SUP Fins - Understanding Stand Up Paddle Board Fins

Fins are a very important part of the Stand Up Paddle Board.  Without them you would probably spin in circles.  Most manufacturers do a good job of matching the fin to the SUP board but understanding how your fin or fins work will help you decide what fin you want to use on your board.

TruAmes SWT
Shallow Water Touring

Future Fins Keel

All-around SUP boards and stand up paddle surfboards have fins and fin systems that come from the surf side of the sport (more on that in a second).  The size of the board reflects the size and number of fins on the board.  With a single fin setup, the fin will be larger than if you are using a three fin or two plus one configuration.   This is because the surface area and holding power needed comes from only one fin instead of three.  How much surface area needed depends on the size and type of board, on the conditions you are paddling in and your personal preference.  The center fin on a three fin board will be the same as the outside fins and on a two plus one setup, the center fin is larger than the outside fins but smaller than that of a single fin setup.  Some boards with a two plus one setup will allow you to remove the outside fins and change the center fin to make it a single fin board.

FCS Danny Ching

FCS Slater Trout

The difference between single, twin, three fin and quad setups is a topic for another blog post but briefly, single fins provide the holding power to keep the tail of the board from sliding around and the muti-fin systems do that and a lot more.  They provide the rider the ability to generate speed by forcing water through the fins.  Some three fin setups are called Thrusters because you can thrust water through the fins and go faster on a wave.  Multi-fin setups are very useful in surfing because of the dynamic interaction with the rider, the board and the wave.  However multi-fin systems add drag and that works against flatwater stand up paddling.  The fins, other than the center fin on a multi-fin board are not pointed in the direction of travel.  They have a certain amount of cant.  That means they are angled towards the centerline of the board and not in the direction of travel.  The more cant or angle, the looser or the easier turning ability the board will have, but the more drag the board will have as well.  Drag is not felt as much while paddle surfing because you are using energy from the wave but for flatwater paddling, drag is bad.  Boards that are designed for flatwater paddling will only have a single fin setup.

TruAmes Crossfire Hexcore

We are seeing more touring and race SUP boards coming with a flatwater style of fin.  However many people use all-around boards for paddling away from the surf and very often these boards come with a fin that is designed to be used in the surf.  This is where you can change the fin and dramatically change the way the board behaves.  A flatwater style of fin will help a board track much straighter.  This is a very desirable feature to have when paddling across a lake.

There are many new flatwater fins on the market but they generally can be grouped into three types.  Touring, racing and downwinders.  Touring fins are designed with one thing in mind.  Keeping the board going as straight as possible.  They do this by extending the horizontal dimension of the fin.  A large base and much of the surface area of the fin reaches back to make it difficult for the fin to pivot.

SUP race fins are a compromise.  They are designed to help the tracking ability of the board while also allowing it to maneuver amongst competitors and, more importantly, make a turn around a buoy.  They fall somewhere between a surf fin and a touring fin shape wise.  Quite a few SUP race fins are made of carbon fiber which allows them to be thinner to cut down on the drag yet keep their effective stiffness.  Carbon fiber as well as hexcore and other similar materials makes for lighter weight than the solid fiberglass that is traditionally used to make fins.

Futures FIns Downwinder 

Downwinder SUP fins are the most unique.  They get their surface area by reaching much further into the water and have an even smaller horizontal component than surf fins.  The principal is that you want to keep the board from spinning around in rougher conditions where the tail is lifting out of the water.  You also don't want a large profile that would cause the rougher conditions to put side pressure on the fin and make the board unstable.  And the relatively vertical orientation also helps the board remain maneuverable to make the small adjustments in the direction needed when traveling with the wind.

Many SUP enthusiasts will change fins often depending on the conditions.  You can race your BARK Dominator with a FCS Slater Trout in the morning, take a casual cruise across the lake with your TruAmes SWT fin for lunch and then put the Future Downwind 13" for the afternoon downwinder session.  One board, three fins and a whole lot of fun.

Or, you could surf your all-around stand up paddle board with the three fin set up it comes with in the morning and then remove the side fins for a flatwater tour in the afternoon or, better yet, switch it out for a TruAmes SWT fin for even straighter tracking and less drag.

We hope this info helps you to understand when and why you might want to switch  your SUP fin set up and, more importantly, helps you to have more fun on the water.

Happy paddling!

Bend, Oregon Standup Paddling Subject of Register-Guard Article in Eugene Register Guard

Euegene, Oregon, Register-Guard reporter Mike Stahlberg interviewed Randall for his article, Stand up and Paddle!, on stand up paddle boarding in Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is renowned for water - lakes, rivers and the coastal waters give paddleboarders a choice of adventures every weekend. Thanks to the Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon for spreading the word about stand up paddle boarding. Here's an excerpt of his article:

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Stand up and paddle!Some Oregonians are getting their feet wet in ‘new’ board sport

BY MIKE STAHLBERG

The Register-Guard

Appeared in print: Tuesday, Jul 7, 2009

Sports: Outdoors: Story

BEND — A spinoff of the world’s oldest board sport is the newest wave to hit the Oregon outdoor recreation scene.

It’s called Stand Up Paddling (SUP), although the Polynesians who invented it thousands of years ago no doubt had a different term for it.

The sport is exactly what the name implies — you stand on an oversized surf board and propel yourself with a long paddle.

Surfers — led by big wave icon Laird Hamilton — began returning to their roots several years ago, using paddles to propel themselves to catch waves rather than lying on their board and “swimming.”

It turns out stand-up paddling is a surf sport that doesn’t require an ocean. Hence, the emergence of flatwater SUP on inland lakes and rivers.

The most visible venue for flatwater SUP in Oregon is in Bend. Here, in view of patrons of riverside eateries in the tony Old Mill District, a dozen stand-up paddlers can be seen plying the Deschutes River between the Bill Healy and Colorado Avenue bridges on a Friday afternoon.

“It was phenomenal! Super fun!” said Kip Roseman of Bend shortly after completing his maiden SUP voyage — with his 3-year-old daughter, Pema, sitting on the board in front of him.

“She’s already asking when we can go again,” said Roseman, who grew up surfing. “It’s a great core workout, but also really mellow.”

Learning to stand up and paddle is simple, said Tom Dean, a Bend yoga instructor who also loves whitewater kayaking.

“If you can stand on one foot, you can do it,” Dean said. “You’re just balancing on your feet. … If you want an easy paddle, it’s easy. If you want a challenge, you can make it challenging. It’s good for everybody.”

Stand-up paddling and kayaking “are complete opposites,” Dean said. “One is full of adrenalin and a rush of excitement and fear. Then the paddle boarding is calming and peaceful and meditative. Both are full of fun.”

Stand-up paddlers make surprisingly good time going upriver, some moving faster than people walking on the riverside paths.

Paddling upriver — or even across a lake — can be quite a workout. Some call it “the best workout on water,” which is part of the appeal. Stand-up paddling is used as a cross-training exercise by some professional athletes, including Lance Armstrong.

Bend’s emergence as a stand-up paddling hot spot can be traced to a trio of former surfers, including Gerry Lopez, who moved his board-manufacturing business from Hawaii to Central Oregon a few years ago to pursue snowboarding. Dave Chun also moved his Kiola Paddles here. Both were among the first stand-up paddlers on the Deschutes.

Most active in promoting stand-up paddling locally, however, has been Randall Barna, an Orthotics maker with a long history in board sports.

Barna was among the pioneer Oregon surfers who braved the cold coastal waters without wetsuits in the 1960s.

He eventually took up the then-new sport of windsurfing and opened the first windsurfing school in Oregon in the 1980s.

He now operates an online SUP business (www.standuppaddleflatwater.com) and spearheads outings, including a weekly 4:30 p.m. Friday paddle that begins at the grassy area near Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak, where rental SUPs are available. . . . 

. . . The sport’s popularity isn’t hurt by the fact that Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks and Pierce Brosnan are among those who have been photographed being stand-up celebrities.

Meanwhile, lake marinas are also getting into the SUP act. Resorts at Elk Lake and Floras Lake are among those renting stand-up boards.

Other waters where one can see stand-up paddlers in action include Odell Lake (where a stand-up paddle division is included in the 29th annual Odell Lake Pioneer Cup canoe and kayak races, set for 11 a.m. July 25.)

The boards themselves are thicker, wider and longer than most standard surfboards.

SUPs range from 9 1/2 feet to more than 12 feet in length, and retail for $700 to $2,500. Adjustable-length paddles go for $90 to $500.

The expense is related to the amount of ultralightweight epoxy used, said Tom Werner, another Bend boarder.

“The sport just evolved because of the technology,” Werner said. “They’re able to make them wider and thicker and longer and still keep the weight down.”

Some SUP boards come with a mast-mounting slot that allows them to be used for windsurfing as well.

One controversy involving SUPs is whether they are legally a vessel — and thus subject to life jacket requirements — or a surfboard, for which life preservers are not required.

An article in The Bulletin newspaper of Bend earlier this year quoted a U.S. Coast Guard memorandum that stated SUPs are considered a vessel when “used for transportation” but not when being used inside “the narrow limits of swimming, surfing or bathing area.” . . . READ MORE at the Register Guard

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Buy your stand up paddle boarding paddles, boards and accessories from us at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater. We'll guide you to get the gear that's best for you and the conditions you paddle in.

How to Carry Your Stand Up Paddle Board

There's no way around it, stand up paddle boards are lunkers. Through out decades of making windsurfers, the holy grail of big board weight is to be under thirty pounds. That big board building technology has crossed over to SUP stand up board manufacturing.

Here's the thing about board weight. A short stand up paddle board is not the answer to getting a lightweight board that will work for you as well as be easy to carry. Short SUP boards are meant for surf wave riding and are not the best choice for flat water stand up paddling. They may be stable (due to width), but they aren't long enough to get the glide you need on flatwater.

If you're going to spend most of your time stand up paddling on lakes, rivers, and flat(ish) ocean (bays or in the Caribbean) you're going to want a board that is at least eleven feet long. And carrying that long board between your rig and the water or portaging it if you're on a river becomes more of a workout with every step.

There are five ways to carry your SUP stand up paddle surf board a significant distance by yourself:

• Shoulder Carry -- Bend your head to one side and balance the width of the stand up paddle board on your shoulder as it leans against your head. For some of us this too much of a kink in the neck.
• Head Carry -- Balance the deck of the paddle board on your head. Having the deck of the SUP pointing down to the earth is best for wind resistance. This is the best carry for one person if it's windy because you can keep the SUP paddle board sideways to the wind.
  
• Handle Carry -- Slot handles (included in most new SUP boards) or an after market attached handle we call the
  
  Easy Handle allow you to hold the standup paddle board against your side and under your arm. The slot handles require a lot of grip strength. The Easy Handle is much easier for long carries.
• Big Board Schlepper -- Shoulder strap-sling harness gives you both a easy way to carry your paddle board and paddle.
• Paddle Shaft Handle Carry-- Attach a tie down at the front and back of your paddle board and put a loop of rope in it. Starting with the handle end of the paddle, hook the paddle into the loops and use the shaft of the paddle to carry the SUP board.

Note: In high winds have 2 people carry each board, keeping the deck flat and facing the ground and the board low.

Of course, if it's too hard to carry your stand up paddle board alone (or you enjoy company) enlist the buddy system and share the load.

Photos: 1. Isabella Barna demonstrating the head carry and Ed Shasek demonstrating the shoulder carry while portaging their paddle boards around the Tetherow Log Jam on the Pringle Falls section of the Deschutes River, Oregon. Thanks Judy Shasek for this photo.
2. Randall Barna demonstrating a side carry and Isabella a head carry at the Oregon coast.

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

Coolers on Board

The guys in our very casual stand up paddle boarding group have taken casual to a new level, they now paddle board with coolers! This is a new thing for them. On the morning of our 35 mile paddle down the Deschutes River, Oregon, three of the four guys in our group showed up with coolers. It seems as though they simultaneously and independently came up with this brilliant idea (or none of them are taking credit for it).

They claim that to rest a tired back or nurse a shoulder injury, the cooler is a useful seat that coincidentally stores a six pack of beer. Though there were a few of us non-cooler carriers that may have smiled or made the occasional possibly snide inquiry about the coolers, by the 25th mile when the guys were sharing their beer and treats, we were all grateful for their ingenuity.

Here's a few things we learned about putting coolers on top of your stand up paddle board:

• Don't tie a strap around the bottom of the board. As slim as the strap may be, it creates too much drag.
• The cooler makes your board much more tippy when you sit on it.
• The cooler may require a second trip if you have to portage your paddle board.
• Though none of our guys or their coolers fell in during the 35 mile trip as they tested their cooler-on-board idea, it seems a good idea to get a cooler with a locking lid that floats.
• To strap your cooler to your board, be sure to order a set of attachment tie-downs for your stand up paddle surf board.

Note: Thank you Judy Shasek for the cooler photos

Cooler Guys: Eddy Miller, Al Paterson, Eddie Shasek

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

SUPs and PFDs

This is a follow-up to my post August 12,'08 "Hassled About PFD?"

The US Coast Guard recently made a determination:

"Based on the information available, the Coast Guard has determined that, when beyond the narrow limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area, the device known as a "paddleboard" is a vessel under 46 U.S.C. 2101, and therefore subject to applicable regulations administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and its Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, unless specificallly exempted."

In essence, if the paddleboard is being used for transport on lakes, bays, or rivers, a PFD is required.

I guess we're responsible for national policy on this. I doubt that
anyone making this decision has ever been on a paddleboard (maybe never
even seen one) and certainly didn't get any input from the paddling
community. If so, the paddlers could easily explain that the PFD
requirement will not increase the safety of the sport in most cases.
Granted, a paddler could get struck by lightning or hit-and-run by a
boat and knocked unconscious. But then, the PFD would only save them if
they were wearing it and the rule says it just needs to be on-board.
Paddleboards are unsinkable. A more common sense safety rule is to wear
a tether-leash attaching you to your board and this is widely practiced
without the need of regulation.

Paddleboarding is a healthy, low-impact and environmentally friendly new
sport. The enthusiasts do it because they are so un-encumbered by
standing on top of a board instead of sitting within a boat. The feeling
of freedom and experience of the outing is incomparable. Some paddlers
choose to wear PFD,s and my point is that it should be a choice. The
expectation is that it will not be required to have a PFD because
everybody knows a board is not a boat.

The reactions from the few people that were already warned by marine patrols were brought to my attention immediately, disbelieving, distasteful, even calling it harassment.

I'm requesting that the Board consider rule making and adopt rule
language to exempt "paddle boards" from the PFD requirement. I will be
glad to testify and could provide many others to testify if it would help.

Randall Barna

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com Thank you for purchasing your SUP gear from us. We appreciate your support.
w

Stinky Bootie Solution

I thought something had died under the seats in our van. The smell was vaguely sweet, slightly meaty and fetid. I looked everywhere, and finally had to resort to cleaning out the vehicle. Starting with the spaces under the front seats I looked for the culprit and found nothing but a few ice cream sticks and a baggie full of last week's baby carrots. (Hey -- I thought my kid was eating her vegetables!)

I moved aside a pile of SUP gear to look under the floor mat and then I found it. The smell was terribly strong. And worse, it was coming from the wetsuit booties! I envisioned the gushy corpse of a mouse that had crawled into the booties and died. I shook the booties over the bushes near where we had parked, but nothing came out. Then, I did what any woman does in this situation, I gave the reeking footwear to the nearest man.

Randall didn't blink or even sniff. His face barely moved except for the slight smile he always gets when I'm grossed out about something like big spiders or dead mice. It was time to up the drama. "R a n d a l l, I think there's something dead in the wetsuit booties," I said.

"Oh, that smell?" He finally said, "Don't worry about it, I've been putting the booties in the board bag on top of the car so you wouldn't notice."

Ok -- Here's how it works for any other guys thinking that a board bag is the solution to stinky booties. I did notice. I just didn't say anything because I figured his feet are far from his head and as long as he stands on his board, I'm not close enough to care.

Then Randall hit me with the big news. "It's OK Honey, I couldn't get the smell out of your booties with wetsuit soap, but I have another idea that I'm sure will work."

My wetsuit booties?? How could that be? My feet don't stink. Really.

Then I looked carefully at the booties and it was true. They were mine. Dang it.

I headed for the bleach but Randall cut me off at the pass. I guess neoprene and bleach aren't a good combo. He did have a solution and it worked, Dawn Dishwashing liquid. He swirled a few drops into the booties full of hot water, rinsed and put the boots in the sun to dry.

What a guy!
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Get your SUP gear from Randall at www.StandUpPaddleBend.com. You'll find Dawn Dishwashing liquid on the soap aisle of most grocery stores.

Hassled About PFD? - ask Randall

Hi, I was paddling on the Nehalem River estuary the other day and imagine my suprise when the Tillamook County Sheriff stopped me and gave me a warning for not having an approved PFD and whistle (like I was a boat)! Do you guys have any experience or advise you'd like to share? I called the director at the State of Oregon for water activities law enforcement and he said there was a policy that seemed vague about requiring a PFD and whistle if I was in flat water, though not requiring them in a surf zone. I'm puzzled and irritated that I was singled out for this application of a silly rule (I don't see any adults wearing PFD's and whistles on your website. Is Dechutes County more enlightened than here on the coast?). I've been surfing in Oregon for 43 years and boating longer than that and this is the first I've heard about any rule or policy like this. Your comments please.
Regards, David, Manzanita, Oregon

Hi David, This subject is like de-ja-vu all over again. We went through the same thing in the 80's with windsurfing. We windsurfed for years without PFDs and then someone decided that they should be required so they started enforcing it. Finally enough windsurfers complained to the marine board and maybe even the legislature and they changed the rule. I believe it states that anything considered a water toy and that you are on top of, opposed to sitting within, is exempt from the PFD rule. In Bend there are thousands of people floating down the Deschutes through downtown and the Old Mill district. City buses shuttle them back to the start. If they're on an air mattress, PFDs aren't required. If they're in a $10 toy raft PFD is required. Inner tubes are another grey area since your butt is in, however, technically you're on top since it has no floor. In the old windsurfing days, the ironic thing with the old PFD law is that you didn't have to actually wear the PFD, you just needed to have one "on board". We would bungee cord a PFD to the nose and be legal, which was absolutely ridiculous!

Real safety is a concern but this PFD requirement gets into a human rights and freedom issue like requiring adults to wear bike helmets. This helmet issue recently came up and was proposed to go to the legislature and was immediately squashed by a huge outcry in objection.

This is my opinion on safety and the PFD issue:

1. PFDs should not be required on standup paddle boards. They should be treated the same as surfboards, windsurfers, air mats, etc.
2. In open water with current or wind use a leash. When wearing a leash you are always tethered to a personal flotation device, the board! Every board has way more flotation than any Coast Guard approved PFD.
3. Respect the elements and water, assume risk, and use good judgment. Regardless of flotation, sh-- happens!
Randall Barna
standuppaddleflatwater.com

Heat and UV Damage to Your Board - It's in the Bag

UV light and heat can damage your surfboard and stand up paddle board. Don't worry about the exposure your board is getting when you're in the water. The usual UV protectants added to high quality surfboard clear coat resins are adequate for the typical gloss board. (Soft top board coverings are especially durable.) Most people have problems arise because of the way they are storing and transporting boards. The UV light isn't the only culprit, the heat of the sun can cause unforeseen issues.

Here are some tips to remember for safe transport and storage:

• Long trips on the top of your vehicle add up to hours of unrelenting sun exposure, purchase a board bag designed for travel. Not only will your board be protected from the sun, excessive heat and flying road gravel, you won't have to scrape dead bugs off your board before you can paddle.
  
• Do not wrap the board in plastic or bubble wrap -- The greenhouse effect created by the sun can cause the temperature to build up to a point that the board may delaminate.
• Store the board inside, under cover and dry. Big temperature fluctuations from hot to freezing temperatures (for those of us in the colder climes) stress the materials.
  

We sell board bags for your SUP for $180., $190., or $200. depending upon the length of your board. Check out our Accessories page on our website www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Whitewater & Surf Safety - Wear a Helmet!

Rocks in the river and on the Oregon coast amp up the danger of an ordinary SUP wipeout. For safety in surf or whitewater wear a helmet. This is especially important if you're trying out your Stand up Paddle skills on the Deschutes River. The changing water levels (due to irrigation) can make yesterday's riffle today's mid-river boulder.

We have these surf helmets in stock at StandupPaddleFlatwater.com Buy the Predator Lee 8 Helmet in one of 2 colors, red or black. The Lee 8 has a sun visor that shades the sun but is not so big that wipeout hydraulics jerk your head around. It also has stronger plastic than their other helmets. And, at only $99.00 it's cheaper than brain surgery.

Buy the Predator Lee 8 Helmut and other Standup Paddle accessories on our website. We also sell leashes, locks, board bags and more.

Ask Randall: Are Wetsuits Needed?

Do you wear a wet suit all year long on the Deschutes and on the upper lakes?
Peter

Peter, I wear a wetsuit when its in the 30s or 40s. Otherwise just trunks and a quick-dry paddle shirt. You're working out so you stay pretty warm, like a runner would. The main difference from dressing like a runner is that if you did ever fall in, you want to wear something you can swim in, and not die from hypothermia when wet.
Randall

Ask Randall: Leash Length

Dear Randall,
I paddle a 12' board. Why do you sell 10' or 12' leashes when everybody else is selling 6' or 8' leashes? Doesn't the extra length cause drag in the water?
Tim

Dear Tim,
The only time I've noticed drag is when I get seaweed or lakeweed hung up on my leash. That's a small annoyance considering what can happen if your leash is too short. Besides, a little water weed shakes off easily when you jerk on your leash cord.

The purpose of the leash is to save your life or somebody elses, don't get hung up on drag. The three situation when you need a leash are:

• Surf
• Wind
• Current

Guess what happens when you're ready to nose ride your 12' board and your leash is only 6' long. Even if you're not in the surf, it's fun to try a nose-pivot turn in flatwater. Either way you need the length in your leash.

Even more important is the wipe out factor. How close do you want to be to your 12' board when you're tumbling with it in the surf? I'll take a long leash any day.

For the best stand up paddle leashes on the market, visit Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

Standup Paddle Edge Guard

Paddle protection is a good idea to prevent damage to your paddle, board and even your body!

• Black tape around the edge keeps from scratching the paddle.

Mastic tape is better and protects the board too. Mastic is rubber and about 1/16" thick.

The best protection I've seen is Paddle Guard (TM) from Surfco Hawaii.

Paddle Guard is specifically designed for paddle edges and is a molded shape for hydrodynamics. It's extremely durable and provides more protection than anything else. It slightly changes the balance of the paddle but barely noticeable in weight. The self installation kit runs $25 at standuppaddlebend.com

We think Paddle Guard is such a good idea that we're having a Paddle Guard party this Friday, May 9th, 2008 at our business location in Bend, Oregon. We're offering a special party price to introduce everyone to this new product. After this event, the price is $25.00 for the kit. Call us and let us know if you want to come so we can have enough Paddle Guards for everyone. 541-389-4547

What to Wear Winter Paddling

If you live in Hawaii or some other warm winter locale, just stop complaining. Now. We've heard about your struggles with the should-I-wear-long-sleeves-today syndrome that puts islanders in a spin when the temperatures drop below 75F degrees. We have NO sympathy. Sure, you have big waves and knarly reef breaks. But if you want to see tough, come to the inland flat water land of ice and snow in the middle of winter and we'll show you tough.

Or is the word stupid? Well, whatever the word, sometimes the urge to stand up paddle hits after a 3 day blizzard. The sun comes out, the sky is turquoise blue and the water is sparkling crystal clear. It all looks so inviting. Until you put your finger in the river and realize how cold 36F degree water actually is. Step into the water and it'll feel even colder. Fall in and . . .

Since none of the above is stopping the local paddlers, here's the next obvious question. What does a paddler wear when the urge to paddle overrides every bit of common sense? First I'll tell you about what I consider to be the ideal setup. Though I have yet to convince my ideal man to wear this entire outfit, I have guilted him into a wet suit with a few "When I'm a widow (after you've fallen in)..." scenarios.

Here's my what-to-wear-when-ice-water-paddling suggested wardrobe:

1. Wetsuit or drysuit. Yes, your cotton hoodie & down jacket are cozy, but they'll only help drown you if you happen to fall in.
2. Neoprene booties.
3. Life jacket.
4. Leash yourself to your board.
   

Try for at least 3 out of 4 on the list and get out of your dressed-to-drown gear. At least this way, we won't have to read all the good stuff about you in an obit.

Deck Traction Part 2. Padded Decks

In part 1 we covered waxing and to veteran surfers, accustomed to the culture of waxing their board, its no problem. Newcomers see the padded-traction decks as the most sensible solution.

Many of the factory-made boards are supplied with padded traction decks. Some pads wrap around the rails, some are applied on the deck only with bare rails, and a new method recesses the pad into the deck.

The padded decks that wrap around the rails are very user friendly. They make the rails easy to grab and are easy on your body if you're whacked by your board. They protect the rails from your paddle too, but if your blade is sharp you can cut or chafe the pads. You can even dent the padded rails with your car-rack straps or setting the board down on its rails. If he rails get rough it causes drag and your board will be slower and won't turn as smoothly in the waves. Damaged rail pads can be patched and sanded smooth but prevention is better. Use an edgeguard on you paddle edge and carry the board in a boardbag to protect the soft rails.

Boards with with pads attached to the entire center of the deck leave the rails bare and smooth. They are not as user friendly as padded rails but higher performance and more carefree. The edge of the attached pad can drag a little, if your rail is buried deep, catch on things or trip you. The pad can also delaminate, but it's easily repaired with glue.

A new and unique application is the recessed deck pads as seen on the '08 Laird models. The rails are bare and the pad is applied in a recess that's carved into the deck. The pads edge is not exposed to snag or drag, giving the board clean and smooth lines.

One advantage of all factory-installed padded decks is that they can be up to $500 less expensive than their full-gloss counterparts. The savings come from deleting the labor of painting, glossing and polishing the deck. Many of these boards have matte finish white bottoms which makes invisible repairs easy with white Ding-stick or Marine -tex

The higest performance deck pads are applied custom to a gloss deck board. This way there is a huge variety of brands and types of pads available which can be personalized exactly to the riders demands and color preference. Various textures, sizes and shapes of pads can really make a performance difference. Also, you can combine pads and waxed areas or XM film. XM is a clear un-padded traction application that can also be used on the entire deck if you like. Keep in mind that all this personalization comes with a price. Custom deck traction can easily cost $50-$200 depending on what you choose to do. When you consider what it costs for the highest performance bicycle its OK!

http://www.standuppaddleflatwater.com/

Deck Traction - Wax & Sawdust Part 1.

Slipping off your board? A lot of standup boards come with a glossy deck and need something for traction. The traditional surfboard way is with a bar of wax. You rub it on the deck of the board until it builds up little bumps. This needs re-waxing regularly to restore the wax gripiness and the bumps. This way is very inexpensive and it leaves a nice patina on the deck of the board that shows your actually using it. It also allows the beautiful graphics of the board to show and aesthetically is very pleasing. I've got a board hanging on the wall as home decor. It has a lot of meaning to me, a Bill Barnfield that Bill gave me as his best man present in 1970. My wife said,"why don't you clean of that icky wax." My response was,"no way. . .the wax is part of that boards character.

But, wax has its downside. In hot climates it can melt and drip off the board or worse, onto your car! If you carry your board on your head fin-up you will get wax in your hair. If you stack boards on top of each other the wax transfers to the bottom of the other boards. If you lay a hot board wax side down in the sand it embeds the sand in the wax and you have a mess.

To remove wax the best way I've found is with sawdust. (or foam dust if you are around a board shaper) Grab a bunch of sawdust and rub it on the wax. If the wax is warmed in the sun it works better. The wax will stick to the sawdust and the more you do it the cleaner the board will be.

http://www.standuppaddlebend.com/