I went for the Starboard 9'8" because of all the positive reviews I've read about it on Seabreeze and having paddled a few starboards before I knew it would be a well made board. Its my 3rd board after my 11 NSP and 12 Glide. I'm still the only SUPr in the country and get my fair share of odd looks but the guys in the lineup have been very supportive and encouraging about my peculiar habit.

To be honest I tried to get a Mana 9'5 but apparently they are all sold out in Oz? A custom DC was in the mix as well. I got very good advice from Dale Chapman and also Piros so thanks guys. In the end I figured I might wait until I'm a bit more accomplished riding the 9'8" to give me a better idea of what design features I want in a shorter board, then go sub 9' I guess.

I'm very happy with the Starboard regardless and caught a few waves last weekend in my first surf on it. It was a weird session as the wind was blowing a constant 35 knots with gust above that and decent sized waves (maybe shoulder to headhigh). I got smashed by the wind especially hard and spent a lot of time falling in. After a while I even ditched the paddle and went prone for the last hour or so of the session. Caught a few waves but without the paddle for leverage you're basically riding a conveyor belt. My footwork is pretty appaling though as well,


I only got a 8 foot legrope for it. I'm not sure this is long enough. Whats the consesnsus on leg rope length? Should it be as long as the board at least? Longer?

No surf today but we are expecting 2.5 m on tuesday so heading out before work.

HI Lobes

I agree with Bill on the leggy length. I find the longboard leggies fine up untill you are in Bigger surf (overhead plus). I have snaapped 5 in this (all the same brand). It is because of the I now use the "Creatures of Leisure Outreef ". I have never broken one of these.

Cheers
Swanie

Swanie said "HI Lobes

I agree with Bill on the leggy length. I find the longboard leggies fine up untill you are in Bigger surf (overhead plus). I have snaapped 5 in this (all the same brand). It is because of the I now use the "Creatures of Leisure Outreef ". I have never broken one of these.

Cheers
Swanie"

G'day Swanie - John G here,

Where do you buy one of these Creatures of Leisure Outreefs on the Sunshine Coast?

Thanks for the advice guys. Gonna pull the legrope off my 11' NSP and use that I think. Will invest in another one sometime down the track.

I'm with Piros, I prefer a shorter leggy. On my 12' I've got a 10" leggy, on my 9'9 I've got a 9' leggy. I find a long leggy gets tangled around everything. Fins, paddle and me when I'm in the water. Like piros said It's much quicker to get your board back with the shorter leggy too. Unless your surfing double overhead plus sort of stuff, where you obviously need a longer leggy, I think it is just personal preference. A bit like ankle or knee. I prefer ankle.

well said gentlemen

some great advice just there

short leggies are good for piros's reason for quick retrievial of you stick when under the pump thus keeping your momentum going forward

unless you like the odd bit of toes over the nose and having a short leggie sometimes results in falling over the front of the board and having your board inserted where the sun dont shine an extra bit of length in the leggie is good for clearance

as thomo said a bit of length for larger waves is a must to get that extra bit of clearence to help you from getting pulled with your board over the falls to your doom

and great advice from ye ol grand master dodsy

that going with the flow of the first major impact/pull from a larger wave

then waiting for an appropriate time/lull to engage resistance against that pull is your best defence against swimming back to the beach with paddle in hand

just to retrieve your crumpled finless board from the shoredump or rocks or that group of shortboarders/malriders that got cleaned up it as it steamrolls its way to shore and have there brand new ryobi circular saw(as advertised in a surfing mag recently) on hand creating an new modern art sculture out of your board

not a good look

A short leg rope could increase the odds of you taking a board in the guts if you do the dive over the breaking wave move on the way out.

When you're being dragged backwards under water you can put your paddle out in front of you and use it as a rudder to steer yourself up towards the surface. It's kind of fun.

Going with the flow definitely reduces the severity of the beating if not the amount of time you spend under water.

I'm a kook and I've tried it. It's not real hard and gives you something to do to take your mind of getting drownded.

Lobes, forgive the off topic bit and all you better surfers forgive me if you know this but, holding your breath under water is a mental thing and not really related to the need for air.

That I must breathe or I will die feeling is a reflex caused by CO2 in your lungs. If you learn to suppress it you can literally hold your breath forever. That's a very bad thing in the long term (because you die) but quite useful in the short to medium term.

Hyperventilation flushes the CO2 out of your lungs so you don't get the breathing reflex. That's why free divers do it. They actually exhale as they dive to flush out any residual CO2. They also oxygenate their blood but I don't know how effective that is (diving mammals have tricky blood vessels that allow them to do it while diving.)

Fitness and lung capacity and all that stuff relates more to how long you can stay alive without breathing.

All that is why the best thing to do when you are taking a big wave on the head is to relax and go with the flow. Whatever you do, don't try to breathe underwater. It doesn't work.

Gorgo said...
[
When you're being dragged backwards under water you can put your paddle out in front of you and use it as a rudder to steer yourself up towards the surface. It's kind of fun.

I've had a go at that too and it definitely works. I wasn't all calm and collected though. I only try this move when I feel like i'm about to drown and don't know what else to do. I wouldn't say fun, more like absolute panic stations.

Piros said...

Gorgo said...

I'm a kook and I've tried it. It's not real hard and gives you something to do to take your mind of getting drownded.

Lobes, forgive the off topic bit and all you better surfers forgive me if you know this but, holding your breath under water is a mental thing and not really related to the need for air.

That I must breathe or I will die feeling is a reflex caused by CO2 in your lungs. If you learn to suppress it you can literally hold your breath forever. That's a very bad thing in the long term (because you die) but quite useful in the short to medium term.

Hyperventilation flushes the CO2 out of your lungs so you don't get the breathing reflex. That's why free divers do it. They actually exhale as they dive to flush out any residual CO2. They also oxygenate their blood but I don't know how effective that is (diving mammals have tricky blood vessels that allow them to do it while diving.)

Fitness and lung capacity and all that stuff relates more to how long you can stay alive without breathing.

All that is why the best thing to do when you are taking a big wave on the head is to relax and go with the flow. Whatever you do, don't try to breathe underwater. It doesn't work.

Thats bloody funny and very informative at the same time

I also use my paddle under water whilst getting flogged , as soon as I feel a big pull coming I put my arms out straight with the paddle parallel to my shoulders I also drop my free leg down to create more drag , when I feel the pressure lessen or I seriously need air I let the paddle swing out in front of me and put pressure on the blade head and you plane to the surface. Try it in small surf first it's not hard.

Piros

my way too, you work it when you get flogged enough

Th0m0 said...

Gorgo said...
[
When you're being dragged backwards under water you can put your paddle out in front of you and use it as a rudder to steer yourself up towards the surface. It's kind of fun.

I've had a go at that too and it definitely works. I wasn't all calm and collected though. I only try this move when I feel like i'm about to drown and don't know what else to do. I wouldn't say fun, more like absolute panic stations.

Tried it this morning. Sorta worked. Would probably be effective once I refined my technique a bit. Sure seems to beat the random flailing that I usually do LoL