Frank Messina warned me that this would be addictive.
A week after Peconic Jeff got me up, on, and through my first wave stand-up paddle surfing, I was eager for more. Last Saturday morning the wave forecast (of which I know absolutely nothing) was apparently weak, but the Wolf and Scott wanted to get wet, and Jeff is always game, so I borrowed some gear and the four of us checked out the Clark Bar just east of Flying Point beach (Scott paddling a surf ski, the rest of us on SUP's.)
Immediately beautiful four footers began to roll through. I caught one, and could hardly breathe. From my first session tutoring by Jeff I knew I had to get back on the board so I didn't pearl coming down, and Jon Ford had counseled me to "fit the board on the wave" so I tried to do these things. After what seemed like a very long ride I was absolutely giddy...a full blown grinning idiot. Scott declared the ride "a nice long Right" and that sounded good to me. The only problem was I had become so excited that I could no longer stand on the board, and had to paddle on my knees for awhile.
As the morning wore on the waves grew to five feet, with the occasional six footer coming through. I caught seven in total, thanks to a lot of suggestions from Jeff, the Wolf, and "that maniac" (as the Wolf dubbed Scott) who would pop up next to my knee as I was on the wave, and tell me where to move my feet as I worked the ride. Their advice never failed me.
In a million years I never expected to find myself surfing a wave without a sail, footstraps, etc. I'm one of those windsurfers who reluctantly says "no I don't surf" when asked. I know there's a difference between SUP surfing and surfing without a paddle, but it seems to me that the best part of both is surfing the wave with nothing but the power of the wave...what a feeling that is!
So yeah, Frank...I'm hooked.
(Here's a link to Jeff's post on the session. The photos above are his, too, though I believe I snapped the one of Jeff.)
A week after Peconic Jeff got me up, on, and through my first wave stand-up paddle surfing, I was eager for more. Last Saturday morning the wave forecast (of which I know absolutely nothing) was apparently weak, but the Wolf and Scott wanted to get wet, and Jeff is always game, so I borrowed some gear and the four of us checked out the Clark Bar just east of Flying Point beach (Scott paddling a surf ski, the rest of us on SUP's.)
Immediately beautiful four footers began to roll through. I caught one, and could hardly breathe. From my first session tutoring by Jeff I knew I had to get back on the board so I didn't pearl coming down, and Jon Ford had counseled me to "fit the board on the wave" so I tried to do these things. After what seemed like a very long ride I was absolutely giddy...a full blown grinning idiot. Scott declared the ride "a nice long Right" and that sounded good to me. The only problem was I had become so excited that I could no longer stand on the board, and had to paddle on my knees for awhile.
As the morning wore on the waves grew to five feet, with the occasional six footer coming through. I caught seven in total, thanks to a lot of suggestions from Jeff, the Wolf, and "that maniac" (as the Wolf dubbed Scott) who would pop up next to my knee as I was on the wave, and tell me where to move my feet as I worked the ride. Their advice never failed me.
In a million years I never expected to find myself surfing a wave without a sail, footstraps, etc. I'm one of those windsurfers who reluctantly says "no I don't surf" when asked. I know there's a difference between SUP surfing and surfing without a paddle, but it seems to me that the best part of both is surfing the wave with nothing but the power of the wave...what a feeling that is!
So yeah, Frank...I'm hooked.
(Here's a link to Jeff's post on the session. The photos above are his, too, though I believe I snapped the one of Jeff.)
would love to know what you guys are smoking when evaluating wave size,any lisergic dithalamide involved?n anyway glad you're having fun which is why we/re all out there
Posted by: bb | September 08, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Bill, I go with what the chimps say! Have it out with Kielt and the Wolf (though I'll attest to at least one six-footer.)
Hey heard you may be banged up...if so, get better soon.
Posted by: Michael | September 08, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Aaahhh....this reminds me of the stuff I was posting a year ago...stoked beyond belief about the new possibilities of SUP. Try a small sail on the SUP board in 5-15mph winds and in waves...I want to hear what you think about that experience.
Posted by: Mac | September 08, 2009 at 09:11 PM
So..........when is the new SUP on its way??
Posted by: Bunty | September 09, 2009 at 09:01 AM
mike, just breaking chops as usual;thanks for your concern and good wishes,i'll probably be out of comission for some time.have fun and stay wet bb
Posted by: bb | September 09, 2009 at 09:42 AM
I'm afraid to buy a SUP. Lauralee has been wanting one. So that means I have to buy two! And I don't have any more room in the van.
Posted by: f messina | September 09, 2009 at 07:17 PM
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww jeeze.
That looks fantastic.
I'm actually already getting my standard pre-surf fantods looking at Friday & Saturday's forecasts out there.
Sunday's 2 to 4 is about where I start thinking "Right, that might actually be fun!"
4 feet growing to 5 & the occasional 6 is just the sort of confidence-building conditions I really wish I could get out into more often.
Posted by: bonnie | September 10, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Frank you can build a SUP or convert an old windsurfing long board into one. Commercial SUP boards are expensive compared to standard surf boards.
Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_MDgZkHsQQ
Posted by: Joe Rouse | September 18, 2009 at 01:55 PM