Messages

61

SUP General / Re: Lightheaded when I hop up: anyone else with this problem?

« on: January 05, 2009, 06:16:05 PM »

Hello all!

I went to the doc and he ran me through lots of test for heart probs. He said I was fine. The problem would not go away so he gave me a beta blocker-said it would take care of everything-not! I too think it has something to do with my inner ear. Thanks for the advice-I'm going to get some vitamins, hydrate alot out there and see if it improves.

Thanks again!

62

SUP General / Lightheaded when I hop up: anyone else with this problem?

« on: January 04, 2009, 05:49:12 PM »

Cheers all!
Been surfing for 35 yrs and SUP for 2 years now. In the past 6 months or so  I've been feeling like I'm going to faint and drown when I hop up on my board after getting smacked down by a few set waves. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. Its such a bummer I can't even surf outside on the bigger days.
Thanks

63

Gear Talk / Starboard 9' now what?

« on: July 15, 2008, 07:14:36 PM »

Greetings all!
I reviewed my 9' Starboard fish back in April. Since then I've been lovin it (my buddy also loves his 9"8"fish). Is there anybody out there that was satisfied with this board but has moved on to something even better?shorter ? (considering I surf total junk beachbreak here in Crescent City,Ca.)
At first glance/ride I thought the Starboard  was just a gimmick board made by sailboard makers trying to jump on the bandwagon (I'm a windsurfer too) just to make the $$$. However, I have come to love the carving cutbacks, down the line rollercoasters, real noserides kinda off the lips and carving kickouts one can do on this board with a 46 year old body.

Side note: the other day a guy asked me if I had any surfing experience before I started Stand Up. All I could think of to say at that moment was "just long enough to recall Gerry Lopez , Rory Russel, and  Led Zepplin being my idols when I was a kid!" I'm getting the impression many people think they can  just jump on a  SUP board and rip without any dues to be paid.
I've watched two very experienced surfers this summer try Stand Up and tell me they were about to pass out when they got to the beach cuz " its way harder than it looks".

Cheers!

64

Gear Talk / 9' Starboard Fish

« on: April 04, 2008, 09:51:19 PM »

Greetings!

I'm now on my third board in about a year of SUP. First the S.O.S. big red, then the Blair 9'11" quad and now the 9' Starboard fish. I left a review on the fish in the review section but just wanted to confirm what people have been saying about finding a shaper you like and sticking with them. I'm not an expert ,but I've been surfing for 35 years.  No matter how much fun I have on my new fish ,I can't help reflecting on the craftmanship and surfing knowledge I could sense that Joe Blair put into the 9'11" quad . There have been few boards that I have felt were "magic" before I rode his shape. My buddy has the same board and we both agree that the Blair rips-the magic nose rocker has many times left us with smiles the way it drives through those late drops.

My next board will be a Blane Chambers shape but I've heard that Blair is working on an 8'8" summer board-so many possibilities-what a great time to be surfing!

Cheers!

 

65

SUP General / Re: Standup as therapy

« on: March 13, 2008, 10:04:04 PM »

Cheers all!
I used to be an angry/ frustrated surfer. I got into windsurfing to supplement surfing.  Stand up paddle surfing changed my entire attitude. After surfing for so many years I got into a pattern of expecting good wave sessions/howling winds/ driving away bummed out due to crowds and crap -now most of the time I'm gettin my wetsuit on quick. Sure the waves may be small and junky , but from up where our heads are it actually makes the waves look better I think. Add in the ability to rip smooth faces in light wave sailing conditions ( if yours comes with a mast track) and it doesn't matter if the wind is howling. I've become much more of a calm person. I know that no matter what I may have missed yesterday, even a marginal  day can bring a smile to my face.

66

Gear Talk / Re: Rand's PSH Leleo Kinimaka 9'2" review

« on: February 27, 2008, 12:00:22 PM »

Hello Rand!
I read your review of the PSH 9'2". Sounds like an awesome board. I was wondering if this board is still an important part of your quiver. I know it was only last October but things seem to be changing so fast. I've been riding a Blair 9' 11 quad  for a few months and am already thinking of a smaller board like the PSH 9'3" ripper . Also, have you posted any pics of you riding your 9'2" Leleo? Any input from the zone welcomed!
Cheers!

67

Gear Talk / Anyone know cost of PSH 9'3" ripper?

« on: February 13, 2008, 08:03:24 PM »

Hello all!
I just sold my S.O.S big red in anticipation of buying a PSH ripper model. I'm just wondering if anyone has the inside trak on the price of my future board. I've e-mailed PSH too much already-don't want to make a pest of meself. Think I'm going to have to sell a couple of my surfboards to further fill the money pot.

Cheers!

68

SUP General / Re: PSH's US Expansion Underway

« on: February 09, 2008, 04:17:15 PM »

Hello Blane!
It would be great if I could buy one of your boards in Oregon-no sales tax! The Columbia River Gorge is a windsurfing haven but also seems to have its share of board surfers. Big Winds is already selling Naish and Starboard SUPS. I sure people there would be able to appreciate the quality of your boards.

Thanks!

69

Gear Talk / Re: So many choices-who is the best shaper?

« on: February 01, 2008, 10:15:00 PM »

Hey Shane!
Its been so painfully cold - last Sunday I had to admit I couldn't handle it- the next day it snowed everywhere except the sand! I am still thinkin about how awesome your Blane Chambers model looked.

70

Gear Talk / So many choices-who is the best shaper?

« on: February 01, 2008, 09:39:18 PM »

Greetings!
I have progessed  from my S.O.S. big red to my current love-my Blair 9'11" quad. It rips in what our small N. Calif town has to offer and with the mast track sails quite well to boot. I can't help thinking about more of a dedicated surfing board like a Blane Chambers 9"3" ripper or Allen C's "La Pistola or maybe one of Bill Stams' models--My head spins when trying to make a choice . I've been surfing 35 years and want to "push to envelope" before those  aches and pains my 46 year old body is dishing out start to turn into limitations-after all its only money right? . Any thoughts on who is the best shaper out there to devote my hard earned money on?

Cheers!

71

Gear Talk / Re: Documenting a transition: 12' Ron House to 10' Joe Blair

« on: December 19, 2007, 07:53:45 PM »

Hello all!
I have been riding my 9'11 Blair 29.5 wide quad fin since the end of Nov. I had been riding an SOS Big Red for about 8 months. I thank S.O. for giving me stoke  with his shaping skill. However, since I've been surfing since '72, the shortboard revolution is still in my blood. I hopped on my Blair expecting the worst  in terms of stability(I'm 5'11, 180 lbs and wear a fullsuit with booties) but was really quite shocked that the darn thing was quite stable (glad it was still 29.5"wide!)Punching through waves with the pointer nose was actually much easier than the Big Red.  Paddling distances is not my focus. I wanted a wave rider and I got it. Its nice to be able to feel like I'm making a cranking bottom turn with the ability to get alot of speed from roller coasters. I still need to stick my paddle in the face at the bottom of small to medium sized waves, but on bigger sets I've come close to non paddle supported surfin. Last week I hopped back on the Big Red out of curiosity:

-The 12' Big Red seems to be much harder on my knees (old windsurfing injury) due to much more board to whip around.
-The Blair 9'11" feels like it paddles faster and easier, but Big Red wins hands down in glide once you get it going. Also, of course the Blair is much more fun and looser on waves but there is much to be said for the long distance you can ride ankle biters on the B.R. Hmm...lets see..cross step to the nose...cross step back to the tail for a drop knee turn-its simply a different type of surfin. shortboard vs. longboard style
-I can't see ever going back to a longer board after the Blair. Yes its a challenge but I think it is a natural evolution-  easier turns and tons of potential to make moves that have been out of reach all these years of prone surfing in marginal n. calif conditions with tons of peeps out all the time. I see a roundhouse cutback and nice off the lip in my future.
A BIG SIDE NOTE....If you sail MAKE SURE you buy a SUP with a mastrack i.e. S.O.S and Blair come with them. OMG! I have been able to wave sail our local surf spot-smooth green righthanders that fire down the beach in the spring/early summer/fall with my Big Red in side off conditions. Unfortunely B.R. seems to be a dog in onshore storm sailing-no problem! the Blair quad although not that fast totally gives me access to waves, jibes on the face and "skateboards" on the face of waves. I was so totally unexpectedly stoked. I can't wait to try it in side off conditions!
Have Fun!

72

Gear Talk / Re: Injuries from SUP?

« on: September 29, 2007, 08:28:45 PM »

Last year I hit a dead seabird that was floating waterlogged below the surface of our local winter spot-Totally tweaked my knee locked in my footstraps-it went away after several months. After sup wavesailing/surfing on my sos big red (average 5 days/week) my knee has been hurting really bad-I'm limping around most days but can't stop sup surfing-just hope my wife doesn't notice-being a nurse I'm sure she will suggest I give a rest!

73

Technique / Hey xtricity Re: SUP on the cheap

« on: September 29, 2007, 08:20:46 PM »

Sorry, I just saw your post. I bought my dow corning pink foam at ACE hardware. Our local Home Depot doesn't seem to have anything resembling pink foam -(you can shape pink foam almost just like regular surfboard foam)- just stuff that looks like styrofoam(Crescent City, CA). The foam that I bought comes in thin ~2" panels that my buddy the sailboard builder laminates with gorilla glue and a thin sheet of balsa orwhat I bought which the thicker 4"? x3' panels on special order. To make the gorilla glue penetrate the closed cell foam punch tons of holes in it with a nail so the glue can get a good hold.

Have fun!

74

Technique / Re: SUP on the cheap

« on: July 30, 2007, 11:32:16 PM »

Hey SUP on the cheap!
I also started on an old plastic euro 11' sailboard I learned how to windsurf on (glad I didn't throw it away!) The moment I hopped on it though I got "vertigo" trying to balance the board and paddling with only 27" of width ( too tippy). Later, a sailboard maker I know said I shoud just get a handsaw and go right down the stringer and cut the board in two followed by widening it out to at least 29" with Dow Corning closed cell "pink foam" insulation (he makes awesome sailboards out of it) strenthend with wood dowels and "gorilla glue". He mentioned that I should I shoud put tons of holes in the foam with a nail due the "closed cell"  nature of the pink foam so that the gorilla glue would expand into the holes in the foam and form a better bond. Anyway-wow!!!! It was like magic when I put my former trash board in the water (complete with my homemade plywood fin) I use it from Nov -March when I finally got my Sean Ordenez 11' 11" which I love.  I also still  have the pink foam 12'x 30" blank I  glued together myslef waiting  in my barn until the day I could shape my own SUP- when my 3 yr old daughter stops asking me to take her to the beach-NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!