Ride report - 9'1" Surftech Channel Islands Caddi

[IRideYellow]

So while waiting for my l41 S3 to get repaired or my 7'10 Wardog Jammer to be made I needed something to ride this weekend. 

Oliva at Covewater, here in Santa Cruz, suggested trying out last years 9'1" Surftech Channel Islands Caddi.  It is  9'1"   x  29.5"  x  4.25"  x  136.6 liters.  I though it was pretty stable board for being 29.5 wide and me never riding less then 32 wide (well the 9'6 Wavestorm SUP from Costco was 29 wide, I think, but I was a beginner so most of my experience with it was falling).  It has a real longboard feel to it.
(Me late 50's, 200,  5'10 balanced challenged)

(here is a link to this year board - not sure what is the difference other then graphics)
http://covewatersup.com/boards-and-paddles/boards/surftech/9-1-surftech-channel-islands-caddi

We went to Privates and surfed Trees yesterday and Sharks and Trees today.  Yesterday was mostly trying to get back in the groove since I had not been on a board for 3-4 weeks.  Took a bit to get the position dialed in fore and aft though I was able to have a staggered stance within a bit.  Caught a few and tried the old pump and dump.

Today was much better.  The surf was down and so were the crowds.  Glassy waves and very little when so no chop.  I found was able to move forward on the attack to make the wave and quickly return back for the drop and then ride it like a longboard all without embarrassing windmilling action to stay upright. On a few smaller waves I tried to throw it around.  It was work though with practice I think I could make more turns.  It was pretty nice  to ride.  Slower the then S3 but way more stable.  I was even able to stand on the tail in the falls, catch a closing out section and then zip over to the next section for a bit of down the line.

And paddling it was nice.  I could dig in hard and get some good momentum going without getting out of position.  it rode up and over the waves on the way back out very nicely as well.

Overall, it is really easy to ride.


(I have no affiliation to any company mentioned above)

[SUPcheat]

I was out there both days, too, IRideYellow.  I was the kook in the impact vest and the white helmet, if we were there at the same time late morning to past 12PM.

[IRideYellow]

I did not see you out there Cheat, though I think I have seen you paddling around town before   I'll shout out to you look for you next time I'm over there.  Today I'm off to Daveport Landing to see how this board is in choppier conditions

[Subber]

Thanks for the review IRY.

The Surftech Channel Islands Caddi was (maybe is) on my list as possible noseriders.
A few years ago I found a few videos of a guy getting great noserides on that board,
along with helicopters and everything else.

[IRideYellow]

So today I went to the Lane and tried my luck there.  By the statue I pick up a few 2 footers that swept over the sand bars that now fill the area.  Stable and fast enough to stay ahead of the break.  The wind was up and the tide was till high so it was washing machine like.  However, after hunkering down a  bit I was able stay up right almost all the time.  Not much success catching since everyone was crowed into a small area.  Still it was a good workout and the board was stable if you paid attention and focused.   

The most important test of the day came when a friend brought his dog over to surf on the board.  The dog never surfed before and was not really a fan of water.  However, he was game and we picked a place with sand and a long run out.  Or so we though.  After a few rides on the SUP he switched over to the longboard.  His rides all ended sort of like this one.

[balance_fit]

Very interesting how a design that has been on the Surftech line for quite a while still gets positive reviews, amidst so many new shapes, from the Simmons to the Tomos and everything in between.

Classics never die, IRY, you're on to something good here.

I got my hands recently on an older, but very well stored and unused, Generator 10' x 29.75", 142 L. Currently discontinued, nevertheless, a gem. And the smooth longboard feeling is back.

Yeah....

[IRideYellow]

And yes the dog was fine with surfing.  He practiced on the beach first then had a few rides where he got low an rode the wave.   He leapt far away from the board each time he wiped out.  Toward the end he really groked it.  But he is a Border Collie and they pretty quick studies.