Surf Diary

Airhead has another Jimmy Lewis Stand Up Paddle Board demo day set for Sunday 1st June….

The Jimmy Lewis range of boards will be on hand for folks to check out and have a go on if the weather permits… for those of you who remember the last demo day I am hopeful that we wont get snow… but you can never tell.

The day is set to start around 11am on Littlehampton beach at the kitesurf school (the blue container opposite the swimming centre) if there are any changes to the times and venue I will post it here or of course you can call the shop on 01903 850831 for more information.

We hope you can make it along and lets pray for good weather this time…

More from the Airhead on demo and other fun stuff very soon.

Ride safe

For those of you who read the SUP forums or are regulars to the Airhead web site you will know that the Airhead Paddle Board demo day has been set for quite a few months…

Snow on the beach

Imagine my surprise when I looked out of my window at 8.30 am to thick snow falling… it’s not like we are in the depths of winter, last week it was 18C + and I was thinking of getting my shorts out of retirement…. anyway shortly after the snow started to fall my phone started to ring and beep with text messages “I take it that the demo is called off due to the weather” my reply was simple THE SHOW MUST GO ON… and sure enough it did.

Bill from Jimmy Lewis was first at the beach and he didnt look keen to get out of his van… his first words where “shall we book another date” but once we opened the container up and got the kettle on more folks started to turn up… Matt from SUPUK and George from Starboard… then Pete & Mel already with their wetsuits on and ready for action… Mel Shiplee and Dan Sweeney where the first brave souls on the water… I have got to say I was un-sure about donning my wetsuit with the temp only just over freezing but I could not let the side down and I guess that was the general feeling from everyone.

Mel Shiplee in the snow

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Here is a review of the 9 foot C4 Waterman Batwing Swallow Tail by Pete Shiplee…

Pete Shiplee on the 9′0″ C4 Waterman: Image from Mellow Wave

Here’s what C4 Waterman say about their board

The Bat Wing Swallow is actually a winged bat tail with high performance rocker and compact size. This Dave Parmenter shaped 9″ foot rips in the surf. The BoardWorks TEC construction makes this board light and strong. Comes with a 2+1 fin set up.

Wing-Bat Tail
26.75″ wide
3.5″ thick
Fin array: 2 X 1

Rider guidelines: Beginner, 75 to 125 pounds; intermediate up to 150 lbs; advanced up to 190 lbs.
Construction: Epoxy lamination with a 1-lb EPS core sheathed with 1/8″_ Divynicell high-density foam, compression and heat molded to form a monocoque-style fuselage.

DESIGN NOTES: While this smaller and more manageable SUP was designed for lighter surfers like kids and girls, it features contemporary shortboard components that make it a front-line preference of the C4 surf team when they want a board for high performance surfing and/or competition. Under the command of advanced riders this thin, light, progressive-rocker SUP shortboard refuses to take no for an answer.

So over to Pete for his view on the board

Now I normally ride a JL 10FT which surfs great and is stable but I have been looking for a performance short board SUP for quite a while and Andy managed to get me this 9FT C4 and it has answered my prayers ..big time! Let me tell you though that this board is NOT for the beginner or faint hearted and needs a lot of skill to paddle through the waves and stay on board but when you catch that wave and fly down the face (because this board is FAST) it will all make sense.

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Two happy paddle surfers in Esquibien France…

Dave Samuel did what all good mates would do and delivered Jim Cox’s 10′6″ C4 Waterman all the way from the UK to Finistere France…. while he was there he did what all good buddy’s would do and went out for a Stand Up Paddle Board session once or twice…. could have been even three or four times… you can tell by the look on there faces they had a great time..

Dave & Jim in France

If you have a story to tell or a great photo then send it to me and the Airhead will share it with the world.

After a crazy week of super strong gales and rain…. at last the wind drop and I was able to get out on the Southpoint 10′ stand up paddle board….

Well first off this board is 10ft by 27 inches so it’s not made for distance in fact with a stepped rail the paddle stance on this board is very narrow which made standing on it a challenge all of it’s own… once you get the board moving it becomes more stable, it turns easy and as I got used to the narrow stance it was a nice board to use… even if a bit more tippy than I am used to.

Southpoint Paddle Surf

On the waves is where this board comes into its own and where the stepped rail starts to pay off… it moves with ease carving nicely even on a small wave and for a guy of 13.5st and my limited ability… all over I enjoyed the board once I got used to it but I did feel the extra balance needed made me tired quicker… so I guess I need to get on the Indo Board more often.

When the swell is up I would take the Southpoint 10′0 out because it will be a fun board to play in the surf… unless you are 11 stone or under forget it for any distance but hey that’s not what this board was made for…

Now I cant wait to try the SouthPoint 11′6″… you know that the Airhead’s going to tell you about it