Hi everyone,

I am about to buy my first SUP, am 56 KG and 5'3. Any recommendations for cruising and catching small waves. I have been looking at a Naish Mana 10.0 or should I go for a shorter or longer board. Weight is also an issue. Appreciate any advice.

Thanks

the manas are good boards but for someone of your weight it would be a little bit to big(volume wise), it would be okay for cruising, but for surfing it would probably be a bit to much, maybe something like a 10'6 nalu, it would be a little bigger but it would be better for paddling and easier for you to surf, there would be plenty of other suitable boards for you, just head down to your local store and see what boards they have to demo, and just talk to heaps of people, as everyone will have a different opionion, but mainly just try and demo as many different boards as you can to get an idea of what you like

Jarryd

Thanks a lot for your advice. I am selling my Kayak because it is way to heavy to lift on my own, so dont want the same problem with a SUP.

hi, at your weight you really should be looking at a 9 foot mana. I surf a 10 foot mana and im 106 kg. Have to really bury my back foot to get it to turn properly. at 56 kilos you'd absolutely struggle getting the 10 footer to turn. From memory the 9 footer is around 140 litres as oposed to the 210 of the mana. Still probably way too big for you but a much better suited board to your weight.

I'm 78 kg - 5'4", and, I'm 53 years old - I had never surfed in my life, and got my first stand up board exactly 1 year ago. It was a C4 waterman 10'6" inflatable. Now, I have a 9'6" Coreban Performer, a Naish Hokua 9'5" and a 9'3" - I have grown out of the bigger C4 board, and already thinking in a few more months I will want a smaller board. I got my first board intending to only paddle flat water, no intention of ever going near a wave - now I go check the surf every 20 minutes and can't wait to get out there. If you start, you will be hooked, and if you put even a minimum of time in you will out grow a 10' Mana very quickly. If you have any surf back ground you will out grow a 10 ' Mana very quickly. Sure, a board you hardly ever fall off when starting might be a good idea, but for me, part of the benefits of falling off constantly was it got me fit fast, just getting back on the board over and over. Sorry I can't recommend a board, as I only know what I like, but I just think you could start on a smaller board. Oddly enough, I still consider getting a Mana or a Nalu - I look at the brochure every day, and absolutely love their boards, but for sure there are other great boards out there, and there must be paddlers your size who will let you know what is suitable. Nothing crazy, but I think a little smaller, or at least less volume.