I am an intermediate windsurfer looking to buy my first sup board, I have some SUP experience too. Main use will be cruising in flat water or slight chop for a few miles (I will be windsurfing when it's windy enough), but I also want to be able to surf in small waves, knee to waist high. (most often onshore). I weigh 63 kg at 177cm, what board would be a good compromise between surfing and cruising performance? Portability is alco a concern, 12+ foot downwind race boards etc. are too impractical for me. I am currently looking at a used 2016 fanatic allwave 9' (159L) and an One Surf SUP 10'x30"(147L). Would these boards be good for me and my intended use? Also considering a Naish Mana 8"10'.

At 63 kg any of these would work, best condition for money would be my advice.

longboard shape boards around 10ft are perfect. Use a single 9-10" fin when on flat water, use side fins and a 7-8" centre fin in waves.

130 litres is plenty for your weight

the one sup would be the pick of the 2 mentioned imo.

if not that, something like a 9'5" jimmy Lewis striker would be perfect. Lots of brands have similar boards to the striker.

Select to expand quote

Hoppo3228 said..
longboard shape boards around 10ft are perfect. Use a single 9-10" fin when on flat water, use side fins and a 7-8" centre fin in waves.

130 litres is plenty for your weight

the one sup would be the pick of the 2 mentioned imo.

if not that, something like a 9'5" jimmy Lewis striker would be perfect. Lots of brands have similar boards to the striker.

thanks, I too was leaning towards the one sup, my only worry was that maybe it would be too big for me in the surf.

Small waist high waves no issue on the 10ft'er. If going out into bigger waves than that, you'll want a smaller board within a couple of months.

If you were to buy new and wanted a One sup. The 9' Bolta would be a sweet all rounder. You'd lose some glide due to the shorter length and the learning curve would be steeper.... but you wouldn't need a smaller board for head high waves later either.

The 9'6" Sunova Style, Sunova Steeze 8'10", Sunova Revolution 9' x 28/30 would all be sweet.

Fanatic Stylemaster, Naish Nalu S Glass, JP longboard 9'6", Smik Style Lord etc would all do a good job too...

Select to expand quote

Hoppo3228 said..
longboard shape boards around 10ft are perfect. Use a single 9-10" fin when on flat water, use side fins and a 7-8" centre fin in waves.

130 litres is plenty for your weight

the one sup would be the pick of the 2 mentioned imo.

if not that, something like a 9'5" jimmy Lewis striker would be perfect. Lots of brands have similar boards to the striker.

well, turns out the 10ft One sup isn't available, but the 9ft version of the same model is. It's 124L, maybe that would be a bit too sluggish in flat water?

No. At 63kg it's basically double your weight in volume... Might take a session or 2 longer to get used to standing on it though.

Better wave range and way easier to carry around etc.

I ride the 9'0 Bolta' at 123L and it continues to put a smile on my dial and I am slightly less than 100kg and could paddle it for miles without grumbling.

Select to expand quote

thall said..
I am an intermediate windsurfer looking to buy my first sup board, I have some SUP experience too. Main use will be cruising in flat water or slight chop for a few miles (I will be windsurfing when it's windy enough), but I also want to be able to surf in small waves, knee to waist high. (most often onshore). I weigh 63 kg at 177cm, what board would be a good compromise between surfing and cruising performance? Portability is alco a concern, 12+ foot downwind race boards etc. are too impractical for me. I am currently looking at a used 2016 fanatic allwave 9' (159L) and an One Surf SUP 10'x30"(147L). Would these boards be good for me and my intended use? Also considering a Naish Mana 8"10'.

I have the Naish Mana 8'10". Really like the board for my beach break. Gets in on steep waves we'll and has tons of glide. Find it easy to paddle around when not too choppy
I'm at 80kg and still a novice so still getting comfortable with balance and surfing in general. At 63 kg, you will have much greater volume to weight ratio than me as the Mana is 133L .

Regardless of how light you are most sub 10' boards aren't going to paddle very well in flat water - yes, some are "ok" but not if you wanna cover any distance with ease and actually enjoy it. A 10' is a great length for cruisey paddling in any conditions and if you're prepared to learn how to surf 'longboard' style you'll find you really love surfing this length board (also more stability, easier to paddle into smaller waves, and quicker to get out the back)

There is no really no such thing as a good compromise between a flat water sup and a surf sup, as I have found. I bought my 10'2" Starboard Wedge in May, after supping on a no name 10'6" x 30 inflatable sup for 8 months. I've been out in solid 3' (the biggest summer swell we've had so far) and it handled it beautifully. I am now doing re-entries, floaters and cutbacks and loving it, but I surfed for around 15 years when I younger, so it's kind of like jumping back on bicycle, albeit a huge and heavy one.

When it's flat I paddle around every morning for fitness and endurance training. As much as I love my Wedge, I am now considering buying a shorter board for surfing and a longer board for cruising. If you only want one board, and considering your light weight, I reckon something around the 9' to mid 9' could be a sweet spot, but it will be compromised in both surfing and flat water paddling. Whether you are willing to live with that is up to you.

You mentioned onshore conditions and this does depend on your local conditions, but do bear in mind that a board with a high volume will be better for flat water paddling, but in onshore chop the board will be corky and feel unstable. I reckon for surfing as a beginner you ought to be looking for a board around the 110 to 120 litre mark. That will give you plenty of volume for stability in the surf and for enough float for flat water paddling, as long as you don't mind other people cruising past you effortlessly.