Looks like I'll be picking up my first SUP tomorrow.

[prskiller]

Found a  11' Surftech Laird House for sale at a really good price.  Never did try that board but for the price I can't go wrong.  I was planning on getting the 10'6 Pearson Laird but that is like 1400.  Anyone have reviews on the 11x27 Laird?  I can't seem to find much on them.

[H2Oman]

My buddy is the proud owner of the 10-6 Pearson Arrow.  Great board for the right weigh and skill set.

[SoCalSupper]

go shorter next time-its a steeper learning curve but spend too long on a big SUP and you pick up bad habits that are hard to break later on a shorter one

[XLR8]

Socal -  I'm curious what some of the bad habits a longer board for a newbie might be.  I have an 11'2 starboard i really enjoy but I have been wanting a 9 footer lately for good surf days.  I'm in Michigan though so our surf is a different animal.

Just curious to see if i already have any of these bad habits.

[desmo13]

I rode an 11' foot Laird for a couple hours on Sunday.  I liked it.  My only gripe was that even though it felt more stable than the 12' munoz initially, when it would tip, it would just go, unexpectedly.  the 12 munoz in comparison is a tippier board, but more predictable, and easier to correct.

The people I was with (weighing a lot less than me) preferred the Laird.

[mrod]

Socal -  I'm curious what some of the bad habits a longer board for a newbie might be.  I have an 11'2 starboard i really enjoy but I have been wanting a 9 footer lately for good surf days.  I'm in Michigan though so our surf is a different animal.

Just curious to see if i already have any of these bad habits.

Probably smoking or graffiti damn SUP hoodlums!

[SoCalSupper]

yeah smoking and graffitti-i am close to LA you know!- going from a 11 to a 9 is a big jump-dont take offense but i didnt know you were in Michigan!-llittle weak wind swell waves-you probably would not be stoked on a 9 in those conditions!-the way the shorter board reacts is way different with where your weight is distributed-both on takeoff and once you are on the wave-with the shorter board you tend to pump more for speed and your upper body is more active-you use your hips more  and kind of surf on your toes instead of just shifting your weight with your heels to make the board turn. If you get a nine just get it a little wider and thicker-you will b amazed by how much better you surf with a little practice. iwent from a 12 when i first started to a 9 just a month after-took me a bit to get used to the dartiness of the shorter board-once you get one really fun sizeable wave that you can to some turns on you will be jonesing for more and you will smile when you look back on how you rode your bigger board-it does help to have pretty fun consistent surf like out here in SOcal.most will tell you a long background on short surfboards is really a big help when you start suppin-you kind of have a built in memory.
Keep suppin thirdcoaster!

[prskiller]

I'm planning on getting a 9'6 for me and my daughters after this Laird purchase.  My two girls love paddling around but it would be hard if I'm on the one and only board all the time.  Btw, how do I add to my profile?  I don't see where I could add location and such? 

[SoCalSupper]

go to top of page-click profile-look on left side and click under Modify profile.

[XLR8]

Probably smoking or graffiti damn SUP hoodlums!
[/quote]

Thankfully I've avoided these habits though I don't floss regularly and some would say I drink too much.

Yeah, I'm the wind's pawn here in MI.  The 11'2 is my only SUB for now.  Next will likely be a 14' glide, then i'll consider a shorter SUB.  Odds are it won't happen.  If I had money for more boards I'd probably be better off spending it on a legitimate surf trip.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread with my midwestern tales, but we great lakes suppers don't get enough waves to really learn the etiquette of the line-up.