SS today -- 7/3/09 (Tale from the Darkside)
Neal Miyake
This is *not* me
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 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_03.jpg
It was a janitorial convention out there
http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_05.jpg
sponge, barely negotiating the flatwater
Aloha from Paradise,
sponge
rodndtube
>
> http://www.hisurfadvisory.com/photos/2009/090703_SUP/090703_05.jpg
> sponge, barely negotiating the flatwater
>
> Aloha from Paradise,
> sponge
Hilarious is a funny sort of way. We detect a very dark cloud
decending over the Miyake household these days! Your only saving grace
has been competing in the Redwings handboard and paepo contests :)