Author Topic: Is the SUP industry tanking?  (Read 27036 times)

Area 10

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #30 on: July 12, 2018, 08:51:22 AM »
A cup holder? Now I’ve seen everything. Doesn’t the coffee or whatever in your cup skosh all over the deck when you are paddling? It certainly plays to the stereotype of the American as someone who can’t go 5 mins without stuffing something into their cakehole:)

SaMoSUP

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #31 on: July 12, 2018, 09:07:00 AM »
Are you afraid of getting the deck wet on a SUP? There are many spill proof cups out there just like for cars. If you noticed that cupholder is also a sealed storage space where you can put your keys or wallet.

Better a cakehole than an asshole :)
« Last Edit: July 12, 2018, 09:09:05 AM by SaMoSUP »

Weasels wake

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #32 on: July 12, 2018, 09:19:13 AM »
A cup holder? Now I’ve seen everything. Doesn’t the coffee or whatever in your cup skosh all over the deck when you are paddling? It certainly plays to the stereotype of the American as someone who can’t go 5 mins without stuffing something into their cakehole:)
You never seem to miss an opportunity to slam.
It takes a quiver to do that.

Area 10

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #33 on: July 12, 2018, 09:20:19 AM »
Are you afraid of getting the deck wet on a SUP? There are many spill proof cups out there just like for cars. If you noticed that cupholder is also a sealed storage space where you can put your keys or wallet.

Better a cakehole than an asshole :)
Storage space might be useful although would you trust your keys and wallet in it? Better to have a dry bag and deck lashings?

At least we know now where you put your keys and wallet when you are out paddling ;)

I’ll wait for the model that has an icebox, sofa and tv fitted on it. It should sell well in Mississippi:

https://brandongaille.com/list-average-human-weight-by-country-and-american-states/

Board Stiff

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #34 on: July 12, 2018, 01:30:37 PM »
The SUP scene never took off in northern New England like it had out west, but it's definitely declined from its peak a couple years ago. We used to get get 10-20 racers out every week for a SUP series sponsored by the local SUP shop. Now the shop is closed, we're lucky to get 5-6 people out for any kind of group paddling, and many of the former racers have tired of racing. The used market was never great here, and without the local SUP shop feeding race and downwind boards into the market (often through end of season closeout deals), I expect there will be a lot fewer of these boards still hitting the secondary market.

There's still a core of folks that are passionate about SUP around here, and even some new folks trying it out for the first time. But I think the flood of new paddlers has subsided, and many racers have either moved on to other sports or at least tired of racing.  :(

Jradtke

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #35 on: July 12, 2018, 02:55:16 PM »
What did you expect?  Outrageous prices, dog accessories, yoga, silly hats/glove/shirt/footwear combos, hyper specific boards, poor conditions, inland sup, over use of the word aloha, overrated self proclaimed experts.  All factors that turned me off to the whole thing.  I still have a board and I still quietly shred waves but I will never buy another board. 

addapost

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #36 on: July 12, 2018, 06:43:56 PM »
What did you expect?  Outrageous prices, dog accessories, yoga, silly hats/glove/shirt/footwear combos, hyper specific boards, poor conditions, inland sup, over use of the word aloha, overrated self proclaimed experts.  All factors that turned me off to the whole thing.  I still have a board and I still quietly shred waves but I will never buy another board.
This x 10
Bunch of old shit

ukgm

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #37 on: July 13, 2018, 12:44:17 AM »
What did you expect?  Outrageous prices, dog accessories, yoga, silly hats/glove/shirt/footwear combos, hyper specific boards, poor conditions, inland sup, over use of the word aloha, overrated self proclaimed experts.  All factors that turned me off to the whole thing.  I still have a board and I still quietly shred waves but I will never buy another board.

Its pretty simple really - all that really matters is do you enjoy to SUP, yes or no. Anything else is really social networking adulation or currency and of little actual value really.

I had a weird experience yesterday whereby I got back on my board (having spent the last 6 weeks surfskiing instead). My first thought was how frustrating SUP was by being so damn slow and then afterwards when I remembered how physically demanding trying to go even remotely fast is. I find myself now questioning my own motives. Most of my local fellow local racers are still fast but not racing much and many are transitioning to Outrigger.

Area 10

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #38 on: July 13, 2018, 02:42:20 AM »
It’s all wall-to-wall beginners on super-cheap inflatables now, where I live. The kind of people who have never done any exercise in their lives, can barely swim, and have no idea about the ocean or weather conditions. So I think this will be self-limiting: anyone who has not tried SUP who is watching these people will not want to try it. They make it look like an activity for dorks only.

SUP is good for many surf spots which are tough on a prone surfboard. Which is where it started. And I think it will go back to that. Downwinding a SUP is also pretty good fun so that will probably survive as an ultra-niche activity carried out by a few, in a few specialist locations. But many of the current breed who will spend large amounts of dough on equipment now seem to be moving to other paddlesports or foiling, or taking up emtb etc. The early adopters and ocean athletes have left the building, as thousands of “late adopters” buy cheap plastic inflatables that will be used three times and then pollute the environment for the next millennia.

The level of lack of knowledge in some of the new “inflatable SUPers” is scary. I live in a country where there is a huge tidal reach. A couple of weeks ago a guy came up to me as I was loading my SUP and asked me where the beach was. We were standing 10m from the water, so I didn’t quite understand what he was asking. He said that his friend had told him to come here to SUP because there was a nice sand beach. I had to point out to him that it was high tide, and that at low tide there would be at least half a mile of sand beach, but at high tide it is all covered by water. He was very confused by this, and didn’t seem to know what a tide was.

ukgm

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #39 on: July 13, 2018, 04:08:35 AM »
He said that his friend had told him to come here to SUP because there was a nice sand beach. I had to point out to him that it was high tide, and that at low tide there would be at least half a mile of sand beach, but at high tide it is all covered by water. He was very confused by this, and didn’t seem to know what a tide was.

I've had that. True story:

Back in '97 the record label for the rock group Oasis were down on the stretch of beach I was working on with them then trying to capture a photo which would form the cover of the single 'All around the world'. They wanted to take a shot from the air looking down on the beach with the water slightly overlapping the words written in the sand. They were becoming frustrated when they couldn't get the right shot and when they came and spoke to me about it, were completely confused why the water over the course of two hours was now 20ft away from where it had been. I had to explain the tidal system and they still didn't see what the moon had to do with it. They didn't get it and thought I was nuts.

supthecreek

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #40 on: July 13, 2018, 04:27:19 AM »
Jarvis SUP has been around for years.

He makes gorgeous handmade wooden SUPs and is simply a passionate guy who has zero interest in racing or impressing the critics...... just happy to make boards for his area, to be used as he sees SUP.... a great leisure time activity to enjoy nature and get some exercise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWfhY7QgTUU

I believe that the future of SUP would be better served by a supportive and nurturing community, rather than hyper critical elitists, that seem to have no limit to their interest in being faster, more knowledgeable and smarter than the rest of the simply stoked SUPsters.

My SUP crew is alive and doing well.... we are more stoked than ever!
And my love of taking the slow lane, alone or with friends, will never die :)

I would love a cup holder... it would come in handy as I cruise the edges for hours.

ukgm

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #41 on: July 13, 2018, 05:43:42 AM »
I believe that the future of SUP would be better served by a supportive and nurturing community, rather than hyper critical elitists, that seem to have no limit....
Can't we/shouldn't we have both ? Isn't that the point - i.e. to be inclusive ?

manta

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #42 on: July 13, 2018, 05:54:28 AM »
We had a very vibrant SUP scene in our neck of the woods for a few years and it has really slowed down a LOT. I made the mistake of paddling a surfski about a year ago and for the most part never paddle my SUP anymore. Happy story though as I did a time trial on a SUP earlier this week after not paddling a SUP in anger for months and posted my fastest time over 6km ever. There seems to be some cross over what or how much I am not really sure.

Personally the value of SUP or any sport is very individual. The other major consideration is price for good gear. I can buy a surfski that is 6 meters long and weighs 9kg that will outlast the best made SUP. So when you start looking at cost, longevity etc. it makes sense to spend the money where the return in use will be the best over time.

I still enjoy my SUP and there are some days that a SUP is simply the best tool for the job based on conditions etc.

Let's hope SUP is able to stand in its own identity as a sport.

supthecreek

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #43 on: July 13, 2018, 05:57:54 AM »
I believe that the future of SUP would be better served by a supportive and nurturing community, rather than hyper critical elitists, that seem to have no limit....
Can't we/shouldn't we have both ? Isn't that the point - i.e. to be inclusive ?

Hyper critical and insults are what I am referencing, they are not welcoming where I come from, respectful discussion is a more productive way to attract new paddlers to a discussion.

There is no right way, best board or preferred demographic.
Everyone should be accepted and respected for the way they enjoy their paddleboard.... of whatever brand.

People who lack knowledge are exactly who seasoned paddlers should be happy to help..... not scoff at.

SaMoSUP

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Re: Is the SUP industry tanking?
« Reply #44 on: July 13, 2018, 06:32:14 AM »
I was paddling in Marina Del Rey harbor this past Wednesday evening with a couple of people on my SUP crew. We saw about 15 people out mostly newbies. Some of them were attempting to reach the breakwater to get a peek at the ocean and the sunset. It's about 2 miles from the launch point.

We always cheer these folks on..."You're almost there! The sunset looks gorgeous!"

We used to do a Friday night race here a few years back. That scene is dead. But the recreational paddling is still thriving.

I used to be one of those "people" who could NOT swim, and had no idea about the ocean. Luckily I had a nurturing community that encouraged me and I've made some great friends in the process. Now I'm mostly SUSing. I would never have thought in just a few years since starting this sport that I'd be a "waterman" lol. Now I'm happy to give back to the sport and show the newbies some stoke.

Ok I'm off to dawn patrol now.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2018, 06:34:53 AM by SaMoSUP »

 


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