Thursday, June 20, 2013

Blue Man Group

The new 2013 NSP Element Series





The other day, I had team rider for for another one of our SUP brands,  refer to the new NSP Element stand up paddle boards as the Blue Man Group.  If you look at the new Blue NSP Elements lined up on the wall, they do kinda of resemble the Blue Man Group.


Blue Man Group-  (Getty Photos)




Strong Family Resemblance!
The more I thought about, the more I think this guy really nailed it!  I don't know how many of you have seen the Blue Man Group, but it is really fun show. Ditto for the NSP!
The NSP Element 11' is our go to board for anyone between 125 lbs and  almost 200 lbs and looking for a less expensive board. The board is 31" wide making it plenty stable for 1st time paddlers, yet it doesn't have the same aircraft carrier feel that a wider board would have. The  flat rocker line gives the board good glide in flatwater, and at the same time it works well for surfing small waves. I have spent a lot of time paddling the 11, and while not as high performance as some of the other boards I get to paddle, this board is just pure fun.  Isn't having fun what SUP is all about?  The 10'6 size works well for paddlers in 100 to 125 pound range, and the 10'2" (while a little wide for my personal taste) is a good board for people looking for a little more stability, doing  exercises on the board, or yoga.  The 10'2 is is also a great teaching platform, and fun to surf with.  Once again the key word here is FUN!  




 At first, the Blue Man Group show appears to be simple, three guys, painted blue, running around on stage. However, if you are paying attention it is a fairly complex production. Once again, ditto for the NSP.

A lot more going on than  three  Blue Men on the Stage!( photo- Blu-Ray)
 

On the outside the NSP looks fairly simple.  Matt blue bottom and deck, gloss blue rails*, basic 3/4 deck pad and handle. (* the NSP Elements also come in white, which isn't nearly as much fun as Blue.. But hey,  if you are into basic white, that is cool too).    It is what is under the blue paint job that makes the NSP Element stand out from the competition.  NSP starts out with fused eps core. In the rare event you damage the outer fiberglass skin, the foam core will not absorb water.  Even many of the higher end boards can not claim this.  NSP won't disclose their actual "layup schedule" but I have done repairs on many other brands of similar priced boards, and they  don't come close to the quality of the NSP layup.  Who wants to  worrying about dinging thier board, or having to fix it all the time? With the NSP Element, you don't have to.





 The Blue Man show is quality show that has been around a long time. Flashier shows come and go, but the Blue Man Group  has stood the test of time.  Recently, It seems like the SUP Industry has become the flavor of the week.  This week this board is the greatest, and next week that board is the greatest.  At East of Maui we have tried to remain consistent with the brands we represent in our store. Unlike BIG BOX  and chain stores, we choose the bands and the models we want to sell.  It is not dictated to us by some big corporate boss.  Every brand we sell has earned it place in our store, and with a couple others brands, NSP has been one of our mainstays for over 7 years.

If you are on a budget, want a fun board that works, and  will last you a long time, you need not look any further than  the NSP element "Blue Man Group".  With the money you save, you can even buy tickets to see a Blue Man show!




Having Fun