Cross over sports for surfing

When it's flat i'll take my SUP out, if the waves are good i'll surf my regular boards, also like to deep sea fish and also from a pier or even off of my SUP, when not doing those things i'm getting some pavement time on my Carver I got back in December.

 

I'd like to try windsurfing again. I used to own one while in FL and CA, but it's been over 25 years since I've been out on one.
As far as an activity that would contribute to surfing, I should start lap swimming again. The Navy base where I work has an Olympic size pool within short walking distance from our building. I think the SEAL Team uses it a lot. Sometimes the shallow end is covered with sand for weeks from whatever it is they do there. It's as if they come in directly from the beach and jump right in to rinse off.

 

See carver thread

Use my carver, new at it...good rush, skiing bumps...good rush, surf fish...good rush with a big fish (40lb +), tho I can go weeks without a hog, but when hooked up, reel screaming, fish ON!...good rush, golf...believe it or not...good rush when your in sync, rollerblade...no rush, but good exercise, ride a bike...no rush, but good exercise. I do a lot, just get bored doing one...with the exception of the first three rushes. Have yet to get bored with them, except for golf-feels like work now.

The carver, mogul skiing and surfing are very similar...in fact iam amazed how the carver is a great trainer for surfing and mogul skiing...surf fishing is similar in the crossover department, because my toes are in the sand...I don't sit in a chair either...I fish hard running 4 rods...I can sling bait for 10 hours straight without ever sitting down. I seem to always need that natural rush...been like that since I was a kid.

 

is it lame you ask. why would it be lame? kiting is sick. i had one for a while. never really got too into it too much, unfortunately. prob due to the fact that i was a total beginner, none of my friends would spend the time or money on it, and my priority was always surfing. but i did get up and ride a few times. and it was one of the biggest rushes ive ever felt in my life. its bada$$!

 

I really wish public pools didn't creep me the F out b/c I want to be swimming laps.

 

lap swimming & prone paddleboarding. flatwater SUP is good, too. but, w/ all due respect to dpSUP, i still have reservations about SUPs in the line up around regular surfers.

 

you SHOULD have reservations. they took your (our) precious sport and dumbed it down…successfully!!!

 

no doubt...in fact, a couple years back, one nearly took ME out on an uncrowded early spring day in hatteras.

 

Hey 42, do you have a proper prone paddleboard? Always wanted one...I just use my longboard when going for a paddle, but still want a legit paddleboard.

 

I want a "paddle board"...not sup. be cool to cruise the bay and exercise. Where can you get a paddle board? I would think they would be much narrower at the front, middle, and back then a standard sup. maybe kinda stealth looking I would imagine. I want one!...but no idea where I would get one. Been using total gym...great indoor paddle trainer. Use to swim laps in a pool before work, but it was tough to get motivated early in the morning. Use to swim upwards 5 hours a day when I was in high school for many years...sucked!...but it sure helped the surfing which came after swimming.

 

Agree..I think they make me more wave aggressive in the line up...I try to avoid them as much as possible...nuttin wrong with it, just can't catch much with an army of them around.

 

yea, i have a 14' bark:


it's a great tool for hard training & racing. it's really easy to get the thing moving, so covering 6 miles or so really isn't a big deal unless the conditions are crappy. i find it's not a very "social" piece of equipment, though. if you're looking to go out & get a workout while chatting w/ someone, it's prob. best to stick w/ a kayak or SUP.

 

coop, talk to your local shop. if they carry surftech, you can get a bark prone through them. that's how i got mine. or if you've got the coin, you can contact joe bark directly through his website: http://www.paddleboard.com/. from what i understand, he's a real approachable, personable guy & will talk you through ordering a custom board. it'll cost you, but can be done. personally, for as much as i use it, the yellow one i posted above gets the job done pretty sufficiently. train & race on it pretty extensively through the spring & summer months & it's been fine in all sorts of conditions. if i'm not mistaken, njryan has the same board. i'll be ordering a custom bark one day, as i plan on competing in the catalina classic & the molokai 2 oahu races, but i've got a lot of work to do before that happens.

 

I don't mind paddleboarders and it is a good way to keep in shape and also have fun when its flat.

However..... when the waves pick up and start to get good, put the paddle boards away! Especially in a crowded line-up, they really clog things up! You aren't going to make a lot of friends out there on a paddle board when the waves are good!

Kite surfing is also a killer alternative! Like the other poster said though it is very pricey! If you have never sailed or ridden a sailboard, windsurf, etc.... you should definitely start out with a stunt kite to get a little practice. A stunt kite is just small version of the parachute or kite used in kite surfing. You basically just stand on the beach and fly it for practice. You really need to know where your neutral spot is and also the basics of what makes you go and how to turn around. The last thing you want to do is jump on a kite board and head out to sea not knowing how to tack or turn around!

There are beginner kites and several different sizes and types of kites depending on your experience and also for surfing in different conditions and wind speeds. Some beginner kites also have an inflatable lip so that when you go down out in the water its a little easier to get the kite back in the air.

Same with the board itself..... there are boards more like surfboards (usually for beginners) and there are boards more like wakeboards (for more advanced). Once again, if you go down and your a mile out to sea if you're on a surfboard you can float and possibly paddle back in.

At the very least kiteboarding is probably one of the most intense workouts! I was in very good shape the first time I gave it a shot and it wore me to the core!

 

transition skating

 

Very nice. I'm not much social equipment guy, so it sounds right up my alley.

 

killer. learn to knee paddle & side shore summer days will be down wind, bump riding heaven.

 

Sounds fantastic, perfect for some distance paddling in the sound too...actually get some sideshore slop here too so that could be fun.

 

Hey NJ42, I'm looking into the same thing SS is. Just curious, why a 14 footer? Personal preference? It looks like the longer (16/17 feet) boards are for competition or more experienced? The 10.6 footers look a bit small for getting that momentum you were alluding to above. I'm torn between 14 and 12 feet.