First sup on the new log

[benjl]

Finally made it out on the new sup today, moonboot and all!

It was amazing to be back in the water after 7 months.
Had a bit of a disaster and got to beach to realise I didn't have a fin key so had to take the sup out with no fins and strong offshore winds.
Had ZERO stability, each paddle turned the whole board 90 degrees instead of going forward without any fins. Even on knees was near impossible to start with and came off several times before getting balance sorted. In contrast, I did it twice in Asia in the moonboot and didn't come off at all while standing the whole time.
Couldn't believe how short it felt, even at 7'6 it felt like a 6'2 short board.

After drifting out to sea a bit and having very little functionality with the paddle and no fins, I lay on the board and paddled it like my short board. Surprisingly it felt right at home paddling it away! It almost felt like I just paddle it on small days even without a paddle haha.

There was 0.8m swell and as I came
Closer back to shore I could sense how easy this board would pick up small stuff.
Sadly my moonboot got completely saturated but luckily I have a spare from the first time my Archillies snapped.

Can't wait to take it out again, but definitely need to invest in a 8" single fin for general paddling!

[oldmansurfer]

well it's good to hear you are back on the water but sorry it wasn't a more typical debut.

[dtc]

fins... who knew they could be useful!

[benjl]

Haha tell me about it, I don't know which one more surprised about.. How I could actually paddle the board with my hands like a surfboard or how useless it was without fins!

It was pretty amazing wading out through the break again and feeling the wind and waves go over me. I haven't been in anything more than a bath of water in 7 months. Despite being in the moonboot, under the water it almost felt like I was fully able again.
I brought a 8" dolphin style sup fin lastnight so can't wait to try that again with a couple of side bites.

[saltydog]

Cheers for getting on the water again. Make sure to take it easy on your leg.

[benjl]

New fin arrived today, soo much bigger than the standard medium size thruster fins. I thought maybe 8" would be too small but after seeing it in person I think it should be sweet for general paddling and go with quads for waves down the track.
Looks relatively upright and long so probably quite stable

[benjl]

Question for you longboarders- I've tried to put in the new 8" single fin but when I screw up tight it pulls the back end of the fun out from the box a little? Is this normal?
It's a Naish board so won't have a crappy made box. It sits flush when the screw isn't tight. Also makes the back end of the fin flex slightly compared to the front end which is secured by the screw