new to forum, need help

[chad19]

long time reader, first time poster.

i live in southwest florida and seem to be the only serious SUP paddler here.

this weekend the weather will be perfect for a longer downwind run -- 20 to 25 knots out of the northwest. well, that's as perfect as it gets here anyway.

i'd love to do an island to island padlle, but i don't dare do it alone.

anyone other SUP padders in this are? it's kind of hard to share the stoke with my great dane.

[DavidJohn]

Welcome to the Zone.. Just wondering.. What board are you paddling?

DJ

[chad19]

i'm paddling a 12'1" surftech laird at the moment with an 82" werner spanker.

come from a marathon canoe and outrigger background. planning to race round key west (12 miles) in may on either a hobie 12'6" or x-14.

chad

[Lobes]

there was a florida thread a couple of weeks ago

http://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=6401.0

[kneil]

Hey Chad, welcome to the forum.  I went to Englewood Beach last March with the family.  I know what you mean about SUP not taking hold yet, it took me a lot of time on line to find ONE SUP rental, a shop in Nokomis had just gotten a new Timpone, their first SUP, and were nice enough to rent it to me for the week.  Beautiful water, so clear, nothing like having porpoise and rays swimming under you.  I am sure SUP will take off there, because the water and conditions are just too perfect, especially for distance paddling.  www.distressedmullet.com is a guy in NC, but he posts every race and event he can find in the Florida area.  Are you racing in the Key West paddleboard race that I have heard about?