Uber Downwinder

Thanks AA, sounds like great fun. no issues with Manly ferries I hope.

I have not lived in Sydney for well over 30 years but it never ceases to amaze me how you can get beautiful spots like those in your photos so close to the city.

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is a Uber?

ET.

or in 20years

Thanks AA, Uber hasn't hit here yet, Joh Bjelke is no longer here so it might take off.

Great photos.

ET.

I got an Uber the other day Andy and he had roof racks on his car. Not sure if he had pads for the racks or tie-downs though. This could be a specialised service Uber could offer the Downwind Uber.

I think there would be interest ET, are you in Brisbane or on the Gold or Sunny Coasts? Andy and I are both Brisbane based.

With Uber can you request the same driver or is it simply luck of the draw, maybe hook up a deal with one who has racks etc and make it a non Uber transaction, just a private deal.

Inflatable board is good for a down wind session. Just deflate it at the end while waiting for the Uber car to arrive.

If inflatables were any good for DWing we'd all be using them, because of their durability and transport convenience. But they aren't. In fact, downwinding perhaps even more than surfing, shows the limitation of the form. The boards "stick" to the water rather than releasing, due to rail and bottom shape and flexibility, and are tragically bad at quartering wind and waves. And then there is the other very serious safety factor related to being tied to something that might sink quickly, as noted above.

I own two inflatables, and love them for kids and beginners in flat water or pure mucking about. Certain flat water race formats are OK too, and river work (with caveats also about safety). But for serious downwinding the technology just isn't there yet, and shows no signs of being imminently, unfortunately.

I wish they were though, because I'm sick of the repair costs to my downwind boards. I've only once picked up a ding actually in the water, but it seems like about 30% of the time I go out with a group of people in big conditions my board gets dinged, usually while loading and unloading... I can see why DJ likes the more solid construction boards for DWing. The eggshell fragile ones are a liability unless you and every member of your DW crew is very experienced with big boards in high winds, has all the necessary pads and straps that you need, and is very conscientious with other people's gear. Stacking boards on tall vans in particular is an accident waiting to happen in high winds. Cars with low loading roofs are much better for SUPers serious about downwinding.