Back to Thrusters

Well after running quads for the past few weeks, it's back to thrusters for good.

When I first got my BK Pro, I switched back and forth between quads and thrusters almost every session. I was excited, and in a rush to sort out what was best. Thrusters just felt right in the way the board swung around and laid a bottom turn. The quads felt a little noisy under my foot. Noisy in a vibration and draggy way. This seemed a little strange, because I love the quads in my Stretch shortboard, used for kitesurfing.

Then Evan over in Oahu, captured a bunch of spy shots of the C4 team riders at Queens, all riding quads. Well that left me doubting my own decision, so the quads went back on my BK Pro. There they stay for weeks.

This week Blane Chambers admits he's gone to thrusters. He was a hard core 2+1 guy. Maybe I'm not such a kook. I was preaching thrusters on the forum and this blog all Winter with my old PSH 10'0.

Tonight the thruster went back on. WOW, so much nicer. What was I thinking not trusting my instincts these last few weeks.

I'm not much of a surfer skill wise, but I am a respected tester of prototype kitesurfing gear. I must have some skill for sorting out gear. I need to trust my instincts more.

Jacky Injured Today

Jacky was paddling out when a wave kicked the nose of her board up in her face and at the same time, drove the paddle tee handle into her face. She's got a deep cut on her nose and a swollen forehead bruise.

I will change her tee handle to the padded type.

I cut my Kialoa Shaka Pu'u blade narrower, again. I'm at 8 1/4 wide now. Feels great. The biggest improvement I noticed is when paddling out. While trying to fight through relentless breaking waves, and current is sucking me backwards toward shore after each breaking wave passes, I can accelerate forward again much faster.

Sweet Waves this Morning

Brad on 9'0 C4
Brad on 9'0 C4
Brad trying to cover up
Brian looking at a sweet wave
Brian on a 9'6 C4

Rough Weather Today

Current wind 50. Gusting to 65.
Go away wind!

Cursed

Too windy for SUP. Too windy for my kite. Windsurfers ruled today.

New Carry Handle Design

Here is a new carry handle design I created today. This design is for my fellow kitesurfers. Steal 2 kite pigtails and install them in the deck leash plugs. You know, those handle carry leash plugs they supply, but don't tell you what to do with them or how to use them!

Then tie a rolling hitch two places on your paddle shaft matching up with your deck leash plugs. Put a knot at the end of the line and larkshead your paddle to the deck. Now you're ready to take a hike with your board.

I think the pigtails are the least obtrusive design I've seen yet.

I saw the new C4 velcro pieces they sell for attaching the paddle. They work nice too, but this design is free for me. Free beats $40 everytime.

C4 9'3 SUB Vector

Production Dimension Update:

9'3 long
19 1/16 nose
28 3/4 wide
19 5/16 tail
4 1/8 thick

Word from the show: Dave Parmenter recommends this board for the 200+ club. Yipee!

The deck has a hint of concave for increased traction.

9'3 C4 Photos are Here!

This is my next stick. Coming in November.

Geography Lesson

This is what home looks like. Posted for those in far away places curious about life here.

The North End Crew

Fun Morning Today

A little nose cam action. Jacky thinks the video shows a lot more speed than when I did this on my old board.


Untitled from fishersfort on Vimeo.

12'0 Naish Glide Spy Photos

Camera phone spy shot from Surf Expo courtesy of www.blowinginthewind.com

This board was a custom. If the production molds were done, they would have had the production board here. This is the biggest Surf Expo, so manufacturers go all out to make sure a real production sample makes it to this show. Bad news for anyone if a hurry to get one.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Kure Beach Lifestyle

We don't allow dogs on our beach. Notice Scooby with a knife through his heart.
Here is how the surfers roll.

Hurricane Hanna Swell

Hunter on his 9'3 PSH ripping in Kure Beach

Hurricane Hanna Waves

Wild and WINDY. Waiting for the wind to back down for us stand up people.

2009 C4 9'3

C4 SUB VECTOR 9’ 3

The C4 SUB-Vector is a high-performance short stand-up surfboard designed to offer both radical turning radiuses and ‘no-fail’ stability to bigger surfers of intermediate or higher ability. With a progressive rocker, flat bottom, firm edges, angular boxy rails, and double-barrel inverted vee panels, the “C4 SUB-Vector” delivers sports-car-like speed and snappy handling characteristics.

Length: 9’3” Hard Diamond Tail. Width: 29”, 4.25” Max Thickness: Fin Array: 5-Fin setup; convertable to quad, tri, 2 X 1 or single fin. Deck pad included.

This board has me day dreaming. I want one!