Review: Quickblade V-Drive Paddle vs. Quickblade Trifecta Paddle

I did as much online research as I could about the Quickblade V-Drive and Trifecta paddles. Here are the two best videos I found that gave useful info about the paddles. They both feature Quickblade's Jim Terrell and are 99% free of hype and marketing. Video links: V-Drive and Trifecta. I think you'll get more out of this review is you watch the videos first.

These paddles are expensive and they are top of the line equipment therefore I couldn't afford to make an uninformed choice. In addition to the online research I hounded Keith, the shop manager of Covewater Paddle Surf Santa Cruz with a thousand questions which he was only too eager to answer. Finally, I was able to "try before you buy" because the shop has two adjustable shaft paddles in each model to demo. Personally, I would never buy a paddle this expensive, with as many variables, without taking each for an intensive test paddle.

Why did I need to buy a new paddle? I left my other two paddles on Maui where I SUP surf and open ocean paddle. I wanted my new mainland paddle to be a two-fer, that is, to paddle well when surfing my shorter SUP surfboards or flatwater paddling, downwinding or just touring around on my longer SUPs, a 12' Bark Competitor and a 14' Angulo Shaka.

A little about me. I am a smaller (145-150 lbs.), older (68) guy in excellent condition. I've been SUP surfing in Santa Cruz since 2007. I stay in good shape but I'm not a big guy, and I don't like big paddles. I was looking for efficiency in a smaller blade and I think both sizes that are available in the V-Drive (81 and 91 sq. in.) and Trifecta (86 and 96 sq. in.) can provide that. It's a matter of finding the right size for the paddler.

Covewater provided the V-Drive 91 and the Trifecta 96 for my use. I took out the Trifecta 96 first, mainly because I really like the shape of the blade and because the Trifecta was reputed to have a soft, smooth catch and efficient but forgiving pull with power that wasn't hard on the shoulders. I wasn't expecting much in the way of swell but a little south ramped up while I was out and I surfed for almost three hours in consistent, fast and reeling point surf.

Part of my agenda included distance paddling. Even though I wasn't on one of my bigger boards, I knew I could get the feel of the paddle from paddling the smaller, slower surfing SUPs. I deliberately launched a mile from where I wanted to surf, and paddled to the break. Little did I know I would be waylayed but multiple reefs that were going off. This was an excellent opportunity to put the paddle to work.

The Trifecta. The 96 should have been harder to pull through. But it wasn't. It was in fact forgiving while being extremely efficient. It felt like a much smaller blade. It was also buttery smooth and quiet at the catch. Keeping the blade underwater while pulling through to the release yielded a whisper quiet stroke where the only sound was the water slapping the nose of the board. It made a mediocre paddler like me, better. Equipment that makes you better? I'll drink to that.

That session lasted almost three hours and I surfed a ton of waves. I covered a lot of ocean paddling from the shore to the line-up and when I was done I paddled a mile back to where I launched. I was tired and sore, but I didn't hurt anywhere. I was anxious to try the V-Drive next and make a comparison.

The V-Drive. Two days later I paddle out into the line-up on the same board with the V-Drive 91. From the first stroke at launch I immediately felt the difference between the two blades. Even though the 91 V-Drive's blade was smaller than the 96 Trifecta's, it was harder to pull through. The catch was noisy and I felt resistance from the V-Drive immediately upon placing the blade into the water at the catch. I surfed for two hours, again I caught a lot of waves and I did a lot of paddling. At the end of the session I was tired and I knew which paddle I wanted to buy.

Decision. I knew I wanted the Trifecta. The V-Drive 91 was too much paddle and was not suited to my style, body type and condition, and surfing/paddling preferences. At the same time I thought the V-Drive 81 would be too small and it wouldn't have the soft, quiet efficiency of the Trifecta. This doesn't mean the V-Drive isn't a great paddle. My friends John, Kali'a and Keith (the Covewater shop manager) all have the V-Drive. But they are competitive distance paddlers (and surfers) and I am not. So the V-drive was not going to be useful for my preferences and everyday paddling needs. The Trifecta was just a smoother all around paddle, the catch, pull and release was "softer" and overall the paddle felt easier on my body. But there was a caveat.

The caveat. I still wasn't 100% sure that the 96 was the right size blade and this is where some guess work, along with intuition and research knowledge needed to be applied. The 96 Trifecta was easier to pull through than the 91 V-Drive. But I still felt like it put too much resistance and too much load on my muscles and joints. I felt like it would tire me out sooner and possibly lead to stress injuries. I just didn't think I would be getting the best bang for my buck, or the overall efficiency in a paddle that I was looking for. The Trifecta 86 was only 5 sq. in. smaller than the 91 V-Drive but I thought that the easy, soft feel of the Trifecta would translate better in the smaller 86 sq. in. blade than what I experienced with the V-Drive 91.

Leap of Faith. Sometimes you just have to go for it. Everything I had researched, learned and put into practical application was in my head. So, I let all that sit for 24 hours before making a decision. Like the Magic 8-Ball answer that comes floating up from the inky black, my mind provided the right answer. Trifecta 86. I ordered it. I waited. Was my decision the right one?

Shaft. While the Trifecta and V-Drive demo paddles did not have the EVA wrap and tapered oval shafts, there were several in the shop I could play with. The oval shape and tapered shaft, along with the EVA wrap felt really good to hold. The shaft is feather light, so light it makes you laugh. My decision making process on whether to spend the extra $60 was basically...if you're gonna spend five hundred bucks on a paddle why not spend an extra sixty and get exactly what you want? So, I did and I have not regretted one penny of that decision. The oval shaft is easy to grip and is not slippery. The EVA wrap handle fits nicely in my hand and gives me a sure, fast and reliable grip upon contact. Rarely do I lose the handle on side changes or in turbulent conditions.

Regarding stiffness this was a variable that I felt I didn't have a lot of control over. My choice was to select the oval tapered shaft which has it's own stiffness index (see above videos) depending upon length of shaft. I felt confident that the materials used, technology and the integrity of the company would provide a shaft with acceptable stiffness for my needs.

Something new with these two QB paddles is that the blade is glued to the shaft once it's been cut to the desired length. No longer is the handle glued to the shaft after proper sizing as it comes already installed on the shaft. The blade inserts into a diagonal cut on the paddle shaft, and is then glued. I like my paddles a wee bit long and the length I used on the adjustable demo paddles was perfect. So, Keith and I cut it that long and affixed the blade to the shaft. The bond from shaft to blade is so secure and snug that I electrical taped the blade to the shaft just in case I wanted to change it later. No problem and I doubt that I'll glue it at all in future.

I picked up my new QB Trifecta 86 a week after I ordered it at the shop and was stoked. I got the orange logo with white border. Olivier, the new owner of Covewater comped me with a very nice paddle bag and the rest is history.

Postscript: I've used my new Trifecta 86 for a couple months now and love it more each time I use it. It has in fact met all my expectations and I did get what I was looking for, a two-fer. This paddle is two paddles in one and works well in the surf or for distance paddling. The new technology and design of the paddle leaves my old Infinity otter tail and QB Kanaha 90 in the dust. Now my biggest problem will be talking myself out of getting one for Maui.

First Maliko to Kanaha Run of 2014

Saturday June 14 2014 F14 Wide Glide - First Maliko to Kanaha DW of 2014 about 1.5h - I studied Google maps and thought hard about what I learned last year re coming in over the reef at Kanaha in preparation for today's run. I chose a spot Bill Boyum showed me on a no wind, no waves paddle from the canoe hale to the keyhole in the reef. (Channel #1). That was my primary choice as I was able to note the obvious landmarks and the channel itself quite

easily on G-maps. (Seeing it from the water, especially if the swell and wind are up, isn't nearly as cut and dry.) On the day of the Olukai last year, the swell was

up and Bill told me an alternate route through the reef that he thought was safer. (Channel #2). It was good advice. I tried to take that channel during the race but I didn't have the experience to know exactly where it was and though I think I was close, I wasn't on it. I learned where it was from Kim today.

As much planning as one does in the abstract, does not always account for what often happens in reality, both good and bad. The shuttle was packed and instead of just me waiting at Kanaha, there were three others who had booked. While waiting I chatted it up with a woman (Kim) in her 50's who was paddling an SIC Bullet 16 with steering. Over the time it took to pick up the rest of the paddlers at the harbor, and then drive up to the gulch we got acquainted enough to know that we were fairly equal in paddling strength (I'm giving myself the benefit of the doubt here) and paddling/downwinding views. Of course she is a faster paddler than I (who isn't) but she generously offered to show me her favorite channel at Kanaha. (The second one Bill told me about.) We paddled together for the entire run, she waiting for me when I couldn't keep up, and then went in first, showing me the way at the "Camp One Channel". The channel was very wide and very distinct and is located about a half mile north of Channel #1. It was the best choice today and perhaps because it is so easy to find, the best choice overall. Once again, God comes through with a blessing that confirms the 23rd Psalm..."surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..." (It always helps to have a positive attitude, and inspiration, whether it be personal and Providential or blind "luck", comes from wherever it finds you.)

The run on the inside of the reef from the channel to the canoe hale felt like a ride on a conveyor belt. From what LPB wrote below on the Zone re today's run, there was a strong east to west current flowing, which augmented the wind and the small bumps that were omnipresent. I was having so much fun running those small bumps that

I ran all the way to the lifeguard station instead of watching where Kim took out. It was a treacherous, board tossingly windy, but short walk from the water to the tree lined, wind sheltered path to the hale. Since I overshot the landing, it was a fairly long walk to where our cars were parked in the lot. Kim of course had it dialed and she landed right in front of the showers and her parking spot. We met up at the cars and made some plans to paddle and shuttle together using our own cars in the future.

Prior to this first run I was concerned about finding people of equal skills, ability and paddling speed to make the runs with. Although I don't mind paddling solo, it's always best, safest and most prudent to be at least within a couple hundred yards of someone else and for them to know you're around and vice versa. I didn't stop to think that Kelly's shuttle service might be a great place to meet fellow paddlers. And today was a full van which provided the opportunity to meet folks.

Re the run itself I was surprised at how quiet it was paddling out from the mouth of the gulch. While there was the usual bump and chop, the sea surface was almost glassy and there were practically no whitecaps. This was in vivid contrast to what I had seen at Baby Beach and on the shuttle ride up to Maliko as we drove along the stretch of north coast we would be paddling, . But as we paddled west, the wind slowly began to pick up, the gusts got stronger and somewhere just past Ho'okipa it got good. I hadn't done a downwinder since May in Santa Cruz. There has been some small but fun south swell here and I've been surfing the SNAz every morning that there's been waves. So it felt good to get out on my first DW run. It was perfect really because the wind was decent, blowing good but not nuking. There were plenty of bumps which gave me a chance to work on, and really think about what I was doing out there to get better at catching and riding bumps. It's amazing how much more relaxed one is in 78 degree water vs. 53 degree water. Falling is almost desirable.

The F14 is a very forgiving and stable board, and no slug when it comes to getting glides or surfing waves. I surfed in through the channel on a small wave which just kept going. I didn't want to go into the beach so walked back to the tail and just tried to weight the nose up enough to ease out of the whitewater, which it (finally) did. Then I knee paddled parallel to the beach and surfline to get clear of any incoming whitewater before jumping back up to my feet and making the super fun and fast mile run back to the lifeguard station.

The run today was really exactly what I was hoping for. Nothing too radical, but definitely not just a hot, windless, dirge of a paddle to Kanaha. Wind should be good again Sunday and I'm booked on the shuttle out of Kanaha. I'm a little tired, but not too sore. I think I've got another run in me for today but Monday may be a rest day. We'll see. I'd like to go every day but that may only be something I could have done 20+ years ago. But one never knows the day or the hour when this earthly ride will be over. So I say, go for it!

(From La Perouse Bay on the Zone re today's run: "Today was a blast. Excellent current running all down Kanaha. Inside line at .7 miles out at the airport. Pier one snuck up on me. I heard it coming and was glad I looked back. Not a dangerous wave, but enough to knock me over for sure. Barely made it. I won't wear music for that reason. Super fun day.")

Postscript - A couple well deserved shoutouts to Scott Ruble at Covewater for hooking me up with Kevin at Second Wind in Kahului. Without Elua Makani, no SIC F14. And thanks to Kevin for stocking SIC downwind boards. (Scott has 'em too in Santa Cruz for rent and to buy.) Thanks to Kelly for providing the shuttle service that gets so many people on their way to so many good downwind runs. Thanks to Bill Boyum for all the good advice I got from him last year re the Maliko. And finally thanks to Kim for adopting this mainlander and getting him oriented in 2014. Mahalo to all!

Four Mile to Mitchells Downwind Run - April 17 2014

Thursday April 17 2014 - DW 4 Mile - Mitchells - Shaka (Just over an hour). A weird wind day as the NWS missed a cutoff low coming up from the SW that pushed southerly wind into the Bay, Santa Cruz and almost the North Coast. It was overcast and cloudy well into the afternoon and I feared that the Salinas Valley low pressure would be too slow in forming to create the necessary pressure gradient to crank up the 4 Mile run. But the NWS was insisting on small craft advisories for nearshore and outer waters so in spite of no wind showing on the Lane cam I loaded up and headed to Mitchells.

I arrived early and parked at the Lane so I could watch for the wind to come and have a device connection. In the slowly clearing cloud cover there was almost no wind and it was nearly glassy. I drove over to Natural Bridges to check it and same thing, almost no white caps showing north of NB's and Longs. I was pretty sure it was over for today. So I headed back to Mitchells to wait for the other paddlers.

Jens, Mike and Jeff showed up on time and they still wanted to go. I was thinking no go. Mark called and said he was going to be late so I said we'd wait. This turned out to be a good thing as the wind was steadily showing some improvement with weak whitecapping now showing on the outside. Mark arrived and by then I figured that there would be decent enough wind around the corner and WTH, I'm here, lets go. That turned out to be a good decision as the wind was in the 20's at launch and stayed steady for almost the entire run. I put the wind at just a little bit less than on Tuesday's run, but still plenty to have fun on. (Lesson learned, trust the NWS forecast and know that it's going to be windier up north.) I felt more comfortable than ever on the Shaka, did a lot of walking around on the board, and caught a bunch of bumps and glides.

Downloaded and subscribed to a new weather, wind, swell app called Predict Wind. http://forecast.predictwind.com/ It uses two models to make forecasts and appears to be comprehensive and accurate. Time will tell. At $19 it's expensive and designed for rich sailboat people, or middle class weather geeks like me.

First Downwinder of the Season & The SIC F-14 Wide Glide vs. Angulo Shaka

It's been a weird Spring. The wind usually picks up in April and the water temps are usually cold. Low 50's. It's not uncommon to get the windiest runs of the year in April. But not this April. That's the bad news.

But the good news is that things are looking better. A pressure gradient formed north of San Francisco and created small craft advisories and blustery conditions in the outer waters. It blew up a decent short interval wind swell and combined with the Salinas Valley thermal low served up 20kt. plus winds for the Four Mile to Mitchell's Cove North Coast downwind run.

We put the word out on the Santa Cruz Paddleboard Association Facebook page, and sent out an email blast the day before the run. Six paddlers showed up the next day at Mitchells for the shuttle up to Four Mile. This was the first of run season for about half of us (including a prone paddler) and everyone was pumped and stoked to be out there again.

Thanks to Scott at Covewater Paddle Surf in Santa Cruz for offering up the 2014 SIC F-14 Wide Glide (without A.S.S. active steering system) for me to demo. Covewater co-worker Keith knew a lot about the board and gave me a few pre-paddling tips that turned out to be right on. He also made a very good case for taking the FCS 10 inch Weed Fin instead of the stock SIC fin, so I did. I was skeptical at first because even though the fin is billed as a "kelp" fin, it's 10 inch depth had me concerned. But the fin has substantial rake and is very narrow with a thin foil, which finally made me more curious than skeptical. The fin is well constructed with carbon fiber and looks like it could take a beating, which at that depth it probably would sooner or later. The final selling point though is the fin shape itself, with that deep 10 inch depth and the narrow base carried throughout for holding the tail in and acting as a pivot point when maneuvering on the bumps, glides and waves of a downwinder. I was intrigued and I took it with me. I'm glad I did. In addition to the excitement of the first downwind run of the season, I was jacked to try the new Wide Glide and to see how it compared to my Angulo Shaka.

By the time we got our shuttle preferences in order and arrived at the highway-side lot at Four Mile the wind was cranking. Two person board offloading is a must unless you want your high value SUP peeling off and cartwheeling into 65 mph traffic on Highway One. We staged up in the field adjacent to the lot and paired up for the buddy board carry down to the beach. When it's windy, solo carrying a downwind board the third of a mile trail walk to the beach is a challenge few really want to accept.

A quick safety briefing and basic orientation to the paddle out, the reefs (and adjacent surf), and the kelp beds prefaced our launch at 2:32PM. Everyone paddled out in front of me and I was the last to hit the water. When the wind is pumping rarely am I able to hug the channel's north side kelp bed long enough to avoid the massive south side kelp bed. Today was no exception and even though I put in my first 500 strokes on the lee side of the board, I soon found myself losing the battle against the wind and side chop and heading for the kelp beds. No worries I told myself. This is a good test of the weed fin. It was.

The first thing I noticed about the F-14 was stability. This board is rock steady and handled all the side wind and chop the conditions and bumpy seas could throw at us. During this part of the channel, before you turn downwind, the swells are coming at you perpendicular to the board. So in addition to the choppy, wind blown seas, the paddler is negotiating the larger ocean swells. In this the board was perfectly stable. So far so good. This is a very comfortable board.

I was chomping at the bit to turn downwind but not before paddling through the last of the south of channel kelp beds. It's always helpful to have a like product to compare a current product with, and I had both fin and board to compare with the F-14. The Angulo Shaka 14 and the Angulo Sea Shaka fin. So far both board and fin were very similar to each other, and in the same basic camp and category. I didn't notice much real difference between the two fins paddling through the kelp. The Weed Fin (WF) caught a couple times but considering the thickness of the sea vegetation, it wasn't bad at all. Next test, downwind gliding.

Again the boards are very comparable and what I like best about both boards is their stability. Even though the boards are both 14 feet long, the F-14 is "larger" (and a bit heavier) with 298L of volume vs. the Shaka's 250L. But this just ensures the stability that is the primary feature of these two downwind boards.

This was my first run of the season and I should have been a bit rusty but on the F-14 I took off like a shot in the downwind bumps and proceeded to take full advantage of the wind, swells, glides and the F-14's progressive design. SIC has made a board that is both stable, and fast in the bumps. At least part of this can be attributed to the relaxed rocker overall. I didn't fall ever, and only came close once when I back peddled to pull the nose up and wobbled a bit on the narrower tail. To be sure, the Shaka is a bump catcher, but I like the way the F-14 "surfs" better. This is due I think to hard rails on the F-14 that start about a third of the way up from the tail. The Shaka has soft rails all the way around which gives it less bite in the wave face. The hard rail provides two advantages. One, when you have to surf the board on an actual nearshore wave, you've got a good surfing and controllable board under your feet. Two, the hard rail stabilizes the tail in crazy wind chop and keeps it from sliding out. Again, this is another rock steady feature of the F-14, along with it's overall paddling stability.

Another design element both these boards utilize is the pin tail. The pin vs. square tail is no match-up in my book as the pin tail is much less susceptible to multiple waves pushing the tail around at the same time. The square tail is less stable and more liable to slide out, or sideways on the bumps than the pin. The pin definitely enhances the board's stability in the kind of conditions you want to be in for good downwinders.

Getting back to the Weed Fin vs. the Sea Shaka fin the margin of difference wasn't noticeably dramatic. I would use either fin in either board and it would be all good I think. The WF seemed to also add to the ability of the tail to keep from sliding out and perhaps to give the board a pivot point off that long 10 inches of depth. I give both fins a thumbs up for sure. (The fin, like all fins these days, is expensive at nearly $100 (online) and if I get one, I'll throw it in the Shaka for comparison's sake. I'll update if and when that happens.)

I try not to let the hype all board companies claim about their boards influence me too much, but in the case of the SIC F-14 I found this bit of marketing to be pretty much right on.

"Building on a legacy of gliding and derived from the most winning open-ocean race
board, the F-16, this all new F-14 (14’0”) features, speed, glide-ability and stability that is
unmatched. With a focus on the less experienced paddler looking to find the perfect glide,
however, needing a shape that is more forgiving, capable of taking on sloppy seas and
giving the stability that allows one to get on glide and minimize fatigue, the F-14 brings
gliding to the masses and is also an amazing all-round fitness board."

So now we come to the two major points of difference between the Shaka and the F-14 as I see it. Price and availability.

Price. I have always thought that the SIC boards were expensive...really expensive. Some people (especially those into racing) are willing to pay what I call that "premium" price but I tend to be more of a value (aka budget) shopper and I'm not into racing. Fun and fitness on a durable high quality product that matches my skills and needs is what I'm after. At $2400 (online) retail, the F-14 definitely falls into the "pricey" category. When you compare that price against the Angulo Shaka at (online) $1400-$1600 (EST build) and $1600-$1700 (XLT build) you can easily see what I mean by premium price.

Availability. SIC has built itself into a proven powerhouse in all areas. Mark Raaphorst's
SIC designs are second to none worldwide. The company has chosen to prove itself in the competitive arena and more often than not, SIC comes out on top. They have built their business into a solid, profitable enterprise with a distribution system that ensures you can get a board just about anywhere in the world where SUP is happening. Check SIC's website for retail locations and if you're in NorCal or Santa Cruz, Covewater carries a full line of SIC boards and they have demos so you can try before you buy.

Ed Angulo is a senior shaper and one of the most experienced designers in the world of wind surfing, surfing and SUPs. Way back in the day on Maui, Mark worked for Ed. But today, Angulo Designs is the weaker business compared to SIC. Production and availability seem to be limited for the Shaka which is too bad because it's a great board at a reasonable price. Therefore, depending upon where you live, getting a Shaka could be difficult. Check the Angulo Designs website for contact info and availability.

Summary. Both boards will do what I want them to do. One is more expensive than the other. One may be more readily available than the other. Build quality appears to be very comparable. If you want the most red hot design emanating out what is arguably the most red hot, cutting edge company in the SUP world today and are willing to pay a few more dollars, then SIC may be your call. But if value is your most important criteria then you may want to chose the Shaka. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

The Covewater Paddle Surf - SIC Interviews

Covewater Paddle Surf shop owner Scott Ruble and SIC's John Griffith talk about the new line of SIC stand up paddleboards for flat water racing, open ocean paddling and racing, downwinding, fitness and surfing. They dish out a ton of good info in this video and for even more on specs and all the types of boards offered, check out the Covewater and SIC websites. Covewater has all the SICs in their shop and you can demo the boards you're interested in. Call Covewater at 831-600-7230 to set something up.

Jeremy Riggs and the SIC Bullet 14

Thanks to the generosity of John Griffith (SIC) and Scott Ruble (Covewater SUP Santa Cruz) I was able to arrange an interview and coaching session with Jeremy Riggs (paddlewithriggs.com) almost immediately upon my arrival in Maui. After our first meeting and interview we headed up to Maliko for what turned out to be an incredibly fun and informative downwinder with one of the best riders in the world. Many thanks to John, Scott and Jeremy (and Maui) for making it happen.

Jeremy Riggs
Where do you reside: Wailuku HI
What was your first/best experience on an SIC: My first experience on an SIC was on an F-16 during a Maliko run. It was my first time using a rudder. I learned a lot that day about following the bumps and about the advantage of having complete control of the board. It changed the way I approached downwind racing in a very productive way. My best experience on an SIC board was completing my first Molokai to Oahu channel crossing with my partner Nabil Vogel back in 2007. We trained very hard for the challenge and when it was over there was just that amazing feeling of accomplishment. I knew right then that this race was something I wanted to be a part of for many years to come.
What does the name SIC mean to you: A company that's committed to building the fastest and most innovative boards available and having fun while doing so.
Paddling background: I started doing Maliko runs back in 2002 on a prone paddle board. I remember catching these really long glides and wishing I could stand up for some of them but the boards were just way to tippy. Then I heard about the stand up boards in 2004 and I had to have one. I got my first SUP in 2005, made myself a paddle with a broken canoe paddle and an old windsurf mast and entered my first Maliko race that year. I was the only SUP in that race and there was close to 100 canoes. Those guys thought I was crazy and honestly I didn't know what to expect because this was my first time going all the way to the harbor. As I got closer to the finish there was a lot of canoe paddlers cheering me on. It was a great feeling and a great day. Gotta thank the Maui Canoe and Kayak Club for making that day such a fun and memorable experience for me.
What do you think SIC name means in the world of SUP: Proven race boards and if you want to do well in the channel races, you better order or reserve one well in advance.
What is your best crazy Dutchmen story: Mark has shown up to so many races with a board that he just finished making and the race ends up being the test run. We've done a couple of channel crossings together and in 2009 we partnered up for the Molokai to Oahu. I thought we were going to use the F-16 because that's what we were training on. When we met up on Molokai, sure enough Mark had built a new prototype for the race. We decided we would try it out in the biggest race of the season. It worked great! We ended up taking 2nd place that year.
How long have you been surfing and paddling: I grew up in North Carolina and spent most my time at the beach on a bodyboard. I didn't own a surfboard until after college and I moved out to Maui with dreams of becoming a professional bodyboarder. I was humbled right off the bat once I felt the power of the Pacific Ocean and saw the level of talent out here in Hawaii. I started surfing in the upright position in 2000 and I've been hooked since then.
Background text courtesy of the SIC website.

A Few Downwinding Tips

Here are a few tips from Jeremy Riggs via a couple online resources and from a couple things he told me that were really helpful.

Links are at the end and I'd also check out Jeremy's website Paddle with Riggs dot com.

From Elder SUP: 1) The key thing is keeping up your momentum.  Shorter rapid paddle strokes keep momentum going – keep speed up.

2) Don’t go right up the back of the wave in front of you – that will slow you down as you paddle UP(hill).

3) Look for the place to keep the momentum going, a place to guide the board into the trough where you can catch the next bump – and have tons more FUN!

From me: 1) The reason paddlers get tired is they paddle too much. Don't paddle when you can't go anywhere because you're fighting the ocean. The ocean will win. Don't knock yourself out. Focus on catching the next bump.

2) Don't take too many strokes on one side of the board. That can easily lead to the tail sliding around and you will fall off. Jeremy's "rule of thumb" is no more than three on one side before switching.

3) One more like #2...be ready to switch paddling sides quickly to not only change direction (and catch or stay with the bump) but to keep from sliding out.

4) Be ready to back peddle quickly when you catch a steep one so you can keep from pearling. You have to be fast to the tail and then quickly move forward again to stay in trim and stay in the glide. (Standing too far back on the tail is like putting the brakes on.)

5) Don't just watch the nose of the board, a good downwinder is constantly looking around, left and right, seeing what's coming in the smaller bumps to gain speed in order to catch the bigger, longer glides.

#5 was the hardest one of all and where Jeremy's coaching is essential. During our session he was constantly calling me into bumps that I didn't even see. But this skill isn't something you'll learn overnight. It takes time and practice. The cool thing is that it's really fun learning and no worries, you WILL catch bumps!

http://elder-sup.com/2013/04/26/sup-addiction-the-glide/

http://www.supthemag.com/find-the-glide/glide-guide-mailiko-run/

http://paddlewithriggs.com/

Downwinding The Maliko

Met up with Jeremy Riggs at Kanaha for the shuttle up to Maliko. We strapped the boards down on Justin's truck and were enroute in no time.

Jeremy is perhaps the most gifted downwind teacher/coach in Hawaii with bookings from folks that circle the planet. Sandwich Islands Composites (better known as SIC) has recently (and wisely) contracted with Jeremy to represent their company and use their boards. A good move. Great teacher, great boards.

It is not an exaggeration to say that I learned more from Jeremy in an hour and a half about downwind runs than in the last year and a half on my own. Jeremy is gifted with the patience, insight and skills to teach. The world needs more good teachers, the world gained one in Jeremy.

I paddled the 7 mile Maliko to Kanaha run on the SIC 14 ft. Bullet which Jeremy brought with him. I'll be writing more (including a video interview with Jeremy) on this board (and the unique Maui developed fin that was installed) but for now let me just say that this board is a competitor. Fast, maneuverable, durable and light, it will get you where you want to go in a hurry. That said, it is not a beginner's board. But more on all that later.

We made the 7 mile run in under 90 minutes, which for a dedicated downwind paddler is slow, but we stopped three or four times for some "classroom instruction" and pep talks. If only all our educational experiences could include a classroom environment sitting in emerald seas over a multicolored reef with big turtles poking their curious heads at you at random times, we'd probably all be a lot smarter.

The take out at Kanaha was classic Hawaiian culture. We're carry our boards in, and a hoard of youngsters and their teachers are hauling their outrigger canoes out, to the sea from which we have just departed. The never ending cycle of spiritual and physical sustenance the ocean has provided since the beginning of time, is on display, now, in real time, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Jeremy needed to get going, time to pick up his beautiful girls from school. Mariposa arrived right on time to pick me up for the ride back to the Sugar Ranch. It was all over too soon. But then, it's only day two. Stay tuned.