Inflatable SUPs for Surfing?

[audiobahn1000]

I am a total noob at surfing. I bought an inflatable SUP for general use as well as surfing. I am thinking of getting a second one and giving the first to my GF. I'd like something that might be a bit more suited for surfing in waves to 5-6' height--again, just as a total beginner. I was thinking of getting this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FREUZXU/re ... UTF8&psc=1

Any thoughts?

I'd rater not get a solid board as I dont have room in my apartment for one, and fitting something that long in my car would be hard.

[jaffa1949]

I think what you have chosen will be good for paddling around flat water, but you as a noob and it as a a board in surf of 5 to 6 foot will an absolute disaster and dangerous to all concerned. The fins will floppy bend on the wave under pressure, 5 to 6 foot on that board requires good skill and ability to paddle out. Fortunately for other people out there in the line up is the likelihood that you won't get through the white water and the board is an inflatable.

If you do buy it , stick to flat water until you have good control and approach the surf in small increments.

Having given a bit of a roast , you and your GF will enjoy just paddling around. Do that!

[waikikikichan]

Please please don't bring that out where I ( or anyone else ) is surfing. It's a Stand Up Paddle board made for getting around with the aid of a paddle. Your girl friend ( and mostly yourself ) wont get your arms past the 30" width of the board to paddle with your hands. If you do some how catch the wave ( or the white water catches you ), you'll have a wide stable platform that'll be very hard to turn ( and avoid people ). It's hard enough to turn a 4" thick rail. That board has a 6 inch rail !!

Question: you ( as a stated total beginner ) are doing SUP in 5-6 foot waves ?

[benjl]

As this sites now resident sup'r, I have surfed my inflatable 9'10 sup.
Not easy and the rails do not hold on a clean face- not a heck of fun for whitewash either.
Biggest I've tried mine in would be 2ft and you can feel the fin flex and not hold a line properly.
I wouldn't go any bigger in wave size (and I've surfed for several years).
It would definitely not hold on a bigger wave and I'd be worried about it flexing with anything more powerful too. All good for flat paddling and super small stuff

[benjl]

Ps. I own that exact board but from a different company

[pmcaero]

I once talked to a guy surfing his inflatable SUP and he said it was fine, i wouldn't take it in anything over 2ft though

[audiobahn1000]

Question: you ( as a stated total beginner ) are doing SUP in 5-6 foot waves ?

I would like to eventually. For now I am mostly sticking to stuff 4' and under (mostly 2-3) as I still have a lot to learn. The only time I get in a wave that large is if it happens to swell up larger than expected (which as you know can happen randomly. You can get a set of 4' waves, followed by a 6' one). When I surf on my SUP, I use the paddle, not my hands to get out. I prefer SUP surfing over conventional longboards, mostly because I enjoy having a paddle to get out quickly and move around quickly and they seem more stable since they are larger. Sometimes I have to paddle out 1000' or more depending on the surf that day, and doing that on a SUP with an oar is much faster than on a longboard IMO. It sounds like I might end up having to go with a rigid SUP board for surfing then. Any recommendations for something basic?

I mostly surf in Waikiki (although I try to go on weekdays and stay away from the people as much as possible), and over at Ala Moana.

[YungGrom]

how do SUPS get out back, it just looks horrible trying to take on the whitewash

[waikikikichan]

I mostly surf in Waikiki (although I try to go on weekdays and stay away from the people as much as possible), and over at Ala Moana.

Where in Waikiki ? Queens' , Canoes , Pops, Publics ?

[audiobahn1000]

So far I've been going wherever there seems to be the fewest people with surf in the 2-4' range. Today I went to Publics. No idea if that's actually a good spot to learn, but it had the fewest people and the waves were breaking around 3-4' so I figured I'd give it a try. I am starting to see the problem with inflatables. Granted I suck so it could be completely me, but anytime I pick up any amount of speed I end up going straight over the board face first into the water, even kneeling on the board instead of standing. That seems to imply the board is slowing down quickly, thus throwing me over, but really I am just guessing.

I also sometimes cruise around in the bay at the Ala Moana Bowls parking lot. I dont usually go all the way out to the breaks, but I venture maybe 300' out and mess around there.

[waikikikichan]

Today I went to Publics. ---- I am starting to see the problem with inflatables. Granted I suck so it could be completely me, but anytime I pick up any amount of speed I end up going straight over the board face first into the water, even kneeling on the board instead of standing. That seems to imply the board is slowing down quickly, thus throwing me over, but really I am just guessing.

Most likely you're trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. You have to learn TRIM and go along the face. Another problem is the board flexing soo much it goes anti-rocker for a bit. Plus going straight at "Publics" will have your inflatable soon become deflated due to the orange reef sticking up.

[Marky]

Maybe you should wait and get a tripstix, they are inflatable and supposedly work well in waves. The company claims:"No more compromise between inflatable toys and real surfboards."