Hey guys

Well I finally got around to finishing my 11'6" SUP

Actually its been finished for a couple of months but I built my own paddle as well which took a bit of time.

That was a waste of time. read on

I took it out in flat water a couple of weeks ago and I was quite suprised how stable it was under feet.

I paddle up and down the lake entrance for about 45 mins and was quite impressed with how I went.

I stayed dry the whole time.

I did feel a bit sore the day after but thats to be expected I suppose.

Today I thought I would take it out in some small, and I mean small surf.

Well that was a WHOLE different ball game.

I got it to the water, walked out to about knee deep, hopped on and stood up like I did in the flat water.

Well, with the waves coming in, the currents, the rip, and the wind, it made it very hard to just stand there.

Once you get moving, its a bit easier but I think I was in the water more times than I was standing

I did manage to catch one wave and it was hard to even turn the board towards the face but I managed and rode it all the way to the beach.

I must have looked like a kook though, as I was wobbling all over the place just to keep my balance.

I had a huge grin from ear to ear though.

I paddled back out, eventually, and turned the board to catch another wave.

Now thats a task in itself.

As I started some power strokes, my cheep, tight ass home made paddle snapped in half.

I was soo pissed off.

I threw the two pieces on the beach and took my SUP board for some normal paddle in surfing.

I thought If I can't use the paddle to paddle, at least I get to see how this huge thing surfs.

I had so much fun.

I caught every little ripple and I started to get the hang of navigating such a beast.

I built my paddle using the guidance of boardbumps post.

www.seabreeze.com.au/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40849&SearchTerms=paddle,construction

But I didn't use the carbon fibre.

I think that was my undoing.

I will take it home and put a **** load of fibre glass on it and hopfully it will hold up.

I think next time, I will use cedar or I might just cut my losses and buy one.

One thing is for sure though, I had sooo much fun even with the drama's I had.

I will master it one day

I will post some pics of my board soon

Cheers



MDS
Shellharbour NSW

Hey Casso

Yer your probably right.
I will fix this one and see how it goes and if its no good I will just buy one

Cheers

It sure is good fun .. plenty more rewards to come MDS!

Out in the surf it's a whole new ballgame, and I remember thinking (whilst falling off..again) how impossible it seemed to master the balance ... almost gave it away ... Glad I didn't. Still got that ear to ear grin as well!