Question for those that still prone surf

[Tom]

Do you think SUPing has helped your normal surfing? I recently took out my 9'6" noserider, which I hadn't ridden in a long time, and I sure felt like I was surfing better than ever. Just might be an illusion, but I think riding a 30" wide SUP has given me some skills that i didn't previously have.

[noworrieshawaii]

I totally think SUPing has helped... Mainly just cause I do it so much, I am that much stronger..  Only time I'm prone surfing though is when I trade boards so have ridden all sorts of unfamilar boards and still felt strong... Kept wanting to take a paddle stroke though... Musta looked pretty dorky.. 

[patfly]

Helps skills - I think.
For the past 10 years my prone surfing has been limited to summer rentals on Maui - small waves 5-10 times a year. Now when I trade boards with prone surfers, I am amazed at how well I do in (california) decent surf.

[lawaia]

I'm convinced that it definitely helps.

I've been SUP-ing since March 2007 and I really enjoy it but I still prone surf regularly, especially when the waves are good.  It's been impossible for me to give up my surfboards - there are just places on a wave that my 6'1" can go that my 9'8" SUP just can't. 

My balance is much improved from SUP.  I feel much more solid on my board and there is very little adjustment that I need to do - unlike going from snowboarding to surfing (front foot vs back foot dominant) or even going from my fish to my normal shortboard.

I've seen pictures of CT pros like Occy and Snake on SUP on smaller days...

[Princess]

I only really get to regular surf on vacation. I SUP on flat water here. I have found that it really does help. My balance is so much better and my pop-ups seem a lot more solid. I think it is the core strength and additional comfort in the water that SUPing provides. It is great cross training for any sport!

[motopilot]

Do you think SUPing has helped your normal surfing? I recently took out my 9'6" noserider, which I hadn't ridden in a long time, and I sure felt like I was surfing better than ever. Just might be an illusion, but I think riding a 30" wide SUP has given me some skills that i didn't previously have.

Funny, I was asking this myself the other day.  I ha da friend come down and he rode my longboard and I SUP.  It was nice to be able to carry a board underneath your arm again.  Also my longboard felt small at first compared to my SUP. 

[Paddle-Plappe]

Now i feel my longboard like a shorboard but i often switch without thinking. Kind of "what am i doing? where's my paddle?" 

[wadadli_waterman]

Man......it has definitely helped!

Its the paddle fitness that always kills me with prone surfing.  The conditions for normal surfing just arent consistant enough here to get a routine that will maintain condition.

I can literally be out on the water everyday (and usualy in ridable surf too) with the SUB.  I found out how much better condition I was in when lending my SUB to a prone paddler and catching a few waves on their board.  A lot of times on a board a lot smaller than I usually ride and having a blast and really feeling the extra paddle power which makes all the difference with prone paddling.

Ironic that I actually prefer to be on my SUB now even in good surf conditions.

[Nate Burgoyne]

Ironic that I actually prefer to be on my SUB now even in good surf conditions.

You're hooked. Welcome to the club. 

[surfpainter]

Thats right...welcome to the party pal !!