Photo: Check out the left hander peeling off in the distance... nobody out, nobody going to paddle out... all yours.
Photo: Same problem... nobody to surf with.
Photo: Santi snapping away... save this spot for next time!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Travel Pics: Wave potential
We ended up heading north to check out a couple of other spots in the neighboring state of Michoacan. Here's a couple of spots we just passed right on by. If you had the time and inclination, you could surf by yourself everyday down there. Check these out:
Photo: Check out the left hander peeling off in the distance... nobody out, nobody going to paddle out... all yours.
Photo: Same problem... nobody to surf with.
Photo: Santi snapping away... save this spot for next time!
Photo: Check out the left hander peeling off in the distance... nobody out, nobody going to paddle out... all yours.
Photo: Same problem... nobody to surf with.
Photo: Santi snapping away... save this spot for next time!
Friday, October 16, 2009
A Mainland Mex Snapshot
Here's an overview shot... from the camera at the end of my paddle... of the place I like to go to down south.
No high rises, no flashing neon signs with guys hawking time shares and tequila shots- just a fun little wave out in front, palm trees and cold beers. Sure the electricity goes out almost every time it rains and it does get a little hot at times but I'll gladly accept those shortcomings to keep "big Mexico" out of this little corner by the sea.
No high rises, no flashing neon signs with guys hawking time shares and tequila shots- just a fun little wave out in front, palm trees and cold beers. Sure the electricity goes out almost every time it rains and it does get a little hot at times but I'll gladly accept those shortcomings to keep "big Mexico" out of this little corner by the sea.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Killer New Travel Bag and the last of the GEAR GEEK!
If these were available for stand up boards 9'6" and smaller, I'd buy one right now. Check this thing out.
I especially like the part where he chucks the 50lb suitcase onto the board and says, "Oooops". Kind of like when the 300lb United luggage handler plants his size 15 boot right into the guts of your new $1500 stand up board. It'd be sweet if you could stuff an additional prone board in there too.
For better or worse, here it is: The Last of the GEAR GEEK!
19. Ipod and Sony Sound Canceling Headphones: Our return flight out of Zihuat. was brutal... all of Club Med loaded up and each one was packing at least one toddler. Gnarly. At one point, even the four Coronas ("On the house" said the shell shocked flight attendant), couldn't dumb down the cacophony.
At this point, you just want it all to go away... and it does when you slip these puppies over your flaps and redline your 'pod (my recomendation? The SteelDrivers- some of the best bluegrass out there). Instant bliss. The combo is so effective that I peacefully missed out on the projectile vomit episode that went down a few inches behind my head. If you've got the big bucks go with the $400 Bose version but if you're like me, and don't like to travel with things you can't bear to lose, pick up this Sony headset for about $40.
20. and 21. A lesson from two trips ago: Always bring more than one paddle... and pad it up. I use full length paddle bags and haven't had a problem since my first run down south.
20b. Oops, I listed the number 20. twice! No problem, check out the O'neill, SPF 30, long sleeve rashguard. The best thing about this particular model is the back zip. You can stuff all kinds of things in there for a long day of paddling: Powerbars, small bottles of water, car keys.
One thing to remember about rashguards in the tropics, they're not just for sun protection. At certain times of the year, beaches can become infested with jellyfish or, even worse, broken up pieces of stinging jellyfish. The second option is horrible, you'll never see the stinging part before that branding iron burns itself in. Ouch. When it get's bad it can drive you from the water, that's when you'll be glad that you brought the long sleeve version; you've effectively up-armored yourself. Surf on.
22. Tropical Wax: be sure to rewax before you get to your destination. Best spot? The air conditioned comfort of your living room (try waxing up on a hot day in the tropics- no dice) Throw on Beyond Blazing Boards and mix up a gin and tonic. Shoot, it's like date night- just you and your board. It's good to be a grom again- especially on the eve of a surf trip.
Hot tip: Bring a couple of extra bars for the local kids- a little regalo goes a long way down south.
23. and 24. Buy good boards! Here's my trusty travel quiver: 9'4 Stand up and 6'4 quad fish, both boards made by Tim Stamps up in Seal Beach. I'm pretty well covered with what I've got here. The only gap I've got is if it gets super, hollow, heavy and scary. At that point I pull the cap off a couple of Pacificos and plant myself in the shade- it's good to know your limits.
25. FCS 9'6" Stand Up Travel Bag: I haven't found a better bag out there. This one comes with an interior paddle bag and velcro fasteners. The bag is well built, looks good and is big enough for me to stuff my two boards (and the 6'4" is even in it's own bag inside the FCS!) and two paddles inside of it. The inflatable SOMA bag looks good but until they've made a SUP version, this one will be the go-to.
26. DaKine Day Bag: This one's for my 6'4". On my last trip down, I super wrapped the fish in bubble wrap- kind of a pain. Kelly Kraus told me to just stuff it the board in it's own bag and pack it- what a great idea! The big plus is that when you've got to chuck your board in the back of some local's pickup for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to that forbidden, mysto point break- your board will get there intact.
I especially like the part where he chucks the 50lb suitcase onto the board and says, "Oooops". Kind of like when the 300lb United luggage handler plants his size 15 boot right into the guts of your new $1500 stand up board. It'd be sweet if you could stuff an additional prone board in there too.
For better or worse, here it is: The Last of the GEAR GEEK!
19. Ipod and Sony Sound Canceling Headphones: Our return flight out of Zihuat. was brutal... all of Club Med loaded up and each one was packing at least one toddler. Gnarly. At one point, even the four Coronas ("On the house" said the shell shocked flight attendant), couldn't dumb down the cacophony.
At this point, you just want it all to go away... and it does when you slip these puppies over your flaps and redline your 'pod (my recomendation? The SteelDrivers- some of the best bluegrass out there). Instant bliss. The combo is so effective that I peacefully missed out on the projectile vomit episode that went down a few inches behind my head. If you've got the big bucks go with the $400 Bose version but if you're like me, and don't like to travel with things you can't bear to lose, pick up this Sony headset for about $40.
20. and 21. A lesson from two trips ago: Always bring more than one paddle... and pad it up. I use full length paddle bags and haven't had a problem since my first run down south.
20b. Oops, I listed the number 20. twice! No problem, check out the O'neill, SPF 30, long sleeve rashguard. The best thing about this particular model is the back zip. You can stuff all kinds of things in there for a long day of paddling: Powerbars, small bottles of water, car keys.
One thing to remember about rashguards in the tropics, they're not just for sun protection. At certain times of the year, beaches can become infested with jellyfish or, even worse, broken up pieces of stinging jellyfish. The second option is horrible, you'll never see the stinging part before that branding iron burns itself in. Ouch. When it get's bad it can drive you from the water, that's when you'll be glad that you brought the long sleeve version; you've effectively up-armored yourself. Surf on.
22. Tropical Wax: be sure to rewax before you get to your destination. Best spot? The air conditioned comfort of your living room (try waxing up on a hot day in the tropics- no dice) Throw on Beyond Blazing Boards and mix up a gin and tonic. Shoot, it's like date night- just you and your board. It's good to be a grom again- especially on the eve of a surf trip.
Hot tip: Bring a couple of extra bars for the local kids- a little regalo goes a long way down south.
23. and 24. Buy good boards! Here's my trusty travel quiver: 9'4 Stand up and 6'4 quad fish, both boards made by Tim Stamps up in Seal Beach. I'm pretty well covered with what I've got here. The only gap I've got is if it gets super, hollow, heavy and scary. At that point I pull the cap off a couple of Pacificos and plant myself in the shade- it's good to know your limits.
25. FCS 9'6" Stand Up Travel Bag: I haven't found a better bag out there. This one comes with an interior paddle bag and velcro fasteners. The bag is well built, looks good and is big enough for me to stuff my two boards (and the 6'4" is even in it's own bag inside the FCS!) and two paddles inside of it. The inflatable SOMA bag looks good but until they've made a SUP version, this one will be the go-to.
26. DaKine Day Bag: This one's for my 6'4". On my last trip down, I super wrapped the fish in bubble wrap- kind of a pain. Kelly Kraus told me to just stuff it the board in it's own bag and pack it- what a great idea! The big plus is that when you've got to chuck your board in the back of some local's pickup for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to that forbidden, mysto point break- your board will get there intact.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sacred Craft Surfboard Show: Some new stand up boards in the mix
The annual Sacred Craft surfboard show came to town last Saturday and Sunday. Here's a couple shots of boards that caught my eye:
Here's a cool looking Stretch bat tail quad that is somewhere around 9'6" in length. The bat tail quad is kind of a bread-and-butter shortboard shape for Stretch- here it is translated (and, pardon the pun, stretched) into a stand up shape. The thing looks fun- I wonder how Stretch's stand up boards are catching on up in Santa Cruz- I bet the boys at the Lane dig 'em.
Here's the tail end of that stand up board- a committed four finner... like I said, looks like fun!
Dave Daum's area- coming on strong with a whole line up of stand ups straight outta Cardiff.
These guys are making some of the hottest, short, stand ups on the water. The label is Plus One and this board is somewhere in the 8' range- sweet outline, this one's a ripper for sure.
Another shot of Plus One's short stand-o. I'm going to have to hook up a test ride on one of these sometime.
I haven't heard of these guys before so I don't know where they're from or what they're about (someone out there help me out) but the stand up they had tucked away looked clean.
Most striking to me was the shift in interest to smaller stand up boards. The first wave has come through, worn out their 12'ers and are demanding surfable stand up boards- from what I can see the shapers are up to the challenge. Can't wait for some of these boards to make it through my hands.
Here's a cool looking Stretch bat tail quad that is somewhere around 9'6" in length. The bat tail quad is kind of a bread-and-butter shortboard shape for Stretch- here it is translated (and, pardon the pun, stretched) into a stand up shape. The thing looks fun- I wonder how Stretch's stand up boards are catching on up in Santa Cruz- I bet the boys at the Lane dig 'em.
Here's the tail end of that stand up board- a committed four finner... like I said, looks like fun!
Dave Daum's area- coming on strong with a whole line up of stand ups straight outta Cardiff.
These guys are making some of the hottest, short, stand ups on the water. The label is Plus One and this board is somewhere in the 8' range- sweet outline, this one's a ripper for sure.
Another shot of Plus One's short stand-o. I'm going to have to hook up a test ride on one of these sometime.
I haven't heard of these guys before so I don't know where they're from or what they're about (someone out there help me out) but the stand up they had tucked away looked clean.
Most striking to me was the shift in interest to smaller stand up boards. The first wave has come through, worn out their 12'ers and are demanding surfable stand up boards- from what I can see the shapers are up to the challenge. Can't wait for some of these boards to make it through my hands.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Mexico Travel Gear: Part IV
More gear info:
13. Waterproof wallet: small enough to fit in your wax pocket yet large enough to hold your passport, credit cards and pimp roll. If you're staying in a semi-sketchy zone or have to park the rental car off the beaten path, you'll want to know that the paperwork that'll get you home is safe and secure.
14. Mexican TelCel pay-as-you-go cell phone: Pick one up, they're everywhere. Load the thing up and make your calls. You lose it, it get's stolen or you break it? Who cares?
15. Ding repair kit: Tube of Solar-Rez (in my case, epoxy Solar-Rez, since I ride epoxy boards- make sure you use the right kind or you'll end up with a disaster), sand paper, screwdriver for installing fin nut, length of shoelace for leash plug and, most importantly, a roll of sail repair tape. The plastic film sail repair tape sticks like crazy and is totally impervious to water. I buy mine (it's the white roll of tape) from West Marine- don't get the nylon fabric kind!
16. Dell Mini-Inspiron Laptop: This thing's rad- and it's cheap enough that if it was stolen, I wouldn't be too worried about it (which definitely wouldn't have been the case if I'd sprung for the $1600 + Apple laptop I was drooling over). I picked up this little laptop (10" screen, 2 lbs) for $320 bucks. It's the perfect size for throwing in a backpack (super lightweight and small) and it does everything I need... and not much more. Which is okay because this thing isn't my primary workstation it's just meant to keep me in touch with this site and my email... and maybe a surf report or two. Only downer is the 2.5 hour battery life- maybe there's a better battery just around the corner.
17. RadioShack rechargeable AA and AAA batteries and Energizer Rapid Recharge station with cigarette lighter adapter: Everything I need to keep my Canon S5 IS and GoPro powered up and working. The Energizer charger is great; go from dead to full charge in about fifteen minutes. Fire the thing up in the rental car or the casita- a super versatile piece of equipment.
18. Photo gear: Want a killer little camera that snaps fairly sharp photos, decent video and has a zoom that's the equivalent of a 650mm lens? Pick up a Canon Powershot S5 IS. This is a tough little unit, it's not an SLR so there's no worry about dust infiltrating the body when you change lenses. The camera is simple to operate as a point and shoot but does allow for a moderate level of control if you're into messing with all the different photo controls (I really like the exposure compensation button). I've carried this camera all over Mexico, treating it badly every step of the way and I've never had a problem with it. I use the thing to shoot most of the photos you see here on p.net and almost all of the video that has been posted. This model is last year's version, the newer SX10 IS is also very nice but its lens doesn't allow you to add aftermarket telephoto accessories. If you can find one of these out there, grab it.
13. Waterproof wallet: small enough to fit in your wax pocket yet large enough to hold your passport, credit cards and pimp roll. If you're staying in a semi-sketchy zone or have to park the rental car off the beaten path, you'll want to know that the paperwork that'll get you home is safe and secure.
14. Mexican TelCel pay-as-you-go cell phone: Pick one up, they're everywhere. Load the thing up and make your calls. You lose it, it get's stolen or you break it? Who cares?
15. Ding repair kit: Tube of Solar-Rez (in my case, epoxy Solar-Rez, since I ride epoxy boards- make sure you use the right kind or you'll end up with a disaster), sand paper, screwdriver for installing fin nut, length of shoelace for leash plug and, most importantly, a roll of sail repair tape. The plastic film sail repair tape sticks like crazy and is totally impervious to water. I buy mine (it's the white roll of tape) from West Marine- don't get the nylon fabric kind!
16. Dell Mini-Inspiron Laptop: This thing's rad- and it's cheap enough that if it was stolen, I wouldn't be too worried about it (which definitely wouldn't have been the case if I'd sprung for the $1600 + Apple laptop I was drooling over). I picked up this little laptop (10" screen, 2 lbs) for $320 bucks. It's the perfect size for throwing in a backpack (super lightweight and small) and it does everything I need... and not much more. Which is okay because this thing isn't my primary workstation it's just meant to keep me in touch with this site and my email... and maybe a surf report or two. Only downer is the 2.5 hour battery life- maybe there's a better battery just around the corner.
17. RadioShack rechargeable AA and AAA batteries and Energizer Rapid Recharge station with cigarette lighter adapter: Everything I need to keep my Canon S5 IS and GoPro powered up and working. The Energizer charger is great; go from dead to full charge in about fifteen minutes. Fire the thing up in the rental car or the casita- a super versatile piece of equipment.
18. Photo gear: Want a killer little camera that snaps fairly sharp photos, decent video and has a zoom that's the equivalent of a 650mm lens? Pick up a Canon Powershot S5 IS. This is a tough little unit, it's not an SLR so there's no worry about dust infiltrating the body when you change lenses. The camera is simple to operate as a point and shoot but does allow for a moderate level of control if you're into messing with all the different photo controls (I really like the exposure compensation button). I've carried this camera all over Mexico, treating it badly every step of the way and I've never had a problem with it. I use the thing to shoot most of the photos you see here on p.net and almost all of the video that has been posted. This model is last year's version, the newer SX10 IS is also very nice but its lens doesn't allow you to add aftermarket telephoto accessories. If you can find one of these out there, grab it.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Here's a couple from down south...
I'm going to give my inner gear-geek a rest. We'll wrap up that "What-to-bring-on-a-stand-up-paddle-surf-trip-to-mainland-Mexico" piece next time. How about a couple of surf photos from down south? Sound good to you? Check these ones out. Sure was a good time... can't wait to do it again!
Photo: Mercedes and Chico. Chico is the baby deer that Lourdes (owner/proprietor of the bar/restaurant on the point) found on the highway. Chico roams the point, sleeps with Lourdes' two dogs and comes in every now and then for a little feed from the baby bottle. I'm sure it won't be long before he's ripping the point.
Photo: I'll call it "Up the road", if you've been there you know where it is. A good, fun, non-life threatening wave. Plenty of lonely waves to be surfed if you have the means to paddle away from the ten or so guys surfing the main peak. Check this one out, running both left and right, empty the whole time we were there.
Photo: "Out in Fronts" doing it's thing. Super long and really fun.
Photo: Mercedes and Chico. Chico is the baby deer that Lourdes (owner/proprietor of the bar/restaurant on the point) found on the highway. Chico roams the point, sleeps with Lourdes' two dogs and comes in every now and then for a little feed from the baby bottle. I'm sure it won't be long before he's ripping the point.
Photo: I'll call it "Up the road", if you've been there you know where it is. A good, fun, non-life threatening wave. Plenty of lonely waves to be surfed if you have the means to paddle away from the ten or so guys surfing the main peak. Check this one out, running both left and right, empty the whole time we were there.
Photo: "Out in Fronts" doing it's thing. Super long and really fun.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Packing for a stand up travel trip: Part III
Hey! I'm back. Here's a bunch more info about my travel rig, trying to finish this up to get to some trip photos... maybe even a little video clip.
6. 15' Thule straps with the rubber covered, cinch-cam. Stand up boards are trouble when it comes to racking them with standard soft racks. Our wide boards tend to eat up all the webbing- leaving nothing for the boards of your travel mates. The problem is compounded when you're traveling with more than one paddle board. Here's my solution: Skip the fancy soft racks and buy a pair of these. When you're ready to roll, just throw the boards directly onto the car's roof, stack the boards in two rows, run the straps over whole mess and completely through the windows, cinch 'em down and your in there. On this trip we transported four surf boards and my stand up without a problem.
Tip: I like the Thules because the ratchet cam seems a bit higher quality then what you'd find at, say, Walmart. Also, Thule's straps come with a cool rubber covering that keeps that metal cam from knocking a dent in the side of your car (or an incisor from your jaw) when somebody tosses that little metal wrecking ball over the pile of boards.
7. Lee Child novels: My surf trip reading list doesn't include nail biters like Anna Karenina or The Scarlet Letter. I need something a little more accessible. My "go to" choice? Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. In a nutshell: violence, intrigue, espionage, bad guys who've got it coming them and super cool fight sequences centered around elbow shots to the Adam's apple and ear drum busting head slaps. If you like it down and dirty and need to know why the first squeeze of the 9mm Steyr requires a fourteen pound pull, this is the series for you. Perfect surf trip reading.
8. Future Fins: My new infatuation? The Futures Gerry Lopez SUP thruster fin set. Get yourselves some of these, they do it all- especially in head high to overhead surf. I also never go anywhere without my G10 Scimitar 3/2/1s; if the surf gets small I pop these things in for an instant small wave speed gain. I'm a little conflicted with where I'm at with my middle fin when running the 3/2/1s so I usually bring the Futures 7" cutaway style center fin and a 6" FCS offering and switch them back and forth until I'm totally confused. Fin's will mess with your mind- find a couple of sets you like and play with them.
Tip: Be sure to bring an extra finbox screw and plate- these do get lost, stripped or broken, be sure you've got yourself covered.
9. Box of Kool-Aid individually packaged drink mix and a box of EmergenC individual drink mix packets: Staying hydrated is easier when it tastes good and the EmergenC keeps me in the vitamins (even if I'm really just peeing them away). I mix one Kool Aid packet and one EmergenC packet in my Nalgene bottle, stash it in the fridge and drink it throughout the day.
Tip: No, Vodka and EmergenC don't make a tasty cocktail.
10. Liquid Pepto-Bismol: Yes, the tablets are lighter, don't leak and work well. For me, though, nothing says I'm going to coat, soothe and relieve that stew of chorizo, jalapeno and horchata churning in your gut like a bottle of original pink. As soon as that thick sludge slides down your throat you know you're going to make it through the night... or your three and a half hour plane flight home. Believe me, don't leave home without this stuff.
11. Mosquito net: Light weight insurance against the longest, most miserable night of your life. I used mine on this trip and was snug, happy and extremely satisfied to see those sneaky little bastards bumping against it all night long. Hah.
Tip: Throw a shoe string or a short length of twine into your mozzie net's bag- you'll thank me when it comes time to hang that thing up.
12. Telescoping 8' fishing rod and reel set: All carbon, high quality travel rod. This thing's slick, made for legitimate fish handling and available at compactfishinggear.com I picked up the Mobistick, haven't used it yet but I'm excited to try it out.
About half way done with this stuff... Check back for more!
6. 15' Thule straps with the rubber covered, cinch-cam. Stand up boards are trouble when it comes to racking them with standard soft racks. Our wide boards tend to eat up all the webbing- leaving nothing for the boards of your travel mates. The problem is compounded when you're traveling with more than one paddle board. Here's my solution: Skip the fancy soft racks and buy a pair of these. When you're ready to roll, just throw the boards directly onto the car's roof, stack the boards in two rows, run the straps over whole mess and completely through the windows, cinch 'em down and your in there. On this trip we transported four surf boards and my stand up without a problem.
Tip: I like the Thules because the ratchet cam seems a bit higher quality then what you'd find at, say, Walmart. Also, Thule's straps come with a cool rubber covering that keeps that metal cam from knocking a dent in the side of your car (or an incisor from your jaw) when somebody tosses that little metal wrecking ball over the pile of boards.
7. Lee Child novels: My surf trip reading list doesn't include nail biters like Anna Karenina or The Scarlet Letter. I need something a little more accessible. My "go to" choice? Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. In a nutshell: violence, intrigue, espionage, bad guys who've got it coming them and super cool fight sequences centered around elbow shots to the Adam's apple and ear drum busting head slaps. If you like it down and dirty and need to know why the first squeeze of the 9mm Steyr requires a fourteen pound pull, this is the series for you. Perfect surf trip reading.
8. Future Fins: My new infatuation? The Futures Gerry Lopez SUP thruster fin set. Get yourselves some of these, they do it all- especially in head high to overhead surf. I also never go anywhere without my G10 Scimitar 3/2/1s; if the surf gets small I pop these things in for an instant small wave speed gain. I'm a little conflicted with where I'm at with my middle fin when running the 3/2/1s so I usually bring the Futures 7" cutaway style center fin and a 6" FCS offering and switch them back and forth until I'm totally confused. Fin's will mess with your mind- find a couple of sets you like and play with them.
Tip: Be sure to bring an extra finbox screw and plate- these do get lost, stripped or broken, be sure you've got yourself covered.
9. Box of Kool-Aid individually packaged drink mix and a box of EmergenC individual drink mix packets: Staying hydrated is easier when it tastes good and the EmergenC keeps me in the vitamins (even if I'm really just peeing them away). I mix one Kool Aid packet and one EmergenC packet in my Nalgene bottle, stash it in the fridge and drink it throughout the day.
Tip: No, Vodka and EmergenC don't make a tasty cocktail.
10. Liquid Pepto-Bismol: Yes, the tablets are lighter, don't leak and work well. For me, though, nothing says I'm going to coat, soothe and relieve that stew of chorizo, jalapeno and horchata churning in your gut like a bottle of original pink. As soon as that thick sludge slides down your throat you know you're going to make it through the night... or your three and a half hour plane flight home. Believe me, don't leave home without this stuff.
11. Mosquito net: Light weight insurance against the longest, most miserable night of your life. I used mine on this trip and was snug, happy and extremely satisfied to see those sneaky little bastards bumping against it all night long. Hah.
Tip: Throw a shoe string or a short length of twine into your mozzie net's bag- you'll thank me when it comes time to hang that thing up.
12. Telescoping 8' fishing rod and reel set: All carbon, high quality travel rod. This thing's slick, made for legitimate fish handling and available at compactfishinggear.com I picked up the Mobistick, haven't used it yet but I'm excited to try it out.
About half way done with this stuff... Check back for more!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Travel Gear Part II plus a Mainland Surf Pic!
Photo: Surf has been super fun and today it started building.... gonna be interesting tomorrow!
Here's a little more info on my travel gear:
4. Hand towel: Big beach towels are heavy, take up room and don't dry too well in humid tropical surf spots. A hand towel will get the job done. The downside to it is it makes the beach change a little interesting.
5. Sanuk slip-ons: light, comfortable and fast drying these are the perfect back ups to a pair of flip flops. On the plus side they cover your foot for night time mozzie protection and if you have to slip them on and off for the TSA guys, you're into and out of them in a flash.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Quick Mainland Surf Report
Hey Folks- after a little messing around with my new netbook (yes, I did contemplate going fully postal on it and beating it on a palm tree) I'm up and on the 'net.
Quick down south surf report: Been here two full days now and have surfed seven different times. The surf has been super fun- chest to head high, glassy in the morning and a bit choppy in the afternoon but smoothing out nicely by sunset. Water's beautiful- high seventies- possibly more. The kind of water temp that is absolutely comfortable when you first hop in... at 7am. Like a nice warm blanket.
Crowds? Super light. Maybe ten/fifteen guys in the water during the prime morning surfing hours. So much space though- I've surfed every morning session by myself up near the rivermouth. Funny how lemming like surfers are. If there's any easy to reach peak, you can bet everybody will head right to it. Easy enough for me to paddle right on past and surf by myself. Good, long, warm water surf.
Gerry Lopez SUP fin set: Simple enough, these fins are HOT. I've used them now in everything from slopey, slow, mushburger point surf to roping head and half reef/point waves. The fins just work- and they're fast. I did have to make an adjustment in fin position for the bigger, faster days; I moved the middle fin all the way to the back of the box to give me a little more drive and sticking power off the bottom.
I'm super surprised at how well the things hold- I haven't spun out once although I did get a little moment of skitteriness on a bigger wave- moving the fin back solved that. I am going to experiment a bit with a six inch fin in the box and see how that goes. Surf is supposed to jump in the next couple of days so that may be a great time to see how it all works out.
Quick down south surf report: Been here two full days now and have surfed seven different times. The surf has been super fun- chest to head high, glassy in the morning and a bit choppy in the afternoon but smoothing out nicely by sunset. Water's beautiful- high seventies- possibly more. The kind of water temp that is absolutely comfortable when you first hop in... at 7am. Like a nice warm blanket.
Crowds? Super light. Maybe ten/fifteen guys in the water during the prime morning surfing hours. So much space though- I've surfed every morning session by myself up near the rivermouth. Funny how lemming like surfers are. If there's any easy to reach peak, you can bet everybody will head right to it. Easy enough for me to paddle right on past and surf by myself. Good, long, warm water surf.
Gerry Lopez SUP fin set: Simple enough, these fins are HOT. I've used them now in everything from slopey, slow, mushburger point surf to roping head and half reef/point waves. The fins just work- and they're fast. I did have to make an adjustment in fin position for the bigger, faster days; I moved the middle fin all the way to the back of the box to give me a little more drive and sticking power off the bottom.
I'm super surprised at how well the things hold- I haven't spun out once although I did get a little moment of skitteriness on a bigger wave- moving the fin back solved that. I am going to experiment a bit with a six inch fin in the box and see how that goes. Surf is supposed to jump in the next couple of days so that may be a great time to see how it all works out.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Mainland Mexico Paddle Surf Trip: My Gear...EXPOSED!!!
These next few posts are dedicated to the gearheads out there... those who love to anyalyze, re-analyze and over analyze equipment and its performance. I'm flying out of here tomorrow for ten days of surfing the left points and reefs of mainland Mexico. Here's a breakdown of my travel kit.
If you're a gear nut you're going to dig this- I give a play-by-play description of what I bring and why. If you're the kind of guy who jams it all into a duffel and sleeps in your board bag you'll be bored to tears. The best part of this whole deal? By the time you see this I'll be 30,000' in the air sinking in to my second beer... enjoy!
1. FCS Leashes: I'm not sponsored by these guys- in fact I pay full retail (well close to full retail- SurfHut, the local surf shop helps me out on equipment) so I've got no bias when I say that these are the BEST stand up leashes that I've used. Check out the yellowing one with the black core, it's survived two trips down to mainland- that's almost a month of continuous (three session a day) use.
That particular leash is battle tested. I've trusted it in double overhead surf where it's been stretched to twice it's length. I've treated it bad, it lives in the open bed of my truck- I just chuck it in the back after each surf. And still, like Old Yeller (pre-rabies) it's never let me down. I've used the others and have reached a verdict: FCS leashes win hands down.
Here's a tip: Buy a new leash before each trip, be sure to switch out your old leash string with new one that comes with your fresh leash- when it gets gnarly, you'll be happy- and so will your board.
2. Patagonia Paddler Trunks: These are basically the only trunks that I own- I've got five pairs of them. If you're like me, meaning you possess a basically square, Torso-Man physique, these are your trunks. They are the most comfortable, durable, best-fitting trunks I've ever had. The inseams are cut a little bit shorter than normal so you don't look like some gangster-vato with your trunks hanging down to mid-shin. The best part is that the trunks have a hanging inner polyester liner (no, it's not a mesh brief-type liner like the shorts you wore in fifth grade) that allows the shorts to slide over your upper leg when your moving around.
Hot tip: Buy the solid black or the dark blue patterned trunks- the dark colors hides guacamole stains, beer dribbles and fish blood. The light green ones look good (I've got a pair) but they get dirty fast and don't stand up to the trunks-as-a-napkin for all meals test. On my two week trip I brought just two pairs of these (and one pair of "go home" shorts but we'll deal with that later)... and wore them the whole time- they're that good.
3. Short sleeve button up shirts: In the tropics, tee-shirts turn into sweat soaked, clingy layers of cotton insulation. If you want to stay cool you need to take advantage of evaporative cooling- and for that function, shirtsleeves are the way to go. Standard wear for me is my white Guayabera- this one's a total crack up. Think more Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray's excellent King Pin character) than Don Johnson; it's got embroidered roses, white on white, running down the front of the thing. Cheesy? Completely. But totally comfortable and there's no better way to fade into the back ground than to sport one while chugging a Ballena at the taco stand.
Hot tip: Throw in a long sleeve version to keep the sun off your arms and the mozzies off your back.
Check back for more (I'm hoping to update from the road).
If you're a gear nut you're going to dig this- I give a play-by-play description of what I bring and why. If you're the kind of guy who jams it all into a duffel and sleeps in your board bag you'll be bored to tears. The best part of this whole deal? By the time you see this I'll be 30,000' in the air sinking in to my second beer... enjoy!
1. FCS Leashes: I'm not sponsored by these guys- in fact I pay full retail (well close to full retail- SurfHut, the local surf shop helps me out on equipment) so I've got no bias when I say that these are the BEST stand up leashes that I've used. Check out the yellowing one with the black core, it's survived two trips down to mainland- that's almost a month of continuous (three session a day) use.
That particular leash is battle tested. I've trusted it in double overhead surf where it's been stretched to twice it's length. I've treated it bad, it lives in the open bed of my truck- I just chuck it in the back after each surf. And still, like Old Yeller (pre-rabies) it's never let me down. I've used the others and have reached a verdict: FCS leashes win hands down.
Here's a tip: Buy a new leash before each trip, be sure to switch out your old leash string with new one that comes with your fresh leash- when it gets gnarly, you'll be happy- and so will your board.
2. Patagonia Paddler Trunks: These are basically the only trunks that I own- I've got five pairs of them. If you're like me, meaning you possess a basically square, Torso-Man physique, these are your trunks. They are the most comfortable, durable, best-fitting trunks I've ever had. The inseams are cut a little bit shorter than normal so you don't look like some gangster-vato with your trunks hanging down to mid-shin. The best part is that the trunks have a hanging inner polyester liner (no, it's not a mesh brief-type liner like the shorts you wore in fifth grade) that allows the shorts to slide over your upper leg when your moving around.
Hot tip: Buy the solid black or the dark blue patterned trunks- the dark colors hides guacamole stains, beer dribbles and fish blood. The light green ones look good (I've got a pair) but they get dirty fast and don't stand up to the trunks-as-a-napkin for all meals test. On my two week trip I brought just two pairs of these (and one pair of "go home" shorts but we'll deal with that later)... and wore them the whole time- they're that good.
3. Short sleeve button up shirts: In the tropics, tee-shirts turn into sweat soaked, clingy layers of cotton insulation. If you want to stay cool you need to take advantage of evaporative cooling- and for that function, shirtsleeves are the way to go. Standard wear for me is my white Guayabera- this one's a total crack up. Think more Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray's excellent King Pin character) than Don Johnson; it's got embroidered roses, white on white, running down the front of the thing. Cheesy? Completely. But totally comfortable and there's no better way to fade into the back ground than to sport one while chugging a Ballena at the taco stand.
Hot tip: Throw in a long sleeve version to keep the sun off your arms and the mozzies off your back.
Check back for more (I'm hoping to update from the road).
Fin Review: Future Fins Gerry Lopez Thruster SUP Fin Set
I just got hooked up with a set of hot looking fins. Check 'em out: Future Fins Gerry Lopez Thruster set. These ones look really good. So good, in fact, that I jammed right home, pulled out my G-10 3-2-1s (my bread and butter side fins) and screwed the entire thruster set right in. I'm on it tomorrow- hopefully it won't be blown out by the time the 2:35 bell rings. I'm telling you, it doesn't take much to get me excited.
These are beautiful fins. A set runs in the hundred dollar range so you'd expect that these would possess top-of-the-line craftsmanship. Futures definitely delivers in that regard- the look and feel of the fins is top notch. In fact, the things are so precisely foiled and feel so light that you'd swear that just locking them down ratchets up your board's top end. The fins just ooze speed.
The things come in at almost five and half inches- which is about a half inch taller than the side fins I've been riding and half an inch shorter than the six incher I've been running in the box. Changing fins on a board is always a compromise between concern and hope: The concern with running a shorter fin in the middle box is that you'll lose drive, that is, the board won't have that "squirt out of the hole feeling" that a larger fin provides. The hope is that a smaller set of fins will loosen the board up, give it some release and snap off the top.
What I've decided to do is this: I'm going to start by running it fairly far back in the center box. The idea is that I'll make up with fin position the drive I've lost with fin height. My hope is that I'll produce that magic combination of drive and looseness that we're all searching for; that's the idea anyway. We'll see what happens.
Lilly was wondering what these things were made of. The Futures website says they are "resin transfer molded". To me they feel like fiberglass. Interestingly, these fins have some definite flex in the tips. The G10, 3-2-1s that I was riding were rock solid little chunks of fiberglass. They were fast but had very little flex. The GLs (Gerry Lopez fins) look to be a very different ride than what I'd been on. Especially since the 3-2-1s are basically triple foiled- a fin designed to provide super lift and drive, kind of like adding a turbo to your vehicle. The GLs, on the other hand, have a very slight inside foil. In fact, this fin set looks very conventional, almost like a super-sized version of a short board fin set. Perhaps the idea with these fins is to provide a more neutral, predictable, organic ride (did I just say "organic"???). Regardless, I can't wait to get them into some good surf.
A final comparison photo: Check back for a ride report!
These are beautiful fins. A set runs in the hundred dollar range so you'd expect that these would possess top-of-the-line craftsmanship. Futures definitely delivers in that regard- the look and feel of the fins is top notch. In fact, the things are so precisely foiled and feel so light that you'd swear that just locking them down ratchets up your board's top end. The fins just ooze speed.
The things come in at almost five and half inches- which is about a half inch taller than the side fins I've been riding and half an inch shorter than the six incher I've been running in the box. Changing fins on a board is always a compromise between concern and hope: The concern with running a shorter fin in the middle box is that you'll lose drive, that is, the board won't have that "squirt out of the hole feeling" that a larger fin provides. The hope is that a smaller set of fins will loosen the board up, give it some release and snap off the top.
What I've decided to do is this: I'm going to start by running it fairly far back in the center box. The idea is that I'll make up with fin position the drive I've lost with fin height. My hope is that I'll produce that magic combination of drive and looseness that we're all searching for; that's the idea anyway. We'll see what happens.
Lilly was wondering what these things were made of. The Futures website says they are "resin transfer molded". To me they feel like fiberglass. Interestingly, these fins have some definite flex in the tips. The G10, 3-2-1s that I was riding were rock solid little chunks of fiberglass. They were fast but had very little flex. The GLs (Gerry Lopez fins) look to be a very different ride than what I'd been on. Especially since the 3-2-1s are basically triple foiled- a fin designed to provide super lift and drive, kind of like adding a turbo to your vehicle. The GLs, on the other hand, have a very slight inside foil. In fact, this fin set looks very conventional, almost like a super-sized version of a short board fin set. Perhaps the idea with these fins is to provide a more neutral, predictable, organic ride (did I just say "organic"???). Regardless, I can't wait to get them into some good surf.
A final comparison photo: Check back for a ride report!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
PADDLE ROYALE FEVER in BAJA
Hola amigos - Tim Hatler here, owner of Palapas Ventana in La Ventana, and organizer of the 5th annual La Ventana Classic that will this year feature the PADDLE ROYALE..
Well the water temp here in La Ventana is 85 degrees, weve got a yellowfin tuna bite that just went richter, great Pargo spearfishing, light NW winds starting to blow and tease the kites, and fun 4-6 foot surf on the pacific and East Cape...But something else is happening too..theres a buzz in the air about our PADDLE ROYALE SUP race in January....even the crustiest "Ive been surfing since before you were born" types have strapped shiny new SUP boards onto their rigs and are arriving in southern Baja and staring at Cerralv
o Island offshore and thinking - I want to win that race!!
o Island offshore and thinking - I want to win that race!! They are paddling the morning flat waters of the sea of cortez and training - getting ready for that late January day when the pangas will take them to the island and they will race 11 miles back to the La Ventana shores in the name of raising $$ for our local schools.. weve already got Isle Surfboards, PADDLESURF.NET, NAISH, and StandUp Paddle Sports as confirmed sponsors and are getting more every week. There will be great prizes including boards, cash and an expo where you can try the latest gear for free.
Watch out for IB's own KIWI, last years winner, hes a ringer and rumor has it hes been sighted at Lobster Shack on a training run to the CoronadosCome check out our Baja Paradise and paddle with me and John for a good cause this winter - Jan 21-24, 2010 ---see http://palapasventana.com/news_details.aspx?NewsId=4 for more details and signups coming soon!!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Baja Mexico: La Ventana Paddle Royal- 11 mile Island Crossing Race!
Coming soon! Make plans, build boards, load up yer rigs and head south... this is the one you DON'T want to miss. The scenery's right (pristine southern Baja islands, desert and sand), the water's right (mid 70's, super blue, early morning glass), the course is right (11 mile island crossing as well as sprint races with crowd pleasing beach run, dive-for-the-popsicle-stick finishes) and the cause is right (raise money for the schools of La Ventana).
Click here for a full report from last years event (check out how much money was raised for the local schools and see how it was spent)- be sure to check out the "special events" section!
But wait there's more! Cold Pacificos? Si! Margaritas frias? Si! Fish tacos? Si! The international airport in La Paz is only thirty minutes from the race course, book it, fly in and get to paddling. I'll be there for all five days of the festival- come have a beer with me. See you down south!
Click here for a full report from last years event (check out how much money was raised for the local schools and see how it was spent)- be sure to check out the "special events" section!
But wait there's more! Cold Pacificos? Si! Margaritas frias? Si! Fish tacos? Si! The international airport in La Paz is only thirty minutes from the race course, book it, fly in and get to paddling. I'll be there for all five days of the festival- come have a beer with me. See you down south!
"Sneak Peek" The Pelagic 8'6" Fish
Here it is fresh out of the vacuum bag not hotcoated or finned yet and I am soo excited... Oh BOY!
Photo: 8'6" 21"-30"-16.5"x4.875" thick, single wing swallow (8" point to point) lots of vee in the tail.
9.3lbs with a 3 layer 6oz deck and 2 layer 6oz bottom, it'll probably finish out at 10-10.5lbs. I rode a 8'8" Lopez quadfin this week for a 3 hour magic session in some decent chest to head high surf. Now, I'm totally blown away by the possibility of one day riding a 7 foot or smaller standup. This one is a next step down for me. John and Chad, this one is built for guys our size. Look fun or what? Going with a quadfin +1 set up.
Photo: Foil
Peace and good waves to all,
Capt Ron
Photo: 8'6" 21"-30"-16.5"x4.875" thick, single wing swallow (8" point to point) lots of vee in the tail.
9.3lbs with a 3 layer 6oz deck and 2 layer 6oz bottom, it'll probably finish out at 10-10.5lbs. I rode a 8'8" Lopez quadfin this week for a 3 hour magic session in some decent chest to head high surf. Now, I'm totally blown away by the possibility of one day riding a 7 foot or smaller standup. This one is a next step down for me. John and Chad, this one is built for guys our size. Look fun or what? Going with a quadfin +1 set up.
Photo: Foil
Peace and good waves to all,
Capt Ron
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Another New One: Stamps 8'10" Ninja Bump
Stamps Ninja Bump. Check it out:
Photo: 8'10" x 28.5" x 3.75" Stamps paddles this one and he comes in at around 160 or so. Flaco.
Photo: Little bump right in the hind quarters... see it?
Photo: Pulled out thin like a nasty ol' piece of salt water taffy.
Photo: 8'10" x 28.5" x 3.75" Stamps paddles this one and he comes in at around 160 or so. Flaco.
Photo: Little bump right in the hind quarters... see it?
Photo: Pulled out thin like a nasty ol' piece of salt water taffy.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Capt. Ron's New Boards
Well, here are a few- more to come later. When I have some time, I'll post up the whole building process.
Photo: 11' nose rider, 10'6 cruiser, 10' all arounder
Photo below: Nose Block
Photo below: Tail Block
Photo below: Balsa inlay
Peace and good waves to all,
Photo: 11' nose rider, 10'6 cruiser, 10' all arounder
I built these from a huge block of foam. These designs are all me- from the rocker, foils and bottom contours to the glass jobs, sanding and polishing.
The center board is a custom 10'6" for our local surfshop owner. The board features a madera negra (central american black wood) tail block, bent balsa wood nose block and a laminated, high-density, balsa, parabolic rail inlay.
The parabolic rail inlay does two things: First, it acts as a stringer on the rail. Second, it keeps paddles from going through the glass. I vacuum bagged the 10'6" with 3 layers of 6oz cloth on the deck and 2 layers on the bottom. The blank is 2.4lb density xbead EPS foam. All finished out with a glosscoat the board weighs in at 14.6 lbs.
Here are some additional photos taken while the board was being shaped and wood components added.
The center board is a custom 10'6" for our local surfshop owner. The board features a madera negra (central american black wood) tail block, bent balsa wood nose block and a laminated, high-density, balsa, parabolic rail inlay.
The parabolic rail inlay does two things: First, it acts as a stringer on the rail. Second, it keeps paddles from going through the glass. I vacuum bagged the 10'6" with 3 layers of 6oz cloth on the deck and 2 layers on the bottom. The blank is 2.4lb density xbead EPS foam. All finished out with a glosscoat the board weighs in at 14.6 lbs.
Here are some additional photos taken while the board was being shaped and wood components added.
Photo below: Nose Block
Photo below: Tail Block
Photo below: Balsa inlay
Any Questions? Send them here in the "Comments Section" and I'll post a reply.
By the way: Which is your favorite deck pad?
Peace and good waves to all,
Capt Ron
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Portable Shower: Ultimate SUP Vehicle Accessory
Want to trick out your SUP ride? The boys at Isle Surf turned me on to the Big Kahuna Portable Shower- believe me, you're going to want one. Check it out:
Here's local grom, Mikey, messin' with my shower. Check out the super cool coiled hose and sweet nozzle- nice arc on that thing! Really though, I'm hooked on having an easy-to-use freshwater rinse that I can take with me anywhere I go. Not only are you going to keep the sand out of your truck but you're going to make a bunch of new friends when they see what you've got going on.
The whole unit comes as a clean little package: the big gray thing ("hey, that's what you store dog food in") is an eleven gallon water tank (I opted for the big one- the small version holds around five gallons). I keep mine filled and locked to the back corner of my truck bed. At first I thought I'd just use it for an after surf rinse. Lately, though I've found all kinds of uses for it; my stand up paddle students use it to rinse off after lessons, my dog gets rinsed off after beach romping- no more sand in the back of my truck!
Inside the tank is a 12 volt bilge pump that's submerged under your shower water. The pump is cleanly wired to a cigarette lighter.
The cigarette lighter comes with more than enough wire to stretch the length of an eight foot truck bed on up to the cigarette lighter in the cab. I thought about hard wiring it into my truck so that I could just flip a switch and fire it up but the thing is put together so nicely, and it works so well that I've decided to just use it "as is".
I suppose you could try to throw one of these together for yourself but, really, why bother? Big Kahuna offers them at a reasonable price and for a couple clicks you could have one sent right to your door. Order one up, and the first time a random hotty asks if she can borrow your shower, remember who to send your thanks (or photos) to.
Here's local grom, Mikey, messin' with my shower. Check out the super cool coiled hose and sweet nozzle- nice arc on that thing! Really though, I'm hooked on having an easy-to-use freshwater rinse that I can take with me anywhere I go. Not only are you going to keep the sand out of your truck but you're going to make a bunch of new friends when they see what you've got going on.
The whole unit comes as a clean little package: the big gray thing ("hey, that's what you store dog food in") is an eleven gallon water tank (I opted for the big one- the small version holds around five gallons). I keep mine filled and locked to the back corner of my truck bed. At first I thought I'd just use it for an after surf rinse. Lately, though I've found all kinds of uses for it; my stand up paddle students use it to rinse off after lessons, my dog gets rinsed off after beach romping- no more sand in the back of my truck!
Inside the tank is a 12 volt bilge pump that's submerged under your shower water. The pump is cleanly wired to a cigarette lighter.
The cigarette lighter comes with more than enough wire to stretch the length of an eight foot truck bed on up to the cigarette lighter in the cab. I thought about hard wiring it into my truck so that I could just flip a switch and fire it up but the thing is put together so nicely, and it works so well that I've decided to just use it "as is".
I suppose you could try to throw one of these together for yourself but, really, why bother? Big Kahuna offers them at a reasonable price and for a couple clicks you could have one sent right to your door. Order one up, and the first time a random hotty asks if she can borrow your shower, remember who to send your thanks (or photos) to.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
G-Mac: 9'9" Anhilator
First of all, check out the pic below... the guy in the barrel is the guy who paddles the G-mac 9'9" Annhilator stand up board- can't wait to see this same view but with a stand up paddler pulling in. Check it out:
Photo: Marc M., last week, throated down south.
Photo: Here's what Marc's been paddling around lately- the smallest of the G-mac line. This one is 9'9" x 27 3/4" x 4.5" with s-rails and the standard G-mac sliver tail.
Photo: This one is definitely more speed needle, less barge.
Photo: Another view. According to Marc the thing is crazy loose and surfs really well. Looking this one over though, it seems that it was made for some down the line juice. I'll keep you posted on what we learn about the G-mac, 'til then click on over here to learn more about the G-mac line of stand up boards.
Photo: Marc M., last week, throated down south.
Photo: Here's what Marc's been paddling around lately- the smallest of the G-mac line. This one is 9'9" x 27 3/4" x 4.5" with s-rails and the standard G-mac sliver tail.
Photo: This one is definitely more speed needle, less barge.
Photo: Another view. According to Marc the thing is crazy loose and surfs really well. Looking this one over though, it seems that it was made for some down the line juice. I'll keep you posted on what we learn about the G-mac, 'til then click on over here to learn more about the G-mac line of stand up boards.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Capt Ron's Central Florida Report: Tropical Storm Danny
Editor's note: Are you kidding me on the surf these guys are getting over there in Florida! Capt Ron reports on then next storm to bring waves to the right coast.
Got a little bit last Saturday. It dropped off quick. First pic is me in the afternoon. Toes on the nose getting small. My wife is in the background.
Capt Ron playing with some glassy little beach break mid morning...
The early morning was good as you can see from the pic... I wish the photog would have gotten more pics of this wave. I pulled up in the barrel on this one for about 5 seconds and got spit out the end. Just a sick little wave. Not one close out all day- it was a blast. Did not get crushed or beat up, good day lots of fun waves to be had.
Peace,
Capt Ron
Oh Yeah, these were the first rides on the new boards that I built. Yep they work....
Got a little bit last Saturday. It dropped off quick. First pic is me in the afternoon. Toes on the nose getting small. My wife is in the background.
Capt Ron playing with some glassy little beach break mid morning...
The early morning was good as you can see from the pic... I wish the photog would have gotten more pics of this wave. I pulled up in the barrel on this one for about 5 seconds and got spit out the end. Just a sick little wave. Not one close out all day- it was a blast. Did not get crushed or beat up, good day lots of fun waves to be had.
Peace,
Capt Ron
Oh Yeah, these were the first rides on the new boards that I built. Yep they work....
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Big Chad Report: 10' Stamps Viking
I knew I was in trouble when I saw for the first time John doing a bottom turn with the new Stamps Viking model. It was the first time I had seen one of my paddle board friends really "surf" a stand up board. I knew it was going to change everything.
Paddle boarding for me changed from a very mellow long boarder mentality into thinking about true cutbacks, hard bottom turns and putting the board up in the lip. What I didn't know is that the speed it generates going down the line and the maneuverability that it offered were better than expected.
Stamps did a great job of keeping the volume almost the same as my last board even though this board has a much smaller and thinner nose and tail. The nose and the tail have made all the difference in the world.
Paddle boarding for me changed from a very mellow long boarder mentality into thinking about true cutbacks, hard bottom turns and putting the board up in the lip. What I didn't know is that the speed it generates going down the line and the maneuverability that it offered were better than expected.
You can see from the photo this is not a long board nose, even if the board is ten feet long, and I notice not only when dropping in but it is also way easier to get up on top of the lip or the whitewash to get around sections.
I love the tapering of this board. Doesn't it look so sexy? I got a pintail, well a big guy's pintail anyway, and this thing turns fast. Every time I change change edges with this board it doesn't lag and slow down, it speeds up.
Stamps did a great job of keeping the volume almost the same as my last board even though this board has a much smaller and thinner nose and tail. The nose and the tail have made all the difference in the world.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Central Florida Got a Little South Swell Too
Editor's note: See, I take my eyes off the site for a couple of days and Capt. Ron posts up some kick ass pictures of Paddle Board John KILLING it... the photos were so good I just had to post them up again (after fixing them so they fit the site a little better). Stoked to hear from my East Coast Contributor, Capt. Ron. Check it out:
Here are a few pics of Hurricane Bill Swell last Saturday. The best swell of the summer so far on the east coast. The Bahamas bouy was maxing at 20ft 18 seconds I bet the reefs off the Bahamas were pumping.
John charges hard for an old retired dude...
Here are a few pics of Hurricane Bill Swell last Saturday. The best swell of the summer so far on the east coast. The Bahamas bouy was maxing at 20ft 18 seconds I bet the reefs off the Bahamas were pumping.
Peace,
Capt Ron
Here are pics that were taken by Eric Diller of a local New Smyrna Beach Paddle Boarder we call "Stand up John" one of the 5 local standup boys here in NSB. Awesome Pics Eric.
John charges hard for an old retired dude...
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