Nick's blog

Danny and I had a great Wakeboard session today in light wind flat water from Torquay along to Paignton. The learning curve is plateauing as I'm trying to jump the wakes. But I've got more questions than answers.

What is the best length of line?

How do we get a better wake off the boat?

How to get more line tension to whip into jumps?

Is our boat speed too high? Do we need to trim up?

Do I need to be in a more crouched position before the pop 'up?

Or edge in more perpendicular to the wake?

etc etc.

One thing is for sure... I sailed a week ago and the wakeboarding is really helping the windsurfing... Wakeboard wipe outs are far more violent so the FEAR of windsurfing wipeouts has been tamed 'a bit'!

BRING THE WIND!

I tried my home made paddle board today consisting of a Tiga Swift Longboard reclaimed from Newton Abbot recycling centre for £10, A Kayak paddle and me. It was BRILLIANT! By the end of the session I was stand up paddling out to sea and back.

In case of choppy conditions it made a brilliant kayak in the seated position gliding far more efficiently than any kayak I've used. In addition I've fibre glassed, screwed and aradite glued in a new mast track for summer sailing.

It took getting used to as my board is only 26inch wide and 169 litres. Most stand up allround boards are in the 220 litres and 30 inch wide for stability. Mine has a slight 'v' to the bottom that also did not help when at rest. I might make another trip to the tip a buy the biggest battleship I can find. The key in getting it going is speed. Speed equals stability. Once you pop up into a standing position you need to immediately paddle from the nose along the side of the board in smooth strokes, changing side every few strokes. Keeping up momentum keeps up stability. Oh.. and bend the knees into every stroke pumping with the feet. Feet stance is facing dead forward for flat water paddling and normal surfing/board riding stance if you catch a wave. It's a great work out!

You can spend £500 - £1000 on a larger new SUP board from shops like Reactive Water Sport Plymouth or Edge Water Sports at Exmouth. That would be my first choice if I won the lottery, but I didn't want to outlay so much without giving it a go first.

Ofcourse this was my first time but it only took 30 minutes to get some god runs on glassy flat water. I'm gonna invest in a proper paddle as this will help further, and use as leash as the board glides away from you when you go in.

SUP is taking off so for next season there may be some cheaper second hand gear around. But for now if you want a taste of Sup get out the old windsurf longboards and a kayak paddle and give it a go.

Next I want small waves and no wind....

Brilliant sunny session today at Paigton on a northerly cross shore.. maxed out on a 7.5 with big freeride board. Even though it was about 5-6 degrees it seemed like summer! 4th March 2008.