Surf & paddle

[guyfrombordeaux]

Hi all,

I need some advice. To keep it relatively short

1) I am quite experience in SUP (no surfing) with a 14' (~4m20) race board. I use it in lakes (we have many), rivers, but also the ocean. I mention this, since it suggests that standing up & stability is not an issue for me.

2) However I am a surf-newbe, more or less. My temptatives to come home surfing ended typically in being smashed by a large hollow wave: to cure that I took some classes in surfing (with a 9' softboard). I loved it. But the crawl-like technique of accelerating produced an inflammation in my shoulder, so I try to change that by joining both activities: the paddle and the surf. That means however, I cannot rent boards: no one has such boards in my region So I need to buy a board without a bigger test-phase.

And that is, where it gets complicated. Should I go for a longboard type surf-paddle-board ? Or a shortboard-shaped one (they will be 8'5 - 9'2 to paddle with'em) ? I live in Bordeaux, France, if that helps to get more refined advice.

Thanks!

[guyfrombordeaux]

Maybe I should mention, that I weigh 78 kg and measure 1m82.)

[jaffa1949]

There are lots of SUP surf videos and i imagine classes around France , even the Mascaret waves of the rivers in your area.
I suggest longer boards about 3.5 metres long and surf shaped. A racing lake style just won’t perform in the surf easily
Rail considerations are different as are the bottom shapes. Fin set ups are different too. Since you have balance already great but there are some changes to your paddle stance and footwork when surfing in turns.
wave reading is an absolute must.
SUP surf schools may be a good choice, with a selection of boards to choose, the shorter SUP boards are a more skilled option with a better set of wave skills and knowledge needed!
Bon Chance

[guyfrombordeaux]

I take the idea of "who authors youtube videos in Lacanau" to find a teacher, that is a brilliant move. Thanks!

[oldmansurfer]

I learned to ride waves with a beginners SUP foam top 13 foot boat of a board. It really wasn't the right board to be riding waves with but I learned to use it. However I already knew about waves and how they behaved. I imagine an SUP made for beginners to ride waves would be the choice to make. If I had such a board I might have used it. Sizes and such I am not sure of but if it's too small you will likely have problems catching waves. So steeper learning curve (more difficult) or easier to learn bigger board? I think one of the big reasons people quit surfing is the unrealistic expectation that it is easy or quick to pick up. However learning beyond handling the board you need to learn to read the waves and the ocean. It sounds like you are going to have to learn about waves and if you pick the wrong board also learn board handling for that board. Most of the boards I see people on SUP wave riding are too small to stand on unless they are moving so you can't just stand on it and watch the waves come in, you have to be moving or you will sink. That is why my guess would be you want a beginners board for wave riding, then you can focus on learning about the waves

[imadeddine]

So basically... unless I want to learn wave reading, board control, balance shifts, and ocean Zen all at once, I should skip the tiny SUP rocket and get something that doesn’t dump me every time I pause to breathe. Got it.