If you can't beat em.. join em...

[benjl]

Hey guys!
I've still been lurking behind the scenes, waiting for another 6 months before I get the all clear so surf shirtboards again

In the meanwhile I have been dabbling in sups, quite a lot! Coming from a surfing background I get the addiction and why so many older surfers are switching to it.
We've had some big cyclones heres recently which has meant a lot of swell and intro surf-sup sessions!
What started off as just jumping on a board and having a paddle has started to evolve in to the same passion I had for surfing.. ie. starting to fiddle with the fins and fin configurations, different boards for different conditions etc.

While I still miss surfing a lot, there are some areas that I just love about the sup.
1) when it's 1-1.5ft and most surfers can't even surf it, you can happily pick stuff up on the Sup and have some fun.
2). Standing up on the board enables you to see sets coming in the distance A LOT better than when lying on a surfboard at ocean level. I was almost the lookout for my surfer mate in the weekend.
3.) if that bigger set starts coming your way, you boost out of the danger zone a lot quicker than paddling.
4). You don't have to crowd around a peak that only works for surfboards. I was zipping up and down the beach just finding my own little breaks while all the surfers crowded in the one spot that was working.
5). Well this is a pro and con.. Marine wildlife. On a surfboard you don't really see aquatic life beneath you but yesterday I ended up paddling on top of a 1m wide stingray!! Gave me
Such a fright I nearly fell on top of it before I boosted off.
6). Learning to take off and time paddle strides and distance so the board is going straight and at all full speed when the wave approaches is an art! Just like learning the timing of the drop and how not to pearl when starting surfing.
7). The surfing backbone is super useful to have. I've managed to even surf my 9'10 x 6" thick inflatable sup in 2ft clean waves.
. I can still do it in a moonboot with all the heel wedges built up haha!

I'm also fast discovering that alike surfboards, no board is perfect for everything. Stability and manouverability all come at a trade off just like surfing. Fins also make a 'massive difference'!

[jaffa1949]

Heal, heel , good to hear your are doing the best sort of hydrotherapy

[Big H]

Once that boot comes off you should get a good sized longboard....can ride small waves like you're describing, can clear the danger zone nearly as fast and you won't have to be a member of that demon spawn fraternity that is the SUP community.

[oldmansurfer]

Good to hear you are still getting out in the ocean. I saw a 2 meter wide stingray once while I was SUPing. Thought it might be a shark initially but was really happy to find out it was a stingray.

[benjl]

Big H- you might love the boards i'm considering getting. The Kazuma Fukuda model is basically a longboarding SUP with nose riding abilities!
Perhaps WKK might know more about this brand, surfer or model?

I'm debating between the Fukuda and classic model with a bit more pointy nose and rocker.
Both of these boards are 2" wider than my current Mc Tavish and should provide a bit more stability in the wind or chop.

Also looking at a naish x32 Hokua 9'1 which is 150L, 32" wide and 5" thick but with a much refined nose, tail and proper nose rocker.

Just like surfboards, Soo hard to know which will be the most stable, easy paddling and manouverable as they all have slightly different plan shapes and volumes.

[waikikikichan]

"Kazuma" Matt Kinoshita is a well known shaper from Maui. I've never met him. Pat Fukuda I've met when he used to surf longboards. Can't say much about which one to get since designs have change drastically from when i used to SUP, but I'm leaning towards the Fukuda model. The classic looks to carve-ee. If you want to walk, go for the Fukuda.

[benjl]

Hey guys!

I finally settled on my new sup purchase, ended up getting a Jackson close deep 8'8 x 32 x 135l.
The added stability of the width made a massive difference over my pointy 9'0 mctavish. For roughly the same volume the boards paddle and handle soo differently!

Also due to having a strong surf focus, I know I can progress in proper waves and not have to hinder me once I get better. Plus, it fits in my car!

I've also joined a sup forum so I won't bother you guys with more sup enquiries but will keep lurking around on here.
Sea breeze.com.au is pretty good!

[waikikikichan]

Benji, as a friend and fellow surfer, It saddens me to see you go down that path. "Put down the paddle and step away from the SUP board, please." Think about your friends and family you're hurting here.

[oldmansurfer]

Benji, as a friend and fellow surfer, It saddens me to see you go down that path. "Put down the paddle and step away from the SUP board, please." Think about your friends and family you're hurting here.

What he said I actually laughed out loud when I read this. I am at an age where many of the guys I know from surfing long ago now do SUPs entirely or mostly. I have been able to stay healthy enough to continue surfing but it's my backup plan

[dtc]

i came across this yesterday and, well, perfect timing Benjl

[benjl]

Hahaha- you guys are amazing,

Check out this thread- although it's sup related I think you'll all find it a good read!
https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sta ... ?page=1#16

A friend did ask me whether I thought I would get back in to surfing once my leg is better and I probably will but until then it's just sup for rehab!