rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

Kneeridin · Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 8:41 am Post subject:

The Checkered Demon has become the favorite in the quiver. Plenty of float and I can stand on big hollow days. 4' 6" long, about 20" wide and close to 2" thick.
http://groups.msn.com/HalleckPhotos/paipoquiver.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=628
http://groups.msn.com/HalleckPhotos/paipoquiver.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=630

Bryant Pierpont · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: Location: Japan, Tokyo

Like the guy who began this thread, I'm very interested in learning paipo. I've surfed for 38 years - not well but enthusiastically. A few years ago, I had a chance to ride a boogie board and fell in love with it. But, there are some speed issues...

So, I'm here. I've been looking at the paipo.com site and am very impressed with the products. My concerns (based not on fact but old surfing experience):

1) The lack of fin(s).
2) The lack of leash.

As there seems to be no other commercial supplier of paipo boards, I haven't really looked elsewhere. Building one myself is about as likely as flying ;-0

I'm 52, weigh 235, 6'1" and am in reasonable condition.

Please give me some recommendations .... besides losing weight Wink

Thanks!
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Just another old guy surfing

kage · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

got an itchy trigger finger? heh heh. You don't need a fin for prone riding. Your legs and flippers will do that along with the wide part of the board. On this board the fin will only slow you down. I am the guy Paul built the black paipo spoon for on the front of the site; for knee riding. It's a tricky board that I still haven't mastered, probably not the board for a beginner. The standard paipo is still my go-to board. It's a really good board and he makes a big one for big guys. Did I say it was a good board? Very Happy

I put a leash on mine because I surf a moderately crowded break real early in the morning. It can be hard to see in the semi- dark, so I wanted a leash to be able to find it and not bonk anyones head. I cut out a little foam on the deck and glassed an o'fishl leash plug to the top. Then I use a bicep leash. There are lots of guys who ride spoons and other neutral bouyancy type craft who think that's a really really bad idea. A neut. bouy. board can take a while to float up and sometimes even seem like an anchor. If it's whipping around on a short leash in the spin cycle there might be a problem for your head. Generally the board won't float away anything like a foam board and you should hang on at all costs. But it works for me.
Anyway buy the board you won't be sorry. Got to have flippers if you don't (vipers!) sorry, obvious. Paid for by the Hawaiian Paipo Designs admiration society. he he he.

Bryant Pierpont · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: Location: Japan, Tokyo

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking at the new one (Giant). Hearing from folks using it makes it so much easier to pull the trigger. Now, if I can get him to ship APO...

I have fins but I'm always looking......
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Just another old guy surfing

Poobah · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 1:13 am Post subject:

PaipoJim · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:36 am Post subject:

PaipoJim · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:51 am Post subject:

PaipoJim · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:12 am Post subject: Re: more help for beginners

kage · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

Poobah,
I had Paul make me a flexi-paipo-spoon with a fin box pretty much with experimentation in mind. I wanted a kneelo that rode like my flex HPD. It's the black one (like I mentioned) on the front of his website. Truly a beautiful board. But also as I mentioned I haven't mastered it, probably has more to do with my innate lack of athletic talent that the boards capabilities. At any rate I don't think HPD riders are handcuffed any more than your average water hooligans. I will say that their construction makes after market adaption not so easy. Though Paul is certainly open for suggestions.
Of all kinds of surfing I think maybe paipo riders have the greatest tradition of home grown experimentation. Very Happy

Yay for us.
When are we going to have a paipo fest???

Bryant Pierpont · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: Location: Japan, Tokyo

I can't tell you how valuable this is to me. Thank you so much.

When you recommend a board and discuss flotation, I'm a bit confused. I understand the desire to reduce flotation (vs. a boogie board), both for duck diving and for feel. However, flotation has certain advantages (ease of paddling and recovery after getting pounded).

With that in mind, I was looking for a compromise. A bit of float but not too much. So, given my size, I thought the Monster was in that area.

Am I close on the flotation issue?

Thanks again.

Bryant
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Just another old guy surfing

kage · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:50 pm Post subject:

Float is relative. If you see a giant wall of whitewater bearing down on you, being able to dive straight down a couple of times through a major set with no effort is very nice.
On an HPD paddling speed suffers. There is no glide, at least for me. But how much are you floating on a body board anyway? At your size in a wetsuit you ought to float pretty good all by yourself. And you can get a rest between sets on the HPD. Just don't try to be on top when you are catching a wave -- you have to push it in front of you and jump on. And then hang on !!

Bryant Pierpont · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: Location: Japan, Tokyo

Wow...fascinating.

My boogie board is fairly large and thick. It float me well...in some cases better than I want. Paddling with my hands and fins propels me fairly well. Better than on a shortboard...not quite as good as a longboard. When I catch a wave, I'm on it paddling (just like on my surfboard). I just don't get up.

You say I should push the paipo in front of me and jump on. In deep water, how would I do that?

I definitely see the advantage of duck diving. That's very clear Wink

Thanks for your help!

Bryant
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Just another old guy surfing

PaipoJim · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: with every answer a question

Bryant Pierpont · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: Location: Japan, Tokyo

Getting much clearer...thanks!

So, paddling out - you're holding the board in front of you with it giving some flotation to your head. You are propelling yourself entirely by fins.

Catching the wave - more of the same except you might paddle a bit with one arm. Pulling the board under you actually makes sense...I think...

Is that a fair description?

Finally (for at least 10 minutes), paipos would seem to be significantly faster than boogie boards. How do they compare when paddling out and when catching waves? Can you still do ultra-late takeoffs?

Thanks so much.

Bryant
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Just another old guy surfing

PaipoJim · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: More silly questions