What’s the Right SUP for Me?

Posted on | July 8, 2009 |

Here’s some great SUP-buying advice from OG SUP over on Seabreeze. It’s not board- or brand-specific, but it will help you greatly in general terms. Have a read!

Will this Board Suit Me? This is a very interesting question that I get asked all the time so I just wanted to post some thoughts.
1) Any review you see on the web only holds true for the person posting the review. Do not take it as gospel, that’s why I always say I am a kook surfer, weigh 105kg and 6ft tall. If the person reviewing the board is 85kg that will make a huge difference to the way it performs. I find the 11ft PSH a pleasure to ride in OH where Casso would find it boat like.
Example: 2 weekends ago a friend of mine who weighs 125kg ish wanted to try out my 10′6 wide AA and I agreed, I was happy to help. I should point out he is coming off a 12 ft laird.
He tried the 10′6WAA out in almost perfect flat water conditions on the river and it went really well. In his opinion it paddled faster than the Laird for him. We then took the board to Main Beach it was 1ft gutless surf but was a good indication of at least whether he could also stand on the board in rougher conditions.
My friend could easily stand on the board but struggled to catch a wave as I believe the gutless wave would not pick up and drive the board with his weight on it.
Change the wave to a 3ft wave with good push and he may have been in the ball park. He did learn that different boards suit different conditions and that he loves the glide of the longer board.
After he left I jump straight on the 10′6 and caught every wave I paddled for, but II am at least 20kgs lighter.
2) Be aware that the conditions you try to ride the board in will have a huge impact on how the board performs! If you demo the board in flat water

that is only a very very basic indication of whether you will be able to ride it in the surf.
Where I live our predominant wind is onshore and SW about 150 days per year. This causes onshore slop and it is very tricky to paddle in.
I always take this into consideration when I look at a board and if I demo one, I demo it on a day that has these conditions to see how it goes.
If it works in these conditions it is an option to buy it. I then compare the other bords that also work in those conditions and make a decision based on that comparision.
3) Board weight is also being thrown around as a deciding factor. I personally prefer a heavy board as in the SW onshore choppy conditions i find the work better and are less effected by the chop and wind. This is one of the reasons I like the PSH boards, however a heavier board may not suit a significantly lighter person.
If I had nice clean condition all the time I would be more inclined to ride a lighter board like a 9′6 Naish.
4) Skill level is also a totally unknown factor, I have seen people jump onto boards for 5 mins and say they hate the board. I look at then an know they can ride them but they aren’t giving themselves a hope.
I have watched them surf and it is not the board that is at fault at all. I often see people standing too far back on the board on take off and placing the brakes on and complain that the board doesn’t glide.
Or
Or i see people with their feet wide out on the rails thinking that this is a more stable stance when in fact it is the worst thing you can possible do. A narrower stance within reason is far more stable.
Try what I say on a seesaw, stand in the middle feet close together and then push on the plank. You will find it hard to move the board as you have little leverage. Then progressively move your feet out wider and you will move the board back and forward easily. This is exactly what happens on a paddle board in parallel stance in the surf.
The above are just 2 examples, there are so many more
5) You need time to work out how to paddle a new board. When I first bought my 9′6WAA i fell off it all the time, its called learning. I now ride it in 25kn onshore and 30 knot offshore but it takes practice to do it and strength of purpose.
You will never jump straight onto a new board and have it sussed in 1 or 2 surfs unless your Matt Lumley, or Casso etc etc. These guys could take out my garage door and paddle it and make it look great. Watch a kook and see how they go is my suggestion and above all have faith you will get there.
6) Never rule out any brand before you try it. I love my PSH boards but I ride every board I can get my hands on. I swap with friends in the surf every chance I get that how I learn.
The reason I bought my Kialoa Methane paddle was I traded my crowbar with a guy at Roady one afternoon and loved it. Then I bought it.
I am hanging out to try out the new quickblade I may like it more, I dont know yet.
7) Once you buy the board relax, look it over get to know it. Have faith in the decision you have made! Surf it Surf it and Surf it.