Author Topic: Dolphin Horseplay  (Read 4704 times)

surfpainter

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Dolphin Horseplay
« on: July 21, 2007, 09:08:27 AM »
Last Christmas I was paddling on a clear cool day after Christmas about 400 yards offshore of the northern Outer Banks. I spotted a pod of Bottlenose dolphins headed my way migrating South. My experience in surfing near dolphins is they normally just keep thier distance, but not this time. A few seemed real interested in what I was doing and got within yards of me. I slowed down and more came in with young and they started to get close and curious.  I started to smile and laugh at what was happening. Next thing I knew ,there had to be close to 30 of them causing a pleasent ruckus as I watched them dive under my board and surface blowing air. I started paddling south with them and they stayed near causing a lot of chop. They followed me for about a mile, getting so close I had to be careful where I paddled. I finally had to quit and let them go because of the chop they were generating, I almost fell in them. They must have seen me smiling during this whole experince. I've been around Dolphins while paddling since, but never that close again....it was memorable

Chan

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2007, 10:05:12 AM »
Surfpainter,

I love swimming with the dolphins.  They do seem particularly interested in SUP - clever animals.  Several whales, also expressed interest. I sat with a pod for nearly an hour this past winter just outside of the break at Kanaha.  They allowed a few of us to come within 10 yards (actually, we stayed paddled to about 30 yards away, and they swam closer).  Enjoying the marine life is definitely an unexpected bonus provided by the enhanced vantage point and mobility of Stand Up.  By the way, I visited your site:  http://rickromano.com/ and I loved your work; you are truly a talented artist.  Do you have any stand up pieces in the works?

Aloha,
Chan

iwaterman

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2007, 05:00:54 PM »
The dolphins that cruise the coastline near La Jolla Shores are the friendliest I've ever seen.  They routinely cruise up to me and I've had them swim just a few feet under my board.  A few months ago, I was on a wave and a couple of them were right next to me surfing, literally feet away.  They do seem to be very interested in SUP'ers.  They're probably thinking to themselves," wow, they've finally started to evolve".

With that, about a month ago, I started a design for a t-shirt.  it has a prone paddler, above a knee paddler, above a stand up paddler.  The caption reads, as you've probably guessed, " The evolution of surfing".  Just something fun, and it really chapps a few hides.  If you're interested in getting one, let me know.  I've also got International Waterman t-shirts coming in the next few weeks.

Aloha,

Mike Pollard
Founder - International Waterman

surfpainter

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2007, 09:10:28 AM »
Chan, thanks for the kind words...I'm sure there are tons of great stand up paddle stories that are going untold. Yes I am currently working on a stand up design I plan on putting into a painting to publish into a print or poster. Wardog from  www.surfingsports.com put the bug in my ear to get started.... Rick

Surfdog

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2007, 12:58:27 PM »
Of the many dolphin experiences in the water I have had, one that was quite amusing was in 1994 at Rincon, CA.  About shoulder to head high day and my buddy took off on a wave.  As he disappeared from my view on his drop I saw 2 large dolphins leap out of the water behind the wave on the shoulder of the wave and landed on the face of the shoulder.  They surfed the wave in front of my buddy for about 100 yards.  He came back out saying 'Guess who just dropped in on me?"  I said "They are locals and you have to give them carte blanche to drop in on you." 

RUSS-D

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2007, 01:08:48 PM »
I can't wait to experience theese things. I am getting a waterproof housing for my Wifes point and shoot Canon camera so I can get some shots of this type stuff. So far I ahve seen a 2ft black tip Shark, a bunch of needle fish ( they seem to like to stay just in front of the board as you paddle), a Dolphin ( but it was a ways out), and a lot of baitfish.

MichaelF

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2007, 01:55:33 PM »
This is one of the true joys of stand up. 

If you haven't hit the leopard sharks cruising the shoreline in front of the Marine Room at la Jolla shores, they are a must see. 
Best when the sun is out.

Tom English

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #7 on: August 14, 2007, 07:06:21 AM »
http://web.mac.com/tomtomproductions1/iweb/tomtomproductions1/Dolphins%20%26%20Board%20cam.html
Click to watch a dolphin SUP video. 

Last Saturday I followed a group of 8 dolphins from Cardiff to Beacons (approx 5 miles).  It was awesome.  These dolphins are digging the escort.  Great paddle partners.  The time flies by.
Aloha,
Tom English
Aloha,
Tom English

TybeeTim

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Re: Dolphin Horseplay
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2007, 11:40:29 AM »
That's some sick footage of Joel Tudor you have there too, so smooth. He rides (and paddles) switch like it's nothing.

 


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