12 6 and guys 200+lbs. racing them?

[K1SUP]

Are there many larger paddlers racing a 12 6 and doing well in flat water races?  It seems like most of the faster guys on 12 6 around here are 170lbs or less. Is this more because of technique and conditioning or is it just difficult for a larger paddler to get the faster speeds on a 12 6?

A good racer that is about 200lbs. recently told me that he raced 12 6 some before going to 14.  Says his average speeds were about the same as mine (around 4.6mph) and he didn't really do well until switching to the 14.  Now he wins or is in the top three of just about every race.  I figure I will get faster with more practice and better technique but wonder if I am holding myself back at 200lbs with a 12 6??

PS - Sorry if this post shows up more than once.  I tried to post this twice before phrased a little differently but it never showed up.  Hope I dont pull the site back up again and see my question here three times:)

[PT Woody]

We had a BOP style race yesterday with no restrictions on board length. There were 17' Glides, some 14' boards and a bunch of 12'6" boards. The winner blew everyone away on a Starboard 12'6" x 31" Race and he would be 200lb.

[H2Oman]

I feel for you on the 200+ side, but there are great boards on the market and more coming.  For 2012 Coreban is coming out with 3 new boards in the 12-6/14' arena and I'm pretty excite to see them when they hit state-side.  I'll post some info when I have a moment, but the Coreban Vision is going to be a great 12-6 displacement hull board that should fit the 200lb crowd fine @ 266 Liters.  The board are going to be available in Pure, Full Carbon and Carbon Kevlar. 

[TallDude]

A lot depends on what the conditions are, and of course physical ability. I'm guessing the guy who won the race is not an out of shape newbe. On a recent trip I paddled my brothers 12'6 Hobie, that was previously team riders board. It has a little more volume than the stock boards. When the wind came up, I could paddle faster on the 12'6 than my unlimited. If there was less wind my unlimited was faster. Typically, a 14' or longer board is faster for any size person.

[K1SUP]

I guess one way to test this out is to use my new gps on a 14' board and see what my average speed is compared to my 12 6.  If I am able to get a significant increase in average speed it may be an issue with board size for me?

[PaddleAnything]

In my experience racing flatwater, the start determines the top finishing paddlers.  Regardless of board length, the paddlers in the front at the beginning are getting the cleanest surface allowing for the most efficient strokes.   Everyone else in the pack is dealing with churned up water that greatly impacts the performance of the paddle and hull of the board. 

After the start, the next most important elements are reading the water/picking a line, conditioning and paddler skill.  Board length and paddler weight impact finish times to a small degree after all the other factors have determined the top finishers. 

If SUP races took place in lanes the way spirit canoe and kayak does, then paddler stats. and board would play a huge part.  Could you go .2 faster in a straight line on a 14' board?  Yes,  maybe, but if there are several turns then you would be slower there.  Crossing the line first is a lot more than just being on the fastest board.  It all has to come together. 

[H2Oman]

Well put.