hi all, new to sup this summer and have been riding a 9'8" *30" starboard (older element I think). I have been having a blast. Surfing some inside reforms with the kids and chasing some larger peaks further offshore that are hard to surf prone as they have shifty line ups. I am planning on keeping the 9'8" but am wanting something less ponderous to surf, maintains the good paddling glide, can handle the size and grunt in the waves here (sw west oz)and less volume as I am bloody short and only weigh about 64kg. Control is more important than absolute chuck ability as the set ups I am surfing are often less than perfect, exposed and often well overhead. I think something between 8'6" and 9'My budget is limited so it will probably be second hand. All though new to stand up I have been surfing for 30 odd years and can hold my own in most line ups on a good day. Any advice would be welcome as I don't know many people that sup surf. Cheers

Reptable shop, talk to the people, take the demo's for a ride and test em out!
JP Surf Wide bodies are great, about the size you are after and go well in most conditions from 1 -10 foot. Beach to reef.
But there are many out there!

thanks for the reply momasfolly, i do like the plan shape of the jp wide body surf. But my difficulty/trouble with my 9'8' is the sheer volume particularly in the rails when i change direction at speed. The wide body surfs with any sort length seem to have a large volume. I weigh about 65kg in a wetsuit! I reckon the 7'4" and 8'2" would be good once i was on a wave but how small can you go before you kill the paddle glide.
Not much in the way of sup demos down this way as far as I know. Cheers

Hi sorry to contradict you there mommasfolly but I would definitely steer clear of the jp wide body surf for the solid reef waves of the sw. Something with more of a gun/ short board shape and a nice pulled In tail would be what you are after, the jp surf, stun gun, starboard pro, fanatic pro wave or something along those lines. With the narrower shapes you will lose a bit of stability but still have pretty good glide and a lot more control in solid waves, there is no way you would be able to hold a decent line on a Margaret river 10 footer with a jp widebody, the stun gun still has decent width but less volume which could suit you, you could also hit up rick jacko he is near grace town and makes sups for Margaret river conditions

Hi Jacobmatans Have not seen a stun gun in the flesh but on paper they look better volume to length for my weight.
How short can you go before you really kill the glide?Also in the promos they describe them as having extra rocker, does this affect their paddle efficientcy. I'm must admit I am addicted to extra scope that all that paddle speed and ease in covering good distances gives. I often paddle the long way out for a wave now . I've never did that on a surfboard.

Hi Srrat i havent ridden a stun gun myself but they do look good and I often see people out in the water on them, the guys i know that ride them seem to love them and it doesn't look like they are having any troubles with too much rocker. As far as how short can you go without killing the glide there are many many factors that come into play for that one. I started on a 10 ft board and now ride a jp surf 9'2 and my 9'2 glides better and gets in to waves better than the 10ft board did, I definitely value good glide and getting in early, my JP 9'2 surf gets into waves as well as any board I have ridden I am 105kgs though so for you it might be too much of a boat, you could maybe go for the 8'10 or 8'6 jp surf, I imagine the 8'10 would have you cruising with alot of glide and getting into waves nice and early but you may want to go smaller especially if your keeping the 9'8 element