Monthly Archives: March 2024

Tiki Life – Easy and Breezy

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The weather report rarely gets it right. That’s fine as long as you have a quiver of options that cross conditions as easily as switching a paddle for a wing. This winter we have been staying at a condo with a weather-report worthy view right from the living room window. From checking the wind on the water, the pace of sailboats in the distance or the rippling roll of dolphin on mirror calm, we predict the day’s weather ourselves. Except for torrential rain or lightning, we always have fun options on the water.

It’s tough to beat a paddle when the glassy calm water is so enticing you could stay out all day. My favorite times include the early morning paddles watching the dolphin feed and play. Other times, crossing a wide bay and coming upon a lonely little island with a lone tree and a sandy beach is the treasure. Discovering a cove sparkling with crystal clear water just a stone’s throw from touristy civilization is serenity at its best.

Then there are those days when you head out for a paddle and the wind is kicking up side chop and gusts that blast forward progress to a slow crawl? Those are the days that eventually inspired me to research the Starboard FreeWing AIR. After consulting with the team at Big Winds in Hood River, I gifted myself a fine trio of wings and opened up a challenging learning situation – and a ton of fun! Now, whether I end up with a paddle in my hand or a wing leashed to my wrist I am ready for good times on the water.

I started out with some instincts about how to move across the water with wind power from various experiences under sail – from big boats to playful little Hobie cats to windsurfing fun. Moving under wing-power is not a direct translation from a sail, but wind awareness does help. When I took my first lesson in Hood River, OR, I wasn’t totally inept.

Over time I have learned to toss more than one wing in the car. It’s brutal to underestimate the wind and head out knowing you’re over powered and in for a killer adventure. If the wind settles more than expected it’s always nice to be able to size up a level and get the speed and ride that’s adrenaline-laced enough. I have a LOT of skill development to go, but that’s half the fun of picking up a new sport.

I am looking my 75th birthday in the eye in a couple of months – maybe this time the gift should be a couple more lessons!

Caladesi Cruise

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Thursday morning dawned foggy, the first fog we’ve had this winter in Clearwater Beach. The weather report had mentioned brisk breezes but at 8 am the wind was dead calm. The mystical aura to the water was a powerful invitation to take an extra long adventure paddle. (Photo credit: Ed Shasek)

The day before, Ed and I had hiked along the beach from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island State Park. The isolated beaches, the mangrove forests and the many trees decorated with shells was a far cry from the bustling tourist center just a few miles south. We discovered a 50 yard “land bridge that connected the inland waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. My thought was to paddle inland from Sand Key Inlet then walk my board across the land bridge (4 miles north) and do the 4.6 mile return paddle in the Gulf.

The first 3 miles of the paddle I passed the congested hotel strip of Clearwater Beach but was buffered by the calm water and the absolute lack of any boat traffic. The next mile brought lush and grand waterside mansions with pelicans, anhinga and other seabirds observing me from the docks. Finally, all civilization gave way to mangrove islands and meandering creeks as I approached the land bridge.

On the way I shared the water with dozens of sting rays of all sizes – it must have been time for lots of new born rays as mother-offspring duos flapped gracefully alongside me. When I was about 200 yards from the land bridge to the Gulf the low tide water was just inches deep. I took the fin off my Starboard 12’6″ Zen Touring board and paddled in by hand. At times a few regal osprey winked down at me in between feasting on the plentiful bait fish.

Walking from the tannin brown waters of the inland water to the pristine beach and aqua water of the Gulf was a dramatic switch. With n o one in sight and the water mirror calm, I set my course southward and began scanning the horizon for playful dolphin. They did not disappoint!!

The absolute icing on the cake for this adventure happened when I turned in from the Gulf into Sand Key Inlet. Instead of the usual boat traffic, it was quiet. The tide was ripping IN!!!!! I barely needed to paddle as I zoomed that last mile homeward. What a terrific morning.

Got AIR? Ride With Precision

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On the windier days I find myself trading out my paddle for a FreeWing AIR. No need to fight Mother Nature. And no need to fight with a traditional pump when you can go from deflated to perfectly inflated in a matter of minutes.

Whether it’s time to put 16 lbs of air in your Starboard 12’6″ Inflatable ZEN Touring board or 15 lbs in the sporty little 7’0″ Slingshot, indoors or out, the Air Box: Ride Engine’s rechargeable electric pump is just the ticket. I got mine online at Big Winds – where customer service is top notch.

The technology evolution for kites, wings, and boards has rapidly improved to enhance your experience on the water. However, perhaps the most critical component required to get on the water -the pump- has remained unchanged since the days of flip phones. Not anymore. Gone are the times of struggling with manual pumping, thanks to the Air Box: Ride Engine’s rechargeable electric pump.

Here’s the nitty-gritty: Engineered alongside a top electric pump manufacturer, the Air Box has a powerful two-stage system that automatically switches from low-pressure, high-volume pumping to high-pressure, low-volume delivering the fastest inflation possible. Eliminate the worry of over or under inflating your gear when you set your desired air pressure on the Air Box.

No more guessing – The smart inflation technology has real-time pressure monitoring, ensuring an automatic shut-off once the pump reaches the selected pressure. Powered by a lithium-ion battery cell, it can inflate four to six kites or wings, and three SUPs on a single charge. What are you waiting for – see YOU on the water!