Tale from the Dark Side -- 7/3/09 (sponge SUP'ing)
Neal Miyake
decided to finally give my new (very used) SUP board a spin. I've been
trying to be open-minded about SUP'ing, the new scourge of surfing
(supplanting longboards, kayakers and even bodyboards).
Went to a somewhat secluded south shore spot for a pre-dawn launch.
There were SUP'ers already in the lineup, 1/2 - 3/4 miles out to sea.
Inside flat water: not too bad. Somewhat wobbly and probably had a
stupid posture, but at least I was paddling forward.
Middle convergence area over inside reef: section had a couple of tiny
swells converging from different direction, and just could not stay on
the board. Ripples were knocking me off. WTF?
Channel paddle: swell got a little bigger and was more exposed by the
wind. Frick, this thing is not easy.
Lineup: Waves were mostly head-high, with ideal, rolling waves and
long rides. I couldn't turn the board, couldn't stay on the board,
couldn't do anything. Felt like I was riding a 13 wooden
longboard. ;-)
The crowd quickly thickened so I just sat way outside and away, hoping
for some peaks that swung wide. Ended up knee-paddling into a few,
then standing up before falling as soon as I tried turning my
"aircraft carrier" board (11'6", 28", 5").
After over three hours, finally caught one to go straight in. Thought
I went pretty far, but with the tradewinds kicking up a bit, I soon
realized that SUP'ing can be even more challenging. I felt like a
sail, doing a little bit of tacking and going nowhere fast.
Finally made it back to the beach with sore elbows (of all things) and
aching lower back.
A definitely humbling experience. Maybe SUP'ing is not for me. Maybe
that's a good thing. Haven't converted over to the darkside just yet.
In the meantime, I think I'll do some bodyboarding.
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_01.jpg
(not me!)
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_02.jpg
(early morning blur)
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_03.jpg
(janitors convention)
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_04.jpg
(domination of the lineup)
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_05.jpg
(kook SUP'er)
neo
neo
Retlaw
> Had a feeling the surf wasn't going to be as big as forecast, so I
> decided to finally give my new (very used) SUP board a spin. I've been
Thanks for your honesty Neal. Over the years I have enjoyed your
submission to all things that are wave riding (surfing!)
~spin
lpollock
> Middle convergence area over inside reef: section had a couple of tiny
> swells converging from different direction, and just could not stay on
> the board. Ripples were knocking me off. WTF?
> <snip>I couldn't turn the board, couldn't stay on the board,
> couldn't do anything. Felt like I was riding a 13 wooden
> longboard. ;-)
<snip>
> (domination of the lineup)http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_05.jpg
> (kook SUP'er)
>
certainly doesn't look like a 13' board. from the pic it looks 7-8'
long.
maybe not enough board for stable suping?
they say the trick to turning a sup is to USE THE PADDLE.
btw - here's some sup'ers from this years sclu contest:
http://surfvid.com/flv_video/sclu_09b.html
bob pearson (pearson arrow) with the patriotic paddle at the end.
lp
rodndtube
the_andr...@yahoo.com
> Had a feeling the surf wasn't going to be as big as forecast, so I
> decided to finally give my new (very used) SUP board a spin. I've been
> trying to be open-minded about SUP'ing, the new scourge of surfing
> (supplanting longboards, kayakers and even bodyboards).
>
> Went to a somewhat secluded south shore spot for a pre-dawn launch.
> There were SUP'ers already in the lineup, 1/2 - 3/4 miles out to sea.
>
> Inside flat water: not too bad. Somewhat wobbly
I probably couldn't even stand on that.
> (domination of the lineup)http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_05.jpg
> (kook SUP'er)
I never knew you were a giant. You make that thing look like the size
of my 9'. I'm assuming it's thick to be holding you out of the water
like that.
a.