How wide is too wide for surf?

[TallDude]

Just saw these boards from a Florida paddle company. They look pretty wide to me. Maybe 34+"? It doesn't look like you could go rail to rail to quickly. I've never SUS'd on anything that wide before, I wonder if they perform well?

[SUPerstitious]

I had surfed a few 32" wide boards and they were a blast. Not sure about 34" though.

Not related, but I love the deck pad on the black and blue board. Those boards look like they would be a blast to ride too.

[crtraveler]

I think 34" would be fine...probably lose a bit more rail to rail quickness but it seems to me that width doesnt really affect turnability of the board as much as you think it would...probably has more to do w/ tail and rail shapes and fins than strictly width....  For example, my 10' Mana (32" wide) turns more easily for me than my buddys PSH 10'6" WAA (30" wide)

[SlatchJim]

I'd be game to try them out.  My current board is 33" wide and it seems fine and normal to me.  For someone comfortable on a narrower board, I don't see a reason to go wider, but for us bubbas, something needs to be under our feet to displace all that mass.  Those boards look fun.

[stoneaxe]

My South County is 9 x 34...definitely not too wide to surf and most especially for bigger folks. I hear this brought up occasionally and have to laugh when I think about what that board has meant to my surfing. 34 may be too much for someone of more normal proportions but for me its a game changer. I go rail to rail easily and can walk all over it to trim.

[southwesterly]

Just saw these boards from a Florida paddle company. They look pretty wide to me. Maybe 34+"? It doesn't look like you could go rail to rail to quickly. I've never SUS'd on anything that wide before, I wonder if they perform well?

Definitely too wide to surf or have any fun on. Best thing would be to inform these people right away.
Being the guy that I am, I would be available to take that blue one once they find out the bad news.

[PaddleCrazy]

Oh boy, back to the age old, "It's not the length, but rather the width that matters" discussion.   

[Cardiff Sweeper]

After surfing Strand Leper's 8'2" x 26.5" wide board yesterday, that is just rediculous.
You just have to go narrower and realize its not that hard. The old mind over it doesn't matter theory.

[greatdane]

When you step back with your back foot on the stomp pad to crank a turn, the board isn't 34" wide back there (-:

[TybeeTim]

For me, anything over 30" seems really slow down the line. It seems more wetted surface= more drag. Of course it depends on a lot of other factors such as type of wave, surfing style, concave, rocker etc. but anything over 30" seems very slow to me, not just rail to rail. Go figure...

[SlatchJim]

After surfing Strand Leper's 8'2" x 26.5" wide board yesterday, that is just rediculous.
You just have to go narrower and realize its not that hard. The old mind over it doesn't matter theory.

Says the daily, very in shape SUSer with a body mass I haven't had since 7th grade.  God bless you Cardiff, I love the passion you have for really small boards but my battle with physics and age was lost long ago.  I know now that half the battle is having the right tools to get the job done.

[Old School 213]

I didn't bump it but the "SUP Reduction Surgery" Thread was a good re-read for anyone reading through this for the first time.

Already planning the next board and looking at going to 9'-ish by 30"-ish from 10'5" by 32".

Not to thread-jack but does anyone have a line on who will have demos in the water at BOP?

[mdsurf]

Stu sharpe is out of Central Florida and is a great long time shaper. I think Johnny B is a rider for Stu Sharpe and he rides a six foot something.   I like the shape, looks like it would be great fun for Florida waves.  I surf bigger guy boards and feel that 34-30 is my range.  A 9 x 34 south county board is stable in anything and surfs great, lots of fun.  For me it has to be glassy for me to be comfortable on anything 30 inches or smaller.  If I can have a blast on 8.11 x32 why would I prefer to struggle on a 9.6 x27?  Narrow boards for me are more work and less payoff.  The size of the rider and design of the board have everything to do with it.

[sup_surf_giant]

 I can slide the tail out on my 8'5"x30" wide board. I think weight is a huge factor in regards to width...how deep you are pressing the board into the water. I'm 220lbs FWIW.

[Easy Rider]

I am 200 lbs and ride a Starboard Widepoint 9'5" x 32"
I really like it - but my surfing is limited to Tofino, BC, Tavarua or a Shopping Mall.