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I love downwinding. Once upon a time I didn't. I thought it was a bit lame. Coming from a surfing background, I always figured it looked like too much hard work for not enough gain - why would anybody go through all that just to ride a half foot piece of onshore chop? That's the type of crap I avoided like the plague ... as a surfer.
Well, being out in the middle of the ocean or a large body of water on a good quality race SUP and traveling at speed with just nature's elements powering your journey is really something else. Something that every surfer should try.
I'd started work early, not because I knew there would be a cranking wind blowing that arvo but because I had some early deadlines that needed to be met. As it turned out those early deadlines and the consequential early rise from my slumber were an absolute blessing in disguise. A typical lunchtime Facebook check revealed a few of the boys were about to head out to get a piece of the 30 knot southerly that was currently buffeting the eastern seaboard. A turn of my head to the trees outside revealed their observations of a very strong wind were indeed correct. I wanted a piece of that too.
A few text messages later had Chapo frothing to do the run with me and my beautiful wife organised to leave the shopping mall early to come and collect us from Palm Beach when we had finished. The early start was about to pay dividends - an early finish with enough daylight left for some fun.
Chapo and I arrived at the Sea Scout hall - one of our regular starting points for a strong southerly run. It was only a matter of seconds before we were wading through the low tide shallows on our way out to the bumps. It was a gentle start under the protection of the Bayview hill as the setting sun shed a beautiful golden glow over everything in its line of sight. What a lovely way to finish a hard day's work.
The sun disappearing behind the high peaks of the national park behind Towler's Bay signaled our transition from the leisure zone to the action zone. Now dead smack in the middle of Pittwater with the full force of the howling southerly bearing down on us, we were about to have some fun.
I was on a brand new DEEP Oceanboards 12'6" Carbon Innegra and couldn't have chosen a better board for the conditions. The DEEP's super light 9.7kg made it very agile in paddling over the top of small bumps in order to get on the bigger runners. It's got extreme acceleration on tap with just a few short, sharp stokes of the paddle. And I was glad I decided on the 12'6" over her big sister (the 14 footer) as the short period chop of the bay was much more conducive to a shorter waterline. The 12'6" fitted into the troughs beautifully and just loved staying in there for what seemed like an eternity. Her 28" of width had me wobbling a bit but I managed to do the full seven clicks without falling once and there were some pretty washy conditions to contend with too.
The small stretch of our destination beach held the last rays of the day due to the valley to the west of Coaster's Retreat. Everything before and after was encroaching dusk leaving a very pleasant landscape to aim for. A bit like the gold at the end of the rainbow.
We hit the beach at Sandy Point after a dead straight run of exact downwind conditions. We couldn't wipe the smiles off our faces. An afternoon we will replay in our minds for a long time. Woo hoo. I love downwinding.
Yep Casso like you I'm a surfer through and Through but Downwind Paddling is addictive on a SUP when there is NO SURF you wait till you surf an ocean swell for 300+ metres BULK FUN I've been doing Downwind SUP since 2007 when I first seen it on Maui I've never paddled a ski or OC1 to me that looks really boring
I guarantee Casso once you do a Downwind Paddle on a 17ft SUP you will only use the 12'6'' for BOP
dw ing takes a bit of time to get the hang off, but when it 'clicks' well you get hooked.
i agree with casso, every surfer should be doing this.
doesn't mean you have got to give up surfing your sb or lb etc and be seen at the local break on a surfing sup.
I appreciate the reports Casso and really feel the journey.
I have to admit I don't get it but I didn't get SUP at all before trying it and now it is a great compliment to windsurfing and surfing.
I will have to give it a go. I pass a few solitary soles out the back when windsurfing off the Gold Coast and wonder what they are doing out there. They look determined but lost at sea. Must be something to it. I love the ocean so I guess I had better try it to find out what all the fuss is about. My mind is against it but the fresh discovery is part of the allure. I have read about people strapping on a camel toe to re hydrate when paddling. What is this all about? I was thinking of just taking a water bottle in a backpack.
ditto here - didn't get it at first and it does look lame until you see a guy who sits on a swell for minutes.
The biggest kick for me is the fitness - 1hour of non-stop excercise which build up all the muscles and stamina you need for kiting, windsurfing, surfing or anything else - its brilliant.
The other brilliant thing is that its not that dependent on conditions - if it's windy its a go. Kiting, surfing etc you need the right wind direction, swell direction, tide, banks etc - too many variables making the gold days too few - downwinding here is always brilliant on the first half, second half seems better with less swell and more wind but other than that you've had your first half of bliss runs already....
Great post!
Cool, will look forward to it. I'd like to check out DJ's local next time I find myself south of the boarder too...do you swap the crocks for ugg boots in winter DJ?
Cool, will look forward to it. I'd like to check out DJ's local next time I find myself south of the boarder too...do you swap the crocks for ugg boots in winter DJ?
Get back into the Longroom Mac !
Good work Casso. Yep, a good Downwind Run is unreal, especially when the surf is completely blown out.
Just read your post and watched the vid casso - nice work and how good's the Mrs for cutting shopping short to pick you guys up.
p.s. The 70's porn music is cool.
Nice one Casso, seems that I was up north on the one weekend where the wind was truly CRANKING....all good, the waves made up for it.
The end of this coming week is looking good again. yeewwww
Nice one Casso...........yet to experience a true DW but looking forward to it after your vid.....
And Scotty, I thought you were getting a leave pass for the last Blast race, they have ordered extra sausages to accommodate you...........and GC
I did my first down winder last Tuesday in the 25 knot + conditions such as you had and on a 12' 6" fly race, im also loving it and cant wait for another crack, id like to hit the open ocean for a go with some swell next time.
