Me: “You definitely need to get a Supershinn.”

John Doe: “I know.  I want one.  Do I get a cape with it?”

It’s more than just a Shinn, it’s a SUPERSHINN!  The name of the board pretty accurately represents both its appearance and performance on the water.

I was a little skeptical of this board at first.  Despite having ridden the other boards in the Shinn line (and being impressed by all of them), the hype behind this board seemed to promise something totally different.  It doesn’t matter what you say about a board, it’s all about how it feels.  The first time I rode theSupershinn, the only words that came to my head were “like butter”!  It felt so smooth!

I had come from riding a 130×40 Shinn Toyboy as my main board.  With it’s smaller size and flexible tips, riding the toyboy was a much different experience when compared with the Supershinn.  Because of the hydro-flo technology, the board needed to be longer in order to perform the way it was intended.  I felt like that additional length on the boards would prevent me from being able to hold it down when overpowered.  It was quite the opposite experience.  Most of my time on the board was actually with a 135×41 and I barely noticed the difference!  Though I was overpowered at times, I held it down just as well as I had my smaller board!……..Continued Here.

“The Supershinn is a very impressive new board created by Mark Shinn. If you’ve heard nothing about this board yet then you need to pick up the latest Kiteworld magazine and read the five page article about the design of this board. I believe there will also be a few tests in national publications such as Kiteboarding Magazine and SBC Kiteboard Magazine so keep your eyes open. At this point I feel like I’ve had enough time on the water with this board to give my opinion and review this particular model.

I’ve tested this board in all conditions with straps and with boots. I’ve been in choppy water, flat water and waves with this board. I prefer to ride in flat water but the conditions at my Tybee Island riding spot often vary. It is an extremely versatile board with high performance features and an aggressive freestyle outline.

I am very impressed with the “Hydro-Flo” design feature in this board. When looking at this feature the first time I thought that it was going to be a very small added component to the board and that I probably wouldn’t really notice much of a difference in feeling from it. I was completely wrong. This was the first thing that I notice about the board when I hit the water the first time with it. When gripping up wind the Hydro-Flo actually feels like it is engaged and actively working. With only a slight bit of effort I can feel the water pushing harder against the fins and it actually feels as though the Hydro-Flo is helping me. I am also impressed that I get this feeling with the ,43mm, smaller fins that this board comes with. In fact, I’ve even put 35mm fins on this board and the edging is still very powerful.

The pop is another highlight to this model. The Supershinn has the smoothness of the monk with the aggressive pop found in other models like the Player. I think that is slightly easier to pin point your pop on the Supershinn in comparison to a board like the player. For example, the player seem much more precise when you are distributing your weight towards your back foot to pop off the water. I feel like the Supershinn actually allows some room for “error”. The pop seems consistent in the Supershinn even when I may not load the same way every time. I consider this a bonus when I am trying to focus more on executing the trick rather than the way I am leaving the water. Basically, my point is that there seems to be a more consistent pop in the Supershinn.

I am also very impressed with the exceptional performance that this board has while riding with boots. The design characteristics seem to be enhanced and not lost by the addition of boots. The upwind performance is not lost because of the rocker or the addition of boots. I think that because of the addition of the Hydro-Flo the board doesn’t compromise any performance characteristics when riding with boots. Even while riding in chop with boots, this board is comfortable and controllable.

It is really hard to come up with some constructive criticism to say about this model because, in my opinion, there really aren’t any flaws in the Supershinn. It is by far my favorite board in the entire Shinn line. However, I would consider this board slightly more technical then the other boards. Maybe not as technical as the Player but it will definitely be more appreciated by riders who ride aggressively or have a good amount of riding experience under their belt. I’m more impressed with this board each time I ride it!”

We are now offering Landkiting lessons! Just in time for the winter season we are now teaching students to propel themselves across the wide open beaches of Tybee Island with power kites. The lessons will not only be fun, educational and exciting but will also be a great stepping stone if you eventually want to get in the water and kiteboard.

Follow this link to check out our current groupon deal!  http://www.groupon.com/deals/all-out-kiteboarding-1

Georgia summers are like sitting in an oven for most of the day. The heat index in the summer can regularly go over 100 degrees! On days like that, it is vital to be smart about hydration! Don’t be fooled into thinking that kiteboarding is simply a hobby. It is a sport and, if you’re a kiteboarder, you’re an athlete. Proper hydration is more important for athletes than for the average person. Simply because you’re staying cool in the water kiteboarding, doesn’t mean you don’t need to stay hydrated!

If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated! Being smart about hydration is essential for peak performance while kiting. When a person becomes dehydrated, it decreases their ability to sweat and cool their core temperature. Having an insufficient intake of fluids leads to fatigued muscles, reduced coordination, cramps and heat injuries. In a sport where it is important that you stay focused for your safety and others, these side effects of poor hydration can lead to a very dangerous situation.

So, how much and what should I eat and drink while kiteboarding? Well, ensuring you are taking proper care of your body doesn’t just occur during the session. It is important to do the right things both before and after the session as well. When thinking about what you should eat, try to stay away from “quick and easy” food such as candy, junk food or fast food. These foods provide a quick burst of energy, but it won’t last and you’ll find your energy starting to crash during your session. Fruits, vegetables, energy gels and energy bars are good snacks prior to kiteboarding. While everyone is different, you can use a basic guideline to determine how much fluid you should intake before, during and after a session. Two to three hours before a session, drink 15-20 fl oz of water and drink an additional 8-10 fl oz 10-15 minutes before starting. During your session, remember to drink 8-10 fl oz every 10-15 minutes. If your session lasts longer than 90 minutes, drink 8-10 fl oz of a sports drink (such as Gatorade) every 15-30 minutes. If you don’t want to interrupt your session on the water, try a hydration pack (commonly called a “camelback”). Dakine makes a wide variety of hydration packs that will allow you to stay hydrated without interrupting your session. Before and after a kiting, you should weigh yourself. Doing this allows you to see how much weight you lost and allows you to understand how much fluid you need to replace. Drink 20-24 oz for every pound lost. Additionally, when eating after a session, consume a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein within 2 hours.

Am I dehydrated? One of the first signs of poor hydration is being thirsty. Listen to your body! It’s telling you that you need water! A very easy way to measure hydration is by the color of your urine (gross, but quite accurate!). If your urine is a dark brown color, that is really bad! Drink lots of water immediately! When you are well hydrated, your urine will only have a pale yellow color to it. When your urine is completely clear, be careful and slow down your fluid intake. Though it is rare, it is possible to drink too much water. Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, can cause a low concentration of sodium in the blood and is classified as a medical emergency. As you focus on proper hydration, you will get a better feel about how much fluid intake is appropriate for you as an athlete.

Poor hydration leads to heath exhaustion, which leads to heat stroke which leads to a terrible day for you! The symptoms of heat exhaustion include: nausea, dizziness, weakness, headache, pale and moist skin, fast and weak pulse, disorientation, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness and fainting. To treat heat exhaustion, stop all activities and rest! Drink cool beverages, take a cool shower or bath and remove any extra clothing. Untreated head exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. The main difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke is the presence of confusion. The neurological system is affected and can cause off behavior, delusions, hallucinations and eventually seizures or coma. When suffering a heat stroke, the victim will usually also have dry skin with a lack of sweating and a fast pulse. Athletes can suffer what is called an exertional heat stroke. With this type of heat stroke, the victim will continue to sweat despite increased core temperature. If an athlete’s core temperature is above 105 degrees, then they are suffering from a heat stroke. They experience other similar symptoms such as mental status changes, confusion, disorientation and clumsiness. To treat a heat stroke, reduce the body temperature by cooling the body. Remove tight or unnecessary clothing and spray the person with water. Ice packs can be placed at the neck, groin and armpits to accelerate cooling. Heat injuries are very serious, so it’s important to treat them as such! Once you suffer from a heat injury, it becomes easier for you to suffer additional injuries in the future!

It is quite common to see kiteboarders on the beach without water. We go out and kite aggressively to progress and forget that we need to take care of our bodies. You don’t see people go to the gym or to play other sports without bringing water, so why kiteboard without water? Taking care of your body is the first step to becoming a better kiteboarder!

Stop by the Pro Shop and try on a pair today!

“Spy Optic offers the best eyewear options for fashion forward designs, sport, polarized and prescription sunglasses. We were born in Southern California. Founded in the mid nineties by people who are passionate about the sports they love and the products they use. We ride and surf and skate every chance we get. Spy is known as the premier specialty brand. We are known for our high quality designer sunglasses, 100 percent designed by us in California and manufactured and assembled by hand in our own factory in Varese, Italy. And lastly, our designer sunglass styles are really cool. We don’t have to explain that do we… Spy sunglasses’ superior fit, look and feel set us apart and above the competitors.” -SPY