The Epic SUP and Surf Company in Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island is a hardcore surf shop that specializes in stand up paddling. They sell production boards from companies including Naish, McTavish, Walden and NSP. Their in-house shaper, Jason Heinz, will build you a custom board to meet your unique needs.
Surf and race SUPs…
I was impressed with the high quality boards, paddles and fins in the shop. This isn’t one of those surf shops with more bikinis and flip flops than wave hardware. In fact besides a few wetsuits Epic is pretty much all boards, paddles and fins.
Essential SUP gear…
One thing you won’t find at Epic is a whole bunch of all rounder stand up paddle boards that most shops peddle. When I asked Jason Heinz about the absence his response was that all round SUPs didn’t do anything well and weren’t a good investment once you got past the lesson stage. So Epic stocks dedicated surf SUPs and flat-water/race boards which are excellent at their specialties.
I’ve been thinking about a Naish board so it’s great to find a local dealer who carries their product. It’s nice to be able to kick some tires before buying.
Mr. Zog’s – a classic…
If you find yourself in Victoria BC looking for SUP gear or a custom longboard Epic is worth a look. They take their surfing very very seriously and that’s a good thing! 🙂
Catalog and magazine porn…
BTW – if the name Jason Heinz sounds familiar he built Sharon’s custom longboard last year.
I have a bike lane at the end of my driveway. Lots of smooth pavement that slopes downhill towards the Galloping Goose MUP. I’ll be the first one to admit that bikes are a more efficient means of transport than skateboards, but riding a low slung longboard is a lot of fun when you aren’t going too far and you aren’t in a rush.
I'd rather walk than ride rough pavement...
I’m just starting to work out the best routes to skate around my house. The MUP is great because it’s smooth and goes downhill to downtown at about 3% a lot of the way. Some of the local roads are freshly paved, but there are lot that are uber rough. I’d rather carry my skateboard than get a high intensity foot massage! I live near the top of a hill so that means a lot of pushing to get back or I walk – which is okay.
I haven’t found the perfect hill to bomb yet. I’m not confident at high speeds so I like moderate slopes, wide roads with smooth aphalt, low traffic and a safe runout. I found one parking lot that is will be pretty good early on a Sunday morning.
No this isn’t a post about safe sex. But I am a big believer in protecting your valuable equipment. So I guess it’s a similar message…=-)
Whenever I buy a new or used board I get a bag for it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a snowboard, SUP, kiteboard or surfboard. I even have bags for my SUP paddles.
Why bother?
protective bags cost about $30-$100 depending on size [my 11′ SUP bags were $80]
boards cost $500-$2000
bags last 10 years+
riding a pristine board = priceless
selling a used board in excellent condition will recoup your cost for the bag and you can use the same bag for another board
bags make it easy and fast to pack your gear because you don’t have to spend time worrying about damaging it
bags protect the inside of your vehicle and house from the boards that have sharp edges or wax on them
The economics of protecting your valuable gear is straightforward. For about 1% per year you can keep your boards in tip top shape as well as protecting your vehicle and house from the boards. You’ll easily see that investment returned when you go to sell the board used and personally I absolutely love pulling out an old board that looks sweet because it hasn’t been bashed around in the bed of my pick up.
Vibram Five Fingers are a very unique type of sport sandal that allows you to walk, run and play as if barefoot, but with some extra grip and protection from sharp things! I’ve been using them since last spring and have really enjoyed the benefits of barefooting.
Theory
I’m not an expert in how the human foot works so I won’t pretend I really understand all the details of the Vibram Five Fingers. Have a look at the videos above/below and check out the links I provide below if you are keen to learn more about the technology behind the design:
The Sprint is an open top Five Finger model that features a velcro strap on the instep and the heel to get a secure fit for athletic pursuits. This is important when you can’t afford your footwear coming off such as in a river.
they are a great general purpose model of Five Fingers for folks that are active
I’ve skateboarding, run, biked, SUPed and hiked in these sandals
they stay securely on your feet
the sipped rubber sole is very grippy wet or dry
the open top allows debris to enter which is a problem if you use them in a place with small rocks for example – ouch!
the velcro strap means they take a moment longer to get on than Five Fingers that don’t have this strap
Vibram Five Fingers KSO model...
KSO
The KSO [Keep Stuff Out] model of Five Fingers is very similar to the Sprint discussed above, but it features a mesh fabric top that reaches the bottom of the ankle to keep debris out of the sandal.
all the points noted above for the Sprint apply, except the problem of debris getting in
the mesh top keep most stuff out without being hot
occasionally small rocks can get in and you will have to remove them, but it’s 98% better in this regard than the Sprints
fine sand will also get in, but this doesn’t hurt – however at some point enough gets it that it must be removed as well
because of the extra fabric it takes a bit more effort to get these Five Fingers on
Flow
The Flow model of Five Fingers is similar to the KSO, but the whole top fabric is made of 1.2mm neoprene for warmth and the insole is 2mm EVA to provide additional insulation.
these are the warmest Five Fingers I’ve tried
all the notes under the KSO apply, but the neoprene fabric keeps out sand and small rocks much better
because the material used is thicker top and bottom these fit tighter than the same size Five Fingers in the Sprint or KSO model
I found I couldn’t get a good fit since my toes didn’t have enough room in the toe boxes and if I bought a bigger size they’d be too loose on the rest of my feet to stay on well
using them in water for 2-3hrs I actually injured the skin of my toes as it became soft and was squeezed by the tight Flow toe boxes
Vibram needs to make the toe boxes bigger to account for the thicker materials used in this model
I ended up returning them and rec’d the KSO’s in exchange which fit much better
Pros
Once I got used to them I really enjoyed how the Five Fingers felt on my feet
revolutionary design with nothing similar on the market
I don’t wear shoes at home so it’s nice to be able to go out and feel the same way, but with some protection
being able to feel the ground or board under your feet lets you interact with it in a way not possible with thicker footwear [fun while walking and critical for board sports]
provides good protection from typical debris in the city and on the trail/beach incl scorching hot pavement/sand
my feet feel better when I walk barefoot a lot and the Five Fingers allow me to do more of this
excellent customer service [Vibram replaced my Flows with KSOs even though I was outside the warranty period]
Cons
requires some practice to get efficient at putting them on
requires some break in time to get your foot used to them if you don’t walk barefoot much
won’t fit odd shaped feet/toes [only one option for shape is available]
doesn’t provide cushioning so you have to use your body to absorb shock [not a real con, but be aware of this]
if debris does get inside it cannot get out unless you remove the Five Fingers and dump it out
debris inside is painful as you are forced to walk on it
durability problems [see my detailed explanation below]
fit problem with Flow model due to thicker material used
takes more time to get on and off than other sports sandals [might be a problem if you have to remove them many times a day]
expensive considering the materials and construction
Sharon wearing KSOs to kiteboard...
Durability Problems
My main problem with Vibram Five Fingers is that they use a sole that’s good for 3 seasons of hard use and top fabric that is not going to survive 1 season of hard use without multiple repairs. If you use your Five Fingers for any activity where small bits of rock or other sharp debris get between the toes you will have rips forming in short order. Unfortunately if you use these sandals anywhere other than in a yoga studio, sailboat or on pavement/grass you will have small bits of debris abrading the fabric between and around your toes. I’ve also had the seams give out on my KSO around a couple toe boxes simply due to stress from movement of the foot. So I’ve pulled out a needle and thread to repair my Five Fingers a few times already and expect it will continue. The sad part is as I’m fixing the uppers the soles looks nearly minty fresh and will clearly out last the fabric on top by several years.
What Vibram should do:
wrap the rubber sole up between the toes so debris between the toes wears on rubber not fabric
use reinforced stitching on toe boxes or use all rubber toe boxes
make the soles thinner for better ground feel since we don’t need soles that out last the tops by a factor or 3x
thinner soles will also provide better board feel for surfers, SUPers, kiteboarders and land longboarders.
Why I wear Five Fingers kiteboarding...
What do I think?
I’ve got some real criticism for the Vibram Five Fingers in this review and I cannot give Vibram 2 thumbs up, but this product is so revolutionary and so much better than anything else out there for sports like kiteboarding that I’ll continue to support Vibram in the hopes they correct the main short comings of this footwear. I use neoprene surf booties when I’m kiteboarding and the water is too cold for my Five Finger KSOs. They work okay, but being able to feel the board underneath you and use your toes independently is a huge huge benefit so I’m always grabbing my Five Fingers if I can handle the water temperature. A lot of kiteboarders go barefoot because of this, but at most beaches there are sharp rocks, glass, coral, barnacles or other pointy things to cut your soft feet. I’m just not willing to deal with multiple foot injuries so I can kite barefoot and with my KSOs I can get 80% of the board feel with 0% of the injuries.
So in general I think the benefits of Five Fingers out weigh the problems. My feet are healthier and happier wearing them and they provide excellent foot protection with most of feel of going barefoot. Since I wear my Sprints mostly on pavement or grass they are going strong and should last a few more years. My KSOs have only seen 1 summer of kiteboarding [which keep in mind is 99% on the water with no debris around] and have been repaired a few times. I’ll keep them going as long as I can. My hope is by then Vibram will have improved the design so that they last longer. I’d love to have a pair of Flows since they are warmer and the water in Canada is cold, but until they redesign them I simply can’t use them.
Note my feet are Five Fingered!...
Should you try them?
Yes. They are worth a shot. Start with a basic model like the Sprint, the Classic or the Moc. Use them around the house, yard and around town to strengthen your feet and let you see what you think about the Five Finger concept. Since this type of use doesn’t cause a lot of top fabric wear you won’t experience the durability issue I talk about. After some use your feet will be happier and you’ll be 100% on the sizing you need. At that point you can check out some of the more sporty versions of Five Fingers.
When you get your first pair of Five Fingers wear them for a short time and then take them off. Start with 1hr a day and increase slowly. If you don’t walk barefoot a lot your feet will get tired and sore. As long as it’s not acute pain this is normal. Just wear them for shorter durations until you get used to them. Eventually you’ll be able to wear them all day.
Kurt got pulled over the other day for longboarding on the street downtown in Calgary. I couldn’t believe that it was illegal to ride a skateboard on the road here. Kurt checked with his local city councilman and in fact it is illegal to ride a skateboard on the road in Calgary….amazing!
Traffic Bylaw 26M96 – [Specifically, Section 44(2)], which states: “no person shall be on or shall operate or use a device known as a skateboard on any portion of any street.”
I’m sure the pedestrians downtown will be stoked to know that skateboarders have to use the sidewalk since there is no other legal way to get around town on a board.
For a town drowning in cars they sure aren’t interested in people using alternative forms of transport to get around.
Sector Nine Longboard with double kingpin trucks...
I don’t post a lot about longboards – mostly because I don’t really know much about them. Sure I have a couple and I like riding them, but I’m like the guy who rides a bike to work and doesn’t “get” how derailleurs work. I’m cool with that level of ignorance. It doesn’t affect my enjoyment and I’m not relying on my skateboard to carrying me anywhere remote. When it’s time to buy new gear I just talk to my friend Kurt who knows a lot more about the subject and then I forget about it.
Well this summer Kurt turned me on to something new in the longboard world – double kingpin trucks. You can only get them on Sector Nine loangboards for the time being.
Here is the marketing spew from Sector Nine:
“The patented design of the Gullwing Sidewinder Trucks have been turning heads since they were first introduced. What makes these trucks so special is that they have two pivot points which allows the trucks to turn twice as sharp and fast as a standard truck. This double action pivot allows the rider to generate speed using their own turning momentum. The Gullwing Sidewinder trucks are a sidewalk surfers dream. Ask anyone that has ridden them and the truth will be told.
***Please be aware that hese trucks must be set up on an appropriately shaped deck with proper clearance in order to function properly and avoid wheel bite***”
Double Kingpin Trucks
I sold a longboard this summer and bought a new Sector Nine Sand Wedge with these new trucks on it. Since you’ve got two pivot points you lean over and the board will turn just like any other longboard, but if you keep leaning harder the second pivot engages and you can turn uber hard. That gives you the smooth ride of a longer board with the maneuverability of a shorter deck.
I’ve been having a blast on it and love how tight I can turn it. My other longboard has just been gathering dust since I got the Sand Wedge. If you are a longboarder this is something I’d definitely check out.
Kurt carving his Sector Nine Off the Wall
….here is some longboard porn showing these trucks in action:
The Lazy Rando Blog... 
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