Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Chad's Turn
Chad snagged a couple of good ones. Try stuffing a guy who's six four into a head high barrel- ain't that easy folks.
Come learn to stand up paddle surf in sunny San Diego! Let us provide all the equipment and instruction to get you out on the water stand up paddling. All of our lessons are private unless you bring your friends along for a laugh (ask us about our group rates for three or more paddlers). Come learn to paddlesurf the right way. Give us a call at 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net Want more information about our stand up paddle surf lessons? Click here to read about our Lessons and Paddle Tour Offerings as well as some customer testimonials about us.
Fully guided, all inclusive, stand up paddle surf vacations in Southern Baja. If you've been dreaming about checking out the paddling opportunities of Baja- here's your chance to do it the right way. Let us take the hassle out of Baja paddlesurf travel. Click here for more information.
Come learn to stand up paddle surf in sunny San Diego! Let us provide all the equipment and instruction to get you out on the water stand up paddling. All of our lessons are private unless you bring your friends along for a laugh (ask us about our group rates for three or more paddlers). Come learn to paddlesurf the right way. Give us a call at 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net Want more information about our stand up paddle surf lessons? Click here to read about our Lessons and Paddle Tour Offerings as well as some customer testimonials about us.
Fully guided, all inclusive, stand up paddle surf vacations in Southern Baja. If you've been dreaming about checking out the paddling opportunities of Baja- here's your chance to do it the right way. Let us take the hassle out of Baja paddlesurf travel. Click here for more information.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Super Saturday More Photos!
Saturday was a bonus day. Friday was small, fogged in and really inconsistent. I stood out there on Friday at 7:30am for a half an hour before anything ride-able rolled through. There was no indication that it'd get any better the next day- so instead of popping up at dawn I rolled down at around 7:00am. (All photos courtesy of K.Kava.)
My eyes must've bugged out of my head. There were clean, head high, glassy waves rolling in with only a few guys out. I'm sure the Halloween hang over was in effect because the crowds were unusually light. I did meet three other stand up paddlers from up the beach (what's up Scott!) and they were as stoked as we were.
There were definitely two swells in the water that day. The waves with too much west in them lined up and closed out across the sand bar. The ones you wanted were the remnants of the Southern Hemi that was slowly backing down. Those were the ones with enough angle on them to race along the inshore sand wedge and funnel down into the hole at the end of the street. Most were chest high, speed-walls that demanded a pump-til'-you-die speed demon attack. A few came in with some grunt and threw little barrels- of course those were the ones we were trying to stuff ourselves into. But those waves were fast- and if you mistimed it at all you were left behind, watching it all spin away from you.
I'm not much of a barrel rider. Missing the hole is kind of a by-line that falls right under my name most of the time. Subconsciously I keep thinking about Cheateaux and how he knocked his tooth out pulling in; guy didn't even know what hit him. I like my teeth. And that's a lot of junk to have swirling around you in the tube. Still, getting barreled is really the ultimate. Hemingway would've dug it. Grace under pressure- just like fighting bulls. Papa would've pulled in.
There were two spots to sit that day. Chad was down the beach a bit working the pier wedge. It's a better, more dependable wave but there were a few crawlers in the water and, in the case of a stand up surfer, one is a crowd in a tight spot like that. You've got to play it cool in those situations or the pack will turn on you and you'll find somebody in front of you on every wave. Here's what you cannot do: You cannot snag a set wave and then paddle right back out to the inside spot hoping to get another one. You should surf your wave and then make a point of not asserting yourself on the top of the peak- do that and you're asking for trouble. Play it cool- try not to be the guy on every good wave.
Me, I've got more insidious methods. I like to lure 'em into the good wave that comes before the perfect one. Bad behavior? Possibly. But hey we've all got a little Heart of Darkness in us somewhere don't we? And at some point it's going to be laid bare to you and the world. So I sucker others into good waves hoping I'll be in the clear for what's next. Is that so bad? And I tend to snake body boarders. Am I evil?
It was an interesting day. Like I said it was definitely a bonus day. The weather guys said it'd be windy all day long and here it was sheet glass. Well, not exactly- around 8:30am a little north wind started to mess things up and I was thinking that my little session was coming to an end. Luckily, I decided to hang out a bit longer. The wind backed down, the tide came up and for about forty-five minutes things got kind of weirdly perfect out there.
There were barrels up and down the beach. I snagged a good one (check the photo from two days ago- that's just one in a sequence of a little screamer I snagged) and as I was on the inside waiting to paddle back out, I watched a guy on a long board get the barrel of the morning. Full stall, check-turn under the lip and tube time all the way across the sand bar. Twenty yards of barrel riding- with me screaming my head off the whole way. I was more stoked about that guy's barrel than I was about my own wave. I still am- that guy killed it!
The next day I was down there bright and early. Predictably it wasn't the same. "Never two days in a row", the guy with the short board told me, "You should know that by now". And he's right. But there's more swell on the way and I've heard rumors that the first legit day down at our mysto-peak went down while I was hauling ass up to Los Angeles. I missed it and I missed the killer session that was unfolding at the Dog Patch as I sped by on the 5 heading north. But I didn't miss Saturday morning and that's one heck of a consolation prize.
Stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego and all that. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or john@paddlesurf.net Click here for more info. Smiles, happiness and fun at no extra price!
My eyes must've bugged out of my head. There were clean, head high, glassy waves rolling in with only a few guys out. I'm sure the Halloween hang over was in effect because the crowds were unusually light. I did meet three other stand up paddlers from up the beach (what's up Scott!) and they were as stoked as we were.
There were definitely two swells in the water that day. The waves with too much west in them lined up and closed out across the sand bar. The ones you wanted were the remnants of the Southern Hemi that was slowly backing down. Those were the ones with enough angle on them to race along the inshore sand wedge and funnel down into the hole at the end of the street. Most were chest high, speed-walls that demanded a pump-til'-you-die speed demon attack. A few came in with some grunt and threw little barrels- of course those were the ones we were trying to stuff ourselves into. But those waves were fast- and if you mistimed it at all you were left behind, watching it all spin away from you.
I'm not much of a barrel rider. Missing the hole is kind of a by-line that falls right under my name most of the time. Subconsciously I keep thinking about Cheateaux and how he knocked his tooth out pulling in; guy didn't even know what hit him. I like my teeth. And that's a lot of junk to have swirling around you in the tube. Still, getting barreled is really the ultimate. Hemingway would've dug it. Grace under pressure- just like fighting bulls. Papa would've pulled in.
There were two spots to sit that day. Chad was down the beach a bit working the pier wedge. It's a better, more dependable wave but there were a few crawlers in the water and, in the case of a stand up surfer, one is a crowd in a tight spot like that. You've got to play it cool in those situations or the pack will turn on you and you'll find somebody in front of you on every wave. Here's what you cannot do: You cannot snag a set wave and then paddle right back out to the inside spot hoping to get another one. You should surf your wave and then make a point of not asserting yourself on the top of the peak- do that and you're asking for trouble. Play it cool- try not to be the guy on every good wave.
Me, I've got more insidious methods. I like to lure 'em into the good wave that comes before the perfect one. Bad behavior? Possibly. But hey we've all got a little Heart of Darkness in us somewhere don't we? And at some point it's going to be laid bare to you and the world. So I sucker others into good waves hoping I'll be in the clear for what's next. Is that so bad? And I tend to snake body boarders. Am I evil?
It was an interesting day. Like I said it was definitely a bonus day. The weather guys said it'd be windy all day long and here it was sheet glass. Well, not exactly- around 8:30am a little north wind started to mess things up and I was thinking that my little session was coming to an end. Luckily, I decided to hang out a bit longer. The wind backed down, the tide came up and for about forty-five minutes things got kind of weirdly perfect out there.
There were barrels up and down the beach. I snagged a good one (check the photo from two days ago- that's just one in a sequence of a little screamer I snagged) and as I was on the inside waiting to paddle back out, I watched a guy on a long board get the barrel of the morning. Full stall, check-turn under the lip and tube time all the way across the sand bar. Twenty yards of barrel riding- with me screaming my head off the whole way. I was more stoked about that guy's barrel than I was about my own wave. I still am- that guy killed it!
The next day I was down there bright and early. Predictably it wasn't the same. "Never two days in a row", the guy with the short board told me, "You should know that by now". And he's right. But there's more swell on the way and I've heard rumors that the first legit day down at our mysto-peak went down while I was hauling ass up to Los Angeles. I missed it and I missed the killer session that was unfolding at the Dog Patch as I sped by on the 5 heading north. But I didn't miss Saturday morning and that's one heck of a consolation prize.
Stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego and all that. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or john@paddlesurf.net Click here for more info. Smiles, happiness and fun at no extra price!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
More Photos: Chad Schwacking It!
More Saturday morning photos- Big Chad throwing his 10'0 Stamps up into the lip- schwack!
Photo: Drop in, line it up...
Photo: Come off the bottom with speed...
Photo: Put the cross hairs right on the lip....
Photo: And smack it a little...
Photo: Look where you want to land... and ride away. Easy. Now you go do it!
Offering Stand Up Paddle Surf Lessons in San Diego- come and get 'em! Click over to our Lessons Page and read all about it. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Photo: Drop in, line it up...
Photo: Come off the bottom with speed...
Photo: Put the cross hairs right on the lip....
Photo: And smack it a little...
Photo: Look where you want to land... and ride away. Easy. Now you go do it!
Offering Stand Up Paddle Surf Lessons in San Diego- come and get 'em! Click over to our Lessons Page and read all about it. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Surf was FIRING today!!!
Sore, can barely move, 3.5 hour sessions, tubes up and down the beach, lippers, cutbacks... whatever you wanted. More photos later!
Photo: Throw it up in the lip, why not? Credit: K.Kava.
Photo: Pull in... why not? Credit: K.Kava.
More photos tonight!
Photo: Throw it up in the lip, why not? Credit: K.Kava.
Photo: Pull in... why not? Credit: K.Kava.
More photos tonight!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wrapping one in Mainland Mexico...
Stand up surfers have a ridiculous advantage on the point breaks. Especially the big, well defined, water-flowing-from-top-to-bottom-like-a-river peelers. If you're crawling (lay down paddling) it's a long slog uphill after a run down the point. On a stand up board it's an easy cruise back with an excellent view. If you've got your skills down, and feel comfortable paddling in ocean chop and swell, there really is no better way to surf a good point. Stand up paddling takes the drudgery out of it and once you've surfed it our way- there's no going back. Except for another long one!
Photo above: The big left point breaks of mainland Mexico are well suited to a stand up surfing approach. Combine a glassy left-handed peeler with a hot goofy footer on the right board and sparks are guaranteed to fly. B.H., pre-bionic hips, lighting one up in deep Mexico.
Learn it, live it, love it! Stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego- be one of us, cross over to the dark side- infuse your life with instant cool! Private stand up lessons will get you out on the water with confidence. You'll learn everything you need to know to paddle surf safely and correctly. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Come join us in deep Baja California! All inclusive paddle surf adventures for the summer of 2009. Read more.
Photo above: The big left point breaks of mainland Mexico are well suited to a stand up surfing approach. Combine a glassy left-handed peeler with a hot goofy footer on the right board and sparks are guaranteed to fly. B.H., pre-bionic hips, lighting one up in deep Mexico.
Learn it, live it, love it! Stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego- be one of us, cross over to the dark side- infuse your life with instant cool! Private stand up lessons will get you out on the water with confidence. You'll learn everything you need to know to paddle surf safely and correctly. Give us a call: 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Come join us in deep Baja California! All inclusive paddle surf adventures for the summer of 2009. Read more.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A couple things to dream about...
These will get you thinking:
A lonely Baja point break, unnamed (by me at least) with only one guy on it. That's Tim Hatler, owner of Palapas Ventana surfing to a crowd of none at a spot somewhere within a hundred miles of his home. We're doing the research now and we hope to offer all inclusive stand up paddle surf trips down to Tim's place. No gear hassles in the airport- just get on the plane. We'll provide boards, paddles, tacos and tequila. Check back for info!
The story here is that this wave reels off for two hundred more yards. And the question you have to ask yourself is this: Knowing that you're going to ride this thing 'til your legs feel like oatmeal, and knowing that you're going to crank more turns on this one wave than you'll push around in a year back home- the real question is... do you have the balls to pull in right off the top? Are you steely enough to set that rail, get low and suck yourself up into that hole? Or do you play it safe and dodge the barrel? Do you got the guts? Well do you, punk?
Now there is more to tell about the spot featured here (and in the photo above). And, evidently, a lot more to see too. Here's the man with the secrets- and the photos- and if we put enough pressure on him he might just give it up. At least we're all hoping he will!
Stand up paddle surf lessons. Scientifically proven to make you more attractive to the opposite sex. Sign up now- you never know when you might need the attention! Specializing in private, stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego. Call us at 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Want to learn to paddle surf in the warm waters of Southern Baja? Interested in stand up paddle surfing Baja but don't want to carry a stand up board through a crowded airport? Click on our Surf Adventures Link on the right side bar (blue tile ad) to learn about our July of '09 stand up paddle surf trips to Baja California.
A lonely Baja point break, unnamed (by me at least) with only one guy on it. That's Tim Hatler, owner of Palapas Ventana surfing to a crowd of none at a spot somewhere within a hundred miles of his home. We're doing the research now and we hope to offer all inclusive stand up paddle surf trips down to Tim's place. No gear hassles in the airport- just get on the plane. We'll provide boards, paddles, tacos and tequila. Check back for info!
The story here is that this wave reels off for two hundred more yards. And the question you have to ask yourself is this: Knowing that you're going to ride this thing 'til your legs feel like oatmeal, and knowing that you're going to crank more turns on this one wave than you'll push around in a year back home- the real question is... do you have the balls to pull in right off the top? Are you steely enough to set that rail, get low and suck yourself up into that hole? Or do you play it safe and dodge the barrel? Do you got the guts? Well do you, punk?
Now there is more to tell about the spot featured here (and in the photo above). And, evidently, a lot more to see too. Here's the man with the secrets- and the photos- and if we put enough pressure on him he might just give it up. At least we're all hoping he will!
Stand up paddle surf lessons. Scientifically proven to make you more attractive to the opposite sex. Sign up now- you never know when you might need the attention! Specializing in private, stand up paddle surf lessons in San Diego. Call us at 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net
Want to learn to paddle surf in the warm waters of Southern Baja? Interested in stand up paddle surfing Baja but don't want to carry a stand up board through a crowded airport? Click on our Surf Adventures Link on the right side bar (blue tile ad) to learn about our July of '09 stand up paddle surf trips to Baja California.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
There will always be room for stand up paddlers.
Look around, paddle down the beach or out to a distant reef, no need to stand up paddle Malibu or Rincon or any "name spot". There'll always be room for stand up paddlers- even if we will have to wear WaterWings to surf them legally. No crowds in the video, just a bunch of us bouncing around in the fog (and not a life jacket in site!):
Thanks for the video Camera Grom!
Thanks for the video Camera Grom!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
FCS SUP Travel Bag: Best on the Market- Video/Photos
Alexis warned me: "...you're going to be like a kid in a candy store". Two hours later, there I was, eyes bugged out of my head, wiping the drool off my chin in the FCS warehouse. The place was packed full of surf-hardware. Quality stuff- things not yet released. Items with full-on stand up paddle applications; hot fin templates, heavy duty leashes (I'm testing a couple from the new line- I'll get back to you if and when I finally snap 'em) and the coolest stand up travel bags I've seen:
FCS hit a home run with this bag. It's thickly padded, has a clean fit and features a padded paddle bag that attaches inside the board bag. Obviously, these guys know their business, the bag is well conceived with hardcore travel in mind. Someone at FCS must ride and travel with a stand up board- the details speak for themselves!
I've got two major Baja runs and a fourteen day trip to mainland Mexico on the books- this is the bag I'll be using. Here it is zipped closed....
...with two boards in it! I've got an 8'0 stuck in there too just to show that with the fins removed from the stand up, it wouldn't be a stretch to stick a back up, regular surfboard in there too- I know I will!
Find more videos like this on Stand Up Paddle Surfing
Fall Paddle Surfing is Fun! Call us now for a stand up paddle lesson in flat, glassy autumn conditions- get your basic skills down now and be ready for the summer paddle season! We've put over a hundred paddlers onto stand up boards, our techniques are proven and the fun is contagious! Check out the testimonials and get detailed information on our Lessons Page and give us a call 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net. All of our stand up paddle surf lessons in sunny San Diego are private and are custom-constructed to fit your needs- come on out and stand up paddle with us!
FCS hit a home run with this bag. It's thickly padded, has a clean fit and features a padded paddle bag that attaches inside the board bag. Obviously, these guys know their business, the bag is well conceived with hardcore travel in mind. Someone at FCS must ride and travel with a stand up board- the details speak for themselves!
I've got two major Baja runs and a fourteen day trip to mainland Mexico on the books- this is the bag I'll be using. Here it is zipped closed....
...with two boards in it! I've got an 8'0 stuck in there too just to show that with the fins removed from the stand up, it wouldn't be a stretch to stick a back up, regular surfboard in there too- I know I will!
Find more videos like this on Stand Up Paddle Surfing
Fall Paddle Surfing is Fun! Call us now for a stand up paddle lesson in flat, glassy autumn conditions- get your basic skills down now and be ready for the summer paddle season! We've put over a hundred paddlers onto stand up boards, our techniques are proven and the fun is contagious! Check out the testimonials and get detailed information on our Lessons Page and give us a call 619.213.6622 or email john@paddlesurf.net. All of our stand up paddle surf lessons in sunny San Diego are private and are custom-constructed to fit your needs- come on out and stand up paddle with us!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Surf Is FIRING!!! Check out some poached photos!
Go check out Carl's site for some day-to-day surf photos- I poached these off of his account- killer morning light and smooth surf. Here's what the boys scored this morning- I was at work... ahhhhh! All photos by Carl.
Top two photos: The Zapper... zipping! Kiwi on his new Stu Kenson stick. Credit: Carl
Three photos above: Barrels, barrels, barrels... it's killing me!
Photo: Dr. John- terminally hooked to his stand up board.
Top two photos: The Zapper... zipping! Kiwi on his new Stu Kenson stick. Credit: Carl
Three photos above: Barrels, barrels, barrels... it's killing me!
Photo: Dr. John- terminally hooked to his stand up board.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Kelly's Journey Part II: Khama is born.
Kelly's Journey Part II: Khama is born.
Photo: After laying on a little glass...
Photo: The board is beginning to take shape!
Thanks, Kelly, for sharing your story- what an amazing board and project. We'll need to know how it paddles and would love to know what kinds of adventures you and Khama have gotten into. And if I ever see a tangerine board go whizzing by me at San-O I'll know who it is- see you in the water!
Photo: After laying on a little glass...
Photo: The board is beginning to take shape!
Paddlesurf.net: Was there any point at which you were worried that the project might not get completed?
Kelly: Yes definitely, at one point we were having trouble "seeing eye to eye" and I didn't want to bring that negativity into what we were doing with the board. So I let the idea go of having the board and instead just was happy I got to work on it as much as I did. Things worked out. We forgave each other and it was a big accomplishment on both ends to continue to work together. We created something we both loved…and saw that work and experience as a symbol and analogy for our relationship and even life in general.
Photo: We even hand cut and finished the fin.
Paddlesurf.net: At what point did you start to see a surfboard being born and how did that feel?
Kelly: After we put the first layer of glass on it- that's when it seemed like a surfboard- not just a project. I took it out on the bay to see how it felt and it was so exciting to think that the work we were putting into it was actually turning into something real.
Photo: After a quick primer coat we mixed up some paint and sprayed it on... we call it "tangerine"!
Paddlesurf.net: How did you decide on the paint scheme and fabric inlay?
Kelly: I went to the fabric store and got swatches of a few different fabrics that I really liked. We then put resin over them to see how they would lay, to make sure it didn't bleed, and to see how the color would change when it was glassed- then chose the best from there. Although the one I liked best was a "crinkle" fabric- so it didn't lay perfectly flat when we glassed it. If I did it again, I would choose a flat fabric. For the paint- we just got creative! I knew I wanted to be bright and colorful. We had some red, yellow, and orange paint and mixed them together to create the "tangerine" orange end product- it matched the fabric perfectly!
Photo: Owner/Operator... and a big smile!
Paddlesurf.net: Would you do it again?
Kelly: Absolutely! I am very very lucky I had the opportunity to do it in the first place. It made me appreciate shaping in a new way and I learned so much. I love what I created and am proud of it- but like any new hobby/skill - there is a lot of room for improvement and it would be great to keep practicing, keep learning, and keep trying to be better. It was just an amazing experience.
Photo: We laminated the fabric right to the board.
Paddlesurf.net: If you could give three pieces of advice to anybody hoping to make a board what would they be?
Kelly: 1. Patience! Take your time and don't try to rush through it. Its much harder to go back and correct your mistakes. 2. Find a good teacher! This information is invaluable… Or if you don't have someone to teach you- reach out to as many sources and websites as possible to ask for advice. 3. Just have fun! Don't expect perfection because you won't get it. Just appreciate what you have made. And take lots of pictures.
Photo: If it paddles as good as it looks, we've got a winner!
Paddlesurf.net: I see you have a label on the board- would you care to explain what it's about?
Kelly: The label on the board says KHAMA which is the Pali word for forgiveness. "the Pali word for forgiveness-khama-also means 'the earth.' A mind like the earth is non-reactive and unperturbed. When you forgive me for harming you, you decide not to retaliate, to seek no revenge. You don't have to like me. You simply unburden yourself of the weight of resentment and cut the cycle of retribution that would otherwise keep us ensnarled in an ugly samsaric wrestling match. This is a gift you can give us both, totally on your own, without my having to know or understand what you've done."
The reason for the name is two-fold. One, the act of forgiveness is a very important aspect in my life so the word is meaningful to me. Two, I made the board with my ex-boyfriend part of making this board together had to do with forgiving each other….and out of forgiveness- a paddle board is born!
Photo: What a cool board!
Paddlesurf.net: Are you already dreaming about what you'll do differently for your next board or is this a one time deal?
Kelly: I am dreaming!! If this was a one time deal, then I will appreciate it as so, but if I had the opportunity again…..I already have ideas of what I can do better.
Thanks, Kelly, for sharing your story- what an amazing board and project. We'll need to know how it paddles and would love to know what kinds of adventures you and Khama have gotten into. And if I ever see a tangerine board go whizzing by me at San-O I'll know who it is- see you in the water!
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