Tips for surfing windsell?

[boardrider247]

Let me just start by saying that after my first experience with my sup in waves I am completely humbled.

I live in minnesota so almost all surf I get is windswell with onshore winds. No it's not ideal but hey I get to surf, on a lake. Monday after about 3 hrs of prone surfing on my longboard I warmed (water temp was 37f) up had some coffee and decided to try the sup. Between the swell, wind, current from the river mouth and my general inability I couldn't even stand on my board. I've been paddling flat water at least once a week since the ice melted with no real problems. But in the surf I could do absolutely nothing.

So any tips? Is there anything I can do to make it easier to surf windswell? Or do I just need to get out and practice more?

Thanks

And just one pic of lakesurf for good measure

[Dwight (DW)]

Practice, practice 

By the way, standing up on a SUP is 10 times warmer than laying in the 37 degree water. Stop the prone surfing and stand up 

[stoneaxe]

What DW said. Forget the flatwater unless you just feel like going for a cruise. Go out in the windblown choppy stuff and fall a lot until you don't fall. It won't be too long before you wonder what the fuss was all about. I actually prefer chop to flatwater...a big part of the reason I'm out is for the workout. Flatwater doesn't give the workout that chop does.

[PonoBill]

DW left something out--practice. It's actually practice, Practice, Practice.

[Tree]

What is windsell?!!  Windswell is another story...

[boardrider247]

Dangit ya caught me. I'm always in way too big a hurry to post. Need to proofread better.

[chipmonk]

My thought on this would be that a good SUP board for thsoe kinda conditions would be something like the Blair SUP.  Something in the 8'11 x 30" range.  Something curvy, yet wide and stable. This will keep you from wobbling as much and fit much better in a short period wave.