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SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Hey Ted.....really enjoyed your photo album.
Question.....I notice that on the Austin.....you wear some manner of head gear. What is it and does it serve any particular purpose?
Also a long sleeved rash guard.....or is it something more substantial?
Here in CAL I wear a wet suit which makes for a nice cushion.
I am off to Mexico and hope to be in the water mucho horas por mucho dias......a regular rash guard on a sponge is fine but I wonder if there is anything extra I should do to be sure I don't lose some skin/fun on hard surfaced Austin due to abrasions and such given more time in the water.
Thanks in advance for any further advice you can offer a tenderfoot.

ted · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: Location: Hawaii, Big Island

SJB,

I am a sissy (and now 49).

I've had my share of run-ins with rocks (Hawaii) and surfers (Orange County), so I wear a Gath sport hat. The yellow helmet is distinctive enough that I am known as "helmet dude" at some local breaks. Murrays.com, located in Northern California, has good prices on Gath gear.

I do wear a 2mm wetsuit shirt or springsuit for all paipo boarding. The springsuit provides some padding from board impact on big air drops. The paipo is much more solid than a sponge. I do recommend XM Clear Grip from SurfMore as a non-abrasive wax replacement for the Austin. You'll still need a touch of wax, but the Clear Grip makes a great heat-tolerant base. (The four piece set covers all the important parts of the Austin.)

I also put a funboard noseguard from surfco on the Austin. Surfco also makes fcs fins with urethane leading and trailing edges which seem to work fine as a twin setup.

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Ted that is incredibly helpful. Don't talk to me about being a Sissy....I am 64. I look for every safety tip I can get....takes too darn long to heal. Thanks.

rodndtube · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:04 am Post subject:

I always wear some kind of rash guard in warm waters to provide me plenty of SPF protection from the sun and to prevent rashes. There are times in larger waves with some cross chop that a 2mm would come in handy.

Also take two sets of elbow pads with me on trips when there might be 5 to 7 consecutive days or more of waveriding and start using them when the elbows start suffering from being on the hard surface and take a beating from just regular pressure on the board during paddleouts.
_________________
rodNDtube
"Prone to ride"
I love my papa li`ili`i

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Good info Rod.....and great Board. Thanks for your good efforts. I have been researching elbow pads and Mueller Sports medicine seems to have a decent neoprene version. Do you have a particular brand that you like? I like the pad alternative to 2mm shirt concept because I would think the 2mm would add insulation and who needs that in 80 degree water?

rodndtube · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:12 am Post subject:

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

TED......do you wrap the rails with the clear grip for better hand hold.....or do you just put it on the surface of the board?
Also on the nose guard.....is that just to protect the Board.....or does it also improve your hand grip on the board?
Thanks

ted · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: Location: Hawaii, Big Island

The clear grip stops at the edge of the color block. It provides grip without interfering with the rail.

The nose guard is mainly to protect body parts that get in the way of the board. I've never hit anything hard with the board, but I did ram the board hard with my helmet once after a really long hold-down when I was in a big hurry to surface for a breath.

mrmike · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: Location: coronado, ca

Give me a 5mm suit a sandy beach break and only a pack of SUPer to hit Laughing

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PAIPO ON
blog http://mrmikespaipos.blogspot.com

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Ted, Rod et al.......winter water temps here are in the 50s.....and I have found that webbed neoprene gloves give a bit of extra paddle power but more importantly help keep the hands warm. Gripping a sponge with these gloves is no problem.
Not so with the Austin.....gloves slip and slide on the hard rails.
1. Ted.....I got the Clear Grip.....do you see any problem with me putting it along the rail edge? Seems like it would help improve glove grip. I am assuming guys standing on their boards in neoprene booties find an improved grip with the Clear grip......why not for improved glove grip?
2. Rod....you are domiciled in cold water country. Do you wear any kind of hand gear? If yes.....any tips on what you do to keep a firm hand grip on that hard Austin rail when taking the drop?
Thanks all.

rodndtube · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject:

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Thanks Rod...... ever tried these?

http://ijustsurf.com/reviews/review-darkfin-water-propulsion-gloves/

I have been used to gloves with open fingertips so any water that gets inside the gloves just washes through. Any frustration with water trapping in the gloves on closed finger models?

Yes I do sound like a micro managing overanalyzer.

rodndtube · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:26 am Post subject:

rodndtube · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:30 am Post subject:

SJB · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: Location: Santa Barbara

Rod and Ted.....

First outing with the Austin today.....3-5 foot reef break with so so close out shape. I was happy to find it had good flotation......I was happy to find it was very stable paddling and kicking at the same time......easy to get into the wave........and it was quick and I did not dissipate as much energy bouncing sideways toward shore as I do on

Ted......the Clear grip works great.

Rod.....I was experimenting with hand grip with my web Gloves dry. DUH. Wet they grip great.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I rode today with just the outer fins. Look forward to experimenting On some better waves with the center skeg.