I'm interested in experiences getting used to low volume boards? Volume equal to or slightly above body weight kg's. I'm 86kg's and looking at a 91 liter board. Thanks

So much more than just volume is important. You only need enough volume to float you. Rail shape, outline, volume distribution all contribute to stability.

When you sup a board at under 1.1x bodyweight, probably the biggest thing you notice is how much more tiring it is just to stand on it. Constantly correcting for balance - can wear you out quite quickly. Time on the water is the only real thing that helps this.

If you are happy to sit on the board between sets and only stand up for waves and paddling back out then that is the best way to sup a board around 1.0x IMO.

Obviously the performance of the board increases dramatically as you get to 1.0x coming from 1.2-3 and up.

I've found about 1.2x body weight is generally the compromise i'm happy with for the waves I sup. Typically soft waves, up to 1.5 OH.

I actually prefer laying down on the board, waiting for waves with everyone else. I really enjoy sup surfing but I'd like to try getting the performance potential closer to prone surfing. I just bought a 101 liter infinity b line so I'll answer all my questions shortly.

What Hoppo3228 said.

This said, getting used to low volume boards is worth it, it helps a lot your progression if you are into vertical surfing or tubes.

But it is a tradeoff. The benefits of a low (1.1 or less guild factor) volume board only really appears on hollow waves... but only if you have still stamina left from paddling to really push yourself to 100% during the ride.

Myself, after a lot of boards, I find that 1.2 is my "sweet spot" for volume, coupled with a refined shape that keeps the volume out of the rear rails. I thus get enough performance for me (at 63 yo), while not being exhausted after 30mn, and have the paddling speed to go fetch uncrowded peaks. My quiver currently goes from 1.08 to 1.24, but I am 99% of the time on 1.18+ as on the beach breaks where I SUP, powerful waves means a lot of water movements.

1.08 is still somewhat enjoyable for me in the proper clean and hollow conditions, but anything under it is too tiring to be worth the trouble, as I do not get out in waves hollow enough to get significant benefits.

PS: Lying down and only getting up for the waves, I was able to manage 0.86 (84 l for 97kg), but I really did not see the point of it.

All this being said, if the volume stated is correct

I decided against the 101 liter board and I'm back looking at the 91 liter. I'm also still losing weight. I'm 85kg at the moment. I'm able to try paddling it first so that'll be interesting. It'll be a fun experiment.

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colas said..
What Hoppo3228 said.

This said, getting used to low volume boards is worth it, it helps a lot your progression if you are into vertical surfing or tubes.

But it is a tradeoff. The benefits of a low (1.1 or less guild factor) volume board only really appears on hollow waves... but only if you have still stamina left from paddling to really push yourself to 100% during the ride.

Myself, after a lot of boards, I find that 1.2 is my "sweet spot" for volume, coupled with a refined shape that keeps the volume out of the rear rails. I thus get enough performance for me (at 63 yo), while not being exhausted after 30mn, and have the paddling speed to go fetch uncrowded peaks. My quiver currently goes from 1.08 to 1.24, but I am 99% of the time on 1.18+ as on the beach breaks where I SUP, powerful waves means a lot of water movements.

1.08 is still somewhat enjoyable for me in the proper clean and hollow conditions, but anything under it is too tiring to be worth the trouble, as I do not get out in waves hollow enough to get significant benefits.

PS: Lying down and only getting up for the waves, I was able to manage 0.86 (84 l for 97kg), but I really did not see the point of it.

The 91 liter board I'm looking at would be right at 1.08. That's encouraging to hear you say that was somewhat enjoyable. The difficulty for me will be its width at 26". I'm really interested in pushing my limits with sup board size. I grew up in Southern California and surfed all my life. At 54 I'm enjoying changing it up a little. I've gone from 105kg to 85 which is allowing me to go under 100 liters which I never imagined. I don't mind laying down most of the time and getting up for waves because what I get most out of sup surfing is being standing when I catch the wave. That is so different than needing to stand up after catching the wave. No matter how efficient you are at standing up, it will never be the same as already standing at take off. Anyway, that's my thoughts.

What board are you on now?

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eabmoto said..
The difficulty for me will be its width at 26". I'm really interested in pushing my limits with sup board size.

26" will be challenging, but very interesting to discover your limits.

I really think a narrow tail is mandatory for aggressive vertical surfing in powerful waves, but for the main width I am not so sure.
Granted, more width in the middle brings more latency in turns, less spontaneity, but on the other hand, more width means the volume is more spread out and the rails can be thinner for more sensitivity. I prefer wider with thinner rails, but I guess it is a personal tradeoff, especially now that I am older and have slower reflexes anyways. Around 29" is my current sweet spot.

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Kisutch said..
What board are you on now?

7'4x30 120 liters. Very wide nose and tail. Very full rails. I usually surf it as a twin fin. It's fun in small waves and turns really well. when I got it I was 105kg so it was kinda small for me. I'm now 85kg so the board now has lots of volume for me. I like the short length.

and you have a 100L B-line but haven't surfed it? I like riding smaller and smaller boards cause I can feel a sense of progression even if the waves don't offer up turns. I'm currently 84kg plus a cold water suit and my go-to is 100L Blurr V2. where I struggle is that when waves are solid and my surfing feels the the most limited by volume, it's also a lot harder to paddle around cause of currents and bounce. And those days you have less patience for flailing. Chest high and clean, I can comfortably surf a 26" wide 94 L board, but when it's overhead even the 100 L V2 can be quite challenging, but perhaps it's cleaner where you are. I think the ideal route is to get a go-to that's comfortable enough to paddle in non-perfect conditions and then get a step down in the same model. I wish I had done that but boards so damn expensive hard not to opportunistically buy used.

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Kisutch said..
and you have a 100L B-line but haven't surfed it? I like riding smaller and smaller boards cause I can feel a sense of progression even if the waves don't offer up turns. I'm currently 84kg plus a cold water suit and my go-to is 100L Blurr V2. where I struggle is that when waves are solid and my surfing feels the the most limited by volume, it's also a lot harder to paddle around cause of currents and bounce. And those days you have less patience for flailing. Chest high and clean, I can comfortably surf a 26" wide 94 L board, but when it's overhead even the 100 L V2 can be quite challenging, but perhaps it's cleaner where you are. I think the ideal route is to get a go-to that's comfortable enough to paddle in non-perfect conditions and then get a step down in the same model. I wish I had done that but boards so damn expensive hard not to opportunistically buy used.

I was looking at a b line but decided against it.