Messages

46

SUP General / Re: SUP is a babe magnet

« on: December 22, 2007, 11:37:38 AM »

Yeah...I love teaching the girls to surf..

Remember, the responsible stand up teacher will always take into consideration the differences in male/female physiology.  Teach men to bend from the knees, teach women to bend from the hips. 

Proper technique benefits the whole lineup.

47

Technique / Re: Board Control / Leash Etiquette

« on: December 21, 2007, 05:55:32 AM »

2. For those massive grinders that come through, or a more guaranteed grip, grab the leash with one hand and hold the paddle near the handle with the other. Then, quickly wrap the leash around and around the paddle shaft as many times as you can before the wall hits. When, the whitewater hits, grip the paddle with two hands on either side of the wrapped leash and hold on.

Nate, I think this a great suggestion, especially for those can't let go moments. 

Here is a related link about the overall question:

http://www.surfline.com/community/whoknows/whoknows.cfm?id=1003

48

Gear Talk / Re: Design guide...

« on: December 19, 2007, 09:20:37 AM »

This would be a good time to start another topic I was thinking about doing regarding surfing ability and how it's the most important aspect to getting the most out of any board....   Surfing ability is always the number one thing to make any board work well yet it seems to be the thing a lot people focus on the least by trying to "BUY" skill in the form of a board...   

True enough about skill, but I think there is more to it even than that.  I think we have all experienced that in many sports we have been cruising along with our given experience and ability, and got on a piece of gear that has opened it all up for us, just set the learning curve into overdrive, and put an XL smile on the face.  That experience keeps us looking.  It is not that a better rider could not rip better on a board that a lesser rider just "upgraded" from.  They could, and that will always be true.  I think it is all about finding the gear that keeps you advancing, and feeling stoked on your level.  Plus, experimenting with gear is just....fun. 

49

Gear Talk / Re: what hi performance board would you take.

« on: December 18, 2007, 03:55:31 PM »

Rand, I've been thinking about this. I rode my friends new PSH 9'6"x28 1/2" x 3 7/8". Was ridiculous. I could stand and paddle around in these strong winds we've been having but I had 3/4 of the board submerged at all times. So to float me, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to widen it slightly to 28 3/4 and going 4 3/8th thick tapering out to thinner rails. I really liked the thin rails on my friends board. Other option is to lose weight.

Hi Tony,

Not that this means Jack, and sure, there are a lot of other factors, but here goes:

Using your weight plus a 20 lb board weight and 5 extra for paddle, clothes, and your sombrero (c'mon, fess up), you weigh in at 111 kg, so it takes 111 liters of volume just to keep you at water level.  That would, of course,  be unrideable for you. 

Using a modified version of the board I ride (and the Aku shaper software) I upsized it to the dimensions of your friends board (hell, I was curious).  The result was 115 liters +/-.   So, that board would float you plus about 9 lbs.  I have been figuring you need about 30 +/- lbs extra (for a minimum board) and that has been really comfortable for me, Chan and some others. 

At a thickness of 4 3/8, like you were thinking, you are at 126 liters (again using a modified version of my board), which comes out to +33 lbs.

Rough numbers of course, because the shape will differ a bit from mine, but, that sounds like a strong start point.

50

Gear Talk / Re: Fins, fins and fins

« on: December 18, 2007, 09:42:28 AM »

The white one was a Rainbow fin that says only Rainbow '98 on it in handwriting.  Something from deep in the bag.  True Ames has a bunch of small ones that are carried at Hi Tech (and maybe other stores).  They had at least a dozen in the 3-5 inch range that will fit a stanadard US (longboard style) fin box if memory serves.

51

SUP General / Re: Attack on SUPers everywhere!

« on: December 18, 2007, 05:38:44 AM »

Ya gotta admit, most of us do look kinda dorky.. especially me with my wide, toes hanging over the rail stance... but I bet we're having the most fun.

The goofy phase of a sport is always the most fun, kinda like skateboarding was in between clay wheels and Christy McNichol, or snowboarding between Chucky Barfoot and the mandatory Cat-In-The-Hat hat.  By the time the coolies show up...its over. 

52

Gear Talk / Re: Fins, fins and fins

« on: December 17, 2007, 07:40:55 PM »

StandUp,

That little board of Blane's is a very fast, light board, that really wants to take off (even on very soft summer waves).  Those bigger twins made it even faster, and swithching to the whippy blue ones helped it free up better than the wider white ones.  For winter, I have just been riding standard shortboard fins (4.25's), and I have not been tempted to change.  I think that so much depends on the board shape, that you may need to try a few things out before you find what will work for you.  Best to find a friend with a big fin collection (and who gets really giving after a few beers).

Let us know how it goes.

53

SUP General / Festivus for the rest of us

« on: December 17, 2007, 07:40:13 AM »

Hi all,

As the holiday season is almost upon us, we just wanted to genuinely thank all of for joining us here, and wish you all all the best for the holidays and into the new year.

Randy and Chantalle

54

Gear Talk / Re: Snapped another Paddle

« on: December 17, 2007, 05:45:05 AM »

Hi GJB,

I could be dead wrong about this, but those look like older logos on your snapped paddle.  I only mention that because I think that C4 has been improving/reinforcing the paddles more as time has passed, and I wonder if you might not have an older model.  This would not likely be the case for the ones they had replaced, but possibly for the one piece.

Again, this may not be correct, but it is worth looking into.

55

SUP General / Re: how about this....footstraps!!

« on: December 16, 2007, 01:00:33 PM »

He actually does clear it on this one.  IMO, its just a matter of time and equipment til airs are normal bus (with or without straps).

http://www.gongsup.com/spip.php?page=images&id_article=442&lang=fr

56

SUP General / Re: Halcyon Days

« on: December 16, 2007, 12:47:43 PM »

Agree: the conditions suck to be winter time (no clean swells and lots of wind), but I'm having a blast windsurfing on head to logo high windswell waves at Hookipa.  Don't get stuck with only one discipline, you guys...

I have only one discipline this week: work.  Tis the season for those of of us who sell shhtuff.  For that reason alone, i am doing my best to convince myself that no one is out there having any fun, so please, shhhhhhh.

57

SUP General / Halcyon Days

« on: December 16, 2007, 06:40:17 AM »

TM sent this over this morning,

"Today (Saturday) is the first of the Halcyon days, the fourteen days surrounding the winter solstice. The halcyon is a type of kingfisher that builds its nest on the surface of the ocean. According to Greek mythology, the bird charms the winds and waves so that seas remain unusually calm during its nesting season, a week before and after the solstice".

It has been since last Sunday since we had anything resembling calm winds, but the waves do seem to have been "charmed" into submission.  Someone needs to give this bird a talking to.

58

SUP General / Re: Best SUP Videos 2007

« on: December 14, 2007, 12:56:18 PM »

Hi Michael,
Had you considered using this forum's Poll function?  I think that might do what you are hoping for.

59

SUP General / Re: Hawaiian Ikaika Kalama

« on: December 14, 2007, 10:52:37 AM »

Our production stuff will work even better than that thing....

Can't wait!

Ikaika is looking pretty solid.  What do you figure, 190?

60

SUP General / Re: Hawaiian Ikaika Kalama

« on: December 14, 2007, 07:19:46 AM »

Shot number 3 is great. Is this one of the new production boards?  Specs?

Drool.