Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: zacksc on November 04, 2018, 05:34:11 AM
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I am interested in getting some statistics about what length of paddle people actually use for SUP surfing. I thinking that one could reference that to height and try to get a sense of the average difference between height a paddle length in practice, as well as the standard deviation. Is it a Bell-type curve; or does it maybe have two bumps (normal and Laird length)? Let's see. Could be fun and maybe interesting. Please indicate your height and your paddle length(s), and maybe contextualize that with what board(s) you are riding as well. Thanks.
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Height: 72"
Paddle: 72"
Weight: 195lbs
Board: 8' x 28" Starboard Pro 102l
I would include paddler weight too.
Considering going 1-2" shorter but haven't had time to do it/test it.
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I go with head high or a little lower. A lot depends on the volume of board you ride (how high you sit in the water) and personal preference. I ride a guild factor of around 1.0 (72L board, I am 160lbs) so my board is mostly submerged.
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I have the Black Project SUP Surge 82 paddle. I weight 73-74 kilos and have the Infinity B-Line 7'11 x 27'' (85 liters).
Since the board is low volume with thin rails my paddle is cut to my forehead, and I can still dig the blade deep when I paddle. I usually recommend a short paddle to most people for surfing, but will always depend on the board volume.
For beginners I always tell them to use it much lower than what they are used to, so they can bend the knees more when paddling (and try not to bend the back) and to help facilitate changing hands.
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I'm 69" tall.
For SUP surfing boards:
Jimmy Lewis Black & Blue Noserider 10'1"x31"x4.25," 164 liters, 22 lbs, 1 box
Pearson Laird Surftech Longboard 10'6"x23"x29.75"x18"x4.375," 154 liters, 26 lbs, 3 boxes
My first paddle, that I got about 8 years ago is 76.25" so 7.25" overhead.
A few years later, I got a backup paddle shorter at 75" tall or 6" overhead because everyone was going shorter.
Both are Quick Blade Kanaha paddles, 90 blade size, 36 stiffness, carbon fiber with fiberglass blades.
I went with the fiberglass blades for a bit of softness to help avoid potential shoulder issues.
Interestingly, originally people said my 76.25" paddle was too short.
Now people would say it is quite a bit too long.
However, I do still use the longer paddle much more often because I can pull it around the nose
of my longboard SUP's (10'1" and 10'6"s) for easier turning. Surprisingly, not as easy with the paddle
that is just an inch and a quarter shorter.
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I'm 6'0" and my surf paddle is 6'1".
Boards listed below. I use the same surf paddle for all three boards.
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I'm 66" 80kg, paddle 70" with Jimmy Lewis Super Frank 8 x 30 115ltrs.
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I've shrunk to 69" and my paddles are 78". I use the same paddles for flatwater and surfing. I tried shorter paddles for surfing and they became my wife's flatwater paddles. I'm surprised to see people using such short paddles. My first carbon fiber, a Kialoa Methane, is still my favorite, even after snapping it in half and having it repaired.
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i am 73.5 ins, 185 lbs, paddle is 73"
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advanced beginner paddler. 85 kg, 8'10" fanatic all wave 149 liters, 70" tall 72" paddle. Only surf with this paddle.
I wish I didn't hot glue the paddle into one position, as I want it to be shorter now that I get lower when paddling into waves, and am trying to switch when on waves.
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I'm 72", 37 years old, 170 lbs. paddle is 72" for surfing, 77" for flatwater.
Boards are in my profile.
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For surfing I like the top of my paddle even with my eyebrows.
I’m 195 lbs. on a 129 liter board.
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zack
Seems what i told you yesterday is what everyone does
I'm 6'1 ridding 36" wide board my paddle is 77" lg WHICH IS TO LONG!
No more excuses I'm cutting my paddle first to 75" heading to 73"
Just been to busy to mess with my own equipment
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
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73" tall, paddles range between 78" and 80" (I'm going to confirm this when I get home)
I've tried them shorter, and had back issues afterward. I very rarely paddle after catching a wave, preferring to use the paddle as a brace or an extended arm touching the wave somewhere. I understand the draw for shorter paddles, just like I do for shorter smaller boards, but they aren't for everyone. However, the paddles I use today are about 4 to 6 inches shorter than when I started 8 years ago. I ride boards with a guild factor between 1.3 and 1.4 so I'm not underwater like some of the more high performance surfers here.
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Surf paddle eyebrow level. I am 5'8" or was a long time ago. 64-66 on the antique Wiki tiny paddle.
Racing sloooowly Shaka over the top of my head. Prolly 74-76 on a Kenalu.
Have two Kialoas that I also use. They're high aspect which is why I gave a range.
If I had better technique or was more flexible
( ha), but I don't so the Kialoas are longer so I can sink 'em down to the hosel.
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Head high for my two lower volume boards that put my feet just at or under the water surface and +1" for my higher volume long board that put my feet just above the water surface.
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I'm trying to work my way smaller.
About 2" taller than me but I'm trying to stand with more bent legs and want to get to my height or maybe a shade lower when I cut my new shaft.
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76" tall, 245 pounds. BP Surge 82 surf paddle at 72". I find the paddle cadence too slow with longer paddles. Plus switching hands I don't get the blade caught up.
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69 3/4” I’m 5’9” and my boards are 105L - 110L
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6'4" 275, paddle is 2" overhead….170L Foote. My 8-4 Vec 160L and the 9-8 Element 150L I surf with a shorter (head high) paddle.
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I'm 5' 8" Tall. Current Favorite Paddle is ~ 66.5 "
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I'm 6'-7" and my current surf paddle is 6'-10". The one I cut down to 6'-5" eventually gave me back pain. Where I typically surf it's not a shore break, so I have to paddle a long way out to the break. I'll paddle back and forth between breaks too. It's maybe a 1/10 of a mile between breaks. Lots of paddling. Another spot I occasionally surf is a sandy beach break. You paddle out maybe 100 feet to the lineup. Then it's just a few strokes into the wave. I could use the shorter paddle there, because there is very little paddling envolved. I do like a shorter paddle on the wave, but it's no good if I have to paddle a lot.
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^ I use an adjustable Werner Rip Stick (89) for that reason... keep it longish for paddling out and between breaks, then shorten it up for surf. I usually shy away from adjustable, but for this purpose it works.
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I am just over 5'10" and my Kialoa Methane is about the same. I may go shorter.
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My surf paddle is one inch overhead at 72", and my downwind paddle is 78", since the board sits about five inches higher in the water. If I go any shorter with either one, I find that it is harder to keep a functional bracing blade in the water.