SurfingSports Standup Paddle & Windsurf BLOG

Geezus H. Murphy!!!
What kind of a question is that???
As if being out in blowing sand, salt spray, 5kt current, and wind isn't enough
I reckon everyone's definition of fun is different...
I've written a treatise on it, actually...but, how do you really answer that???
The problem is, it wasn't a civilian asking the question...it was kind of a quasi-lukewarm blowboarder...with the him-haws...didn't really want to go out...just kinda likes the semi-drama of raining on someone else's parade..."what size sail is that"???
Maybe it's the one that I determined could be right for the conditions...huh, hoss???
The dood really didn't want a piece of it...
That's kinda like asking...oh, nevermind...;-)



Anyways...on the Exocet Kona Mini Tanker...it was a blast and sumpthin' to do on an otherwise blownout day...even Rincon was wavesailable today...here's the gallery...

Labels: Exocet Kona Mini Tanker, windsurfing Ventura

It's been windy lately...so we've been testing lots of new blowboarding hardware...namely, masts and booms...critical components of the sail rig...this was yesterday with the 2008 Hot Sails Maui "Fire"...



We have the new long awaited 2008 carbon HPL wave and freeride booms in stock...





The new boom head is much improved...as is the collar adjustment...dual clips increase torsional stiffness...the tail end is light and simple...

Here are the new 2008 100% carbon Powerex RDM's:


The Powerex RDM's come in 3 flavors now for '08...60%...85%...& 100% carbon...same great no questions...YOU BREAK IT...WE BUY IT...warranty...

Labels: HPL booms, Powerex masts, windsurfing Santa Barbara

Standup paddling, and Standup Paddle Sports, were just highlighted in the March issue of Alaska Airline's March 2008 inflight issue...the magazine has a print circulation of 67K with a total audience of 1.4 million monthly passengers...



The article focused on waterfront activities in our beautiful town of Santa Barbara...one of the airports that Alaska Air services...
Read the article here...

Click here for some watercam shots of the morning of the article...

Stay tuned...we've recently sent a board and paddle to Playboy Magazine for a photoshoot...we also sent the athlete model a Standup Paddle Sports (SUPS) paddling jersey...and she is supposed to wear it...;-)

Labels: Alaska Airlines, Santa Barbara, standup paddle surfing Santa Barbara

Here are shots of Patrice Belbeoch laying into some meaty waves on the 11'5" Exocet Kona...you can see how these new longboards can bottom turn on critical sections of the wave...also, of note is how he's charging the lippers...



Erwan Crouan Photographe

Moves like these have been the domain of shortboards since longboards were replaced in windsurfing around the early 80's...ironically, in surfing that same time period coincided with the beginning of the return of longboarding since being displaced by shortboarding in the late 60's and early 70's...and now we have long, and "short" standup paddleboards...and the beat goes on...and on...

Viva La Revolution!

Labels: Exocet Kona, Exocet Kona 11'5", longboard wavesailing

Another windy day on the Exocet Kona longboard waveboards...



Gallery here...

Wind is going offshore...so conditions should improve for a standup sesh...

Labels: Exocet Kona Mini Tanker and Kona 10'5", longboard wavesailing, windsurfing Santa Barbara

Spring has sprung...and that means winds...

The new Exocet Konas really proved themselves in our local conditions...





Gallery here....

Labels: Exocet Kona, exocet mini tamker. exocet 10'5", windsurfing Santa Barbara

We had some pretty sweet weather today for a standup paddleboard demo...
Lots of boards...heaps of positive energy and aloha...everyone learned a bunch about overall board volume vs. volume distribution vs. nose/tail rocker...effects on stability...etc...etc...new aspects of board design seem to be slowly revealing themselves...

One of the major breakthroughs has been the 9'0" Starboard Fish that you've recently read about in these pages...from 220lb advanced surfers to much lighter never-evers...this board was never dry all day...everyone was pretty stoked with it...beginners did absolutely great on this 9' board...it's really caught the eye and imagination of good surfers...

This isn't a stand there and soul arch type board...but, it's stable and turns on a dime...definitely a quiver builder...



Folks showed up from the Oregon border to Orange County...and from UK and New Zealand...

I think it's safe to say that Santa Barbara is rapidly becoming a standup paddleboard mecca...and it's still technically Winter...

Gallery with a few snapshots of today...

Labels: stand up paddle boards, standup paddle surfing Santa Barbara

An 11'2" Starboard "Ultimate Blend" SUP and a 9'0" Fish SUP that are both wavesailable...this is a tough combo to beat...on top of that, it comes in an ASA "TufSkin" construction for $1099 ea.

Pictured below is the "Sportech" construction with gorgeous wood veneer for $1549 ea.



These '08 SUP's are in stock in our Santa Barbara store now...going fast...

Could be the perfect quiver for a standupper with a surfing background...

More pics here...

Labels: stand up paddleboard, Starboard 11'2" Ultimate Blend, Starboard 9'8" SUP Fish