolated communities. it will not be so easy for many to empathize with us when they feel that "their" environment is encroached upon by a new activity such as ours. similar reactions may be experienced from some kiteboarders and windsurfers alike as stand up's popularity grows. an open forum discussing these issues will be the best vehicle to alleviate the growing pains we are all bound to experience.

unbeknownst to all but a few, there are whitewater rafters that practice the esoteric art of striding. you might not know it but stand up's recent novelty is not so new...  who knows? our the rivers may be a fertile ground for controversy too.



much respect.

23

Events / midwest coast... luau

« on: August 08, 2007, 11:15:24 AM »

the 4th annual great lakes surf luau
to be held in new buffalo, michigan  ~  august 17th – 19th,  2007



will have competitions for both prone paddleboards and surfboards as well as stand up paddleboards!!! be there and be square!

24

Technique / acid wash

« on: August 01, 2007, 03:40:22 AM »

thought i'd share a little known secret which has helped me stay healthier through the years. it comes by way of one of those home remedies that really works wonders for many situations. it has helped me keep insect bites and fungal infections for proliferating when many of the more expensive over the counter solutions failed. pure and simple.... i'm talking about vinegar.

this simple remedy has cleared up an annoying thickening of the nails from months spent in the jungle. i use it to prevent that scourge of the waterman called surfer's ear. and it's helped provide relief from the occasional brush with jellyfish. one little two ounce spray bottle of the stuff is all that is needed to provide a little peace of mind and that healthy glow for about a week. it's an especially elegant solution for those who go to the gym and have to use those public showers or when having stepped into that questionable puddle. also works great for that pile of clothes that stayed wet in a pile and acquired that acrid smell...

here are some links that may provide a little insight into the matter:
http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=919
http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/home-remedies.html

i hope this helps someone out there.

always at your service,
alan

25

Gear Talk / hey, you too can wedge your board... just for kicks!

« on: July 26, 2007, 06:43:53 PM »

here's something that may come in handy for adding contour to any deck surface. these widgets called madrid wedgies, made of eva (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam designed exactly for this purpose. they would definitely augment any traction/stomp pad combination.



"wedgie
madrid proudly introduces wedgie lightweight e.v.a. foam with waterproof adhesive. great for adding kicktail to your flat skateboard or surfboard. can also add kicknose and kicktail on your wakeskate, skimskate, or skimboard. create concave for longboards, slalom decks, wake/skimboards, (edit: stand up paddle surfboards,) or street cruiser. wedgie material can be cut into any size or shape. comes with (2) 20"x4"x1" pieces and (2) 20"x2"x1/2" pieces. simply cut to desired size, peel, stick, apply griptape directly over wedgie material and deck. we recommend madrid fly paper for the best grip.

srp $24.95"

26

SUP General / nowhere... man

« on: July 25, 2007, 03:45:40 PM »

aloha!

just a filipino islander from  the recent past. currently located in chicago and lovin' some of the "freshest" waves the earth has to offer. quite the avid traveller though so here's hopin' to see some of you out in the water one day. ociana, europa, asia or nowhere (could that be just a backwards way of sayin' here and now?) at all.

mahalo,
alan sidlo