does he make it?

pete

The "SUP for old men" and "Sea Sweepers" topics seem to be re-runs of earlier topics.

I guess the ultimate answer to these questions is "... and your point is?"

It's fine with me if only old guys get to SUP. With our SUPs we get all the waves and with our ripped, muscular, SUP-enhanced bodies and age-enhanced bank balances we might get all the chicks too. Sounds just fine to me.

HAHHAA,,, He picked ya in one Greg!!!!

Well ... yes ... and no.

If you're old enough the kids have moved on and the years of necessary frugality mean you've paid off the mortgage, got some investments, can still remember surfing in the 60s and 70s.

Some of us old guys also have a bit more time on our hands as we get older - our kids don't have to be driven everywhere and prefer to do their own thing on weekends - this is what has made it possible for me to have a little more me time to pursue this activity.

I couldn't give a rats what the perception is on the Tracks forum - don't read it. I'm having fun and I've earned this simple pleasure.

What!!! You mean that's winter? The sky is the wrong colour for a start.

Went to local lake late yesterday afternoon to practice quick paddling for take offs and spinning the board on its tail (flare gybe stylee) and was pummeled for 10 mins by torrential rain and hailstones and its only the start of September.

You guys are really lucky - warm winters, hot summers, independent kids, bulging bank accounts, beach closer than 90 miles and water so warm that your nads don't recede into your neck because of the cold.

I would emigrate down there but I like to see plenty of Gold Medals after an Olympics .

Right better do some work before I have to fire myself.

Hey DJ - don't care where you send the fat chicks, just keep them out of the water...sea levels are rising fast enough
Cheers, Paul.

Oliver it was nice..I was expecting it to be a bit tippy at only 28" wide but it was pretty good..and very floaty for its size.

I took more pics..I'll do a review and post it in the gear review section although it was just a flat water paddle.

I caught up with David (with the C4) and we talked about upcoming SUP adventures..

DJ

Getting back to the other topic i'm 32 have a 2 1/2 year old and one on the way in 6 weeks, i still get plenty of time to play since i work 4 on 4 off, so am i one of those old SUP men or am i going to be struggling to keep up with the Joneses because i've got another 20 years of kids?

Cheers DJ, it just looked fairly thick in that first photo must just be the angle.

Getting back to the other topic i'm 32 have a 2 1/2 year old and one on the way in 6 weeks, i still get plenty of time to play since i work 4 on 4 off, so am i one of those old SUP men or am i going to be struggling to keep up with the Joneses because i've got another 20 years of kids?

Well done Champrow, I think it's good you find the time to spend with the family especially while your kids are young. I'd imagine that you would be pretty tight for money right now... Don't worry about that as it's hard for everyone in the beginning, but trust me - things will turn around.

I found it pretty hard up until the kids went to school, and it just got easier from then on. I was quite young when I had mine and now they are almost grown up.

Oh and forget about the Joneses - they are dicks - I see them every day.

Hi Champcrow,
The only way to keep your sanity intact is to look at new kit, appreciate it and then wait 18 months to 2 years for it to appear on the 2nd hand market.
I have too many toys to buy the latest of any of them so I pootle about on an old Go200 with a big 8.5m sail, an old ally MTB, and old dirt board nad even my SUP is a used 12' 2" Starboard, but I figure that as time is limited along with my ability and fitness I won't really need much more than these.
As you correctly point out the real joy is when the kids can join in. Mine are excellent swimmers so we all go into the sea whenever we can on anything we have to hand. We MTB round the hills locally and I got as big a thrill of seeing Ben (11) riding his first waves all the way to the beach in Ireland last week as he did.
OK, i'm not riding the coolest kit on the block, but at least I am riding it.

Hey Oliver,
Pm me when your going to be passing thru coffs Harbour, that is if your driving. Swap boards and go for a paddle in some nice waves, if there is surf.

Rod