Author Topic: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)  (Read 3770 times)

SoFloSupChick

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First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« on: October 21, 2018, 05:00:46 PM »
Fairly new to supping here, and I recently got my first "grown-up" board (Naish Maliko) with the hopes of downwinding someday.

Today the stars aligned in East South Florida, and we had the right conditions: 15-20 kt North (along the coast). So I convinced my husband to try this downwinding thing.

By my estimate, I spent about 50% of time in the water, 30% flailing about on the board, and 20% catching short glides, but I'll be damned if it wasn't fun! ;D Since it was our first  time, we drove up a relatively short distance (2.5 miles from the end point), so sadly the fun was over just as I started getting a feel for things.

Main takeaway: I definitely need to practice moving around on the board more, and also bracing. Also, must have more, haha!
2019 Naish Maliko 14' x 26"
2017 Starboard iWindSup 11'2 x 32"

Luc Benac

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2018, 05:33:49 PM »
Welcome to the club. There is NO going back ever now.....enjoy. It gets better fast. And then it is a lot slower learning curve.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
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stoneaxe

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2018, 05:49:49 PM »
Very cool...have fun. I wish I didn't suck so bad at downwind..... :(
Bob

8-4 Vec, 9-0 SouthCounty, 9-8 Starboard, 10-4 Foote Triton, 10-6 C4, 12-6 Starboard, 14-0 Vec (babysitting the 18-0 Speedboard) Ke Nalu Molokai, Ke Nalu Maliko, Ke Nalu Wiki Ke Nalu Konihi

JEG

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2018, 09:00:59 PM »
you need a dw prescription  ;)

PonoBill

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2018, 06:59:36 AM »
Now convince your husband you need to spend a few weeks in the Gorge next summer.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

yugi

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2018, 01:24:31 AM »
Cool.

The fun part is progressing each time.

SoFloSupChick

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2018, 07:12:56 PM »
Awwyeah!
2019 Naish Maliko 14' x 26"
2017 Starboard iWindSup 11'2 x 32"

Luc Benac

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2018, 07:29:45 PM »
Get a group of friends that like down-winding or make them discover down-winding and make it a social events too:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009636853140


Shuttles become second nature and getting everybody fire-up.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
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FloridaWindSUP

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2018, 06:44:42 AM »
Way to go SoFlo!

I reckon you'll start learning to move and brace pretty quick if you keep doing these. Sometimes when I can't get a real downwinder together I'll just take my board to the beach and do relatively short distance (a couple hundred meters at a time) upwind / downwind intervals. That helps a lot with practice. Works best when the wind is enough to make some chop, but less than 15 knots.

-J
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bing

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Re: First downwinder attempt (weeee!)
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2018, 08:38:42 PM »
Great to hear we have a new downwind convert.  Definitely try getting others into the sport.  So addicting - you will look at flatwater differently now as well as the waves.  PonoBill is right - try planning a trip to Hood River next year in the summer.  Some of the best downwind water you will find anywhere.  Also - Big Winds is an excellent place to rent/demo some great downwind boards.

 


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