Had a ripper session at scarbs this am - the winter banks have arrived after a good savaging from a strong frontal system.

scarbs -with less than 1.7m swell at rotto absolutely goes off - as long as there are gutters. Any more than 1.7m of swelll and i grab the surfboard and go barrell hunting.

Today it was marginal with some shortboarders getting some good uns but a little lacking in power as the swell was slowly on the fade - the 11'2 Starboard loved it. Definitley got tons of long rides with speed - and some reos too.

i COULD have taken heaps of weaves off the pack - but i was making sure that no one felt like they were being taken advantage - we have to be SUPER CONSIDERATE of other users - i was already getting some pretty funky looks just by being out there.

The cool thing is that the SUP still rocks at Scarbs when there is as little as 0.7m swell at rotto -had plenty of ripper days in summer in these sort of conditions- its pretty rare that it gets smaller than that - i'm gonna get so many days in this winter - stoked!

Drove past on the way to work this morning and saw a few nice ones rolling through

It surprises me how well the SUP rides even the small closeout looking days. You can get in so early and race down the sections before a regular surfer would be popping to their feet. Had some ripper little arvo's in summer when all I was expecting was a flat water cruise out the back.

another joy scarbs session today - in front of the ampitheatre

i though mettams would be on as rotto was around 2m -checked it but it was dribbly as- the swell was on the fade big time.

Plan b: Checked out the beachies and VERY glad i did -mid arvo so zero crew in the water- a nice little rip was forming an artificial gutter (look for the no swimming signs) that was firehosing out to sea - moving around quite a bit (the paddle power of SUP just nails rips and shifting peaks -yet another advantage!) - got a ton of waves , a mal milking the same peak even locked in a little barrrel - and came out. RESPECT. We were both havin a ball.

Heres a cool tip thats fun and functional on the Starboard 11'2:

i found that when going backside (left in my case) and the section looks walled up and super fast (maybe closing out fast) - if you kneel down on your back foot , place your paddle on the board and grab the outside rail (think kelly slater's backside barrel technique) and lever it up about 15 degrees - the rail finds a really grippy part of the curve and just SHOOOTS down the line - even if its a semi white water section. Result = making the section on nearly impossibly fast waves - had quite a few ripper lefts using this technique - SUPER FUN! lovin it...

Got a bunch of footage from Maui - gonna do another Sup basics movie for Starboard - web downloadable mid august. Starring brian Talma. It'll be on their 2009 promo DVD too.

I also have a lifestyle SUP project in mind - i would love to get down to the south coast and film some cruisy river expeditions then out thru rivermouths and into some classy waves - all with a bit of a laid back , sunset , backlit, morning of the earth feel to it. Basically catch the cruisy laid back relaxed feel of a good SUP session. Dunno if its commercially viable - but it would be fun to put a dvd together - i have a fair bit of footage already.

Hey windy - nice pics!

Here is another photo taken of me yesturday demonstrating the drop knee rail grab

just had a wicked little session down at scarbs / brighton.

Here is another bonus that Stand Ups gives to the surfer - you know those surfs where the swell is maybe shoulder high and there is a strong rip wriggling out to sea - moving the peak around alot. There are a lot of peaks coming in but the waves are really hard to get because

the peak is moving around alot or the rip pulls you out too far - or feeds the waves energy so that it breaks at ta VERY specific spot - meaning surfboard take offs that are too early or too late.

The Stand up doesnt really feel the rip - you can just slice across it - or even sit in the rip and maintain position with a few strokes. End result - you get tons of waves by being in position!
And then you have a rip fed wall to enjoy that has quite a bit of energy in it!!

Scarbs does have quite a few days like this where the rip actually forms the gutter - and hence the shape.

For sure A Stand Up is the tool for the job on those days.

Got some awesome right handers this morning! another session of stoke!!

WORRARIPPER!

just got in from another sweeeet sesh at brighton / scarbs - the magic combo was on again - 1.5m swell at rotto, mid tide and some nice gutters! And a nice 3 - 8 knot easterly. Some nice deep gutters there right now actually. Some fantastic right handers still running thru some rips.

The SB 11'2 is a very intriguing board - as you learn its pivot points it just seems to get looser and looser the more you surf it - and all while feeling SUPER connected to the wave.

Such is the ability of these boards to get long flowing rides - I was even getting the thumbs up from the crew in the water.

As usual i was letting heaps of waves go thru for the pack - and just picking off the ones chock full of shape. Good vibrations all round.

Can not believe how much fun !

Reflex Films said...

WORRARIPPER!

just got in from another sweeeet sesh at brighton / scarbs - the magic combo was on again - 1.5m swell at rotto, mid tide and some nice gutters! And a nice 3 - 8 knot easterly. Some nice deep gutters there right now actually. Some fantastic right handers still running thru some rips.

hey Matt, at what time have you been out ?

I checked scarbs at 8am but finally headed a bit north and found a fun small uncrowded wave perfect for me and the 10' Laird

I'll probably do the same tomorrow morning

have fun,
Eric

I gotta totally agree with you MH.
Ive been really dialing into the 11'2 lately.
I went out at Metts this arvo and it was only me and Annika. She was on her 11'2 as well. I also saw someone down at TP.
Ive been getting right up to the nose and back again. Im still using my shortboard leggie which is a pain really. I need to get myself a longboard leggie.
Also finding that sweet spot is just the ticket for driving the board around on some sweet cutbacks. Not what you would expect from an 11'2.
Bring on the 10'5 I say

i havent ridden the 9'8 alot - but in my brief experience it delivers alot of what i get from my normal surfboard - a later take off and it needs a little bit more energy in the wave to come alive.

For me the whole point of SUP is to turn average waves (we get alot of these here in Perth) into something fun - the incredible drive and longboard style trimming of the 11'2 delivers that. You cant really longboard trim (that cool feeling of walking the board for trim - toes on the nose etc) and noseride the 9'8.

AS i mentioned before the 11'2 really has some cool sweet spots that take a while to get to know - but the curves are in all the right places on that board. I',m discovering It even does floaters and reos pretty well - once you learn to go with the board.

I actually reckon in good waves the 9'8 would be a better carving surfer - but i will just grab my 6'4 when that happens! Slides , reos, 360s and aerials (attempts in my case) are areas where - so far - a stand up just cant compete with a surfboard - Plus i feel a whole lot better in a barrel without paddles and large boards all around me.

The SB 11'2 is also a good coast cruiser for basic paddling - WAAAY more glide than the Naish 11'6 - which is a pretty bent board. In fact the Naish 11'6 and Starboard 11'2 are 2 VERY different boards - even though the lengths are similar - the rail shapes, rockers and volumes are completely different. I never really got along with the massive chunky hard rail in the rear of the Naish 11'6 - it just didnt feel like it wanted to set in the face of a wave properly. In my experiences on that board -Several times the back just let go and slid out of the wave.

Nothing wrong with big round rails up in the middle and front of a board though..

So for me the Naish 11'6 didnt paddle well (too much rocker) and didnt surf well (the rocker was good for surfing but the tail rails let it down) - your mileage may vary.

The newer Naish models look a lot more refined though.

The SB 11'2 rail delivers super confidence in a wall as its rail blades out progressively towards the tail and has some real grip in a wave face. And i have never found it to be slow - at full trim i can make virtually any section that doesnt qualify as a clsoeout.


So its a matter of having the right tool for the job - in this case (as a surfer with a great all round surfboard) the 11'2 delivers the biggest range of fun for me personally.

Just back from scarbs (was there from 8h30 to 9h30), and yeah, I had heaps of fun !

50cm waves some opening really good and no crowd at all ; the only thing is the tide that was maybe a bit high producing some naughty backwash.

regarding the board discussion, I share reflex film's opinion :

For me the whole point of SUP is to turn average waves (we get alot of these here in Perth) into something fun - the incredible drive and longboard style trimming of the 11'2 delivers that. You cant really longboard trim (that cool feeling of walking the board for trim - toes on the nose etc) and noseride the 9'8.

That's why I love my 10' Laird ( I've already put a review on it in the gear reviews section)

But yeah, it's good to see that for 2009 some brands will have shortboards, longboards, guns, beginner, cruising and open ocean race boards, I can only afford to have 1 and already made my choice, but if I could I would certainly have 1 of each (even the beginner one, so I can teach to my mates !)

I hope you'll all have a good sesh today,

Eric

Reflex Films said...

i havent ridden the 9'8 alot - but in my brief experience it delivers alot of what i get from my normal surfboard - a later take off and it needs a little bit more energy in the wave to come alive.

For me the whole point of SUP is to turn average waves (we get alot of these here in Perth) into something fun - the incredible drive and longboard style trimming of the 11'2 delivers that. You cant really longboard trim (that cool feeling of walking the board for trim - toes on the nose etc) and noseride the 9'8.

AS i mentioned before the 11'2 really has some cool sweet spots that take a while to get to know - but the curves are in all the right places on that board. I',m discovering It even does floaters and reos pretty well - once you learn to go with the board.

I actually reckon in good waves the 9'8 would be a better carving surfer - but i will just grab my 6'4 when that happens! Slides , reos, 360s and aerials (attempts in my case) are areas where - so far - a stand up just cant compete with a surfboard - Plus i feel a whole lot better in a barrel without paddles and large boards all around me.

The SB 11'2 is also a good coast cruiser for basic paddling - WAAAY more glide than the Naish 11'6 - which is a pretty bent board. In fact the Naish 11'6 and Starboard 11'2 are 2 VERY different boards - even though the lengths are similar - the rail shapes, rockers and volumes are completely different. I never really got along with the massive chunky hard rail in the rear of the Naish 11'6 - it just didnt feel like it wanted to set in the face of a wave properly. In my experiences on that board -Several times the back just let go and slid out of the wave.

Nothing wrong with big round rails up in the middle and front of a board though..

So for me the Naish 11'6 didnt paddle well (too much rocker) and didnt surf well (the rocker was good for surfing but the tail rails let it down) - your mileage may vary.

The newer Naish models look a lot more refined though.

The SB 11'2 rail delivers super confidence in a wall as its rail blades out progressively towards the tail and has some real grip in a wave face. And i have never found it to be slow - at full trim i can make virtually any section that doesnt qualify as a clsoeout.


So its a matter of having the right tool for the job - in this case (as a surfer with a great all round surfboard) the 11'2 delivers the biggest range of fun for me personally.

AMEN!
How can anyone compete with that review?
We gotta catch up and go for a SUP Mat.

Have to agree to disagree on that one the 11 2 did not do much for me on the waves. Don't see the point of a board that makes you compromise and change how you want to ride. I ride my SUP all the time unless it is big enough to tow and like a more progressive feel. As I said before horses for courses.

Yeah great in depth reveiw ! well done , i have the 11 6" kalama and have been suprised at how well this board takes steep sucky drops in beach breaks. For a big board i have made some late take offs i thought were real dicey, but as you said reflex just taking that step back made all the difference gunna start looking at if i can poke the big girl into a couple of barrels soon