Boards

I learned stand-up on these big red boards that every waterpark that has a flowrider seems to have, I think they are actually made by waveloch, but I'm not sure. For now, they aren't that bad, but I'm probably one of the only ones who thinks so. Others think that they are too long and harder to control/manuever, but I like that little bit of extra board. I did try an arcane board (http://www.arcaneboards.com/) last weekend, and I can see how others like those better. It was lighter, didn't need wax, and faster. But, at that point, I couldn't even carve, so I think it was too advanced for me. But on the other hand, had I started with an arcane board, I think it would have been an easier transition. So we'll see! Maybe I'll try an arcane again tonight when we go to ride.

For bodyboarding, Aaron and I both like Cartel. Well, he liked Cartel and bought one and thats just what we've been riding. I've also tried WCB, but for me, they are too flat. Cartel has more of a rocker (which I think means a smoother ride---don't quote me on that), but from what I understand, the WCB's are faster, so its a trade-off.

Oh well, I'm happy, I'm going to ride tonight. I didn't realize how addicting flowriding can be, but unless I'm flat out tired or not feeling good, if I have free time, its what I want to be doing.

Learning standup

So, I've been learning to ride standup in addition to bodyboarding For those of you who are unclear on terms, standup looks like you're surfing and bodyboarding is laying down/on your knees.

One good thing about standup is that I'm not bruising up as bad as when I bodyboard. Yay! 'Cause for a while there, riding prone, it looked like Aaron was kicking me in the knees/shins!

Anyway, back to learning standup. I learned about 2 weeks ago at Camelbeach waterpark in Tannersville, PA. The funniest part about learning to ride there was that the way that they teach you to stand, (arms out, parallel to your feet/the board), looks like the stinkin' warrior pose in yoga! All my pics look like I'm about ready to move from warrior into sun salute or something....probably downward facing dog (cause honestly, thats what I looked like falling)! But, thats not what they teach you to do at Massanutten, so I'm slowly learning how to ride with my arms by my side or however I want them (because, of course, I don't want to look like a complete dork).

I did make it across the wave at Massanutten AND back AND across again last night. Yay me! And I think some guy was taking mine and Sharon's pictures while we were riding, so thats pretty cool, I never thought I'd actually be good enough for random people to take my pic to show others!

Anyway, as of right now, I think I like standup better than bodyboarding. I don't know if its just because its a whoo-hoo new thing or what, but thats what I'm really concentrating on.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Ok, so I started this blog thinking that I would only write about stuff happening in the flowboarding world that would be cool to everyone. As you can see from my break in posts, that I haven't really been doing that lately. So, from now on, I'm going to document my progress, or lack thereof, in learning how to flowboard. If all that comes out of this is a smile on someones face (because, honestly, some of this stuff could only happen to me), and sparks a slight interest in flowboarding, then my work here is done. I can always direct them to someone who knows a little more than me (which is pretty much everyone else who rides right now!)