Topics

1

Downwind and Racing / Need advice before ordering a 14' Bark

« on: December 01, 2009, 02:13:04 AM »

Hi all,
I'm about to order a 14' race Bark. Will use it in flat to choppy Swedish water. From my so far limited email correspondence and a phone call to Joe he seems to be a very nice person to deal with.

About the board I have a few questions (of course I will discuss this with Joe, but would like to hear more opinions):

1) How big difference makes the carbon in performance? With a carbon bottom (glass deck) the board becomes about 27-28 pounds instead of 29-30 and a full carbon saves another 2 pound. I also assume the carbon makes it quit a lot stiffer? Each side is USD300...  What are your calls, no, half or full carbon?

2) From the pictures I have found in the web, it does not seem to have a lowered standing area? Why not? Should I ask Joe to incorporate that? Pros, cons?

3) I’m 6’ and 180Ib, will 28’’ be a good width or could I go down to 27 ½’’

Best,

Jesper B

2

SUP General / XXL tube ride?

« on: February 06, 2009, 05:15:32 AM »

There are so many great pictures of stand up surfing, but who has the fattest tube ride on picture? G-Mac in Pipe? Laird in Teahupoo, or something else?

Would like them all to be posted here!

/JB

3

Downwind and Racing / Active stearing system or not?

« on: September 04, 2008, 11:27:32 PM »

I'm about to buy my first dedicated down wind board. Only one easily available here in Sweden is Starboard's The Point. Should I go for one with active stearing system or one with fixed fin? Pros and cons with and without?

/JB

4

The Shape Shack / As loose as possible but stable?

« on: April 08, 2008, 02:37:43 AM »

Here in Sweden we more or less only surf powerful waves in windy and choppy conditions. Before this winter I used a SOS big blue (10’10’’x 28.5’’) and a SOS big green (10’x27,5’’). The bigger board is super stable for me (6’0 and 175-180lb), the big green is manageable.

In glassy Morocco surf the big green is stable enough for me with good marginal, it works in Sweden when it is not totally windy (cross-on) and big chop.

This winter on Maui I used a Katzuma 9’4’’x27,5’’. It was so much looser and more fun than my boards home in Sweden. In south-side glass and lower Kanaha it was more than enough stable, in pushier waves, more current and stronger wind it worked but was a lot of work. It will be too tipsy here in Sweden, at least most of the time. On Maui I also tried a 10’x28’’ C4 which was much more stable than my Katzuma, but it also felt more tired, slower and not so turny as my Katzuma. The C4 would work for me here in Sweden, but I would like to have something shorter and looser.

I only used the quad set up on my Katzuma. Will it get a lot more stable with thrusters instead? I could have an extra large trailer fin.

So now I’m thinking of what design to have built or what board to buy. As loose as possible but more stable than my Katzuma. It does not have to work in over head high waves but should be as compact, loose and stable as possible.

What are your thoughts? Would be fun to have all design parameters optimized for up to head high, pretty fast short kind of wave, cross on shore 15-20 knots wind, and as loose as possible.

Jesper
Longing back to Maui and a glassy Kuau

5

Gear Talk / Shorter paddle for faster waves?

« on: January 22, 2008, 03:49:33 AM »

I'm about to order a new paddle. I love my Malama, but think I need a shorter for surfing in faster/hollower waves. My current Malama is 9 inch taller than me, and when I use it in relatively faster waves it feels to tall. A shorter one should make it easer to have a lower and more compact stance and get closer to steep wave faces.

Do you use shorter paddles when trying to rip in faster waves? If so, how much shorter than your all round paddle, or compared to your body length?

By the way: looking at Bonga on the pictures from the Sunset comp. - His paddle looks short.

/Jesper B

6

SUP General / Width, Vee, stability and performance

« on: January 13, 2008, 10:11:45 AM »

I have to finalize the design on my custom 9'4 Kazuma very soon. It will be pretty similar to Rand's 9'4, but with some tweeks to make it a little bit easier to balance and to get some more speed in mushy waves.

Rand's board is 27.5 with slight vee in tail. I will have mine made with a little bit more volume and width in tail but thinking of another tweak to make it even a notch more stable: I want to have max stability without sacrificing to much performance.

Either it should be 27.5'' wide with no vee what so ever, or it should be 27.75 with a very slight vee in tail.

What will increase stability with as little negative impact as possible on performance?

Best,

Jesper

7

SUP General / Garrett on/in pipe!

« on: November 30, 2007, 05:52:57 AM »

More new nice photos on radical stan-up!

http://www.surfspot.com/photos/v/20071129/garrett_mcnamara_stand_up_paddle_surfing-5889.html?photo=5888

/Jesper B

8

SUP General / Getting a snugg SUP bag on Maui + flying my new darling home to Sweden

« on: October 22, 2007, 08:25:29 AM »

I just finalized my order of a Katzuma Custom SUP. It will be 9'4 x 27''1/2. I will come over to Maui in February and March to surf it and to bring it back home to Sweden. Two questions:

1) Will I find a good traveler bag that this board will fit snuggly into, once on Maui. Or will I need to order one in advance and maybe from somewere else? If so from where?

2) Flying home with Amarican airlines this board will be bigger than there "formal" maximum size on both surf and windsurf boards (total of 115'' allowed, this borad will be 150') - will they be picky or not (I have brought bigger stuff home before, but also feel that they are becoming more picy every year)? What is your experience?

It is getting cold (more cold) over here, but we still get out when the waves are nice.. Might do a short Marocco trip before Maui - but DO I LONG for gettting back to that magic island!!!!!

Best,

Jesper

9

Gear Talk / Net shopping pads, fins etc.

« on: October 01, 2007, 01:39:08 AM »

Realize I need pads, fins, leaches, bags etc. Here in Sweden the shops haven't got that much. Anybody who can recomend a net shop with a wide range of stuff. Would be best if it was based in Europe, but I guess it would work to send from over seas to.

Best,

Jesper

10

Technique / Goofy going regular

« on: September 04, 2007, 05:12:12 AM »

I'm goofy foot and have usually loved surfing backside, taking late drops droped knee and grabbing the rail...

Of some strange reason I paddel my SUP better with the paddle on right side, and espessially when power paddeling into a wave I paddel much stronger and with better balance standing wide regular. Sometimes I jump around to goofy after catching the wave - when I wanna go left. But going right I have converted to regular.

Convertig to regular stance and going right feels just greate. Im suddenly a switch foot. But paddeling regular and jump around to goofy feels stupid. Why not power paddel goofy and stand in my natural stance when taking of. But power paddeling in wide goofy stance just don't work as good for me. I have tried to learn but when I really want a wave I go regular...

I also swing around my board much faster and with better balance standing regular.

Why?

Jesper B

11

The Shape Shack / Fins on 9'4?

« on: August 26, 2007, 03:58:05 PM »

I'm about to order a 9'4 Katzuma SUP. But I don't know how I want my fins. Trusters, 2+1 or quad? Randy what do you have? Like it? Would like something different? Why?

What do you other think?

All shortboards I ever surfed have been trusters, all my hp longbords have been 2+1. I usually like a really small center fin, lik 6'' och 6''1/2.

I'm also planning to put side-bites on my SOS 10'10. Is that a smart?

/Jesper

12

Gear Talk / Board advice for a guy in progress

« on: August 13, 2007, 08:08:42 AM »

Hi all,
Very nice Rand, starting this forum. My first question: Learning the basics (hm, what are the basics..) on Maui this last winter, and trying to continue over here in my home country Sweden, I start to feel the need for a second board.

I'm now using a SOS 10'10'' (Big Blue). I love it but it is growing under me. I would like something at least a foot smaller. Something turnier and something you can pump up speed on in mushy small waves, more short board style. I can get a SOS 10' (Big Green) shipped over here pretty easy, but it would be fun to hear what you all recommend. Any pop-out out there, or should I go custom? What are your thoughts? I'm a mid sized guy with OK balance and with a long wave sailing and a somewhat shorter (mostly longbord) surfing background (Maui several month every second year since late 80:s).

OK, what is the best little ripper for me (and why)?

Best,

Jesper