Messages

31

SUP General / Re: Don't know what you don't know...

« on: October 08, 2016, 06:28:45 PM »

I just surfed with Dave Daum the other day. We talked about him building more unlimiteds. He said he just built two new ones with more on the way. Big guys are realizing that 14' is just a limiter on their potential. Rob Rojas who paddles for Brawner Boards now, just got a new 19' 6 x 24 unlimited made for him. It's growing.

http://www.kingspaddlesports.com/raceboards-unlimited-19/
They ship to the east coast.

Ohhh you enabler you!! 



Will

32

SUP General / Re: Don't know what you don't know...

« on: October 08, 2016, 12:44:27 PM »

I didn’t mean to infer that I was mad or upset at all, just acknowledging the fact that things change as you gain knowledge and skill. Reflecting on what I didn’t or couldn’t really know at the time.

No bash on Iggy’s design either, I know it’s still held in regard for certain conditions…but I was just too big for it.

You're a perfect candidate for an unlimited. I'm thinking 19' 6 x 26 would a rocket ship for a guy your size. There is no 14' board that will be fast for you. Don't know what you don't know….

No such beast exists here in NE that I’m aware of. I was hoping to catch something like that on the local CL to try out before spending the dollars for a new or custom board but in the last few years of watching I’ve never seen one turn up. I occasionally check in on the CL for areas of Cali and they turn up fairly frequently. Ultimately it will need to be where I go…

Go Big or Go home!






Will

33

SUP General / Don't know what you don't know...

« on: October 08, 2016, 06:47:34 AM »

The long hard (or is that fun) road…

I’ve been pondering a recent experience that has had me looking back at the road I’ve paddled the last few years.

The first board I purchased after doing the rental thing was a 14’ Naish Glide…the old elf shoe version so technically more like a 12’ 6”. At that time I thought I was doing well on it and went out as much as I could. Eventually I started buying and flipping boards to try out as many boards as I could and I sold the Glide to a friend.

Fast forward a couple of years of paddling year around in Narragansett Bay, dialing in boards that work for me, and really working on perfecting my paddle stroke and things have changed. My friend who bought Naish and I got out to paddle together recently and we switched boards for fun. As we started paddling the first thing I noticed was how far down the board sat in the water with me on it. I weigh pretty much the same as when I previously owned it but I didn’t notice that at the time. As my friend started to pull away from me I started laying down some power and the nose started plowing water. Again, earlier my paddling technique wasn’t that great so it wasn’t an issue. Now I’m much better and can tap a lot of power in my strokes but back on my old board it just held me back. For him its a good fit, he’s a lot lighter than I am, for me it just wasn’t working. As I was fighting it I’m thinking “how did I ever like this board?” In hindsight, I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

I think the only way to really know (as has been stated many times here) you have to try out as many boards as you can in the conditions you ride most. All the advice shared here is great, but the only way to really learn what you can learn, and experience what you can experience, is to do it yourself.

Thought over.



Will

34

SUP General / Re: I was just paddling along...

« on: October 07, 2016, 07:23:35 PM »

Is that a 1962 Ford Fairlane?
I like it.

Close, 61 Galaxie.




Will

35

SUP General / Re: I was just paddling along...

« on: October 07, 2016, 10:27:48 AM »

Glamour shots...

36

SUP General / Re: I was just paddling along...

« on: October 07, 2016, 10:27:10 AM »

Like discussed earlier, I took the Puma to Clear Carbon to get it repaired. I got to talk with the owner (Matt) about the boards and some of the history behind them and their distribution. I also got to see the first prototype that is hanging on the wall in the shop. Very different then what came out, it actually had quite a bit of camber to the deck surface.

Just picked her up this morning and planning on grabbing a bite and then heading out on this fine warm and sunny Fall day. I think they did a pretty good job and it's not even that noticeable.

Any way..IT LIVES!!





Will

37

SUP General / Re: Vehicle Paddle Hanger

« on: October 06, 2016, 07:28:38 PM »

That's great.  I need to try that.


I do know a guy who had a similar problem, where he could either fit his paddle in his car, or a passenger, but not both because the paddle only fit diagonally across the passenger seat.  So after his wife complained, he rigged up some clamps on the roof rack next to where he had his board, and that seemed to solve it.  But then his wife started complaining about the wind messing up her hair whenever he drove on the freeway.

 

Will

38

SUP General / Vehicle Paddle Hanger

« on: October 06, 2016, 12:24:45 PM »

So I got this bright idea....

Well, actually it was spurred by complaints from other family members about my paddle always being in my car and in the way. So, after the last eye roll and exasperated "Why..." I decided to come up with a better plan.

Like duct tape, parachord has thousands of uses... I just took two pieces about 10" long, tied each end together in a reef knot, put one end of the loop behind and over the top of the handle and pulled it back through the loop. Presto! Easy to put up and take down paddle hanger. The roof sits high enough that it comes nowhere near anyone's head.





Will

39

SUP General / Re: Best Surf Shirt - bust them out!

« on: October 05, 2016, 04:31:26 AM »

Evo man!

40

SUP General / Re: Best Surf Shirt - bust them out!

« on: October 05, 2016, 04:30:45 AM »

I heart this one...

41

Gear Talk / Re: Ventral Fin and fin tests

« on: October 03, 2016, 01:18:23 PM »

New wallpaper!! 




Will

42

Gear Talk / Re: Touring board help - new but hooked.

« on: October 03, 2016, 11:47:13 AM »

I'm a big dude so I can't help you much on a choice of smaller boards. What I will echo as others have said...try out a bunch of different boards.

A few years ago when I started I was trying and flipping boards left and right trying to get a handle on what I liked and what worked for my height and weight. Information shared here on the zone was a good start as far as good mfr's to stay with for quality as well as which models folks have had experiences with. From there it was finding good deals on CL and trying out boards. I actually got to try out a lot of different boards and made a little cash flipping them as well. That wasn't my ultimate goal but it was helpful in moving on to other boards to try. I learned a lot about what I liked and didn't like as well as what seemed to work for me.  Eventually I'm going to go custom but now I know what I want. A couple of years ago I had no clue.

The RI/MA CL usually has a variety of boards floating around at any given time.

Have fun!






Will

43

Gear Talk / Re: Scuba suit for SUS

« on: September 20, 2016, 07:28:29 PM »

I got one of the Supremes from JimK a couple years ago. Easiest suit to get in and out of I've ever had, back or front zip. It's front zip but works different than most. Where everything else is a struggle to get it over my shoulders the Supreme just slides off. Also fabric lined, slides on easy too. Also a very flexible suit, very comfortable. I got the 4/3/2 and wear it all winter...I add a hooded vest on the coldest days.

Ditto here. I bought one from JimK and have used it paddling the last two NE Winters. Warm, stretchy, easy on and off. Love the thing.




Will

PS:My wife thinks I'm nuts. Not because I paddle all year, it's because I'll wear it to go shovel snow in the driveway.

44

SUP General / Re: Best way to handle a Goon in the lineup ????

« on: September 20, 2016, 03:58:32 PM »

Yes, been there done that. If it comes down to it you do what you have to do, but better to handle it as a group or let the authorities in on it.

That said, It sounds like he came back around outside of the zone. I'm a big proponent of being able to take care of things yourself no matter what level. You'll always be the one to have to take care of your self until reinforcements arrive. As has been pointed out already, there are possible legal ramifications one may have to navigate after the fact.




Will

45

Foil SUP / Re: Kai Lenny Downwind SUP Foil

« on: September 15, 2016, 11:49:55 AM »

I would love to give that a try...though they look very wee. At 255 - 260 I think the SUP foil tech is going to be a while out for us clydesdales.




Will