Is there a "Classic" stand up paddle board?

[lopezwill]

  I've been in this sport for a little over two years and I'm wondering if there is a classic board that has been molded yet?  Or is this sport still too new?  I thought the The Jimmy Lewis 11 footer was a board that would be around for a long time...that was two years ago.  With so many new boards out there which ones will stand the test of time?

  Maybe two catagories.  One for sup surfing and the other for paddling distance.  Your thoughts?

[colas]

In France, I guess we have two classics: Gong's NFA and 911. You will find that most people having started in the last 3 years have started on one of these shapes (the low price due to direct sale was an important factor in popularizing the sport)... The NFA 3 sizes in particular have been copied a lot by other local brands. More recently, a lot of people have started on Starboards 9'8".


http://www.gongsup.com/No-Friend-Attitude-12.html?lang=fr#english
http://www.gongsup.com/Electric-9-11.html?lang=fr#english

[bigdom]

my vote would be the JL11

first board for me and many others and still in production

[Maddisdaddi]

PSH 10'6" AA.  Me and my friend always talk about other boards but this is one that can do it all.  Cruising, a little downwind, surfing.  Love this board and probably will keep it til I break it or something. 

[linter]

maybe not now, maybe not ever, but in my mind the classic board vote should go to the Starboard 10.5.  Not too long, not too short, not too wide, not too narrow, it can do everything (in small surf).  The Jimmy 11 was the first board for a lot of people (thank you, PonoBill!) and it's a great board, but it can't hold a candle to the all-around versatility of the 10.5.

In the non-short-board catagory, I have owned a Jimmy 11, the *board 9.8, 11.2 and 12.6, and the PSH 10.6WAA and 9.6WAA, and one or two others, and I've sold em all off and now only own one board (and, well, an ULI) and that's the 10.5.

Meanwhile, I continue to look for the perfect specifically shaped magic-bullet noserider (I tried to get Gong to see about shipping me one of its crazily shaped Never Sticks but the company has a terrible way of doing business).  If it never comes, though, I think I'll be perfectly happy to ride what I've been riding for the past 3 years now.  Yup, to me, the 10.5 is a classic!

[DavidJohn]

For me there's two that come to mind.. The big 12'1" Laird.. and the the big 11'6" Naish.. IMO the 11'6" Naish is a classic and a great learner/allrounder.. and I loved mine.. 

DJ

[LagoonSurfer]

Yes. MINE.   

[Nemo]

 for me naish nalu 10'6" epoxy wood is th ultimate allrounder and timeless in its longboardshape

[Tom]

the C4 10' is a classic, a solid all around wave board.

[lamontweaver]

I vote for the Surftech Laird 12'1" soft top. It's a classic beginner board.

[J-Bird]

I think my Whopper will be a classic.  It works in all kinds of conditions from sloppy 1 foot to DOH.  I will be riding it nearly everyday until somebody shows me a better board.

[laszlo]

The SOS Big Red was the first production board many of us on the mainland ever heard of. I started on one from the first shipment that Wardog received. It still does everything well, and is a great all around SUP, even including light air windsurfing.

[crtraveler]

I'm gonna have to say the Laird 12'1".....

[diesel]

The Laird 12'1 is probably a classic because it was one of the first molded boards and a lot of people learned on them.  It can surf or cruise.  I would like to get one in the future as my cruiser/surfer.  Does anyone know the volume of the 12'1?  On thier website they say 170 cc but I have seen other sites that say around 200 cc and one website said 225 cc.  It is not really clear so if anyone knows for sure then please write in.  I think it is more like the 200 cc and the surftech site is incorrect because there are a lot of mistakes on that website about board volumes.

[stoneaxe]

Add my all wood Starboard 12-6. I still think its one of the best all around boards out there and a beautiful board to boot. I bet Bill wishes he had it back...(no way bro... ). Plenty of others for sure. The JL11, Laird 12-1, SOS Big Red, Naish 11-6, C4 10-6...along with others listed above its quite a list and not complete by any means.