Ride a sub-8ft SUP and still dominate the lineup?

[Zooport]

I have no experience with surfing SUPs shorter than 8ft.  Let's say you were on a 7' something, really wide SUP in a typical surf lineup.  Would you still have a wave-catching advantage over longboard proners since your SUP is probably shorter than their longboard?  Does width and volume still give you an advantage? 

[SaMoSUP]

As my boards get shorter, the more proners I get to know. It was lonely out there with the longer SUPs.

[14 West]

With my 7'7" I'd say I've lost my advantage to experienced Longboarders and am somewhere in between where a kook longboarder needs to be and an experienced shortboarder who can get in early.

Standing up high is still an advantage to spot the sets and get in position early though, especially if its a big one and you need to quickly move to the outside to catch it before it closes out.

[Caribsurf]

I agree with the other posts. The shorter you go, you lose the advantage of the glide and have to stay further inside to catch waves  I have an 8ft SUP, but although I love the ride, I hated the fact I had to sit further inside with proners ( they probably hated it too)

If you can find an empty break a sub 8 ft SUP can be a load of fun

[abmatt]

I'm not sure about dominating the lineup ... but I haven't found much of a problem on my stubby 7-10 X 30, which has a wide nose and tail.

It doesn't have the wave-catching glide of my bigger boards, but I'm still able to get in before the longboarders. Though around here it's generally uncrowded, mushy beachbreak where you can spread out; your experience might be different at a more jacked-up wave and concentrated take-off spot.

And once on the wave... woo-hoo! I prefer it now even on the knee-high (at best) summer stuff we're getting. More lively, much more nimble on the tiny quick close-outs.

[Sup-position]

Depends on the glide and twitchiness of the board.

On a 7'0" Coreban Hyper my glide is diminished mainly because of the rocker profile.
But also because I can over power the board with my paddle stroke and induce a yaw
thus throwing me off balance or slightly out of optimum position at a critical moment.
Using a smaller blade or shorter strokes helps, less power.

Also the fins can help or hurt depending on the drag. I like the Quads because they have less drag typically.
With a lower profile and looseness of the fin set up it requires a better paddle stroke (parallel to center line)
and tighter foot position.

On Tim's 7'3" TimmySimmy I have plenty of glide because I can really pull the stroke through and maintain stability.

7'8" and 8'0" L41 no problem with glide..

You will need to watch your front foot pressure so you don't sink the nose when powering up.
Just some adjustment..

I have a few of these boards in Demo for you to try if you like...

Ralph
Sup-position
Huntington Beach, California, USA
(714) 899-3020

www.Sup-position.com

sup.position.com@gmail.com

[Zooport]

Ralph, you have got some awesome stuff in there.  I will definitely see you first when I decide to pull the trigger again.  The AllWave 8'10" is feeling a little corky to me now.  Great board, but I'm hankering to go smaller, like I told you a couple of weeks ago. 

Loving the Nalu so far, it gets the acid test next week at Santa Cruz Island. 

[StandinDan]

On my 7-8 King Sims up I have about the samevery catching capabilities as a decent long boarder on a 9-6
I do notice however  that I have a lower wave count at Church because I'm really conservative and stay clear of the proners. Can't really go catch the leftover shoulder slop with that short of a board.

[mrbig]

Back inside again! Inside SUPS, hung in with the Longboard crew. If you know how to surf, and the unwritten rules no worries. Quite frankly I am more worried about guys on SUPS who are clueless. Got run over by a newbie who didn't see me! Must have had my Klingon cloaking device activated. Summer rules!!!

[anonsurfer]

I ride a 7'10" x 30" and take off in the same general area as the longboarders.  I would never go back to surfing a longer board, shorter boards are just too much fun.