Supfoil beginner board size

[dingfix]

Last time I tried supfoil it was on a 6'6 x 30 board and paddling was not easy even though I am an experienced sup'er.  Going to give it another go.  Should I get a similar size board and work thru the problem or go for something longer maybe 7'6 for an easier time? I am 6' 185lbs but late 60's so not looking for anything radical, and not a narrow downwind board.   Thanks

[dingfix]

Anyone?

[Caribsurf]

Kind of in the same situation riding a 5’10” x 28 130 liter when I tried sup foiling. Wasn’t thrilled...  I wing on a smaller 90 liter board.  I do see a lot of Sup foilers going longer and narrower with their boards so I am guessing there is an advantage. Plenty of YouTube videos. Check out some of downwinder foil boards.   

[sflinux]

What was the volume of your 6'6" x 30"?
e.x.. 6'6" x 30" @ 69L: https://www.totalsup.com/product/starboard-hyper-foil-starlite-6-6-x-30/
e.x. 6'6" x 30" @ 135L: https://stingerfoils.com/product/66-wing-foil-board-135l/
Blue Planet has a 7'6" x 30.5" @ 144L Easy Foiler which is in the "beginner" category at your weight: Maybe reach out to the shop and they can guide you between the 7'6" and 6'11" x 29.5" @ 128L (intermediate) based on your skill level.  https://www.blueplanetsurf.com/76-x-305-x-144l-easy-foiler-2020.html
https://youtu.be/tluw3l37iek?si=-F9dIzL-fYVPjJn4

What kind of conditions are you taking it out in?  (i.e. Flat water, wind swell, surf, etc)
Would you also be using with a hand wing?
Would you using it for downwind?  "Downwind SUP foiling is not easy" https://youtu.be/I3Kn0bOoQiQ?si=YhnY_QWDfVURHbWy
Which foil were you using?  Projected surface area?  Wing span?  Aspect ratio?
How long was your mast?

[ninja tuna]

My .000002

This is my opinion if you are going to for sup foil surfing. Not winging.

Go bigger to learn.   I am pretty close to your size.  I learned on an 8 foot hyper nut foil board and had  blast.  It is a boat.  I got to where I could catch unbroken waves with it.  Then I moved down in size.  It seemed like there was a race to small foil sups because of "the feel" and "swing weight" and all that bullshit.  You have to learn how to foil on a waves first.  Catch and ride waves for a few months on a bigger beginner board with beginner foils before you even start listening to any of that.  And when you have ridden waves for a few months on the big one and buy a smaller one. Dont sell the big one right away.  There will be glassy days where you can start catching waves on the smaller one. And then there will be choppy days where you can go out, but just take the big one to have fun while you are still getting accustomed to the smaller one.  Once you get to the point where you are riding the smaller one in crappy conditions, then sell the bigger one. Unless you think you are going to have friends want to start, at which point you give them a taste with the bigger one and then sell it to them. 

I have a few friends that are currently learning to supfoil and were sold completely wrong boards by STUPID shops.  I told them return them or sell them because it wont be any fun.  Boards around 6'2 - 6' 6" , wide and floaty.  Problem is they are too short.  They cant paddle them or catch waves.  They try to justify their boards while not catching anything and making excuses.  I have an older 7'2 starboard hyper foil and when I let them use it, they are amazed.  They pretty much can almost start catching waves right away.

I would not go any smaller than 7 feet long.  If possible, go 7'6 or 8 feet. I would try to go used.  You have to hunt but these type do pop up.  Sometimes shops also are sitting on older larger boards like this that they have not been able to sell.  The 7'6 that sflinux recommended would be a great board. These boards will be bigger, slower and heavier.   But you will be able to stand, paddle, and catch waves.  If you want to catch waves and learn to sup foil in the waves.  This will be the best way.

I just realized you were older (more age experienced  )   Starboard made some great bigger foil boards.  Either the take off in in the 7'1 x 31 at 150L or there wingboard at 7' x 31" at 145 L

these paddle fine even though they say wingboard

https://isthmussailboards.com/2023-starboard-wingboard-lite-tech.html?sku=SBFB22WBLT70&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyLSMop20hQMVwDbUAR1LNwj8EAQYAyABEgLmr_D_BwE

2022 Starboard 8’0″ X 31.5″ Hyper Nut Foil 5 In 1
https://www.californiakiteboarding.com/product/2022-starboard-80-x-31-5-hyper-nut-foil-5-in-1/?attribute_pa_sup-construction=carbon

This cabrinha cross fly is great beginner board too
https://adventurekiteboarding.com/products/cabrinha-x-fly-hydrofoil-wing-board-76-153l?variant=44500544913712&srsltid=AfmBOopNCdy0ThOQWb4f9ht4awun-ooxbhuTotyJAEaortsYE1ysOu55vD4

Here is the hyper foil that I let beginners use
https://www.epic-boardsports.com/2021-starboard-72x30-hyper-foil-starlite-v2.html

[dingfix]

Thanks to all who replied.  Ninja...that's exactly the advice I was looking for, many thanks.  This is for supfoil only, so, I'm going to try around 7'6  or even 8'0 x 31 x 145l.   The 6'6 board I tried was more for wingfoil and it was almost impossible to paddle!

 

[Subber]

Yes, Thanks, this is very useful.  I don't know if I will get into it but I might and I would refer to this thread.

I'm wondering how important is the width? what do you recommend?
as I'd read that the wing does add some stability, or is that really minimal for beginners.

[ninja tuna]

Yes, Thanks, this is very useful.  I don't know if I will get into it but I might and I would refer to this thread.

I'm wondering how important is the width? what do you recommend?
as I'd read that the wing does add some stability, or is that really minimal for beginners.

Hey Subber,

We are talking about strictly sup foil surfing.  Are you referring to the wing as in hand wing or front foil wing.

[Subber]

Hi Ninja....Oh....yeah, not a foil guy.....
OK, I meant the foil (I was thinking of it as a wing)...but yeah, the foil in the water - or maybe it is foils as I guess there are two, front and rear.
I thought I read that the foil(s) in the water added stability - so I was thinking you could go with a narrower board width?
even as a beginner?
I need to learn the terminology.
Thanks.

[Badger]

The foil does add quite a bit of stability. Board length more than width also adds stability. A long narrow board will be more stable than a short wide board. It will also be faster through the water and track better.