warwickl said..
I was enlightened by an earlier post by a few very experienced guys.
So 70 plus guys tell us your story.

Warwick I,lets start with you ,love to here about your surfing journey ,boards ect

All I can remember is:
At 71, it's just beginning!

Met up with Ian Cairns, Sean Poynter and Daniel Hughes yesterday for dawn patrol.
Used Ian's 120 liter board for an hour.

The older I get.... the more fun it is! ??

tomorrow..... Hurricane Dorian swell ??

CaptainJimbo said..
Warwickl, ok. story is as unremarkable as it gets. Ex-high school chalkie, moved around NSW teaching and finished on the south coast. I was a prone surfer [very average one] but a rotator cuff problem made it too painful to prone paddle so, despite the murmurings of "going to the dark side", I tried SUP'ing and was hooked! Now, a number of my over-70 mates have come over, although most of them still prone surf as well. I'm still looking for the ideal Sup and also only venture out if it's below head-height - At 71 I don't bounce well anymore. Where I surf there's a kiosk overlooking the bay and post- or pre-surf there's always a bunch of people to have a coffee with. The social aspect is one of the treats of surfing, prone or stand-up! No major illnesses so far! [That's probably done it, though]. One of our group is over 80 and still out there. That's my plan too. Cheers all.

Good realistic post.
I am aiming to be a proficient SUP foiler by next birthday.

CaptainJimbo said..
Warwickl, ok. story is as unremarkable as it gets. Ex-high school chalkie, moved around NSW teaching and finished on the south coast. I was a prone surfer [very average one] but a rotator cuff problem made it too painful to prone paddle so, despite the murmurings of "going to the dark side", I tried SUP'ing and was hooked! Now, a number of my over-70 mates have come over, although most of them still prone surf as well. I'm still looking for the ideal Sup and also only venture out if it's below head-height - At 71 I don't bounce well anymore. Where I surf there's a kiosk overlooking the bay and post- or pre-surf there's always a bunch of people to have a coffee with. The social aspect is one of the treats of surfing, prone or stand-up! No major illnesses so far! [That's probably done it, though]. One of our group is over 80 and still out there. That's my plan too. Cheers all.

Hmm I think we know where you are CaptainJimbo.
I won't let on - wouldn't want everyone stealing all your coffee every morning!

Mark Horn said..

CaptainJimbo said..
Warwickl, ok. story is as unremarkable as it gets. Ex-high school chalkie, moved around NSW teaching and finished on the south coast. I was a prone surfer [very average one] but a rotator cuff problem made it too painful to prone paddle so, despite the murmurings of "going to the dark side", I tried SUP'ing and was hooked! Now, a number of my over-70 mates have come over, although most of them still prone surf as well. I'm still looking for the ideal Sup and also only venture out if it's below head-height - At 71 I don't bounce well anymore. Where I surf there's a kiosk overlooking the bay and post- or pre-surf there's always a bunch of people to have a coffee with. The social aspect is one of the treats of surfing, prone or stand-up! No major illnesses so far! [That's probably done it, though]. One of our group is over 80 and still out there. That's my plan too. Cheers all.

Captain you mention you're looking for the ideal sup. Well it is a Smik Hipster Twin Longboard. Get the right size for your weight but I can't recommend the 9'2"x29" highly enough. It glides into waves beautifully, it's stable as, can be a long board when you want or turns like a short board when you want to. The perfect 1 board quiver in my opinion. Be warned though it's so addictive that you might start taking it out even when it gets above head height

Over head is when they are at there best,in the smaller sizes.But still amazing fun in the smaller stuff.even the 10 ft will do both with extra paddle power! Exceptional concept!!!

Anything stated in the over 70s club stays within the club.

CaptainJimbo said..
Mark and justaddwater, thanks for the tips on Smik Sups. I'm hoping to demo a few in November. I thought the Spitfire might be in the mix as well. Any comments on that style would be welcome.
Helmy, mum's the word! All visiting surfers are sworn to secrecy.

Jimbo ,carnt comment on the spitfire,I have tried to surf that style of board,and can but after a while I get bored,I always feel like something is missing,and it is ! a wider nose and more user friendly design ,as I like to have only one board limited budget $$$ and love to noserider,as well as go hard of the back end.Enter the Smik hipster twin longboard,this concept is amazing and covers it all,but like all sups it needs to be the correct size,l demoed the 9/2 loved it got the 10ft for more paddle power,bad shoulders,but with time,I know now the 9/2 is my size, and will be getting one asap,as the 9/2 still paddles very well and surfs unreal !!!

917 lookers so bet 20% are over 70 but shy.
Tell us your story and the value it add to your life to make you a 70+

Nice story, thanks.
I'll just give myself a plug before I turn 73 on Saturday .
Last kite foil effort of 26.5k distance.

Nick from UK (72) Been on SUPs for 8 years after 3 decades on mals and surfing for over 45 years (late starter !) Got into SUP during a seemingly never ending Summer flat spell on rented Starbie11'0 &C4 10'8 ..First board owned was a Walden 9'4 Magic Model great for improving and not too bad in decen surf . I surf the North Sea in Yorkshire at local breaks around Scarborough along with tripos to Scotland; the best times are now in our Autumn and then through Winter to Spring ... Summer's are small or flat typicall ..Warm water ? Not here really .. Just back from 10 days ion Fuerteventura in Canaries back to prone surf and really missed sup but not N, Sea temps. Consolidated my SUP quiver down to 10' Surftech GLopez tri fin ,130 litres old but reliable cruiser and fine up to 4' clean , Surftech 8'11 Lopez quad 124 litres- had from new and a firm fave still; 2017 Tom Caroll Loose Leaf V1 9'0 quad,120 litres go-to ride when it gets a bit chunky and blowing as swing weight is an advantage - and my latest acquisition LOCO (an excellent UK brand) El Diablo 8'2 quad, 111 litres which still getting wired is v light and vresponsive with back foot planted . As 50% time I'm in 5/3mm wettie and rest of kit I need plenty of board volume even though 65kilos wet through. Part of local Pensioner Posse and oldest - the others are mere teenagers in their 60's sometimes need a kick up the jacksie from me to get 'em out there Hahaha !! .. If it's s***e I have to buy the coffees unfortunately . Usually we can score midweek sessions with light numbers in line up but looking forward to chillier days in November & December then drop in temps will usually thin- out the weekend warriors again. Up here in North East England SUP is a bit of a minority thing and some surfers can get on your case -100% usually visitors- but having 30 years in this local line ups alone means us locals all get along fine despite the bants from the shortboarder hold- outs in their 40s - and in any case I have few spots I can always swerve to where I'm on me own.

NickBev said..
Nick from UK (72) Been on SUPs for 8 years after 3 decades on mals and surfing for over 45 years (late starter !) Got into SUP during a seemingly never ending Summer flat spell on rented Starbie11'0 &C4 10'8 ..First board owned was a Walden 9'4 Magic Model great for improving and not too bad in decen surf . I surf the North Sea in Yorkshire at local breaks around Scarborough along with tripos to Scotland; the best times are now in our Autumn and then through Winter to Spring ... Summer's are small or flat typicall ..Warm water ? Not here really .. Just back from 10 days ion Fuerteventura in Canaries back to prone surf and really missed sup but not N, Sea temps. Consolidated my SUP quiver down to 10' Surftech GLopez tri fin ,130 litres old but reliable cruiser and fine up to 4' clean , Surftech 8'11 Lopez quad 124 litres- had from new and a firm fave still; 2017 Tom Caroll Loose Leaf V1 9'0 quad,120 litres go-to ride when it gets a bit chunky and blowing as swing weight is an advantage - and my latest acquisition LOCO (an excellent UK brand) El Diablo 8'2 quad, 111 litres which still getting wired is v light and vresponsive with back foot planted . As 50% time I'm in 5/3mm wettie and rest of kit I need plenty of board volume even though 65kilos wet through. Part of local Pensioner Posse and oldest - the others are mere teenagers in their 60's sometimes need a kick up the jacksie from me to get 'em out there Hahaha !! .. If it's s***e I have to buy the coffees unfortunately . Usually we can score midweek sessions with light numbers in line up but looking forward to chillier days in November & December then drop in temps will usually thin- out the weekend warriors again. Up here in North East England SUP is a bit of a minority thing and some surfers can get on your case -100% usually visitors- but having 30 years in this local line ups alone means us locals all get along fine despite the bants from the shortboarder hold- outs in their 40s - and in any case I have few spots I can always swerve to where I'm on me own.

Nick great story! I'm one of those 60+teenagers looking forward to making the club,seriously huge respect to all of you

warwickl said..
Nice story, thanks.
I'll just give myself a plug before I turn 73 on Saturday .
Last kite foil effort of 26.5k distance.

Warwick that's a pretty healthy looking cardiograth