Imagine Connector Review

I walked into 101 Surf Sports yesterday to get some new fins for "previously loved" SIC Recon surf SUP and got to talk to David Wells a little bit about quad fins and also about new downwind boards showing up on the market.  In addition to the new rough water board from Focus (the Bluefin) we also talked about new Imagine Connectors which are beautifully strung to the ceiling of the shop away from sweaty hands of people like me.  If you are in the market for a new 14' DW board you have to check this one out.  Since the beginning of time, SIC has owned the downwind board market but you have to stop and take notice of this one from Dave Kalama and Imagine.  For one thing, it looks fantastic.  The new models are full carbon and come in two different widths.  Imagine could have taken the lazy way out and copied a SIC Bullet template but they didn't.  They created something entirely different (take a look at the rocker on this thing).

I have not yet had the pleasure of paddling one but if I do, I will be sure to write about it on this blog.  Here's is a nice blog post from the Joel Yang and the Village of Stoke about this board.  Sure sounds like a winner to me.

Picture from the Village of Stoke blog showing the rocker of the (previous model) board and needle nose.

SUP Downwinders on Tomales Bay

Tomales Bay is a great place to enjoy the thrill of downwind SUP.  Spring winds generally come from the NW which will generate some nice bumps down the length of Tomales Bay.  Beautiful landscape, warm(ish) water, abundant wildlife, absence of boat traffic and other hazards, make Tomales Bay an ideal location to surf whitecaps.  If you have never gotten your board to plane then you are really missing out!  Downwinding combines the best elements of surfing, racing, and touring. If you want to try it, go to Tomales Bay.  It's always best to go with some experienced people.  You can find them by joining the DownFrienders group on Facebook.

In the meantime, take a look at the map showing some important locations on Tomales Bay.  Enjoy all that Tomales Bay has to offer but please be smart!  Check the forecasts, go with small group, match the conditions to your experience and fitness level, and always wear a leash and PFD.

Northern California Downwinder Season!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's here.  The wind.  The wind is here for real (the Tomales Bay buoy showed 28 mph at around 4:25 pm).  Today I'm sitting in my home office working, and there is a contractor here cleaning lint from my dryer.  I'm constantly checking facebook to see who is doing what today and where they are doing it.  Some are doing a "Windy Wednesday" with the Barbary Ghost, some are on Tomales Bay, some are just surfing little bumps on the river.  Me?  Just working.  A little sad that I'm missing out for sure but I know this is just the beginning.  There are many "SUP Safari" adventures aboard the Ghost, the Davenport race, and Tomales Bay runs with my DownFrienders. My friend Matt Palmariello and I are even running a three day downwinder camp on Tomales Bay in about three weeks.

Let the downwind season begin!  I can be patient.  I know there are plenty of bumps for everyone. Surfing for miles at a time with no line-up, no waiting, and no problems.  Not a care in the world.

Clif Organic Energy Food Review (Pizza Margherita)

Now that I'm in my mid 40s, I have a better understanding of how my body works and what I need in order to feel right.  I love taking my lunch to work because I can snack any time and I can eat lunch any time too.  It's nice to have that freedom.  In school, I remember being hungry before lunch a LOT.  I wonder how much better my grades would have been if I were allowed to eat throughout the day?  Do you know that foggy feeling?  Confused, irritated, angry, frustrated feeling?  Not much fun.  Ever "bonked"?  I have a couple of times.  Pretty scary.

While paddling, I always have some emergency calories stashed in my PFD.  I keep two GU packets in my right pocket.  In a pinch, I can even consume them without water.  I also like to keep some Clif Shot Bloks in my chest pocket.  I like these because they are more fun to each, like big gummy bears.  I really like the Margarita flavor.  Citrus is good too.

I like gels, they pack a nice calorie punch and some have caffeine, but I get tired of the syrupy taste and texture.  Sometimes you just want to taste some real food!  I was at REI the other day and found something new, Clif Organic Energy Food and picked up two packets of Pizza Margherita.  I was so curious to try it, I ate the first one in the parking lot.  I have to say, the flavor was interesting, like eating flavored tomato paste or pizza flavored baby food.  If you are a picky eater you might not like it but I thought it was okay.  Not great, but pretty good.  Sometimes you just want something that tastes like real food and not Karo Syrup.  I really liked the twist off cap too, very easy to do while on the water.  Give it a try, you might like it!  

Go here to read the nutrition label

Not bad at all.  Might even taste better warm?  Leave it out in the sun for a few minutes?

4/2 Update:  I just ate the Banana, Mango, Coconut.  Delicious.  It's like a little dessert in a pouch.  Might as pretend you are in Hawaii or Costa Rica while out paddling.  I didn't feel the need to wash it down with water either.  Not too thick, not too sweet. Just right.  I might get a box of these.

Home run from Clif

Epic Weed Deflector Installed

Just installed the Epic Weed Deflector on my SIC Bullet 17. I cleaned the surface with alcohol and applied using only the peel and stick adhesive and some gorilla tape. It should be easy to remove and reposition if required. If it works, I will epoxy it in place. It is close enough to the rudder to fit through the hole in the board bag. Wind in the forecast tomorrow. We shall see!!

Weed Deflector (Eel Grass Ginsu) for my SIC Bullet 17

I picked up this little carbon beauty from the good people at Epic Kayaks. I figure it should work fine on my Bullet. My rudder pulls up eel grass from Tomales Bay like a John Deere pulls dandelions from a little league outfield. I can't have that. Eel grass keeps Tomales Bay healthy, clean, and full of little fishies.  What's good for the bay is bad for my board, it adds a LOT of drag.

I will take some pictures after installation and also let you know how it works.  $20 investment, so what the heck?  I will nickname it the "EGG" (Eel Grass Ginsu), or how about "The Kelp Kutter"?

Carbon Fiber is cool, and sharp.

Sandwich Island Composites (SIC) 2015

Seems like just a couple of years ago, Sandwich Island Composites (SIC) was a relatively small player in the world of SUP board manufacturing.  They were best known for their custom, Maui-made ocean racing and downwind boards, the F-16,  and the Bullet.  Now?  Well, they still make the best downwind boards in the world but they also make flat water racing boards, surf boards, even inflatables.

If you are looking for a board specifically for downwinders, be sure to put SIC at the top of your list.  There are multiple downwind boards in their line-up, including the Bullet 12'6", Bullet 14', and F-14 Wide Glide.  For ruddered boards, take a look at the F-16, and of course the flagship of the downwinder world, the outstanding Bullet 17'4".  Don't be alarmed by the narrow width (26.6 inches), as the standing area is exactly the same width as my 30 inch wide 14 foot board.  On the Bullet, the deck pad extends all the way to the edge of the rail.

Check out the 2015 SIC Catalog to see the whole range:

If you are fortunate enough to live in the North Bay, go to 101 Surf Sports in San Rafael.  They carry the full range of SIC boards.  If you can't drop by or if you are out of the area, be sure to give them a call and ask for David or Tom.  They will take care of you.