New board, new paddle
Finally getting it all dialed in.
This vid was shot a couple of weeks ago which gives you some idea about the freaky weather and water temp down here at the mo.
Same left, nothing out of the ordinary, but I reckon it gives a bit of an overview on how wippy the new seven ten is. Sick and tired of the same old same old as must you all be so I thought I would muck around with the edit. I reckon this is about it as far as I go for length... it's a struggle in anything but prime conditions. Had two of the most frustrating surfs ever over the last two days, just a bit too much chop and current running through the peak, spent more time in the water than on the board!!
It's close on midnight and I'm hammered. Put the love of my life on a plane bound for Los Angeles this morning....ten weeks for a Bikram Yoga instructors course. The music is by Steve Miller and was on high rotation back in the club house about thirty eight years ago. It's about the way I'm feeling at the mo
Cheers
Sparx

Cheers mate
Claptons version was a bit too "happy" for where I was at yesterday!!
Just had a really fun splash at the local front beach and feel a crap load better about the world.
As far as the short paddle goes I reckon you just adapt your stance to accommodate for the lack of length. I find my knees are bent a whole lot more than they used to be. That being said, there have been times when the short paddle and short board have combined to just about do my head in.
Couple of pics of the newy, as you can see its got a boot load of concave!!








Glad I didnt get rid of the white one. Its my go to board when conditions are less than perfect.
Cheers
Sparx

laceys lane said...
you know i was thinking about posting a topic about- are you really surfing better on the shorter sup.

with the exception of the few really top talent guys i haven't really seen it. been there myself.

sparx, i think you surf better on the slightly longer boards imo.


another bombshell. imo casso's best surfing that i've seen was on the 8'8's and 8'6s.

i believe even the dogman looks better on the 8'6, 8'8.


ok, i'm ready to be hung, drawn and quartered

I totally agree Lacey LONGBOARDS rule.

laceys lane said...
you know i was thinking about posting a topic about- are you really surfing better on the shorter sup.

with the exception of the few really top talent guys i haven't really seen it. been there myself.

sparx, i think you surf better on the slightly longer boards imo.


another bombshell. imo casso's best surfing that i've seen was on the 8'8's and 8'6s.

i believe even the dogman looks better on the 8'6, 8'8.


ok, i'm ready to be hung, drawn and quartered

Jurie is still out as far as I am concerned. In many ways I agree with what you are saying. With the right board in the mid eight range you can really load em up for some beefy turns. However, the shorty has certainly introduced a more vertical element into my surfing that I just couldn't produce on the big sticks. I am yet to capture any footage in decent surf but I feel like the shorty is the weapon of choice when its mid size, clean and cranking. With a bit of wind and bump I drop back to the white board which even though it's eight foot feels way more stable.
By way of explanation, the yellow board is a completely different animal to the four customs that came before. This board has a pinched fifty fifty rail as opposed to the step rails on all of my previous boards. Apart from the massive concave running through the front two thirds, it more resembles a hull style bottom than anything else. To cut a long story short, it's a board that takes you way out of your comfort zone......sometimes a good thing!
Cheers
Sparx

laceys lane said...
you know i was thinking about posting a topic about- are you really surfing better on the shorter sup.

with the exception of the few really top talent guys i haven't really seen it. been there myself.

sparx, i think you surf better on the slightly longer boards imo.


another bombshell. imo casso's best surfing that i've seen was on the 8'8's and 8'6s.

i believe even the dogman looks better on the 8'6, 8'8.


ok, i'm ready to be hung, drawn and quartered

Yep ..... STYLE is subjective

Its not how you look in his or her eyes ............Its how you feel

Rode a 8 foot 2 AP today x 28,,,, small 3 fined thruster in total glassy clean racey 2 footers ,,,,

At 105kg, i sunk, wobbled like wombat, and fell off it , every type of way possible.

BUT

Once i started slappennnn my paddled like a whale, and shoved out ,i was dropping in and able to slide top and bottom turns with toe control ............Sic

Enjoyed the concave through the nose on those small boards ,it seems like a must

to bad the conditions are not like its 24/7............. so back to the 9 footer

Life is a bitch once you reach a ton

Lots of variables in this one sparx, will take time to adjust I'm sure.
Be interesting to see how it goes in a few months, keep us posted.
and keep rippin.

Looks sic Sparx, I reckon some of those slashes/carves are sweet as, camera is a long way away as well.

Re the shorter SUPs, they definitely take some adjustment of technique - almost like when you get back on ya shorty after riding a SUP. It's the bigger arc turns like cutties that take the most adjustment as you don't go as far out onto the face with the smaller boards.

While each board will have its own design characteristics, the shorter production boards like the JPs, Starbys and Naishes all look like they have a generous rocker combined with concaves. My latest DTM custom is 8.0 x 28 with a deep single - loving it.

Sparx, you will get used to the balance even in difficult conditions I reckon. Besides, if people don't push the envelope a bit they'll never know how far they can go. Exciting times to be in a pretty new sport