Today we had glassy conditions here in Melbourne and it was perfect for PT to paddle his new (old) 23" wide Starboard New.. It's a custom/proto board that was made for EJ (Ernest Johnson) who helped develop this wild board.. Also Jonathan wanted to try one of Paul's ski's after see how fast they were when he was in Hawaii.. Paul had just bought a new one and he let Jonathan use his old one.. We all met up at Patterson River.. It was nice and glassy.. Shame about the water colour.
When I first saw the new (old) New it looked the same as his old New but after looking closer it's a very different board.
While PT put a fin on his new board I watched as Jonathan had his first go on a ski.. and he's off.
Ooops.. and he's off.
He's off again.. Go Jonathan.
Ooops.. He's off again.. That thing looks tricky.
PT now had a fin on his new board and ready to hit the water.
I hear a splash.. Yeah he's off again.. I had to keep taking pics.. Sorry Jonathan.
The two New's looked like a pair of giant Dutch clogs.
While I was taking pictures of Jonathan Paul took my Javelin for a spin and was blown away by its speed.
And he's off again.
PT was wondering if he was going to follow Jonathan into the drink.
PT had no problem at all.
Jonathan took the skinny 23" wide board for a spin and it felt like a whopper after being on the ski.
We all decided to paddle up the river with PT and I on SUP's and Paul and Jonathan on the ski's.
I followed PT on my Jav.
We had got ahead of the two on ski's so we stopped and swapped boards.. When I stepped into the 23" wide New it sank low enough with have water up to my ankles.
We swapped back and once under way we saw this old guy carrying his SUP down to the waters edge and I stopped to say Hi.. His name was Brian.. He lived right on the rivers edge.. and paddled a custom Stonker board.. He joined us.
Brian pointed the way to go.
Ooops Jonathan's off again.
He headed though the gates to the housing estate but because we had a red light we had to wait.
Green light.. go,go,go.
PT was feeling comfortable on his new board.
Hey.. Slow down PT.
We stopped for a rest.. This place is just like the Gold Coast.. But cold,dark and dirty.
Brian lead the way back though the gates.
It was great to meet Brian and he was paddling well as he showed us his local paddling area.
Paul made the ski look easy.
Jonathan was finally getting the hang of it.
Ooops.. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.
Back at the car.. Jav on the roof.. and ready to hit the pie shop.
DJ
Great story, nice pics and lots of giggles I bet.
No problem DJ, it was great fun and actually felt like I was starting to get better by the end of the session. But the thought of doing a downwinder on that thing - wow.
Took my 16 yo son out on it in the afternoon, no surprise he got it faster than I did but still fell off a few times.
I always thought those guys zipping past on their surf skis in The Doctor race had it easy - respect 
While you're talking about Ski's, Rob and I found a Ski paddle this morning floating about 100 metres out just south of Sandringham Yacht Club.
There was no one around at the Half Moon LSC when we got back so Rob's holding onto it until next Sundays Paddle for the Planet.
Al.
Great story, nice pics and lots of giggles I bet.
Hi Hawkie, it was still bloody tippy even at the end! Paul said that the newer skis are narrower but more stable and faster. The one I was on was a 15yo design, it was 46cm wide and his new one is 43cm wide. He did say that he thought it would take 18 months on the thing to get good enough to do downwinders!!
That's compared to an OC1 that I was able to get into for the first time and go straight out and do a 25knot Maliko down wind run with no real problem.
Still, the ski is very appealing, I like the totally different stroke from the cross training perspective....and the challenge!
It's only day one and it's easy to forget the SUP learning curve.
What really appeals to me is being able to paddle upwind relatively easily then do downwind runs back in, no car shuffle, no issue of what direction it's blowing. Paul said he thought he could paddle a ski upwind into 20knot headwind at about the same speed a SUP can go in still conditions.
Oc1 is easier than a ski to paddle straight away. Especially in straight downwind conditions if you already familiar with the ocean. To go fast though you need to stop relying on the ama and essentially balance it like a ski. Also if the wind is not from behind and crossing you it is another challenge again. A lot of people when they start paddle on the left all of the time, you can also rig it heavy so the boat leans onto the ama. They are definitely easier to begin but there is still a long learning curve to paddle them well. lightening the rigging, paddling on the right, flying the ama etc etc.
Sorry to hijack the thread. I'm trying to decide between an oc1 and a ski and the other consideration is the cost. For a second hand boat, firstly there are virtually none available here in Perth, but I reckon I will get into a ski for at least a grand cheaper than an oc1.
Fully agree CMC, the nice thing about the OC1 though is that at least you are out there enjoying it. I was very conscious on the first run of having the safety of the ama but also pretty quickly learnt that I could use the back of the paddle to give me stability if I felt like I was going to huli it and that gave me confidence to unweight the ama a little.
The real appeal to me is the cross training aspect of the totally different stroke of the ski, Adam if I was you I'd go for the surf ski because there are so many in Perth. You could get a cheap beginner one and sell it when you are ready to upgrade and probably not lose any money.
Hey JC, reminds me when I went white water kayaking last winter for the first time!
Water temp 6 degrees, never paddled a ski, "Yeah this will be easy". Slid off the bank
into the water and took about 4 or 5 seconds and I was under. Then paniced upside
down for about 30 seconds before I got out of the thing.
I ended up making it down the river but I don't think i'll ever do it again!
Was one of the hardest things I've done, everything felt backwards at the start.
They should have gave me the lesson before I headed out.
Those racing mals/lifesaving boards are hard work at the start as well.
Here ya go Jonathan.. This is how it's done.. Easy.. 
Is this what Paul's new ski is?
DJ
