Hot, hot, hot downwinder.

[DavidJohn]

Over 40 deg C today (105F) and so nice to be out on the water doing a downwinder with friends.

DJ

[sup_surf_giant]

Making the most of a hot day.

[headmount]

Looking backward with the motor boat looking wake was cool.  Seeing others near you is always fun.  The skyline of the city.  Great tunes.  Fantastic day.  I could see sideways along the trough in one shot just how lined up it was.  Bring JC next time.  He'll keep up with you.

[suprbowl]

Love this vid especially since our local lake started to ice over this week. Makes me want to travel. Love the turbo kicking in around 1:20

[Seattle-Wind]

You were flyin' - looks like so much fun! Diggin' the music too. Keep the videos coming, it warms us winter-folks up. I'd kill for 105 degree day here in Seattle!

[ericspin]

Looks like a blast. But I must say I would kill to have a 105 degree day right now. Winter sucks. Especially when you're away from your warm home waters.

[Takeo]

Sweet video DJ!

[Rideordie]

Nice one DJ!!  You make it look so effortless.  Like flying over the water.  The Glide master gives us another downwind lesson!!   

[DavidJohn]

Looking backward with the motor boat looking wake was cool.  Seeing others near you is always fun.  The skyline of the city.  Great tunes.  Fantastic day.  I could see sideways along the trough in one shot just how lined up it was.  Bring JC next time.  He'll keep up with you.

Thanks Bill.. and will do (re Jonathan) ..btw.. It's usually me trying to keep up with JC .. 

He's been away and due back in a few days.

DJ

[iSUP]

Ok, downwinder lesson time. I see you all dip your paddle at various times. Sometimes it looks like a brace to help balance, sometimes maybe just so it's ready for a stroke, sometimes it looks like you might be gently putting on the bakes, sometimes it just looks like you're playing around and splashing in the water as it whooshes by.
Can you guys please explain a bit about what you're doing and why?
Thanks, Peter, who's searched all over for an explanation of the techniques

[DavidJohn]

Ok, downwinder lesson time. I see you all dip your paddle at various times. Sometimes it looks like a brace to help balance, sometimes maybe just so it's ready for a stroke, sometimes it looks like you might be gently putting on the bakes, sometimes it just looks like you're playing around and splashing in the water as it whooshes by.
Can you guys please explain a bit about what you're doing and why?
Thanks, Peter, who's searched all over for an explanation of the techniques

I guess you're talking about paddle dragging.. I do it a lot and IMO it's a very important part of downwinding.. I do it a lot for stability.. but mostly for turning.. To get these 14' boards to turn you need to be on the tail.. That's fine when the wave is steep enough but when it's flatter you bog the board down and loose glide and speed if you step back.. So if you want to stay forward on the board to keep the gliding/planing thing happening dragging the paddle helps you turn without loosing too much speed.. I've been told that OC1 and ski paddlers also do it even though they have rudders.. Also a surfing type turn requires planing speed and we are often not quite there so again slight paddle dragging (along with using the opposite rail) helps to turn the board.. If I want to turn very hard and have the speed I will lean very hard on the paddle.. I tend to do the same thing surfing.. Especially on the heel side.. I'm thinking that maybe the better you get the less you need to drag your paddle but the drag isn't that much.. I'd love to hear what the better guys like DK and Jerremy think.

DJ

[bbarry]

As others have said, your vids are a tonic for those of us caught up in colder less windy climes.  Keep them coming.

Very curious what you all are thinking about the new Starboard All Star vs the Coast Runner.  Seems like you have had an All Star running in a few videos now. 

Thanks

Bruce in cool, rainy, Seattle

[PT Woody]

All Star nose slices through the water a lot better yet still pops up happily if you pearl it too badly. Also, the 26" width somehow seems as stable as the 28" Coast Runner so you lose nothing there and gain obviously in speed.

[corgi]

Another great video DJ, I can't believe how long some of those glides are! looks like so much fun.

[iSUP]

Understood re paddle dragging, thanks DJ