New (old) Summer Toy! 11'6 x 28 Kalama

[NorthJerzSurfer]

Ive been on the hunt for a 10ft + <30in wide sup used for some time.   I had a 10'6 Sunova Style which I loved (now with a fellow zoner)  But It really shined in Decent waves when I'd want to shortboard. It really was more of a performance longboard then a groveler.

What i really wanted was a Sup Glider. something that catches summer ankle/knee bumps and gets down the line with some cross stepping or just riding the odd ripple on a flatwater ocean paddle.

After a failed experiment on a 10'0 Laird (It was terrible)  and a 12'6 Tourer with a V Hull that was amazingly unstable for 30 in wide.....I think I found it!

Had this think out in Knee/Waist waves today was was grabbing waves further outside than ive EVER been.  Glides for days.   But man....since its an old construction..it was a TANK. once i got use to the weight, and more importantly the swing weight to get it lined up to take off I was hooked.

This was a $150 pickup off Craigslist (with CF paddle..so really like $100) and i paid it off in smiles in one day.  My only issue now..... I want to copy the exact shape in a 20lb custom carbon! 

Straight rails- but still ok turning off the center.  stable as all crazy for a 28 in wide board.

sharing the stoke!

[Dusk Patrol]

Great looking and classic board. And in great shape...

[PonoBill]

You gotta wonder how a Kalama designed, Timpone shaped and glassed board made it's way to jerz. Most of those don't get far from Paia, or the cannery on West Kuiaha in Haiku where it was born.

Incidentally, I don't think you'll ever find V in a Kalama-designed board. I'm not fond of V, but Dave is kind of religious about not liking  it.

[LBsup]

Good for you Mike!  Looks like no insert handle?

[exiled]

Predates handles I bet. Everything old is new again.

[NorthJerzSurfer]

@ Pono  I bought it from the original owner who shipped it back here to NJ in 2008 from a trip out to Hawaii. cant imagine what that cost him.   He also has a PSH hull ripper- So hes got some cool boards you dont see too often around here.

@ Exiled  Yep- 'pre' handles.   Its a nightmare to carry.  especially with a paddle and leash.  Basically the only way to do it is on my head.   I have some old straps I think I will have to employ and a shoulder strap.  I surfed a relatively crowed break this am I would have easily skipped over if not for the fact I knew I couldnt make the 3-400 yard walk from the parking area I wanted to surf.

@LB  Thanks Bud- You'll have to try it one of these mornings

[surfinJ]

What a glide machine. And quite a score too at that price.

No handle, whew, at 28 wide should go easy up on the shoulder at least.

By looking at the pad placement it was probably for flat water use.  Add one back over the fins for some traction in the turns. That tail would love a single fin setup.

[805StandUp]

Very cool!  A friend of mine heard (I think from TJ at Big Winds) that Dave Kalama is working on some new production SUPs to produce under his Kalama Performance brand so perhaps that will be an option for you in carbon...

[PonoBill]

Put two leash plugs in a few feet each side of the balance point, add loops and use your paddle as a handle. They don't even need to be glassed in, you can use the NSI stick-on loops.  Yeah, Dave was surfing a pretty big SUP board last winter and enjoying it. I think he started doing it to keep Chris Pagdilao company after his heart attack curtailed his more vigorous activities. Chris is recovered now and back foiling but I wouldn't be surprised to see Dave make a few nice big SUPs.

[NorthJerzSurfer]

Thanks Pono!  Ill give those a look.   I have the NSI tail handle on my winter board and its rock solid

[jarvissup]

Congrats, that is awesome. Kalama really knows what he's doing, and his long boards are excellent. You have a REAL classic keeper. I have a bunch of the Imagine, Kalama boards from 2013, 2014,and 2016, love them.

[supthecreek]

Nice score  N-Jerz!
Summer of the glide   

[NorthJerzSurfer]

What a glide machine. And quite a score too at that price.

No handle, whew, at 28 wide should go easy up on the shoulder at least.

By looking at the pad placement it was probably for flat water use.  Add one back over the fins for some traction in the turns. That tail would love a single fin setup.

It actually fully tractioned.  Diamond padded style traction in the standing area and the light grey is still traction- but relatively smooth. very similar to what you'd find on the old NSP style rentals.