Krush it Next Summer with this Wakeboard
What’s a go to wakeboard in the shop for women riders? One of my favorites is the Ronix Krush. Back again for 2023 the Krush features two molded fins on either side of both the tip and the tail of the wakeboard. It also has center removable fins that you can pop out if you want to focus on surface 360s and butter slides. The Krush features awesome graphics that are anything but flowery and girly. This board will have you ripping around the lake and tossing tricks in no time. Krush it behind the boat with this board under your feet.
Why is this board a good choice for me?
Anytime we have new riders in the shop, it’s beneficial to have those extra removable center fins. They will add extra drag for when you’re first learning, which will stabilize the wakeboard. But once you’re comfortable riding and jumping, you can remove those fins for a more playful feel. The board features a 3-Stage rocker design, which is more conducive for getting “air”. That type of rocker line means there is a flat spot between your feet which will hit the wake first shooting you up into the air. Rocker lines like this are great for smaller wakes too because they boost you higher. You’ll krush it, seriously.
The Krush comes in a variety of sizes
SIZE
(CM) |
HEIGHT
(INCHES) |
STANCE
(INCHES) |
CENTER
(INCHES) |
SURFACE
(SQ INCHES) |
WEIGHT
(LBS RANGE) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
125 | 2.3 | 18-24 | 16.3 | 733 | Up to 110 |
130 | 2.4 | 19-25 | 16.4 | 757 | Up to 125 |
135 | 2.5 | 19.5-25.5 | 16.7 | 787 | 120-160 |
140 | 2.6 | 21-27 | 16.9 | 836 | 150-190 |
All in all, it’s a great wakeboard
But don’t just take my word for it. Click here to hear what the Wizard has to say about the Krush! Be sure to read more of our Blog. Shop online here. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for more water sports content. Email us with questions at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Call us at 207-693-3867 with questions.
Fliteboard 101: What to know before you Flite
Flite leads the industry in eFoils. With the longest lasting battery life, you’ll cruise longer and further than your muscles can handle. So, let’s get going. Here’s Fliteboard 101: a miniseries. Everything you need to know before you Flite.
The 100L Foil Board:
This is the best option for riders > 200lbs or a very conscious beginner. With huge buoyancy and stability, you can balance and correct yourself without much retaliation from the foil itself.
The Pro Board:
Think of it as a smaller, more compact version of the 100L. This board suites riders < 200lbs. Even if you have little to no foil experience, or even wake surf experience, you can learn to ride on this board. What will make a huge difference is if you have water sports experience. Being comfortable in the water is extremely important. So is being mindful of what’s going on around you.
When starting out
When you’re learning to ride, you’ll start out on your belly. It will feel much like getting up on a kneeboard. You have the controller in your hand, and you engage the speed with your pointer finger, much like a video game consul controller. As you pull back on the trigger, the motor will engage and you’ll shoot forward. We recommend that everyone stay far forward, over the nose of the board. As you work up to your knees, keep your hand gripping the nose of the board. This will help you keep the board stable and low against the water.
When the board gets up on plane, you can scoot onto your knees. It should feel surprisingly stable. If it doesn’t then you don’t have enough weight on the front of the board. You want to keep the nose down while you get a feel for the board and your balance point. Once you’re comfortable, you can speed up, or rise up out of the water. If you start to panic, like most first time riders, think about putting a lot of weight on your front foot. The board will dip towards the lake. Even if it hits the lake, all that happens is you bounce. But if you can remain calm, you’ll save yourself from falling.
Foil wings
For the most part, the wings that we sell at Sun Sports are the flyer 800. Think of it as an all purpose wing, easy and stable enough for anyone to use. Medium cruising speeds. Carving and riding swell. Also built for cruising and stability. The wing attaches to a long mast. The longer mast length allows smooth riding high above the chop and allows for an extreme turning angle without the board touching the water.
Batteries:
We sell two different kind of Fliteboard batteries that you can customize with your efoil package. The first is our personal preference: the Explorer. With 30 more minutes of battery life, the distance you can travel is nearly endless. At least on a lake. The trade off is the extra weight. You’ll notice this difference when carrying your foil on shore. The second battery is the sport battery. Truly a performance upgrade, in the sense that you’re more maneuverable. The lighter weight nature of the battery allows you to be quicker in and out of turns and more agile on the water.
The Fliteboard motor emits a quiet hum, much like a Tesla motor. It’s slightly freaky when you first get on it, because you’d expect it to be much louder. It’s actually rather relaxing to listen to. It’s just enough noise to remind you that there’s a board beneath your feet.
No feeling quite like it.
There’s no feeling quite like it. It’s totally and completely freeing. It has obvious elements of wake surfing attached to it but it also has the solitary therapy of snow skiing. Much like snow skiing, you see and hear others around you, but you’re not riding with them. You’re just riding among them.
Want to learn more?
Call us at 207-693-3867. Or email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. We are here to answer any and all questions that you have about foiling. Shop online or in store! Check out our website for more.
Closed for the Season. See you in the Spring!
The time has finally come. Summer is over. There is a chill in the air. Winter is coming. The lake will soon freeze which means that we have to lock the doors and pack up shop…for now. Though we are closed for the season, we are always reachable. You can shop online all winter long with us, and follow us on social media to see all the new product as it arrives at the shop. You see, we don’t just pack up and head south when the summer ends. We keep grinding to make sure that the incoming summer is still the best summer that you’ve had yet. And we will see you in the spring.
The off season is not just a time to relax and unwind for us. (though we do a lot of it). It’s a time for us to write orders, receive product, and stock the shelves. There is a lot that goes into the summer time and it happens behind the scenes.
So for now, we bid you farewell. But you can call on us any time you need! Email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Call us at 207-693-3867. We will answer all year long. Summer magic doesn’t happen just during the warm weather. We work hard to ensure you see the best version of us at all times. Follow us on instagram. Like us on Facebook. Check out our YouTube Channel! We will see you in the spring.
All you need to know about iKayaks
Inflatable kayaks you say? What could possibly be the advantage of those? Well let me tell you. iKayaks are the next wave in paddle sports. Featuring lighter weight designs, accessory friendly, and durable designs, these are the last kayaks you need in your life. We sell three different models at Sun Sports+. We’ll call them the good, the better, and the best. Let’s get into it.
The Chinook Series
The Chinook 90 is Aquaglide’s shortest open cockpit kayak that provides exceptional maneuverability for calm rivers and shorter trips on flat water. With its compact 9-foot open bow layout, the Chinook allows for easy transitions in and out of the boat. If you are looking for a lightweight recreational boat that’s easy to set-up and provides easy transitions in and out of the water, the Chinook 90 is for you.
How does it feel to paddle:
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this kayak. It has a narrow channel for the paddler to sit in, which was very comfortable for me. I’m 5’5 relatively small build. It was very comfortable to sit in. The Chinook 90 might not feel super comfortable for larger adults. But it tracked straight and handled well in a little wind. All in all, the Chinook is a great series of iKayaks.
Features:
The Deschutes Series
Named after the famous Deschutes river in Bend, Oregon, the Deschutes Series of ikayaks fly through flat water with a straight rocker and are as rugged and diverse as the river it’s named after.
Built with cutting edge technology and EVA floor, the lightweight Deschutes allows for more compact packing. Duratex construction, paired with inflatable thwart and EVA floor creates rigidity and lightweight efficient performance.
How does it feel to paddle:
The floor of the kayak is my favorite part. It’s sturdy and rigid. The seat was a little more comfortable than the Chinook. But the Kayak is super wide. I felt pretty small within it. Again, I’m only 5’5. So the kayak felt wide for me. But it was super comfortable. It seemed a little lighter in weight than the Chinook and the wind seemed to blow it around slightly more. But if you were paddling in calm waters, you’d enjoy the Deschutes more so.
The Key user features in the Deschutes 130 kayak are:
- Quick release fin
- Core 2 seat
- Drain plugs
- Molded handles
- Halkey-Roberts type valve
- 400lb capacity
- 21lbs
The Chelan Series
The Chelan 120 is a premium choice for all types of paddling. The unique combination of rugged Duratex™ tube construction with a drop-stitch, hard-bottom floor results in a rigid and responsive open cockpit inflatable kayak. Regardless of skill level, the Chelan 120 is capable of traditional hard-shell kayak performance for years of worry-free effortless paddling. The Chelan comes in a tandem too if you want to paddle with a friend!
What does it feel to paddle:
The Chelan felt just like a hardshell kayak. The inflatable seat is the highlight of this kayak. You can let air out of the kayak to sit lower in the boat. You can inflate the seat more to sit up higher. The rigid floor is sturdy enough that you could stand upright in the boat in the middle of the lake without flipping over.
Features:
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Columbus Day
We are giving summer a little encore. The store will be open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Columbus Day! Fridays & Saturdays the shop is open from 11-6 and Sundays from 11-5! We still have crazy deals available in store. 20-40% off nearly everything in store. That’s just 3 more weekends left to save big on clothing, apparel and equipment. Shop online in the mean time here.
What are some deals going on?
- 25% off all of this years hottest clothing and apparel styles
- 30% off your favorite sunnies
- 25% off the best of water sports equipment
- 20% off foam core and inflatable paddle boards
What does Sun Sports+ do in the off season?
That’s a great question. Once we close the doors and lock them on summer time, we do an inventory count of everything that’s left in the store. It’s tedious, but we still manage to have some fun. All the clothing gets packed away for next summer and we make room for the new products to arrive in 2023. The Wake Wizard is busy at this point writing orders for new wakeboards, waterskis, surfers, and more. Believe it or not, all those orders get submitted before the calendar year is even close to over. Once all that is complete, we sit back and catch our breath.
We will swap our waterskis for snow skis and hit the slopes during the winter also. And we will get on the snowmobile and cruise around. We make the most out of winter even though summer is really special to us. The shop is still accessible in the off season. It’s cold in there for sure, (the building isn’t insulated) but believe it or not we still meet people there upon request! We are always accessible. You can call us 365 days out of the year and odds are that someone will answer the phone. If you send us an email, you’ll get a reply!
Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Columbus Day!
In the mean time, you can shop online! Follow us on Instagram or like us on Facebook for more water sports content. Check out our YouTube Channel for great content on and off the water! Stop by the shop this weekend and say hello! And if you’re not around, then we will see you in the spring.
Water Carpets are back in stock at Sun Sports+!
Water Carpets are back in stock! We just received a shipment of O’Brien Deluxe Water Carpet 4-Layer Floating Mat – 18′ x 6′ x 1.625″ The O’Brien Water Carpet features a soft foam construction that you and your friends are sure to enjoy. Whether you’re running, jumping, or just lounging in the sun, the water carpet provides countless hours of fun. Prepare for hours of mindless fun on the water.
With its soft, 5-ply polyethylene construction, this float is insanely comfortable and is more stable than the competition. Plus, water carpets never require inflating. When you are all worn out from having too much fun, just roll it up and secure the Ultra Water Carpet with the included nylon straps for easy storage.
Water Carpet Features:
- Holds up to 6 people
- Includes two grommets with attachment loops for securing the mat to anchor bags or drift anchors
- Bright color enhances visibility on the water
- Conveniently rolls up for storage after use
- Dimensions: 18?L x 6’W x 2.25îH
CALL FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO ARRANGE PICK UP. (207) 693-3867. Inventory won’t last. Read more of our blog for other great summer equipment essentials. Email us with questions at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Shop online or in store. We are open 7 days a week from 9am – 6pm!.
Paddling 101: SUP Edition
Exploring the lake is part of what makes summer so great. As a kid, I used to hop in a kayak and go off for the day to try and find a new nook in my lake that I’d never been to before. It was a blast traveling up in runoff streams just to appease my adventurous spirit. As an adult, I find more enjoyment in paddling a SUP board than sitting down in a kayak. Stand up paddle boards offer a new perspective on the lake. You can gaze down into the water in shallow sections of the lake for a better vantage point. This type of paddling offers a whole body work out too as opposed to recreational kayaking or canoeing, which is predominantly upper body focused. All in all, paddle boards are a great investment and a ton of fun. So let’s dive into some paddleboarding 101.
Surf Shapes vs. Touring Boards
There are two main types of paddle boards. There are rounded tip, “surf shaped” boards, and touring boards. Surf shaped boards originated as a means of travel between islands in the form of paddle board surfing. The wide shapes channeled water well beneath the boards and allowed the rider to build up speed with the current and waves. These kinds of boards are more traditional. There are not limited to ocean surfing. You can absolutely use them on a lake! Many users say that they are more stable than touring boards. For a beginner paddler, I agree that’s true. With the wider platform, you have greater stability.
Touring boards have a displacement hull. They look like a kayak in the front (meaning they come to a point). They track straighter in the water. This enables the rider to maximize their paddle strokes on each side of the board. Touring boards are a great option of paddle board for a lake front paddler. You’ll carry greater speed across the water. Overall, for exploring lakes in calm water, a touring board is really the way to go!
Inflatable vs. Hardshell
Inflatable paddle boards are a great alternative to hardshell boards. When inflated properly, and to the right PSI, these boards will feel just an epoxy construction. Inflatable boards are often lighter in weight and easier to carry when on land. The biggest advantage comes down to storage and transportation. These boards deflate and fold up to fit into a large duffle or backpack. Don’t be concerned about durability. Inflatable paddleboards are made with a technology called “dropstitching”. The boards are extremely stiff. They do not perform like a traditional float. They are solid structurally.
Hardshell boards are traditional. If you’ve got a roof rack or the storage space for them, send it! Hardshell boards glide just a little better in the water. You’ll never have to inflate them up to pressure. These are what people are more used to when they think of paddle boards. To be honest, I’ve ridden on both. And I enjoy both! Either way, inflatable or hardshell, you really can’t go wrong. That’s paddling 101 in a nutshell!
What are some options for Paddle Boards?
We have a great selection of paddle boards at Sun Sports+. We carry SUP ATX, Pua Hana, Michael Dosley, Aquaglide, Connelly, and Surftech!
The Lido SUP
First up is the Lido. The Lido is a great paddle board. With an EPS foam core, high-quality fiberglass, epoxy resin, reinforced rails, and molded Utility Armor shell makes the Lido extremely durable SUP for rental facilities, beginners and families.
Voyager Touring SUP
Secondly we have the voyager touring SUP. The Voyager is designed for someone who wants to paddle flat water or mild open ocean conditions. It has all the features of a race board but has been toned down making it more stable and user friendly. It is equipped with 14 leash plugs on the nose and tail to tie down all your gear. The Displacement hull make this board cut through the water efficiently, making long paddles much easier than a standard surfboard shape cruiser. Fin System: Single Fin
We understand that a paddle board purchase is a big deal! We are here to help you along the process. Call us at 207-693-3867 for all information on Paddling 101. Email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Shop online or in store. We are open 7 days a week. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Check out our YouTube page for water sports content and tips of the trade.
Wake up to some knowledge about wakeboards
Finding the right wakeboard can be a little like finding the perfect candy bar in a candy shop. There are so many options to choose from, and in most instances, you really can’t go wrong. But, that’s where we come in. Today, I’m going to teach you a little bit about the different shapes to wakeboards. So wake up to some knowledge. Here goes.
Continuous Rocker
Continuous Rocker Wakeboards are the more “traditional” shape. Their edge curves along a mild and consistent curve. They carry speed well into the wake and boost you far out into the flat past the opposite wake. You can think of Continuous rocker boards as boosting you with “flight“. These boards are great for riders that want to soften their landings. It’s also ideal for riders who want consistent pop off the wake time and time again. Continuous rocker boards are just that – continually dependable. Each time you throw a trick will feel the same as the last. To summarize, they offer smooth, wake-to-flat arc, consistent carving, less friction = higher speeds.
3-Stage Rockers
3-Stage boards draws it’s origins from larger wakes. When riders started hitting modern wakes from newer, larger wakeboard boats, they wanted to generate more air time. Thus the 3-Stage was born. 3-stage rocker lines provide tremendous pop up off the wake. I like to think of them as boosting your “height“. Ideally, you’ll hit the first wake, perform your trick in the air, and then land down on top of the second wake. 3-Stage rocker boards are not quite as fast when carving. Due to the nature of their curve line, they don’t have as much surface area in contact with the water like a continuous rocker line will. But they are aggressive. And they will boost you into outer space if you let them. To summarize: high arcing, aggressive pop off the wake, wake to wake arc, more friction = less speed in the flat with more pop off the wake
Hybrid Rocker
The third shape is a Hybrid or a cross between Continuous Rockers and 3-Stage Rockers. These boards are ideal for riders who have a variety of tricks in their arsenal and want to both boost and fly. Delivering some of the pop you would expect from a 3 stage, you can still depend on a consistent and faster ride. Hybrid rockers give you the rideability and consistency of a continuous rocker with the charging, aggressive pop of a 3-stage rocker.
Whatever you’re looking for in a wakeboard, we’ve got a choice for you at Sun Sports+. Let us guide you in the process. Our expert staff is here to advise you and educate you and help you find the perfect wakeboard. Call us at 207-693-3867. Email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Instagram! Check out our YouTube Channel and Blog for helpful tips and tricks to make this summer the best summer yet.
This Week’s Pick of the Week is Melin Hats!
Cover your Melin this summer with the best hat in the shop. Melin hats are the last hat you’ll ever buy. Take our word for it. they are the most comfortable hat out there. Seriously. We carry hydrophobic hats at Sun Sports+, meaning they shed water. So they won’t get saturated in sweat or rain or the lakes. These hats are perfect to wear out on the boat, the beach, or while just lounging around. I’m telling you, once you try one on, you’ll never own a different hat in your life.
Sizing
Melin hats come in different millimeter diameters because no two heads fit the same. Here’s a size chart that you can check out:
Small | Classic | ||
---|---|---|---|
SIZE | 7” – 7 ¼” | 7 ⅜” – 7 ⅝” | 7 ¾” – 8 ¼” |
METRIC | 56 – 57.5cm | 58 – 59.5cm | 60 – 62cm |
INCHES | 22” – 22 ⅝” | 22 ¾” – 23 ½” | 23 ⅝” – 24 ½” |
Our favorite Melin hats are the neon collection. Dive in this summer with the Neon Hydrochromic Collection. Available at Sun Sports+ in Coronado styles, you can bring the party to the beach, the lake, or the backyard pool. With Hydrochromic tech in each hat, hop in the water to reveal hidden custom designs that appear only when the hat is wet and vacation mode is on.
Each Coronado Neon hat features custom, summer-inspired artwork made for heatwaves and good times. With hats made for the water, don’t be afraid to dive in and get the party going. Whether you’re hopping off the back of the boat to cool off or diving in at the backyard pool party, each hat was made for water with a fun Hydrochromic pattern surprise that only appears by adding some H2O.
TECHNOLOGY & FEATURES
-
Water Friendly
-
Floatable
-
Lightweight
-
Durable
-
Antimicrobial
-
Moisture-Wicking Lining
-
Hidden Besom Pocket
-
Breathable
Melin hats have the best features. One cool feature about Melin Hats that we love at Sun Sports+ is that the material is antimicrobial. That means that the hats won’t get stinky when you wear them for long periods of time. A second feature we like is they fight breakouts on your forehead because they are breathable. So your skin gets a break from the oils that can build up between the fabric of the hat and your head. The third feature we like is the hats have a logo on the underside of the brim where your thumb goes. This keep from building up a dirty thumbprint on the fabric.
There’s more to Melin than meets the eye. A fourth feature is that Melin’s snap straps in the back are made out of rubber instead of plastic. They won’t break down over time and deteriorate over time. They are also more comfortable and conform to your head much better than typical hat straps. You might not think about the strap on the back of your had. That is, until you put a hat on that has a superior strap.
Check them out at Sun Sports+!
We are open 7 days a week. You can shop Melin online or in store. Have questions? Call us at 207-693-3867. Email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube page! And of course, visit us in the shop.
Phase 5 wakesurfers in stock at Sun Sports+!
Phase 5 has arrived at Sun Sports+!
Phase 5 wakesurfers arrived this morning fresh off the truck. The 2022 line up is pretty sweet graphically and we can’t wait for to share it with you all this summer. There are a few boards in particular that we wanted to tell you all about. Since 2003 Phase Five wakesurfers has been building top-performing wakesurfers for all skill levels. No matter what your riding style is, they have a board for everyone. Here are three boards that we want you to know about.
2022 Matrix Limited LTD
First up is an ever popular board, the Matrix. Truly a force in the P5 line with many of the top riders sporting it under their feet. It sports a thinner core and a single to double concave bottom with the V-Spline tail. The result is a very responsive, trick friendly platform to work the wave. Many riders will find it rides very well revert with it’s well rounded outline that sports the same shape on it’s nose and tail. The Matrix has a Carbon Stringer for added strength and is glassed super light using our Gatorskin™glass. It is equipped with a single 1” fin that gives the board a true skim style feel. Don’t waste time, Enter the Matrix. The Matrix Payne Pro features a unique Propel Graphic bottom that Parker Payne dreamed up.
2022 Hammerhead
Second up is The Hammerhead. A.k.a. the king of revert. It’s “peanut” shape allows the board to swing with more momentum for those push shove-its. Starting with a square nose and ending with a square tail, this board doesn’t care which end is in front. The squared nose allows it to stay stable and fast when riding revert. A recent re-design of the Hammerhead sports a peanut shape which is a concept that places the volume under your feet where pressure is actually exerted without rounding out the board so much that is loses speed or maneuverability. It’s all around faster this year than before. The Hammerhead is made with Carbon Fiber glass that makes it ultra-strong while maintaining light weight for performance. The Hammerhead is equipped with a single 1” fin to make it fast and maneuverable for all riders.
How does it compare to the Matrix? The Hammerhead is slightly more stable underfoot. It’ll also ride more consistently “backwards” (meaning tail facing towards the boat) because of it’s unique shape. All in all, both boards are extremely fun and gnarly shredders.
2022 Biscuit 54″
Don’t overlook this board: it’s a shop favorite! Large enough to accommodate riders up to 200lbs, the Biscuit will become your go to breakfast shredder. It’s happy go lucky and forgiving. But this thing will break loose for a spin if you want it to! All in all, this board will keep newbies cruising all around the lake and expert riders looking for more. Featuring a full deck EVA pad, it’s comfy underfoot for your toes. The board is super stable but will carve around if you edge it. All in all the Biscuit is good fun, entry level surf board.
The outline of the Biscuit allows the board to be a Wave Hog as you will be struggling to keep this beast off the wave. It also is a very forgiving and friendly board with soft rails that won’t catch you when you fall. It comes with a twin FCS fin set up to keep it nice and loose when your ready to get radical on it!
Phase 5 is so much more than a skim surfer
Phase 5 wakesurfers expand across the category of skim style into the surf category. They have a board for every style of riding and every surfer out there. Come and see us at Sun Sports+! Call us at 207-693-2867. Email us at info@sunsportsmaine.com. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram! Check out our YouTube Channel! We want to help you make this summer the best summer ever.