Why I Love my Lakeshore Paddle Company Stealth - By Jhacoli Yang

Why I love my lakeshore  paddle  company^® Stealth

By jhacoli yang: published July 31, 2015

 I have paddled many boards in my life, never finding one quite right for me.  But, all that changed when I hopped on the Lakeshore Stealth at demo day. I felt something different. I was, for once, going fast by myself. Now, I am an LPC Stealth owner. I can walk it on every inch that has deck pad, exceed my previous speed records, and do pivot turns like you can never imagine. 

My first time on this board at Northwest Paddling Festival 2015

Trying to understand the "feel" of the LPC Stealth

At first glance, the LPC Stealth does not look that fast, in fact, it looks rather subtle. When my dad (Joel Yang) first told me to try it out, my first thought was Really, that thing!? WWWWHHHHYYYYYYYYYY………..but I said ‘Yes’ because I might as well, and it would be polite. But as soon as I stepped on, I knew it was different. Faster and more stable 100 times more than I initially thought. 

I can't believe how fast I'm gliding here

Pivot turning

The LPC Stealth also handles chop amazingly, as with mirror glass, and it can catch small swells, showing versatility.

            

I was impressed how it handled the chop as easily as the glass – typically it is difficult to find a board that handles both with ease.

Comfortable - fast - manageable

I was surprised at how easy this 12’6 size was to manage for me.  Who wants a kid’s board when you can fly on this thing.

Let's see how this guy handles bumps

Testing out the stability in side chop

 

Here’s a list of some pros

-Stable

-Fast - quick acceleration

-Maneuverable

-Walkable

-Versatile

-Continuous glide *(I cannot believe that this board still glides as Coli Chitterchatters away with me without paddling ~ Joel)

-Quiet

- Smooth tail release

-Scupper holes (quick drainage)

-Unique rocker profile 

(that allows the board to be versatile in multiple conditions) - - this board caught swells so easily and made choppy water super fun to paddle through

Swells!!! --- Let's not waste these!!! C'mon Dad!

Here’s a list of some Cons:

-Limited volume options - will be a challenge to accommodate larger riders

-No deck plugs - (no place for bungee or camera securing)

 Conclusion:

The LPC Stealth may not look like a flashy race board, but it blew my expectations, completing all the challenges I threw at it ~ way better than I imagined. I give it five stars.

 "I have never seen Coli so comfortable and willing to push past her comfort zone so easily on a board. We'd like to send a huge THANK YOU to Michael Tessier and Sean Adlao from Lakeshore Paddleboard Co for making this happen" ~ Joel Yang

Finding my bliss tickling some weeds after putting the LPC Stealth through the rough water test

The LPC Stealth paired up with the SUP Gladiator Pro is by far my fave setup - it felt the most balanced for me

Hope you enjoyed my review - thanks for reading, Jhacoli

The 2014 Stoke-ing Stuffer list

December already????? ~ Really?? Where did the fall go???? We can't believe that this time of year has come back around again! We had so much fun putting together this Christmas wish/Stoke-ing stuffer list last year I think we're going to have to make it a yearly tradition! 

We have never been black Friday shoppers - nor do we promote buying more things for the sake of having more things..... we do however enjoy promoting ideas and products that might enhance your experiences!

We hope you enjoy the list and have some memorable laughs this holiday season.

Fin-ta-clause!!

1. Larry Allison fins: Thanks to our friend Uncle Larry, we have a quiver of fins that help us tune the way our boards can feel. It is amazing how often you can change the way your board reacts underfoot simply by having the right fin for the right conditions. There are so many to choose from Larry's selection as he has many choices in colors and shapes. Our ultimate faves are Larry's Click-it fins! they are super convenient for setup & teardown, rental fleets, demos, and easy stacking up on top of the car!
Larry Allison now has them available in a High Density molded formula *(more wallet firendly) as well as in fiberglass

*PS - if you tilt these the right way - they might just fit into a stocking - or better yet - make a stocking in the shape of a fin sleeve! 

Larry Allison's HDM (High Density Molded) Click it fins

Here are our list of faves:

Coli: 
1. Bat fin - for stability - Tandem paddling - and tracking straight
2. Gladiator Hybrid - to get amped in Race mode - tracking straight - and open water paddling stability,
3. Paddle Core Fitness - lots of stability - but allows the ability to goof around and do fun tricks - especially on an inflatable when you're encouraging others that it won't kill them if they fall in.....and most of the time - they really won't!

Coli with her Hibiscus Click-it Bat fin by Larry Allison

Joel:
1. Larry Allison's new Stealth Ninja fin - this is the quickest and most versatile of Larry's fins.. A sibling to the Ninja fin - this new evolution will change all of your experiences from flatwater - to choppy waters to Downwinders. This is my new fave "One fin does all Go-to fin"
2. GT Moray - My absolute favorite Downwinding fin - also related to the Ninja fin and very similar in traits, but more playful. It allows me to sprint into swells, and maneuver the board with ease when I have to navigate..."if I ain't falling in - I'm stoked!"

Larry Allison's Stealth Ninja (Top) with it's sibling the Ninja fin (below)

Coli and Finmaster Larry Allison

**Pro Box twin system fins are not included in this list as that would entail a whole nuther blog post!! - but if you would like to know more - our friend Chip Bock has an amazing write up on them

Chip Bock - release-twins! 

2. Monster and Sea: There is something truly special and Unique about this brand. 

Ever since Troy created Monster and Sea - he has brought the community together in more ways than any of us could have possibly imagined. We have more group paddles, reasons to get together, mysteriously large downwind runs, slapped many high fives, shared many hugs, and it has become this genuine trickle effect.

Monster and Sea brought us all together for this amazing downwind session last year Photo: John Patzer

All of their products are dedicated to families arm wrestling cancer and 10% of every sale goes towards a cancer foundation.
 

New Monster and Sea Patches

Coli in the Scout Hoodie

Our friend Lisa Schell can't get enough of this combo!

 Windchill scarf and slash beanie

His tagline "Go Because You Can" is simple, yet very effective and powerful. 
"Go because you can has inspired me in so many ways to get out there and create those memories - Thank you Troy for reminding all of us" ~ Coli 

Troy Nebeker and Coli

http://monsterandsea.com/

Find them here on Facebook 
Monster And Sea 

3. Solar powered inflatable lights - The most amazing & practical lights you will ever own. We hate stocking batteries - they cost a bunch and are just nasty for the environment. Whether it's a power outage, camping, exploring at night on a hike, or paddling, looking for gear in the car in the dark....or as Coli says "reading session under the blankets" - these lights are one of the best products out there to have for multiple reasons.

Coli is a huge fan of Luminaid - The brand was founded by two amazing women Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta, that met while studying architecture and design in graduate school. They both created Luminaid to help problem solve the need for light in post natural disaster situations.

Luminaid is a solar powered light that is super compact, easy to transport, inflates into a pillow, waterproof, super practical, and best of all can give you 8-15hrs of light (depending on setting) without the need to lug around batteries! It recharges with any source of light (not just direct sunlight - although it might take a little longer)

we have them in our emergency packs, cars, and they have come in handy way more often than we could have imagined!

Luminaid Video 

http://www.luminaid.com
Coli loves the Luminaids, I'm a fan of the Luci Lanterns - both are super practical and don't break the bank!
Luci Lantern 

4. Season Five apparel: we wear this apparel year round for paddling. Their water repellent Atmos fabric is splash resistant, breathable, and the water beads off super fast....in short, it dries very quickly! We use the Chalk sleeveless and Crystal tank all summer long, and the Phantom and Barrier layers when it gets chilly!

Season Five Tech link

Coli at the Season Five booth - Summer Outdoor Retailer 2014

Mauritius 2013 - rocking the Chalk Sleeveless - Pic by Jade Yang

Lina Augaitis - One of Coli's fave paddlers rocking Season Five

Owner Mike Fischer - the brains behind Season Five

Find them here on Facebook: Season Five
http://seasonfive.com/


5. Stand Film:  by Norm Hann
Coli and I went to the premiere of this film when Norm was down here in Seattle,WA. It is beautifully shot and there is something very powerful about the film. From the locations to the footage - to the message - this one will really inspire you and make you think. You'll just have to see it now! ~ Coli

Norm Hann & Coli at the premiere in Seattle

Ernie Brassard - Kristin Thomas - Norm Hann - Coli - Summer Outdoor Retailer 2014

Coli demoing Norm Hann's "Great Bear 14" board - by Boardworks

https://www.facebook.com/standfilm
http://standfilm.com/

6. Boreas / Alite: We are huge fans of Boreas and Alite.
From their Technical minimalist packs to portable seating solutions and tents, these guys design their products with the awesome philosophy of "Less is more" in mind....Stoke approved!

Coli & Bemhee "Bum" from Boreas

Coli and Tae - the madcreator behind Boreas & Alite

Coli with her fave Boreas pack - the Larkin

Coli taking a break at Summer Outdoor Retailer and chilling in the Alite tent

It's lunch time and there's no place to sit.... The Alite Monarch chair (orange) snapped together in moments

Coli: "I'm gonna build up a seating area for us dad!"

 - while she snapped together the Alite Mantis chair

Thanks Coli - Lunch - fully problem solved!

Both these chairs fit in our packs and we had instant seating that was comfy....we really didn't want to get up after!

http://www.boreasgear.com
https://www.facebook.com/boreasgear 
http://www.alitedesigns.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/alitedesigns 

Our friend Luke Hopkins riding with his daughter Addison

7. Longboarding: Who doesn't love the sensation of gliding??? We certainly do!
Ironically, I wasn't really keen on the concept of longboarding when I first tried it out. The idea of being on a long pintail with no nose or tail did not really appeal to me. However, after I saw this pic of our friend Luke Hopkins tandem longboarding with his daughter Addison, it sparked a very different angle to my initial thoughts on longboarding and I decided to look into it further. 

Coli's Fave Setup: Bustin Ibach 37, Paris Trucks, Bones Super Red Bearings, Bustin Premier wheels

There is a beauty of how skateboarding has evolved. It has become so much more accessible. With so many different shapes and sizes, there is truly something available for everyone. Coli did not have a good sense of balance and strength when she was younger, but the drop down style longboards (allowed her to be much lower to the ground), with softer and wider wheels (that gave her more stability and the ability to ride over cracks, irregular surfaces...and pinecones) gave her a chance at enjoying the glide without all these injuries as part of the learning curve. When Coli realized that Skateboarding became accessible....her mind sparked and we opened up a whole new form of gliding when Standup paddling or snowboarding was not available to us.In addition, longboarders have a very open and positive attitude towards other longboarders and are inclusive....very much like the standup paddling community - the more longboarders Coli meets, themore she falls in love with it!

Coli hanging out with local shredders Jon (L) and Daycen (R)

Fave Truck plug: Atlas Truck co.  https://atlastruckco.com/

Bustin Ibach 37 (L) & Boombox Thermocarbon (R)

My Fave setup: Bustin Boombox 42" - Atlas Trucks - Bones Reds Bearings - Bustin Swift wheels

So whether you build up a new setup, purchase a used one, or make one of your own from scratch - we highly encourage it - we promise you'll get hooked!

Here is an update on Addison today - at 5yrs old - and totally badass....taking after mom and dad!

8. The Handmade Skateboard Book: by Matt Berger
We love building things, and now that we're hooked on skating - we have an awesome book to recommend! This is by far one of the most unpretentious and inspirational books you can get your hands on! Matt Berger brings you into the world of building a skateboard from scratch, from exploring different styles of boards, techniques, this book will inspire you to make one regardless of whether you skate or not!!! 

This book is such a fun read and serious brain food!!!

 

Huge thanks to our friend Beth Weingarner for this recommendation - we got so inspired by this Coli and I have a project in the works ~ Stay tuned!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/sk8makers
sk8makers

9. DIY Balance board: whaaaattt??? More board stuff??? 
That's right! We needed to work pretty hard on Coli's core strength when she was younger - so I made a bunch of balance boards out of old skateboard decks (or scrap wood), PVC piping (for the roller board) and softballs that I got from the Goodwill store (for the wobbleboard) 

These are super easy to make, inexpensive, and you will never watch TV or take a conference call the same way again!!

9. DIY Changing Poncho : Ever drop your towel while trying to change out of your wet paddling gear, or have an awkward moment trying to change behind a door while getting out of your wetsuit. I have always been impressed by our friends that seem to be able to get in and out of their gear lightning fast!!! I on the other hand - am super slow!! The first time I saw one of these things was when our friend Heidi Caster Henry hopped out of her vehicle after a paddle showing us her sweet Changing Poncho she got as a gift yelling "ya know - I'm totally naked under here!!!!!" - my first response was, "Yes Heidi, I think we're all naked underneath our clothes too!" but with two blinks of an eye, she was out of her gear, and waving goodbye to us all as she drove off!!! - while I was still trying to hold up my towel and change out..... freezing...in the rain!

Changing Poncho's start around $50 ...and can get quite pricey....but if you look closely, the pattern really does not require more than 4 stitching lines for the basic cover up (without the hood) I made one of these out of 2 of Coli's old beach towels. Although they don't match, are brightly colored, and give quite the visual vomit experience..I was able to make one in a very short amount of time. I would recommend that you make one out of solid matching colored towels to prevent any of your friends getting visual epilepsy!

10. Some awesome and notable craftsmanship - we have always appreciated all forms of craftsmanship so we thought we'd include some suggestions that are not necessarily related to boardsports, snow, wind, glides, or water, but are inspirational and noteworthy.

Forest Life Creations: Dean Robertson
Dean has a very unique way in how he sees patterns in wood. He creates jewelry out of reclaimed and exotic woods and comes out with some of the most inspiring earrings & pendants we have ever seen. 

Beautiful - inspiring - and don't break the bank!

https://www.facebook.com/ForestlifeCreations 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/forestlifecreations

Ocean Junky Art: Ashley Sparkin Clarkin
Ashley has a way with Posca pens and paint that brings inanimate objects to life! Whether she's illustrating a ukelele, surf board, working on a mural, or Christmas tree decorations - her artwork inspires us!!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oceanjunky-Art
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Oceanjunky


11. Echo Composites: Not every gift has to be a thing!

Doc Echo aka Sean Thomas is the king of board repairs, Custom board designs, and seriously badass furniture! He is an industry role model  and someone that really cares about the outcome of the product, process, life cycle, and how much waste results from it all. He constantly strives to problem solve in an Eco-Technical manner - Not only has he brought many of our boards back to life (*like Dr. Sup-kenstein) but he also helped create the Village of Stoke Custom Tandem Tornado! So for a Christmas gift, hit him up for a board repair gift card, or a session on getting your own board designed - you won't be disappointed!

Coli and Doc Echo (Sean Thomas)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Echo-Composites


12. Key Log Rolling: No - you really can't put this one in your stocking!
One simply cannot put words into how awesome this experience is. The Hoeschler family brings you a way to enjoy log rolling as an accessible activity in the form of a synthetic log with removable brakes (that help reduce the speed at which the log spins) - this allows everyone to get a chance to sucessfully roll the log and have a blast while doing it. The Key Logs can be easily transported and used anywhere from indoor pools, to beaches, and lakes. Coli had the opportunity to meet the Hoeschler family at Summer Outdoor Retailer 2014 and absolutely fell in love with it! It is highly addicting and you will get many laughs from this experience. Hit them up and find out where the nearest facility for Key Log Rolling is to you - guaranteed you'll be smiling ear to ear wanting more!

Coli taking a log rolling lesson from Abby (L) and Will (R)

Coli taking some pointers from Will Hoeschler

Coli with Judy Hoeschler

Havin a blast with the Hoeschler family at the Key Log Rolling Booth - Outdoor Retailer 2014

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Key-Log-Rolling
http://keylogrolling.com/

12. Athletes for Cancer: This is an amazing program!
This program focuses on helping cancer survivors rebuild their lives through outdoor experiences and we fully support them! Make a donation to the program as a Christmas gift of giving - or donate in the name of someone you love!

Coli with the Athletes4Cancer crew at Round the Rock 2014

https://www.facebook.com/Athletes4Cancer
http://www.athletes4cancer.org/


12. Stoke Ceramics: We just had to include this one!
Not only does Maia make some of the most awesome and unique beverage vessels we've had the privilege to use - but she is also one of the most inspiring people to the kids she teaches. She gets their hands dirty, helps them tap into their creative minds, and let's them loose on clay! Coli and I are very lucky to have her in our lives and the Village of Stoke would not be here if it wasn't for her. Whether you get one of her mugs, whacky brain containers, sign up for a private session, or get one of your kids in her classes, Coli and I are on a mission to support her in every which way we can!

Bonus if you sign up for a class - you'll get Coli as your T.A.!! Thank you Mama-Stoke for being the Glue to the Village of Stoke - and keeping us inspired constantly!

Please feel free to contact us if you might be interested in something Maia has for sale, or a gift card for a private session, or a class.

https://www.facebook.com/stokeceramics
http://www.schoolofstoke.com/ 

~We hope you enjoyed the list - and may you all have an excellent Christmas & New Year full of laughter, inspiration, and awesome experiences!

Even if you are small - you can always do something big ~ Coli