Hi there, after some advice on downwind supping before I invest in one. How hard is it paddling into the wind, so you can then turn around and downwind back to where you started from, or are they for downwind only. Also can you maybe troll a fishing line while paddling on a very flat day. I'm experienced on a surf sup only & looking to spend more time on the water when there's no surf or choppy conditions.
Thanks in advance.

Upwinding on a Sup is like pushing a wheel burrow full of cement up a hill , but you do get used to it.

Upwind/downwind circuits are easy up to 15 knots. It is a lot of fun and very good training. 15-20 knots it is possible but you'll spend 2-3 times longer paddling upwind than downwind. Over 20 knots paddling upwind in the sea becomes very hard and is really only those with the right mentality.

So the feasibility of what you are suggesting depends a lot on how strong typically the winds are where you paddle.

And yes, you can use a downwind board to fish when it is flat.

If you have a chance to stay out of the headwind, turn, and downwind everything is cool.
Good downwind conditions are very windy, to much to paddle in to, then there are waves to consider to, not what you want.

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Area10 said..

Over 20 knots paddling upwind in the sea becomes very hard and is really only those with the right mentality.

Anyone who enjoys paddling 20 knots upwind in the sea is most certainly suffering from a very WRONG mentality.

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Piros said..
Upwinding on a Sup is like pushing a wheel burrow full of cement up a hill , but you do get used to it.

True.. except the bit about getting used to it..

Here's a vid showing a typical Melbourne downwinder.. You need at least 15-20 knots which is about what it was on this day.

We are all on 14' boards.. We all meet at the end/finish place.. Then load on to the least amount of cars and drive to the start.

Once at the end someone needs the drive those who drove up to the start a lift back to their cars.

There's no upwind paddling..

.

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Piros said..
Upwinding on a Sup is like pushing a wheel burrow full of cement up a hill , but you do get used to it.

Thanks, you really make it sound so enjoyable......... hmmm,

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Area10 said..
Upwind/downwind circuits are easy up to 15 knots. It is a lot of fun and very good training. 15-20 knots it is possible but you'll spend 2-3 times longer paddling upwind than downwind. Over 20 knots paddling upwind in the sea becomes very hard and is really only those with the right mentality.

So the feasibility of what you are suggesting depends a lot on how strong typically the winds are where you paddle.

And yes, you can use a downwind board to fish when it is flat.

Thanks, that was kind of what I was thinking. Maybe shorter circuits, back an forth. Fishing and exploring on a flat day sounds cool

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PTWoody said...

Area10 said..

Over 20 knots paddling upwind in the sea becomes very hard and is really only those with the right mentality.

Anyone who enjoys paddling 20 knots upwind in the sea is most certainly suffering from a very WRONG mentality.

Haha! Too true...perhaps I should have said "a particular mentality". I have a friend who actually enjoys going upwind more than downwind. But this is because he's relatively better at it, and can beat everyone going upwind, but not so much DW. And since he's a very competitive bloke, the "winning" (even in training) means more to him than the pain it takes to achieve it. It's a particular mentality...

I also remember some time reading about Dave Kalama training, I think, for the Molokai and he was paddling some crazy upwind sections (I have 17 miles against 20 knots or something in my head but maybe I'm wrong).

So if you have the particular competitive drive or a gym bunny/self-improvement/fitness vibe going on, then for sure it's possible to enjoy 20 knots upwind in the sea. But for sure, most of us could get a similar level of enjoyment with much less fuss by placing our johnsons on a sturdy table and striking it hard and repeatedly with a ball pein hammer.

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flowmaster said..
If you have a chance to stay out of the headwind, turn, and downwind everything is cool.
Good downwind conditions are very windy, to much to paddle in to, then there are waves to consider to, not what you want.

Thanks, I think I could do what you suggest with the different bays & headlands around where I live to tuck in out of the headwind.

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DavidJohn said..

Piros said..
Upwinding on a Sup is like pushing a wheel burrow full of cement up a hill , but you do get used to it.

True.. except the bit about getting used to it..

Here's a vid showing a typical Melbourne downwinder.. You need at least 15-20 knots which is about what it was on this day.

We are all on 14' boards.. We all meet at the end/finish place.. Then load on to the least amount of cars and drive to the start.

Once at the end someone needs the drive those who drove up to the start a lift back to their cars.

There's no upwind paddling..

.

Thanks for the suggestion, but cars aren't an option. I have to start & finish in the same spot. The video is very cool, but your other one where you & your mates are catching small waves in a bay with your camera on your paddle is fantastic!!

What do you do with your car keys when out paddling? My car is keyless so just have the fob, pretty sure if i end up in the drink the fob will be f@#$ ed.

Waterproof bag. ie: two or three glad sandwich bags have done the trick for me for years. Haven't yet had one leak with phone and keys in them inside of hydration pack pocket. But then I've witnessed others have glad bags fail almost instantly on them once submerged. My day will come I'm sure. Can get proper little waterproof dry bags also.

Best idea is Car key locks that you put key in. Close box and lock to part of car and has a combination on it to ope close. All surf shops sell them.
Better yet lock keys in car and get old style key cut that doesn't have a beeper attached that can go swimming.