Beginner SUP surfing ???

[Fishman]

Do surfers keep your surfboards after you starting SUP surfing?


I am getting ready to purchase my first Paddle board. So I am trying to budget some money to get a board or 2 for me and my family. Currently I have 3 nice surfboards that i am considering selling to afford a good/better SUP board. Parting with those boards is a big deal for me so this is where my question is centered.

My question is,
1.   Do any of you guys (older guy especially) ever go back to standard surfing after you really begin Stand up paddling/surfing?

2.   If so, what surf conditions/ or… are there when do you put the SUP aside to standard surf?

3.   How much less fatiguing is SUP surfing compared to lay-down surfing? I assuming it is less fatiguing, at least per waves caught.

I know i can buy a better SUPboard if i sell my surfboards but...


 This is a great forum, thanks to those who put this together.
Thanks Roland

[Fishman]

I guess the second Part to that question is boards and paddles for Surfing SUP's.

I am 190lbs 6’4”, and have my eye on a Joe Blair 8’10” x 31 ˝” or maybe his 9’6” x32” for my first SUP board. I am even considering  Joe’s “sponge bob” soft boards as the price is better (if I keep my surfboards).
 I’m open to any other board suggestions. The JBlair line just looks like a very good design from what I no about surfing.  Add to that they appear to be a very good value also! I like the idea of wide boards over long. The South County 9er looks very good to me also, but I want to keep the price as low as possible $900ish for the Jblair is about the max $$ for me right now. I have not even ruled out a 9'10" tower. Opinions wanted.
 
I know I have to budget for a paddle also, it seems that spending the extra money on a great paddle may be the smart in the long run. So any suggestion there is welcome also.

Thanks Roland

[PonoBill]

I'm 65 Fishman. Here's my answers to your questions. YMMV.

1. Not really. I still have my longboards but they've been out once last year and none this year. Likewise my windsurfing gear, kayaks, and other stuff. SUP is oddly addictive. As the guy said "...by comparison heroin addiction is like a vague wish for something salty".
2. I don't. For me SUP is better in small, big, and "holy crap I'm going to die" waves.
3. Initially SUP will kick your ass. Your abs will ache, your legs and arms will hurt, you'll feel like you were hit by a truck. But you will have had 10X more fun. Regular surfing involves about the same amount of exercise as golfing with a cart. Really--you can look that up. Think about it, you spend the majority of time sitting and waiting.
SUP involves your core, your arms and legs, basically everything. Serious SUP addicts generally look like gym rats pretty darned quick. Even a fat old guy like me that eats and drinks too much--I actually have visible abs though they are well padded. You're standing all the time and you're always moving, always working your core.

It doesn't take long to get acclimated since it's so much fun, and you can get up to speed physically on any bit of water--even a pond. After that break in period it seems physically easy, but it never really is.

Joe Blair makes great boards, so does John at South County. You can't go wrong there.

[Fishman]

I'm 65 Fishman. Here's my answers to your questions. YMMV.


2. I don't. For me SUP is better in small, big, and "holy crap I'm going to die" waves.

I think Im done with "holy crap I'm going to die waves".  

Thanks PonoBill,
 That was Very helpful, I can't wait to get hooked 

[Dwight (DW)]

3.   How much less fatiguing is SUP surfing compared to lay-down surfing? I assuming it is less fatiguing, at least per waves caught.
Thanks Roland

Item 3 made me 

I can see how some might think this. There are more than a few lazy SUPers who freak if it's too hard. Like anything athletic, you get what you put into it.

Every time it got easy, I down sized. Started with 12'1 5 years ago. Using 7"8 now. Keeping it exciting and loving the exercise.

[Fishman]

Thanks DW,
So conditioning is a part of the reason for a beginner to start with a bigger board. I mainly thought board size had to do with technical ability. This is very helpful.

To me, the paddle out is the most demanding when surfing. I set on the board sometimes just to recoup if i get caught inside or... But the SUSurfer seem to get out with less effort and catch more waves. But i now see what you mean thanks again.

[AJR]

I didn't surf much before; I kept trying but got discouraged when I just couldn't make it work.  Since I started SUP i've had no desire to go back to try.

If you're going new get the Blair; much better construction and design IMO plus resale is better.  I'd highly recommend you buy something used first though.  Craigslist has a ton of deals and the first board is almost always replaced after the initial steep learning curve.  Rent a few times to get an ideal of what works and then buy used.

[jd]

Fishman, where are you located.   

The best thing you can do is figure out what you want, demo some boards if you can and buy used.   SUPs are grossly overpriced esp. The Asian popout specials.   You can get a used board for probably 1/2 price or better off Craigslist if you are somewhere that SUPs are abundant. 

As to your ? about surfing v. SUP, I am split probably 50/50.   I don't see myself ever going solely one way or the other.   When the waves are cracking here in So. Cal I'm not usually on a SUP due to the crowd problems, except at certain breaks where u can get away with SUP. 

Same thing with paddles you should be able to find a quality used paddle for a good $100 or less off retail. 

[mik911]

I haven't surfed my longboards or my kneeboards (see below) since I started SUP surfing and touring.  When I paddle past a break, I feel sorry for all the surfers sitting still, 'waiting' for a wave, while I'm paddling/exercising, going towards the next less crowded break.

I think SUP is way more fatiguing than sitting on a longboard.  The paddle out is much more difficult, due to the huge board, and holding a paddle.  (No duckdiving or turning turtle).  But fatigue = exercise = workout = calories burned = cardiovascular health, etc,etc

My first SUP was a used South County 10' off Craigslist. Sold it 1 yr later for not much less.

[abmatt]

You're going to get hooked, guaranteed. So how about keeping your favorite surfboard and selling the other two? I surfed for decades and now SUP surf exclusively, at least here in uncrowded Florida, which is made for SUP. Though I just got back from Nicaragua and barely got the prone board wet, even in very good waves.
Buying used is a good idea though you can't go wrong with a Blair either. I'm 195-ish and his 8-11/29 and 3/4 is very easy to ride, though I came down from an 11-2 after about a year. Starting on the shorter board would have been doable but the bigger one was good to start on and I still have it for paddling trips and for my wife to use (she had little interest in surfing but loves paddling beyond the waves and on the creeks here).
You might want to start with the 9-6. It'll ride great and make it easier for you. If you want to downsize later you can sell it or keep it somehow. So far to feed my SUP addiction I've sold two guitars and a road bike, with no regrets. I've kept all my surfboards just because they're beat up and the kids can ride them and who knows? I suppose the day may come when I want to ride one again. Hasn't happened yet though.
And yes, if you paddle hard and paddle a lot, you'll feel it, in a good way. Enjoy the journey.

[Fishman]

 I'm land locked in Atlanta Ga. Ive been scanning craigslist twice daily for since before Christmas.  A good used SUP, at a good price, is a mythical creature in this neck of the woods. The best i've seen around here is $600-$900 for a used rentals NSP or BIC Jungle. With only one exception in all that time was a tower 9'10 never ridden for $400 (I could not get there in time) . I glanced at craiglist for So Cal areas and you guys have some good deals, it's almost worth it to fly out there to buy a used board.

 I hope to make  2-4 family weekend trips a year to the Florida gulf, or Outer banks.

As i learning more about this sport i am thinking that i will want to paddle some lakes & or rivers also.

 Thanks Guys for all your input, this has been very helpful. I think i'll be selling 2 boards for sure.

[Fishman]

Used paddles seem even harder to find than a good SUP. Finding the right length for my 6'4" self may make it even harder.

It seems that a good new paddle cost $200, but a great new paddle is $300. I know i don't know enough about paddles to pick a great one that fits me perfectly, But for what it cost to get into this sport, another 100 bucks for a great paddle may be a good investment    

This one caught my attention kialoa-methane http://www.backcountry.com/kialoa-methane-sup-paddle#reviews

[JimK]

Hey Fishman,

I have a garage full of surfboards (various sizes) I use them when I wanna be hanging with my old surf buddies or when my son bugs me to "just go surfing with him

SUp's have much longer rides so effort per ride might be more

Since you are here on the EC you'll find SUP rides a lot more fun. Not to mention versitile

By the way we have good used/demo'd boards for sale just pop me a PM

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[VonR]

Buy the best paddle you can afford. Try and demo a couple of paddles before you buy one. There is a huge difference in the feel of paddles due to blade size and construction, and paddle shaft material and length.

[hbsteve]

If you want a good hard workout for your arms & back, buy a cheap heavy paddle.
Otherwise, follow the instructions above.
Have fun!