One SUP 17'7 Unlimited downwinding VID

[Eagle]

He put himself into a spot needlessly.  Maybe this will help educate the other brands moving forward.  Pushing out a new product and getting this sort of exposure was obviously not on his radar screen.  He should be leading not defending.

[Pierre]

Nice boards, and video, but sorry ,regarding wearing a leash or not, there is NO excuse. MUST be worn, point. taking own's responsibility is something, promoting good safety practices must be done: Any picture or video of unleashed paddler should be banned.

[Area 10]

It's bad business to get yourself into this kind of public spat. He clearly knew it might happen, so he could have avoided it. But instead, he wanted to play the hero, and then when challenged in a totally predictable way, he made things worse by generally being unnecessarily aggressive, defensive, and using bad language.

This issue now becomes more about his reaction to other people's reactions than it does about water safety, and his brand becomes associated with confrontational knuckle-dragging. Not too smart. I think someone needs to ask him whether he wants to make money, or shout his mouth off. Because you can't do both.

[Easy Rider]

Whether you personally believe in leash use or not - as an industry member it is almost your duty to promote the safety aspect of the sport at all times. 

[pdxmike]

It could have been worse.  They could have announced the new board as being "UNLEAS---oops.

[supjacko]

Haha it's crazy all these first world problems hey!!

Now i have heard everything since i have kicked back and read a bunch of comments from different areas and its very interesting the different views from different areas in the world. Look i think we all agree Leashes are a good thing and 99% of the time i wear one no worries and have encouraged probably over 10,000 people to do the same over the last Ten years of selling, teaching and hiring SUP's but i also teach people to use common sense as this is a far more valuable tool in life. Now my common sense tells me that in that little Vid that a leash is not needed, it is not a safety Video it was never even meant to be filmed as it was a testing day where we were swapping boards to work on different steering systems, it was just a bonus that we got some pics and some footage. So if i have a bunch of you guys right you are telling me that i can not put a Video up just because i had no leash on and if i do put it up then i will get shot down as to being some super bad guy who is out to destroy the industry? but we will just for get about those other 10,000 people who i have helped steer in the right direction as this one vid is much worse!!

Now in my world which hey i could be tripping but if some newbie seen this video and all he got out of it was me not wearing a leash so it must be ok then we are in a lot of trouble. Someone has already posted what i said on my own page and i stand by it, i am pretty straight up and will always say it as it is, this is how i was brought up and this is how ONE SUP is run we are not a company who will tell you just want you want to hear we tell it like it is. Is this the best way to run a  business probably not but i believe there are already enough people saying what you want to hear and the world does not need more of this. I sleep straight at night and am happy all day and this is what we put out there and are about!! If some one wants to slam me for something then i guess happy days for them and if they get to fist pump in the air and get that same stoke that i get from paddling then i am super stoked for them!!

Some times i feel we just have to climb down of the high horse and just relax a little take a breath and think is this one of the biggest problems in the world right now or could we be putting this negative energy into something else?

So i sure i could go on and on but i don't see the point really as some will be with and others against and some will argue more and others will give up. Me it's Xmas and i'm pretty busy but still waiting for Ang to get back from a DW paddle so i can get out there!!

Jacko (all round nice guy 99% off the time)

[surf4food]

Here's the full article from supracer.com which includes the clip:
http://www.supracer.com/one-unlimited-stand-up-paddleboard/

Looks like unlimiteds are making a comeback.  At least in Australia.

[DavidJohn]

Well said Jacko..

I've known you and Angie a long time and know that you are one of the most skilled and professional sup paddlers in the whole sup industry (worldwide) and also a very safety conscious person who has trained and taught hundreds of people from beginners to pros and I'm sure you've told them about the importance of a leash.. Especally when downwinding..

I knew when watching your vid that you had a support boat filming and I've seen many similar vids of Kai and Connor doing the same but I think even Kai or Connor would receive the same amount of criticism as you got because the whole leash save lives thing is such an important one..

So the moral of the story is.. Next vid that you do.. wear a leash regardless of the circumstances.. Great vid.. Great looking board.. can you tell us more about the steering system.. Please.. And try and get one down to my friend Dave White asap so I can paddle it..,

[Off-Shore]

Well said DJ.

I probably have shot over 170 SUP videos in the last 3 years and posted most of them on YouTube publically. I usually make a point of showing leashes being put on and also highlighting when other safety considerations should be taken (eg safety boat required when crossing shipping channels).

Recently I made a vid of myself and a friend paddling in Sydney Harbour on a stunning morning past the Sydney Opera House and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and back. The problem was, we only had one leash and one PFD between us, so we agreed since the vid would show my friend, that she would wear the leash, and I'd wear the PFD, since I was the one filming. Was I being irresponsible paddling without a leash? Yes I felt I was, even though I had a PFD and a paddle buddy, but I thought it would be even more irresponsible to film and publically post a vid of someone paddling in Sydney Harbour without a leash.. That is just the nature of where we are in the industry.

One idea is you could add a subtitle to your vid stating that "Leashes should always be worn. This was filmed with a safety boat" or some other words that would get the point across.

Having said all of that, I think these boards look awesome and that was some great footage in some good downwind conditions. Seriously when I looked at the vid on my phone and decided to post it, I didn't even notice that leashes weren't being used. I was more focused at the riders and the front of the boards than the backs...

[coldsup]

Supjacko......I don't think folks doubt your skills, professionalism etc but guess you could have reacted better. That's why you are getting pelters from folk and your words are being shared all over the Internet for the wrong reason. A lesson in social media there.

And the fact that you and your pals and business partner were poking fun at anyone who brought up the leash thing didn't help. I read your Fbook page.....I think it is fair to say you all reckoned the wear a leash brigade are a bunch of divvies talking about something they know nothing about...that's the impression.  That is worse than your initial reaction?  You have even posted this thread on your page under "good reading if you have the time" with your bud giving it the LOL. . Folks aren't thick you know.

Well, I don't know you at all and never likely to meet you so unfair to judge on a day's worth of social media posts...DJ says you are a good guy and done loads to promote safe paddling so seeing as it is Xmas and all that.....good luck luck with the new boards and all the best in 2017 with the company.

[photofr]

Supjacko: Your new UL boards look great. From where I stand, I can only hope that the boards will be ultra light (8-11 kilos all rigged up), and eventually out of a mold to ensure the desired weight and strength. Either way, I am super excited to see more UL on the market, but I am going to stop talking about how ecstatic I am.

CLEARLY (and sadly), this 17'7 board Post isn't about a brand new UL entering the market. 

NEWBIES
Wear a freekin Leash.
Be safe.
Learn safety and learn to freekin swim before you past any point where you toes can't touch the bottom.

ALL OTHERS
You don't have to embrace a vid or a photo presented without a leash and lifevest (read slight addition to floatation).
You don't have to agree.

But come on!
Many of you are just being hypocrites: I have personally paddled with you in open water, when you either didn't have a leash or a vest. Heck, how many of us did gnarly DW runs in Hawaii on surfskis without a leash - all through the 80's and well into the 90's ?

If a short video has to show leashes, vests, and safety statements, then said-video should also talk about a strong attachment point! We are almost in 2017, and do you know how many people attach a leash on bungie, or footboard of a surfski while still going out on huge downwind?

The moral is:
Before you criticize someone, a video, or a photo for not promoting leashes and vests, think TWICE!

If you are going to talk about safety, then let's do it right - make it the responsibility of everyone selling a board (new or used) to ensure that the buyer will have taken a safety course, because ONLY a safety course can cover all safety aspects needed to safely return from stand up paddling or surfski adventures!

I don't see how a 30-second video showing a leash will teach someone where to place the leash, when not to go out, when NOT to wear a leash, when to carry water, where to attach said safety gear, etc...

But heck, if you gonna turn a VID POST into a freekin controversy, then perhaps it's time you turn to all the big brands for posting photos and videos of athletes not wearing leashes or vests.

Oh, yeah: and great looking boards, in case you missed it!

[coldsup]

Yup, tis an industry wide thing....but folks tend to home in on examples and social media being the devil it is people go off on stuff.

Guess this one is done.....back to paddling and off the keyboard eh folks!

Back to some DW stoke?

[yugi]

[edit to add]:
OK, Coldsmoke, good idea but just a bit of ribbing first while waiting for the wind to pick up.

…
I have personally paddled with you in open water, when you either didn't have a leash or a vest.
…

Errr… no you haven’t.

…
The moral is:
Before you criticize someone, a video, or a photo for not promoting leashes and vests, think TWICE!
…

OK. What ever you say. [pause for good long think]. There, I thought about it again. You know what? I think it’s a good idea to always wear a leash. I think it’s a good idea for industry promotional videos of downwind SUPing to showcase pro riders wearing a leash. Even if they personally don’t feel they need one in that situation.

…
I don't see how a 30-second video showing a leash will teach someone where to place the leash, when not to go out, when NOT to wear a leash, when to carry water, where to attach said safety gear, etc...
…

Errrr… hang on. WTF you on about? I don’t see how the video affects the price of fish in Denmark either.  Pointless point.  You are now discolorfied. Next.

[viatormundi]

As a board manufacturer he needs to set a good example especially when it comes to security. Calling potential clients a dick is definitely bad marketing.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[photofr]

I know that you guys are so righteous and fair. Perhaps you have complained to every single magazine, manufacturer's website, and videos... whenever a man or a woman wasn't wearing a leash or a PFD.

Anyone seeing what I am seeing "just right there on the RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN"?
Do you guys see the Makai ad on this page?
Do you guys see a leash?
Have you complained about it?
Did you even think about complaining about it?

Hypocrite is probably a better ref. than a "dick" - but please, go on.