Friday, July 06, 2012

Female Aquatic Humanoids - aka SUPing Chimpettes

Across these waters of Peconic and Shinnecock there shreds a small but fierce band of primal watermen known as the Windchimps. Public sightings of the chimps can be as rare as summer wind and waves, which is why last Sunday I nearly dropped my paddle on seeing 2 female standup paddle surfers in the lineup.

  Shelly's First Wave 

NOAA recently announced that no evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found, but today I present photo proof of the elusive Chimpette! Knee-high waves and shorty weather seemed important to drawing her out. With the summer season hitting high gear, I'm hopeful we'll see more female aquatic humanoids catching their first SUP waves.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Destroyed at Ditch

My 4 year love affair with a Starboard Ultimate Blend 11'2" SUP snapped to a sudden halt Tuesday in overhead waves at Montauk's Ditch Plains.

The Ultimate Demise

A combo of TS Alberto and other coastal systems heaved solid swell toward the Long Island coastline, enticing me and Jon Ford to hike east and meet Andy Brant for some SUP-sailing. For the first 30 minutes, we sailed starboard tack in meaty head high waves, and caught some fun rides. Sadly the wind died, but with the building surf I de-rigged, grabbed my paddle and headed back out.


When I reached the far outer break, which seemed further out than we'd ever seen, sets were rolling in well-overhead. I caught a couple half-ride wipeouts, and let one wave pass under me which felt like a small house. Suddenly, out of the fog, loomed Poseidon's monster. With glee I started paddling, trying to match speed with the hulking mass. Speed, though was not the problem -- the 1-2' overhead and now pitching wave: problem. I dove off to the side, held my breath and experienced a massive pummeling. After getting thrown like a rag doll and dragged under, I swam for the top, and swam more, and finally lungs bursting reached clean air. I had survived; my precious Starboard Ultimate, had not.

The Ultimate will be repaired and retired to flat water paddling. I now search for a new SUP surf board. I've ridden Starboard's 8'10" Wide Point, and 9'8" Element in solid surf, and next will test the Fanatic AllWave. I'm looking forward to changing up to something new, but will always miss the original.

The Starboard Ultimate Blend 11'2" standing ready for waves in better days:
the Starboard Ultimate
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