A A 40
www.rapidmag.com
A spud is the primary tool for achieving most of the new aerial freestyle moves, moves that happen with both the boat and the boater out of the water at the peak of the move.
making your next boat buying deci- sion.
the surface of a wave. Not ideal for cartwheeling, but there are other boats for that.
spud is the primary tool for achieving most of the new aer-
ial freestyle moves, moves that hap- pen with both the boat and the boater out of the water at the peak of the move. Aerial loops, aerial blunts, donkey flips, air screws, kick turns,pan ams and the Helix are just a few of the moves that have been developed since boats got short and rocker got extreme. Most of these moves—excluding aerial loops, which happen mostly in holes— need a big, fast wave to instigate the
bounce required to get spud boats aerial.
So you’ve seen the how-to aerial
moves video but you don't paddle on huge, fast waves or just don’t think it’s your
style.That doesn’t mean you don't need a spud boat. Spud boats offer mere-mortal paddlers plenty of benefits besides the ability to skip on a big, fast (scary) wave. It is best to look at the overall benefits and draw- backs of spud boats and compare them to your pad- dling style before
The benefits of spud boats can be summed up in two words: forgiving and fun. If we go back to the design characteristics of a spud,we can see why they are so forgiving for the average
paddler.The short length and increased rocker make a spud boat super easy to surf on short, steep waves; waves that would be more challenging in a longer, slicier boat. Because you do not have to work so hard to stay on the wave, you can focus more on learning new moves—maybe backsurfing, maybe spinning.
In a small hole, the same benefits apply. Spuds spin so easily, without
T
Thom Lambert at Earl’s on the Gull River ON in the Pyranha Sub 6 spud.
Corran Addison getting air in the Riot Disco. photo by Paul Villecourt.
The short length and increased rocker make a spud boat super easy to surf on short, steep waves; waves that would be more challenging in longer, slicier boats.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66