I'm an unlimited junkie. For Gorge downwinders I ride either my Bullet 17 (production) or my 12'2" Starboard surfboard. Not a 14' fan. But the race boards are faster in a lot of conditions. One condition is when there's a geezer on the unlimited. Another is when there's flat spots--unlimited downwinders are ONLY fast in wind.
For me the great think about unlimited with a rudder is linking bumps up and staying in the power. It's the feeling that makes us downwind junkies to begin with. I don't care about speed, though I don't like to be the last one to the end. Especially in Maui where it's so painfully obvious that every time you set foot in the water it's a race. No one says a word, but their boards are loaded up and they're in dry clothes with a smug look on their face. I hate that.
As you can see from the Connor video (I love Boyum's smarmy Bruce Brown/Warren Miller narration voice), it can take a lot of energy to keep an unlimited in the bumps. You have to keep the momentum up. I think the guys on the 14's get to rest more, because they can accelerate into a bump. we can't, we have to be nearly at speed when the bump gets there. I've learned that the easiest way for me to do a downwinder in good wind on a Bullet is to go hard for every bump, no matter how little, and link the little to the medium, the medium to the big, all with paddle power. No rest for the wicked until you get into the bigs, and then you need to be going hard as the board exits the power, looking for the next bump and maintaining as much momentum as you can manage. The worst thing is to come out of a bump because you missed a link--you're on the wrong face of the wave and you're gonna stop. That means missing the next three bumps getting back to speed. Or punching the nose in. I'll do almost anything to avoid that. Not just because my board turns into a catapult if I punch in while the tail is up, but also because you usually lose all you mo' . Sometimes you can stick it like a surfski, and balance in the swell, but that usually works best when it's an accident. When I plan it I generally wind up swimming.
I thought when I clicked on this you guys were talking about surfing. I have an unhealthy love affair going on with my 10'4" X 33" Foote Triton. An odd choice for a guy who's been headed below 8' even though I'm fat (240#). If I could only have one surfboard, this would be the guy. Makes me look competent. Actually, no, it makes me look good.
Select to expand quotechucktheskiffie said..crazybula said..Pando71 said..
Just come in from a DW run, three of us have the 17'4 sic and one on a 14' sic. Too much fun, runners runners galore, board does the work for you. My mate on 14' is with a doubt a quicker and fitter paddler, but the 17'4 just pulls away. Great boards, love em!
It was fun yesterday...
Three big dogs and the puppy...
Are you guys DW'ing those in the lake? or going outside from there? ( i assume thats the carpark at the lake entrance, right?)
correct but we went outside.
Select to expand quotePonoBill2 said..
I'm an unlimited junkie. For Gorge downwinders I ride either my Bullet 17 (production) or my 12'2" Starboard surfboard. Not a 14' fan. But the race boards are faster in a lot of conditions. One condition is when there's a geezer on the unlimited. Another is when there's flat spots--unlimited downwinders are ONLY fast in wind.
For me the great think about unlimited with a rudder is linking bumps up and staying in the power. It's the feeling that makes us downwind junkies to begin with. I don't care about speed, though I don't like to be the last one to the end. Especially in Maui where it's so painfully obvious that every time you set foot in the water it's a race. No one says a word, but their boards are loaded up and they're in dry clothes with a smug look on their face. I hate that.
As you can see from the Connor video (I love Boyum's smarmy Bruce Brown/Warren Miller narration voice), it can take a lot of energy to keep an unlimited in the bumps. You have to keep the momentum up. I think the guys on the 14's get to rest more, because they can accelerate into a bump. we can't, we have to be nearly at speed when the bump gets there. I've learned that the easiest way for me to do a downwinder in good wind on a Bullet is to go hard for every bump, no matter how little, and link the little to the medium, the medium to the big, all with paddle power. No rest for the wicked until you get into the bigs, and then you need to be going hard as the board exits the power, looking for the next bump and maintaining as much momentum as you can manage. The worst thing is to come out of a bump because you missed a link--you're on the wrong face of the wave and you're gonna stop. That means missing the next three bumps getting back to speed. Or punching the nose in. I'll do almost anything to avoid that. Not just because my board turns into a catapult if I punch in while the tail is up, but also because you usually lose all you mo' . Sometimes you can stick it like a surfski, and balance in the swell, but that usually works best when it's an accident. When I plan it I generally wind up swimming.
I thought when I clicked on this you guys were talking about surfing. I have an unhealthy love affair going on with my 10'4" X 33" Foote Triton. An odd choice for a guy who's been headed below 8' even though I'm fat (240#). If I could only have one surfboard, this would be the guy. Makes me look competent. Actually, no, it makes me look good.
I haven't tried downwinding, but want to. Why don't you like 14' boards if they get to rest more?
Too fat. they're mostly shaped for guys at 190 or so, and they trim best with that kind of weight. At 240 pounds I'm either standing up past the deck pad or the tail is down. In a good downwinder a 17 is such a jewel, links up bumps and lets you bank turns and pick up speed cutting across the face. When it gets really crazy I like to be on my 12'2" surfboard--you can walk all over it, catches everything, but can't link them--or I can't anyway. And when you drop into a head high hole in the water it's a surfboard!
I don't mind not resting as long as I'm linking up big fat glides.
Select to expand quoteCasso said..dtm said...
I felt and most likely looked like a kook failing around carrying that board about that day
Not just "that day"! 
thats Gold !!!
