Probably got a bit misty checking out the footage Dogman posted up a while ago on the big board and probably had a good think about how I got started as per the recent thread. Also think that in the past I have come off as anti longboard. Not so. Anybody who has been doing this for more than three or four years must have started on longboard style SUPs. Don't think I have ever had so much fun, stoked like a grommet, learning how to drop knee and cross step and appreciate the glide that only a big board offers. Anyway four years in and my last big board disappeared over eighteen months ago. Last summer there was no surfing with the kids at the frontos groyne, no family paddles on the Barwon and the Missus was not happy about the eight/two custom that she couldn't paddle.
Dug up some old footage that goes some way to illustrating the stoke of the big board. First section is the first SUP I owned, a ten something beast shaped by Ant Stevens, heavy as all f...k but jeez it could glide. Then the Bonga, much maligned but in retrospect not that bad. The micro waves at the end is all about hanging out with the kids and learning, soaking it all up. Cant replace a shorty in good waves but I wanna do it again, I need a longer board. Hope you enjoy my little blast from the past.
Footage by Wesso and it doesnt even pretend to be HD
Cheers
Sparx

nice. i've been near lynched before for saying this, but sometimes i think we might be missing the point with the small sups

Good vid Sparx! Thanks.

Most of us would have had a bonga, but I was always very jealous of my mate who had the
blue 10' Oxbow which was almost the perfect Mal style board. Rode so nice. I would love to
have one as an option on the small days.

Bnaccas said...

What am I saying, the wife's 10'4" Jimmy Lewis is perfect. Need to get that thing out a bit more!

Good call Bnaccas
I can see Santa dropping something in the ten plus by thirty plus range down the chimney for the missus this Christmas. Yeeeeeeeha
Cheers
Sparx

Styling - nice video Sparx
Next you'll be driving a split screen kombi

Bill

termite said...

Styling - nice video Sparx
Next you'll be driving a split screen kombi

Bill

Yup, or a vintage Valiant Safari wagon. Need to get myself a pair of black skinny jeans, some Bieber hair, a tea cosy to keep it all in place, some retro Vans for me tootsies and a fleet of Volane glassed single fin tankers. Stoke Gas!!!!
Cheers
Sparx

nice vids sparks, I had a VC valiant a couple of years ago, cracker of a car, they were called the "Greek Mercedes" way back.... the trouble with a new sport is getting the quiver just right, and then finding room for all of them

I had both a pea green Valiant safari with a slant 6 motor that used to do stupid things all up and down the Ocean Rd, and I've owned a 11 ft NSP. The Val is my saddest loss ever (including my ex wife). Stupid move trading it in on the Datsun 240Z which I promptly wrote off and owed $4000.00 on ( a lot of money in 1977).
The 11ft NSP is a different proposition. It is a great Flat Water board but just doesn't have the rail configuration to be a good long board in the surf. The SupATX 12 ft is a much better option fo me at 95-100kg and I reckon the 11 footer would suit you to a tee Sparxy. I used it at Fisho's mid week during this winter and caught a couple of the longest waves I've ever ridden, on my backhand, and was able to go slowly up and down the face, cutback and noseride. I think Mick Di Betta at Lahui Kai is still doing good deals on them, you'd have to check the website, they are around a $1000.00 - $1100.00 with a good carbon paddle, delivered. Failing that there was a couple in the Used Section when I was looking for a 8' 10" Wide point a couple of weeks ago.
I have that and the 10'2" PSH Hull Paddler which turns on a dime. I'm more than happy with the quiver of two. All up $2500.00 new with paddles.

Hope to see you in the water during school hols
Cheers Leroy.

Sparx, wonderful to see a longboard surfed so will,yep I really enjoyed that clip cheers

Keep that up sparx and you'll be in the longboard forum,a good surf is a good surfer no matter what they ride.

Yes, the 2 subjects that I bore people with the most. SUP & my S series valiant. Like most of you guys, I'm on a much shorter board now but when I started out it was a great feeling cruising down to the beach in a val from the early 60's with a 12 ft board strapped to the rusty roof racks. all I need to do is grow some hair & lose some weight & i'd almost feel young again.
Ive still got the long board, reading this makes me feel like I might have to drag it out again.

hey sparx when will you be in yamba? might come up for a long weekend, say hi to mum and dad, go for a paddle with ya. also are you driving up?

Sparx said...

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions guys. Almost seems like a 'whats your favourite pre 1980 surf vehicle' thread buried in there somewhere. For the record mine was the EJ Premier sedan with "Hydramatic Transmission" Built like a tank and those leather buckets were like lounge chairs!
Leroy, probably wont see you these hols as I am doing the family run to Yamba. Jeez I hope the weather up north treats me better than last time. Casso, youre right, I should have scrounged up a Bonga from somewhere to take to the Nationals. I mean how much worse could I have gone FFS! Loving youre work on the Tiger, some smooth drop knee work in there.
Definitely going to get another biggie. The shorts are good but its almost kinda selfish surfing if you know what I mean. Unless I'm with a bunch of likeminded souls, which is'nt often, I'm either making a conscious effort to move away from everyone and fly solo, or I have to put on my war face to justify my spot in the line up. On the biggies its far more social, just goofing around with the kids and the family. Hard to get sh...y with someone whose having a ball cross stepping, drop kneeing, having a hoot and sharing the stoke. Anyway, it's all good.
Cheers
Sparx