Howdy All. What's a reasonably priced Longboard SUP?

[SUP Sports ®]

Aloha BigSlave...
I know Mendo well...won't mention my fav shark-infested points, gulches, and beaches there, here...;-)

Spent 10 years in Humboldt doing an Oceanography degree and post-grad work...pioneering big wave surf spots...windsurf pioneer...SUP pioneer...etc...
A good chunk of the Humboldt crew are on my boards...but, most all my college buds are on the Oregon Coast now...

We're 8 hours away from PA by car...nice drive down thru wine country...it's all greened up...petrol is $2.79/gal down here...and, you don't need to go south of here...unless of course you have an ohana down there...;-)

Definitely encourage our demo program...but, shipping a board to Mendo is 1-2 days from here...but, depends on where in Mendo you are...and, where the destination is...you know the drill...just hooked up a Healdsburg bruddah with a Stoke...

Anyways...if you want to save a bunch of time and mullah trying to figure the SUP thang out...look us up...Al (my shop manager) and myself have 10 years each of standup under our belts...plus, decades of surfing and other watersports...I have ridden 100's of SUP's...and, have designed and manufactured several dozen proven models...let alone the fin thang...my designs work really well...especially, with your big Elephant kelp bulbs...;-)

[PonoBill]

Mmmm, that looks cold. And I'm used to Oregon surf. Every time I drive up from the Battle of the Paddle (in Dana Point) I look at surfing around Mendocino and wind up driving on. someday I've got to just stop and do it. Last year I even spent the night and didn't surf. Weird, since I did stop at Pacific City for a session.

Anyway, don't sweat your board choices. This is a long time thing. You can always sell them, or even better, find some kid that wants to try it and pay it forward. I do that with about half the board I outgrow or just get bored with. That what I did with all my old surfboards.

[NorthJerzSurfer]

+1 on the Allwave 9'5- Nice stepdown from where you are.   I am 210 used it only as my 'chop' board...when i really needed a platform.  I only take it out in bad onshores now. 

It will be going up for sale to step down my whole quiver in size- but it was a fantastic stable - and incredibly durable- board that serves exactly what you need.

Beware...once you start SUPing more than Proning (as I have) you will move down in volume real quick- and you will have the same progression.

[Zooport]

+1 on the Allwave 9'5- Nice stepdown from where you are.   I am 210 used it only as my 'chop' board...when i really needed a platform.  I only take it out in bad onshores now. 

It will be going up for sale to step down my whole quiver in size- but it was a fantastic stable - and incredibly durable- board that serves exactly what you need.

Beware...once you start SUPing more than Proning (as I have) you will move down in volume real quick- and you will have the same progression.

Agree.  It's almost like a broken record on the Zone because you hear it over and over, but the AllWaves are great boards.  Likely more stable than the Noserider and still decent performers in the surf.  More stable even though it's shorter.  Not super high performance, but great for the average guy.  They ain't cheap, but more reasonably priced than a number of other boards.

[eastbound]

my long walden (10'11") was a mistake--i would have gotten stable just as quickly with my starboard 9'5" x 32"x 150 liter--now, 18 months after buying the SB, i still use it as go-to board in choppier, bigger conditions---like tomorrow and/or wed here in LI, NY, where offshore is said to be from 15 -30 knots, waves 5-7 feet--cooold!.. if you don't immediately feel fine on a board like the SB widepoint or the fanatic all wave or another brand of comp size/shape; you will within a sesh or two.

I need to ride my L41 more, and in more sketchy conditions, so as to get used to it.  but i have so much fun on the SB that i tend not to. maybe when it's less oppressively cold, something you NW peeople know all about................

youll be pleasingly shocked when you get on one of these shorter, fatter boards---

[Sup-position]

Keep in mind that there are Few here that get to try a wide variety of boards and brands. (I do)

The Finatics (which I do carry) are fine but there are easily a half dozen other brands
that have boards that are as stable and many do out perform them.

This time of year there are a lot of discounts on New boards..

Shop smart, ask lots of questions, and Demo as many as you can...

I would definitely say resale should also be a major concern..the Major Brands hold their value...Others not so much..

[BigSlaveDave]

Aloha BigSlave...
I know Mendo well...won't mention my fav shark-infested points, gulches, and beaches there, here...;-)

Spent 10 years in Humboldt doing an Oceanography degree and post-grad work...pioneering big wave surf spots...windsurf pioneer...SUP pioneer...etc...
A good chunk of the Humboldt crew are on my boards...but, most all my college buds are on the Oregon Coast now...

We're 8 hours away from PA by car...nice drive down thru wine country...it's all greened up...petrol is $2.79/gal down here...and, you don't need to go south of here...unless of course you have an ohana down there...;-)

Definitely encourage our demo program...but, shipping a board to Mendo is 1-2 days from here...but, depends on where in Mendo you are...and, where the destination is...you know the drill...just hooked up a Healdsburg bruddah with a Stoke...

Anyways...if you want to save a bunch of time and mullah trying to figure the SUP thang out...look us up...Al (my shop manager) and myself have 10 years each of standup under our belts...plus, decades of surfing and other watersports...I have ridden 100's of SUP's...and, have designed and manufactured several dozen proven models...let alone the fin thang...my designs work really well...especially, with your big Elephant kelp bulbs...;-)

Hey, I know those spots.  Yeah, and the big elephant kelp bulbs.  Those things are a pain in the ass.  I'll be by your shop soon.

i'm really having a blast on this thing.  I just keep wanted to get out there and learn more stuff.  That sensation you get when standing up and pushing yourself over the lip is awesome.  I'm addicted, I think.

I just wish I wasn't such a Wage Slave and could get out there more.

my long walden (10'11") was a mistake--i would have gotten stable just as quickly with my starboard 9'5" x 32"x 150 liter--now, 18 months after buying the SB, i still use it as go-to board in choppier, bigger conditions---like tomorrow and/or wed here in LI, NY, where offshore is said to be from 15 -30 knots, waves 5-7 feet--cooold!.. if you don't immediately feel fine on a board like the SB widepoint or the fanatic all wave or another brand of comp size/shape; you will within a sesh or two.

I need to ride my L41 more, and in more sketchy conditions, so as to get used to it.  but i have so much fun on the SB that i tend not to. maybe when it's less oppressively cold, something you NW peeople know all about................

youll be pleasingly shocked when you get on one of these shorter, fatter boards---

man, i grew up and learned to surf on LI. I know that cold shit. Brrrr....  Thanks for the advice bro.

Big Wage Slave

[SharkSUP]

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This is the link for order directly online.
http://www.sharksups.com/inflatable-sup-paddle-board/9-10-mako-shark-4-thick-wave

[hbsteve]

If someone answered your question about soft top, stop reading.
Soft top boards have a mat from end to end.  They are a lot heavier than the same board with the mat just in the general standing area.  They are good for rentals, but not for personal ownership.

[linter]

this thread seems to be taking a turn for the commercial  .

[SlatchJim]

If I were you, looking for a first board, I'd put on my safari hat and hunt through craigslist for a few weeks to see what's available and the prices they're going for.  Don't limit yourself to NorCal, Check SLO to San Diego along the coast.  I'd guess you could find a lightly used board for $750 or less. 

Aim for about 10'  and 32+".  You will likely want a smaller thinner more precisely tuned board after about 6 months, but a nice big starter will always be useful to teach family and friends on.  This size is a hair small for some larger family members.  My 250# brother goes out with us and is right on the edge of comfort on a 10-3 x 33 inch board.  The lesson here is to buy a good stable but surfable board to work on balance and turning, and to keep that board for others to join you (and not to sell it to upgrade like I did). 

[JimK]

Thanks guys for the props here
I agree a AW 9'6 will make you VERY happy
I do disagree that they are expensive
Just mention you are a ZONER and the price gets VERY reasonable

Just a thought and its great to have you join the clan both in and out of the water

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[SUP Sports ®]

If someone answered your question about soft top, stop reading.
Soft top boards have a mat from end to end.  They are a lot heavier than the same board with the mat just in the general standing area.  They are good for rentals, but not for personal ownership.

LOL...I was a "someone" once...and, I did answer his question with our Hammer soft top recommendation...but, please keep reading...;-)
As I mentioned previously, our version is an epoxy board with 1.5# EPS foam and double layers of 6oz cloth top and bottom...then, gets the "soft top" treatment...full Futures sidebiter boxes and Goretex vent valve...etc...and, they are not heavy for their size/volume...

In fact, here is a Starboard 9'5" x 32" @ 153 liter Wide Point that weighs 24.35# without fins...and, our 8'11" x 33" @ 165 liter Hammer with fins at 25.9#...if you subtract the fins and do a weight/volume calc...our soft top Hammer is actually lighter per liter...regardless, the board surfs and paddles great at this weight...and, is SUPer durable to boot...let alone being much faster on the wave face and a better paddling and long board/nose rider style SUP...

These are the highest quality soft tops that I have seen or surfed (they surf unreal)...not just rental quality...but, "personal ownership" quality as well for only $999...

We also have a container coming in that has some Australian Pine versions of the Hammer that has only been available in production carbon, or custom epoxy or carbon, up until now...they are gorgeous like our other wood boards...and, are only $1299 complete with custom bamboo fins and a big wave rated leash...

http://supsports.com/standup-paddle-boards/hammer-series/

[BigSlaveDave]

Okay, so I had about 3 weeks off over the holidays and surfed my Starboard Noserider every day.  I caught enough waves on it to have an opinion of it, which is:  Starboard has has some "splaining" to do about that board.  I know they make good boards, but they way missed the mark on that one.

I was out yesterday and a guy let me ride his Laird 11 footer, which I think actually had less volume than the NR.  Man, the Laird board is way better......faster, more stable, easier to turn, and easier to noseride--by far.  Which also brings up the point, why did Starboard think noseriding has anything to do with volume in the nose?  The Laird board has basically no volume in the nose.

I know longboard style Sups aren't really in style right now--but I'll always have one.  Besides getting another longboard, I really need to get enough scratch together for a new board in the 9 foot range.  Starboard owes me.......IMHO.

I'm totally addicted.......I've surfed my prone board twice in the last 2 months, and now I'm talking about buying not one, but two new sups.  My "Wife Approval Factor" (WAF) has hit a new low.