Messages

2491

Random / Re: Biggest kook maneuver

« on: May 29, 2015, 02:04:06 PM »

You just reminded me of Lindamar, California:

This is the place where everyone learns to surf, or tries to learn to surf, in the Bay Area.  People show up with their BMW's and Porsche's with surfboards on the roof.  Things can get pretty agro in the shallow end of the kiddy pool.

Jeff Clark was SUP'ing there last week and some woman cut in front of him and he bailed all his gear only managing to skewer her board but not hurting her or anyone else.  A friend of her's layed into Jeff calling him a "Kook, riding those things with paddles . . . and by the way your paddle even hit me" the man said.

Jeff was quick to respond with "Oh you saw my paddle why didn't you grab it for me?"

My anticipated response to aggression at Lindamar would be to say "Listen pal we're surfing at Lindamar WE ALL SUCK HERE!"

The caption on the second wave should be "Who's wave is this?"

2492

Random / Re: Biggest kook maneuver

« on: May 29, 2015, 01:22:48 PM »

How about this look?

Forget about the paddle.  Hood cap and goggles.  Just trying to keep up with SUPCheat.

BUT then I add the Camelbak, rib-protector, flotation under my suit, 'The best board carrier for $1.50', and a GoPro for good measure.  No wonder I surf alone.

PS:  I am thinking about adding my old football or hockey jersey for the final touch of STYLE.

2493

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Lasik: What to do?

« on: May 29, 2015, 12:48:25 PM »

1 week after my surgery and I am discovering all sorts of new things similar to PonoBill observing multiple strata of bugs above him in the atmosphere.

I took my first flight yesterday from San Francisco to Las Vegas and back.   The view from 35,000 feet was similar to the one below.  I looked down and observed 3 dimensional texture to the farmland.  I could discern what looked like grasses vs. shrubs vs. trees.  I thought 'Wow there is actually texture to the earth as opposed to varying shades of etched green and brown.'

I mentioned this to my wife, who has had Chuck Yeager vision her whole life, and she said 'You never saw that before?'   

In many small ways Lasik's is like being reborn.  Simply Awesome!!!

2494

Gear Talk / Re: Ultralight gopro mount for paddle shaft

« on: May 26, 2015, 10:33:18 PM »

Paddle mount is great.

I attempted to make one prior to receiving PonoBill's.  The Pono design snaps on where-as mine has to be taped.  Mine was attached with braided fishing line rather than rivets. 

The one that I built weighs 20 grams, Pono's 30 grams.  What I do now is to pack the Pono mount into my Camelbak.  It snaps on and very tightly. 

I typically DON'T like to have the mount on my paddle all the time.  But with the Pono snap-on design I just pull it out, clip it on and start filming.  I have a lanyard on my camera that wraps around the shaft just in case.

The photo sequence at the bottom was taken when I happened to stumble upon an awesome day.  This wave lined up beautifully but then snuck up on me.  The board was in the wave and when I eventually submerged the nose of the board clipped my right forearm just below my wrist.  It ripped the paddle right out of my hand and I am still sore 2 weeks later. 

I was worked pretty well and had to hunt for my paddle.  It was 'face down' and I was expecting to find it without the camera or with the camera dangling.  Not at all.  The camera was intact attached to the paddle and still filming.  The design held fast.

Chalk up one successful beating and recovery for the PonoBill clip on paddle mount.

2495

Downwind and Racing / Re: ALWAYS wear a leash.

« on: May 25, 2015, 07:22:36 AM »

That was the most watchable 5 minute video I have seen in a long while. 

From 2:45 onward was chilling.

At 3:20 you take out your friend trying to save you.

At 4:10 the flipping and rolling was what death must look like at sea.

Mandatory for anyone.  Especially anyone that thinks they can catch a board in the wind.

2496

Gear Talk / Re: Schlepping boards

« on: May 24, 2015, 03:25:00 PM »

Save your money and your time.

That thing makes me think of taking the an Airbus A380 to get your morning coffee.  They even had to fade forward the set up and breakdown procedure.

This SUP strap works with webbing as narrow as 1".  Use 2" if you are worried about load.  No need for the padding it just adds bulk.

I carry this strap with me EVERY TIME I SURF and have used it more than 500 times on SUP's ranging from 9' to 12' in wind up to 30 mph.  Believe me it has been ridden hard, put away wet and comes out smelling like a rose 

2497

Gear Talk / Re: The Best Board Carrier for $1.50

« on: May 24, 2015, 02:38:11 PM »

We will need to see a picture of the Carrier applied..Please.

I added the ending demonstration just for you.  You essentially balance the board just below the handle and stabilize with one hand.  Last week I was walking down my favorite hill with 30 mph winds using this strap.  I think trying to carry the board directly would have actually been much harder.

I have made several of these for friends as giveaways.  The hardest part is sewing the loop on the webbing.  Alternately you can use a hybrid bowline between the paracord and webbing.  In an extreme worst case the whole thing can be untied giving you 8+ feet of paracord or more if you keep one end of the webbing attached.   You could further reduce the bulk by using 200 lbs braid instead of paracord.

Another advantage to stowing the rig in your suit is when you launch and pull out from different locations.  I often take off at my spot from the hill and paddle around Pillar Point coming out on the Mavericks side or vice versa.  The long walk back is much less painful carrying the board with this strap.   

Sup-position:  I know you like to commercialize these things and this could be a great $5 or $8 add-on item.   

2498

Gear Talk / Re: The Best Board Carrier for $1.50

« on: May 24, 2015, 08:44:25 AM »

I made this video in response to all the "Schlepping" and other posts on board carrying devices. 

You can spend $20+++ on bulky alternatives but this system works, it is comfortable and cheap enough to be disposable. 

Over the years I have lost several of these (fallen off the back of my bike, taking it out of my suite for some reason . . ).  My friends have also left their alternative devices on the beach, because they were too bulky, and had a beach comber walk off with their ocean discovery. 

It may not look like much but this design was the product of all that pain and epiphany. 

KISS:

2499

Gear Talk / The Best Board Carrier for $1.50

« on: May 24, 2015, 08:43:53 AM »

My favorite surf spot is Ό mile from the closest parking.  It also requires walking up and down a 150 ft hill / cliff.

Over the past 5 years I have carried my board more than 500 times up and down this hill.  I developed several designs to carry boards and have settled on this 10th generation concept. 

It is simple, light, tote-able, inexpensive, comfortable and will secure your paddle in the event of breaking your surfboard leash.

Design Specifications:

•   8’ 6” Paracord = 102”
•   24” Nylon Webbing 1 1/2" wide
•   1 Sewn Loop
•   1 bowline
•   1 Wrap knot

Use an overhand wrap on the webbing.  Pass paracord through wrap.   Tie off with bowlines.   The resulting length of the loop pulled taught is 47”.  48” – 49” for taller people or larger boards.
Total Cost ~ $1.50.

2500

SUP General / Re: The Are GoPros GOOD or BAD poll

« on: May 22, 2015, 12:32:14 PM »

Keep it short, edit the best you can, and don't be afraid to post. I am sure you can do it better than I have!

Amen to that!

When I see a video that is 7 or 10 minutes long I start to hunt for the good stuff.  Just the highlights please. 

HOWEVER - Off-Shore don't sell yourself short.  I filmed this yesterday with my girls and all I could think was "Will it SUP" 

Should I grab my paddle and see what I can do?  At the very least get on my 12 footer and see what else may be lurking on the periphery 

2501

The Shape Shack / Re: Futures Fin Install DIY Templates

« on: May 22, 2015, 11:45:59 AM »

Two thumbs up for ProBox system.  (I actually only have 1 1/2 thumbs but you get the idea).

I have concluded that futures are GARBAGE.  I have personally blown out several, and 2 sets of lockbox systems.

They may work on smaller boards with smaller fins but our SUP's ride high, due to volume.  This ironically puts more pressure on the fins and therefore the fin boxes.  The larger ProBox base holds up (should hold up) better.  The other advantage of controlling the cant angle is a big plus. 

I have been doing a bunch of fin testing that warrants an entire post using older FCS fins.  If you go to a surf store they will often have a box of older fins you can buy for $5 to $10 a piece even the stiffer fiberglass fins.  The ZERO degree system insert has offered the ability to swap foils, lefts and rights to measure/evaluate benefits.

2502

Training, Diet, and Fitness / Re: Lasik: What to do?

« on: May 21, 2015, 06:44:48 AM »

Thanks everybody.

Got the surgery May 19th @ 2:45 pm.  Probably took a total of 12 minutes.  Dr Manche did the procedure.

For about 3 hours afterwards it felt like I had Wasabi stuffed up my nose perpetually with a heat factor of 7.0 /10.0.

The drugs helped and I slept things off until 8 pm.  Could barely peek at the TV around 9 pm and never knew that Televisions were so clear.

Woke up the next morning and could see the alarm clock.  This was good.  Couldn't surf so I went and checked out the whale on the beach, careful to wear safety goggles so no spew would get in my eyes. 

During the Post Operation procedure I was given a 100% progress rating and my eyes were testing 20/10.  WOW!  BUT they said that things should get clearer and better over the next 3 weeks.  I'll take that.  Bring on the Chuck Yeager eyes.  In many ways this is like being reborn. 

Patient 45,001                    

2503

SUP General / Look What I found on the Beach

« on: May 20, 2015, 09:23:43 PM »

There are mayflies in the Chesapeake and icebergs in Cape Cod Bay.  Southern California has some baby whites harassing the SUP’ers in Huntington Beach . . .

This morning I found this on my beach.

No one is sure what happened to this Gray but it looks like she took some sucker punches from whitey.  There weren't many other chunks missing so I think they were just a few love bites.  Roughly the size of a steering wheel.

2504

Random / Re: Need a shot of adrenalin?

« on: May 20, 2015, 02:05:19 PM »

This stuff looks pretty cool.

Here is a full sized link to the Jet-ski surf footage.  I wish they were all shooting at 1080P:

2505

SUP General / Re: The Are GoPros GOOD or BAD poll

« on: May 18, 2015, 03:23:49 PM »

GoPros are still good.  Here is some action from last week when everyone wrote it off as too windy and too small. 

I rated it an surprise 8.0/10.0 session.  A few shots taken with the 'Pono' mount.

After an hour solo 'Randy' paddled out, he's the down wave umpa-loompa but not a small guy.  I gave him the curl but it caught up with me.  I was trying to take the high line like Kelly Slater and things went from gleeful to concerning then getting tossed into the pit. 

The nose of the board clipped my right arm after I penetrated and ripped the paddle out of my grip.  Left me with quite a bruise but nothing broken and the camera was still attached to the paddle.   Great Stuff!