Loving wavesailing as I do, being not very good at it as I am, and not getting lots of conditions in which to improve which is my lot, SUPing in the waves has been on my mind. When it comes to sailing in the waves I'm much better at the wind part than the surf part, so if there's a way to practice the wave bit when there's no appropriate wind, I should be doing it!
I'd been talking the talk but not walking the walk. Big thanks to Peconic Jeff for dragging me to The Cut at Flying Point, lending me his board and paddle, and giving me enough tips that I did in fact catch a wave and ride it all the way in.
This was not that wave:
In the following video, I get a little closer:
After some extra tips from Jeff I eventually caught and rode this wave without falling:
This is how excited I was afterwards...I ran in to rave to Jeff:
(Photos, video, inspiration and equipment by Peconic Jeff. Thanks again!)
AWESOME!! We want to see P-Jeff in action too!
Posted by: TonyWind | August 31, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Indeed we do want to see Jeff on the waves...he's much better to watch than me. The good news is that Jeff has a new camera, which should facilitate this. The bad news is that when I took photos of him on this day he didn't choose to post any. I will endeavor to get some quality shots of him in the future!
Posted by: the editor | August 31, 2009 at 11:58 AM
All right Mike, you just need combidend SUP and photography lessons!! Just kidding, well done guys you make me craving for a SUP or a 8' longboard....
Posted by: TonyWind | August 31, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Photos and video were good entertainment, you're a "natural" (entertainer, not surfer. Stay with the former, work on the latter).
Posted by: T-Bone | August 31, 2009 at 12:10 PM
:D Nice!
Any time you spend playing in the waves on any type of board will make you a better sailor/surfer/general wave rider!! Keep at it!
Posted by: Andy | August 31, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Hilarious! It was fun at the beach, but funnier on the Peconic Puffin. Keep it up, you learned quickly from those inevitable begginer missteps. Your flatwater practice in the creek helped too.
The water and surf have been beautiful here on LI thanks to the tropical systems passing offshore. I have some more good shots to post, including some glassy waves from this morning.
Posted by: Jeff | August 31, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I love the comment from Jeff in the Video. It says it all! Oh Jeez!! We had a blast this past Saturday Night and I herd Sunday was better at the secret launch? I Know PJeff knows about it, where were You?
gpav
Posted by: Geo | September 01, 2009 at 07:03 PM
Welcome...to more time on the water!
Michael, get your crew together and come join us in OBX Sept 26-Oct 3....hopefully we'll have some waves to play in then as well.
Posted by: Mac | September 01, 2009 at 08:19 PM
And you call yourself a chimp, loved the blog,
the wipe out was hilarious! (been there)Lets go to OBX as Mac suggests!
Posted by: CD | September 04, 2009 at 06:19 PM
And just like in windsurfing... you will spend the rest of your life [and probably, the rest of your money] in an attempt to re-create that feeling you got on your first ride. Welcome to the tribe.
Posted by: f messina | September 07, 2009 at 09:06 AM
Frank, you are so right! A post on my second SUP session comes tomorrow...I caught a "real wave" and well...you know what that means because you wrote it above!
Posted by: the editor | September 08, 2009 at 08:43 AM
It's always nice to see a grom catch his first wave.
Posted by: Joe Rouse | September 18, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Grom? Joe me droog, stay tuned. We really should meet in the wet! I envision an excellent west coast session, followed by premium sake. It's in our future.
Posted by: Michael | September 18, 2009 at 07:22 PM