First "grown-up" board - first impressions

[SoFloSupChick]

Just added a 2nd board to my arsenal (is this the beginning of the end?!)
I had an inflatable, and just received my new 14' Naish Maliko and took it out for the 1st time.

Luckily, it was really flat on the ocean, with just a bit of a current.

Random first impressions:

- it's so beautiful *cries*
- damn, this thing is huge! Where do you even stand on it? I'm assuming still by the handle (at least in flat conditions)
- doesn't feel heavy at all (whew!)
- oh, I can't bang it on things anymore? My <1/2 mile walk to the beach has suddenly become the most treacherous part of the paddle
- it goes noticeably faster than the inflatable, but also feels like I need to work harder. As in I was smoked after about 5 minutes, and this is the first time I actually felt my abs while paddling. What gives?
- I think I'm going to need a smaller paddle
- it seems both less and more stable. A lot easier to rock side-to-side with small movements, but harder to actually fall off of. Maybe because the rails are so much taller, so it's harder to actually tip  over? Or maybe it doesn't flex all over the place like the inflatable...
- toes are going numb after a while; more so than on the inflatable, because the surface is harder. Any tips?

All in all, pretty excited about getting used to it And thank you all for the board advice!

[burchas]

Congrats!

As for toes. move your fit, it always helps, you get use to it eventually. I can't remember
the last time my toes went numb on a regular paddle, it usually take 4 hours of continuous
paddling before that happens and I hardly do it any more.

standing position has also to do with your weight. for me it was toes inline with the middle
of the handle but it might be different for you. play with it, preferably with a GPS on board
so you can register speed at different positions if you really care to go to this resolution...

otherwise, around the middle sounds about right

Since it is probably heavier and deifiantelly stiffer than your inflatable that would explain
why you got smoked fast, but that should fade very soon as well, also, there is possibly a
a hight difference between the board and that may affect your paddling and why you got
gassed fast. You may need to adjust the length of your paddle.

Inflatable usually sit higher on the water due to volume, if that's the case and you are
closer to the water on your new board, your paddle is too long and it disrupts your normal
way of paddling.

If this is the other way around and you're sitting higher on the water with the new board,
than you may have to reach lower with your body with your usual paddle length which also
disrupt your normal way of paddling.

Few more session under your belt and you'll figure it out and forget all about it. Hope that
helps.

[stoneaxe]

Congrats....what he said. in addition get some pictures from the side of you paddling the board. You'll be able to see whether you need to move forward (most likely) or back to get it to trim.

Time on water...heals all....

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

It's really cool when you move to your first flatwater board. These boards demand a lot more from you than an all-around. They make you a better paddler, to be sure.

Burchas gives some really good advice. I would say also — which is kind of what Stoney said — give yourself time with the board. Take it out in all sorts of conditions. Find some flatwater. Get out in chop and crosswind, all while being safe. See how the board performs in different conditions and challenges you. A few sessions in crappy conditions and you won't batt an eye when the water turns gnarly.

Then you'll be looking for your next board…

[eastbound]

you want a quick uptick in you technique??--have someone shoot a vid or a few pics of you from the side, while you are paddling

then post or privately submit to burchas-- nuance like paddle length, foot positions, posture, stroke start/finish location, etc take a while to figure out on your own, and make a big difference--a quick review of pics, with advice offered, would launch you quickly to new levels

have fun--with the fl coast a half mile from you, youll be quite the water woman soon enough

great board for fl ocean paddling

[easy]

Get a padded shoulder carry strap for you beach hike.

[burchas]

Get a padded shoulder carry strap for you beach hike.

Or go to Palm at Lauderdale by the Sea and go straight in

[PonoBill]

Half a mile, I'd get a mule or some homebrew contrivance to wheel the thing. Mules are handly because they pack down so small you can easily bury them at a marked spot so they'll be there when you return. http://www.muletransportsystems.com/  Simple as bricks, and you could easily make one, but by the time you were done you'd likely have more than 135 bucks into the project.

As Burchas said, the foot thing is all about moving around on the board, and that's also important to paddling.

You'll likely want a smaller paddle as your technique improves, but good paddles are expensive. I haven't had anything to do with KeNalu other than using them since I sold my share of the company to Lane, but it's nice to be able to upgrade and change your paddle with a hairdryer or heat gun--especially while you're progressing.

[supthecreek]

SFSUPC

Thanks for the newbie comments.
It’s important for us to be reminded of where we started.
It’s easy to forget the challenges we all faced at some point.

Your new board will be amazing in a few outings!

[PonoBill]

Oh, and at some point in the near future you'll wake up in the middle of the night with ab cramps. Don't be scared, it's a good thing. As you engage more of your core and less of your arms you'll get an ab workout that even impresses Laird. Really.

[SoFloSupChick]

Thanks for all the comments and tips, everyone!

BTW, in terms of getting the board to the water, I have a really nice cart already, this kind: https://suspenz.com/products/double-sup-airless-cart
I can practically push it with one finger. I might have been a bit over-dramatic about a treacherous trek... I just need to remember that I can't just plop the end of the board to the asphalt, and be extra mindful of the extra length and concrete fences/curbs when maneuvering with it.

And yes - of course I'm already eyeing a Ke Nalu paddle, based on all the fandom on this forum

[Luc Benac]

Oh, and at some point in the near future you'll wake up in the middle of the night with ab cramps. Don't be scared, it's a good thing. As you engage more of your core and less of your arms you'll get an ab workout that even impresses Laird. Really.

And after some time it will creep to your hips. You will need plenty of yoga after the week-end :-)

[JEG]

Good choice, the maliko is one of best shape board out there.

[easy]

  SoFlSupChic,
   When I'm back in town (6 wks) let's get together and do a board comparison .  I'd like to try your Maliko and you can try one of my Allstars and a Sic RS.  What width is your Maliko?

[SoFloSupChick]

  SoFlSupChic,
   When I'm back in town (6 wks) let's get together and do a board comparison .  I'd like to try your Maliko and you can try one of my Allstars and a Sic RS.  What width is your Maliko?

Totally! Let me know when you're back!
The Maliko is 14' x 26"