Topics

61

Technique / Paddle cutting tip

« on: July 25, 2007, 03:33:24 PM »

This is the perfect tool for cutting down paddle shafts without the worry of an angled cut or jaged cut. 

If the max width dimension on your paddle shaft is less than 1 1/4 inches try this puppy.  They carry them at most bike shops.

http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=50&item=SG%2D6

If you don't want to buy one, friendly up to the mechanic (every bike shop has one).  It will take him two seconds for a perfect cut.

Best,
Rand

62

Gear Talk / Shaft Flex

« on: July 23, 2007, 11:28:32 AM »

Check this out.  Here is a sequence (they are grabs from video that No Worries shot with a new vid cam) of me pulling hard to catch a little one in crumbly onshore conditions yesterday.  Look at that shaft flex.  I don't think that this could be lens distortion either as it is bending in the wrong direction for that, and is not present in shots 1 and 4. 

63

SUP General / A change of scene

« on: July 23, 2007, 07:58:05 AM »

It seems that the attitude and demeanor of SUP'ers is different than your average surfer.  I haven't figured it out yet, but maybe its the  freedom that SUP allows us.  Freedom from the constraints of surfing in one spot as opposed to and 'area'.  Freedom from the crowds and freedom to stop and enjoy the ocean and not just the waves.

I read this post by iwaterman and wanted to build on its underlying question: What is it that has the stand up community so, well...emotionally involved in the sport?  From reading here it is obvious that many if not most of us have spent much of our lives in the water, so what is different with Stand Up?

For myself, the first answer is conflict, or the lack thereof.  The traditional lineup has become a tense place.  Certainly, there are exceptions, and there are those perfect, uncrowded, static-free days.  Too often, however, the resource shortage plays out, and soon sparks the flare up.  Maybe its being 40 now, but listening to a nearby skirmish in the lineup, a threatened beat-down, a send-in, it rattles my peace.  What's worse, surf culture has moved (at least in part) from the days of Endless Summer style adventure, to the recent MTV/North Shore type surf reality shows that have actively promoted and glamorized territoriality and surf aggression.  Enter Stand Up.  In the last few months we have seen lifetime surfers take up the sport (at first privately and hesitantly, but then as enthused participants), and seem almost euphoric about it.  Why?  In part, I believe it is because Stand Up has fixed for them something that they may not have consciuosly known was broken.  Relaxation, fun and silliness have returned to play time.  Hoots for a great ride, letting the person on the shoulder get their fair share, board swapping, the freedom to express enthusiasm for the day, the sport, the other guy.  In short, I think part of it is that we are acting in a way that is consistant with how we feel about ourselves.

Back in school, I had a Psych professor who was convinced that if you want to bring a group together, the best way to do it is to make them learn something together.  Such is true of Stand Up.  Something about plopping in the water for no apparent reason (yup, it happens to everyone) acts as a great equalizer, it keeps the cool level down, and focuses the activity on fun.

Best,
Randy

64

Gear Talk / Multi part deck pads

« on: July 21, 2007, 04:55:46 PM »

I was over picking up a deck pad at the Hi-Tech sale today, and ran into some friends who were hanging out with Sean Ordonez by the pad rack.  I pitched them my idea of a pre-cut multi part deck pad (similar to the traction pads used for shortboards, but obviously much bigger).  Sean said that he had some already being built (great minds and all that).  My thought was for a standard traction pad in the rear, inset into a larger deck pad with removable width strips (from the center) and removable length strips from the tail.  A quick mockup:

Sean said the one that is coming will be a 4 part pad (my idea had more parts).  It will be interesting to see what it looks like.  Needless to say, Sean is a great designer and a very creative guy.

Best, Randy

65

Technique / Knee down stylienessitude

« on: July 19, 2007, 06:53:36 AM »

For those who don't scour youtube with your coffee each morning, here is Ivan having a blast on some waist to shoulder high waves.



Smooothhh

66

SUP General / Cool content

« on: July 17, 2007, 06:57:04 AM »

Here is a link to an interesting blog entry done by Giampaolo  http://mauisurfreport.blogspot.com/2007/07/downwind-on-f16.html.  He regularly covers stand up and stand up sailing (he was one of the first sailing stand up style boards-although he will modestly deny that).  Very cool to see the thought and design going into all of the aspects of this sport. 

67

Gear Talk / Fins, fins and fins

« on: July 16, 2007, 09:59:11 AM »

I have been running two 5 inch twins with a little trailer 3.5 trailer for the last few weeks, and was really stoked with the setup (for waves):




Well, yesterday I dropped in these guys:



It is a 3 fin set which also uses two 5 inch twins with a 4 ich trailer, but the shape and flex are different.  That tiny change makes the board feel so much different.

A friend over here who is racing and doing crossings said he switched to a big G-10 windsurfing fin and his board fealt like a diferent animal (accelerated faster and tracked better).  I am usually lazy about fins (once their in, their in), but lately I have had the bug and it is very cool.

Let me know what is working for you.

Randy

68

SUP General / Upcoming Videos

« on: July 14, 2007, 09:59:21 AM »

Over the last few months we have seen two video crews (over here on Maui) filming instructional videos for Standup newcomers.  Great to see!  One is being done by Ivan Van Vuuren (http://www.premierhawaii.com/) with Pascal Hardy riding.  The second is in part the work of Loch Eggers (photo of Loch below is from mauirippers.com)



Both should be great resources for new riders and will cover everything from getting the board (and paddle) to the water to catching and riding waves.

Best,
Randy