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Messages - Ichabod Spoonbill

Pages: 1 ... 139 140 [141] 142 143
2101
SUP General / Re: Paddleboard Speed
« on: December 02, 2011, 08:31:33 PM »
Thanks for the information, everybody. I'm working on a writing piece and I wanted to get this bit of information right.

-Ian

2102
SUP General / Re: What's on your SUP Christmas list?
« on: December 02, 2011, 11:10:49 AM »
A coiled leash and a PFD that doesn't give my armpits a rash.

While I'm dreaming I'll wish for a Boardworks Raven, but Santa will get me that right after each my daughters get a pony.

2103
SUP General / Paddleboard Speed
« on: December 02, 2011, 03:13:13 AM »
I was wondering if anybody had any data about how fast a standup paddle board can really go. I know I top out on on a long distance straightaway at about 4 MPH, which is pretty sad. Since I don't have a displacement style board (NSP 11') I know people are going faster. How much?

I'm also curious as to what's the average speed on a displacement board of an amateur paddler and the real pros.

Thanks for any information.

-Ian

2104
SUP General / Re: Iceland
« on: November 29, 2011, 07:15:40 PM »
That was a beautiful video. Lovely photography. Quite a few steps above the average.

2105
SUP General / Re: Reflections on Land Paddling
« on: November 29, 2011, 01:45:26 PM »
Jeez, I'm starting to feel a little out qualified here. I only use a classic longboard with the Big Stick. While I'm on the subject, what kind of wheels do you guys use on your boards? I'm hoping to find something a little better for mine.

Upwinder, thanks for the comment about the bad habits. My main concern with landpaddling are the bad habits that I might “learn”. I'll keep an eye out for those.

Am I to understand that the longer boards and narrower trucks are better at preventing hooking your stick? i've certainly done that a few times. Gosh, that came as a surprise. Suddenly I'm going forwards at the same speed as before, but the board has stopped. If I'm lucky I can stumble my way out if it. If I'm not, I starfish. (I saw that term on another similar thread. Love it!)

-Ian

2106
SUP General / Re: How about safety?
« on: November 27, 2011, 04:20:38 PM »
One thing that makes a difference is to be intelligent when going out in extreme conditions: cold, waves, wind, etc. We've lost two watermen in the last ten years in the NY region, both having gone out in extreme conditions. The first was about eight years ago when a kiter went down in a nasty gusty while sailing of Connecticut in January. his drysuit sprung a leak, and he didn't do the smart thing and abandon his equipment and head to shore. A windsurfer died at the end of last summer sailing off Long Island in Irene. 'Nuff said about that.

I think we need to be examples of safety. I've got three kids to come home to, and I want to keep coming home to them.

2107
SUP General / Re: Anyone have experience with Delkin DDMount?
« on: November 27, 2011, 06:33:45 AM »
I'd be nervous attaching anything valuable to my board with just suction cups. I'd back it up with a leash.

2108
SUP General / Re: Reflections on Land Paddling
« on: November 27, 2011, 06:28:40 AM »
I wonder if that SK8POLE is as sturdy as the Big Stick because of the swiveling head. The knob-shaped handle is also a bit different from a SUP paddle.

2109
SUP General / Reflections on Land Paddling
« on: November 26, 2011, 08:19:51 PM »
It's getting pretty cold in the Northeast and even when the days are warm enough to do some sort of paddle, the water's pretty cold (45º). So I've been working out with my Kahuna Big stick and Barfoot Egg skateboard (40" l, 9.25 " w).

It's not a bad workout. I get sore a lot quicker than I do water paddling. You need to press downward more with the Big Stick to get enough friction against the road. If the road is a little wet, that means more pressure. After about forty-five minutes I'm getting sore.

The skateboard kind of forces you to get into surf stance, which isn't a bad position to paddle in. That forces you to exercise your lower back a lot, which is also a great exercise. I understand the larger boards allow you to place your feet parallel, but mine isn't wide enough. Every few minutes I change the side I'm paddling on, as opposed to about every 6 strokes on my SUP.

You can switch off between classic skateboard pumping and paddling with the stick for speed, which is fun. They exercise different muscle groups.

The rule about reaching while paddling an SUP holds the same on land except you don't want to reach quite so much. If you're using your weight to paddle there's also a power point new your body where you can drop your weight upon the paddle to get some speed, which is different from an SUP. You still lose power quickly when the “blade” passes your body.

Any good, flat surface will do if you don't mind doing circles in a workout. You can make a game out of dodging pinecones and leaves. It's a good idea to switch directions of the circle so you exercise different muscles. I prefer flats to hills so I can get a steady pace going. Usually I use a nearby basketball court when it's empty.

This is also a good sport which I can do with my son. He's just learning to ride a two-wheel bike, so he can practice in the same place I do, and I can keep an eye on him while getting a workout.

I like to water paddle with gloves, but they don't seem to work as well with the land paddle. The Big Stick wants more friction on my hands, which the gloves reduce.

I can't think of any better way to stay in shape for paddling over the winter, especially when the Hudson River begins to ice up. That said, I can't wait 'till Spring.

-Ian

2110
Gear Talk / Re: Boardworks Raven
« on: November 19, 2011, 01:03:32 PM »
I found this review of the Raven on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/boardworks-surf-canada-inc/raven-story/188663974540276

Encouraging!

-Ian

2111
Gear Talk / Re: Pulling the Plug on the Bag Offer
« on: November 19, 2011, 12:03:36 PM »
I should try that on my Kona, although I doubt I'll be as good as that guy. It's nice to know you can get that good a ride on a windsurfer.

-Ian

2112
Gear Talk / Re: Boardworks Raven
« on: November 19, 2011, 07:05:50 AM »
I'm intrigued by the Raven. I'm looking to get my first displacement board this spring as a companion to my NSP 11' and the Raven has a nice price. I've looked used but a good used cruiser board can be hard to come by in my area (upstate NY). Being a teacher with three kids, I just can't afford the most awesome board.

Is it durable? That's an issue for inland rivers and lakes. I hope also this isn't a stupid question, but how would this board be as a coastal cruiser?

How are the tie-downs?

-Ian

2113
Gear Talk / Re: Do you carry a knife when non-surf SUPing?
« on: November 02, 2011, 03:32:25 AM »
Why bring a knife when you can carry a light saber?

2114
SUP General / Re: The Future Of SUP'ing As I See It
« on: September 29, 2011, 01:27:25 PM »
Sounds like what happened to windsurfing. The dominance of high-performance short boarding is what made it less popular. The easier longboarding became discouraged so the sport itself contracted.

Ian

2115
Sessions / Post Irene Paddles
« on: September 24, 2011, 08:44:19 PM »
It's been about a month since Irene plowed through New York State, but I'm amazed out how much she left her stamp on the Hudson River.

I've been out three times since the storm. The first time was the day after. I know, that seems foolhardy, especially after there was a windsurfing death on Long Island the day before, but the day was actually lovely. The river then was a chalky tan from all the stuff that got churned up and the runoff. I did my typical long run: Peekskill Bay to the Bear Mountain Bridge and back, about seven miles. A Coast Guard helicopter flew about two hundred feet above the river, so close I could see a pilot's head through the window. I got worried they would try to rescue me, especially when, after it flew upriver, it returned a few minutes later. I learned from the news there had been a local drowning of some white water rafters who tried the Croton River and one drowned. Surprisingly there was little stuff floating around in the water.

Since then the river has recovered slowly. It's no longer a chalky tan color but more of a reddish brown from the runoff upstate. There is now a lot of flotsam on the river, so much that I wouldn't take any boat up to speed on the water. The local windsurfers are staying off the river, mostly.

Yesterday I did my long run again and it was amazing. There's still all sorts of weird stuff in the water like storage bins and sheets of plastic, more flotsam than ever, and bigger stuff like trees. However, I've never seen the river more beautiful. It was a foggy, drizzly afternoon, the kind that would make most people stay indoors. I went out because I hadn't had many paddles recently, and what the hell, I was probably going to get wet even without the rain, so who cares if it's raining or not?

The fog was covering the mountains around me with wisps of white. At times the hills around me were almost completely hidden. The rain flattened the water so it was almost completely calm, making the only chop the occasional boat wake. My God, the river was gorgeous in a way I've never seen before. I'd never seen it so flat and so peaceful looking. The patterns of light rain were clear on the calm surface. For much of the time I was the only watercraft visible, and I could see for a few miles in each direction. It was like I owned the river. I was so sad I didn't have my camera.

It's nice to be out in the rain in a wetsuit. The water doesn't really bother you, but it does keep you cool. I was just wearing a thin farmer John, and until the rain I was sweating like crazy in the heat. The rain made everything better.

Twice little silver fish jumped onto my board. That was funny.

Kind of a rambling post, but I've been enjoying seeing the Hudson change so dramatically with both the season and the storm. You saltwater guys get all sorts of interesting critters in the water, but on the brackish Hudson we get some dramatic scenery.

-Ian

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