After slogging myself for 4 hours over 28kms on a cruiser in the recent Dr race my wife agreed that I needed a real race board for this sort of thing. After meeting up with Dale Chapman I found what I think is the perfect board for me. I was after something stable as I felt that you can have the fastest board around but if you are always in the drink you don't go so well. Also over long distances, constantly getting back onto your board was the most tiring part of the past 2 Dr races.
This board is 30" wide so super stable. Dale was a great help in giving me advice on boards and shapes as this is something that I know very little about. As this is my first race board, I can't wait to spend plenty of time with it in the water and for me I think the sport of stand up paddling and down winding is about to become a lot more fun

Having trouble uploading pics so will try again soon.

Here's the pics.

The biggest lesson I've learned is how important it is to get the right gear. The biggest board I'd ever paddled was a starboard 12'6" cruiser which was fun and thats what I thought paddling a big board was like. I've only paddled this new board once but straight away I now know that paddling the real deal is completely different and you can't even compare the two.

goatman said...

Looks great!! I just got a 2nd hand 16 footer DC and it is awesome - Dale makes great DWers

Did the same and I am stoked too!! so much more fun than my 14 glide at my weight. On the Glide I was perched on the narrow nose to catch runners so fell off heaps, on the DC16 I am way further back. Love a rudder which not what I expected


Congrats Adam I paddled that board it goes really well.
You just need to get out more Was good yesterday and today is shaping up to be the same.

Very nice board Adz. Can I borrow it for a surf at Metts sometime

Nice one Adam

I would have been keen on that one myself if I had the spare $$

i got a DC14 and i recon dales down winders are some of the nicest and fastest boards around they go unreal

if anyone is interested i know dale has got a really nice dc 16 forsale. probably one or two of the last ones made. it was made for a bigger bloke so it's a bit more beefed up then the usual type. this one is the best one i've paddled.

there's nothing in it for me, but its a good one. i think it might be in the forsale section
cheers

Excellent news Adam.
Now to get your missus down to watch you surf.

That's a beauty, you should be happy with that.

I recently got a DC15er, a bit of an odd length but geezz what a great board.

Paddles on to fat swell AND turns!

28'' wide and 13'5KG.