Hi All,
Got my inflatable JP Allrounder 10'2 for almost two years now. Used it for touring/paddling for first 1.5 years, but lately started dabbling in small wave surfing (2-4 feet tops). The board is an inflatable, 200 liters, 32" wide.
I am far from being good at it, but I do manage to catch some and surf straight to shore with great pleasure. On a rare occasion I may even do a diagonal, and that's about it.
I am 5'8" and 165 pounds (pre-meal ha ha).
I'm interested if changing a board will make life easier for me - I'm not interested in doing more radical moves, simply to catch as many waves as I can as easily as possible.
My balance is poor - after all this time on a board, I don't fall off much at all, but when I tried a 135 liter board it was very hard for me to keep balance in the eaves.
So my question is: given the type of waves I ride, and the lack of maneuvers - should I go for a shorter board? e.g. the Red Paddle Surf Star? or a wider one like the Starboard Astro Zen? Should I go for a longer or shorter one?
Volume - some of the boards like the Red Paddle 10'6 are 240 liters, is that the way to go?
Seems like longer/bigger boards are harder to paddle for initial wave-catching velocity, yet really short ones are not ideal either?

In any case, I stress I'm looking for an inflatable only, for safety reasons - both myself, and knowing I cannot really damage another human being in the water. Our shores get crowded...
Thanks for the advice, (BTW I do stand up most of the time - this is prior to hopping off, but the only pic I got so far..)

Hi,
Is you board inflated enough? it seems to have a lot of rocker...

I would not go too long for surfing with an inflatable. These boards have a lot of volume so they can catch waves easily even in the 8'-9' range. But since you will have to walk more on them than a rigid board (the secret to ride an inflatable is not to hesitate to go to the tail to turn), it will be easier on a 9' than a 11'. Plus longer inflatables may have trouble keeping their rocker shape.

For your weight, I think a smaller inflatable will be easier to turn, but not too short to still be easy to paddle.

Here is a good SUPer on a 9' 170 liters inflatable, to give you an idea on how to ride them

Thanks for the comment and video, Colas!
The rocker is not as bad as the photo makes it look - the board is inflated to a solid 15PSI and you hardly see any dent looking from the side - it is quite solid.
I'm afraid I'm very weak in shifting leg position during the ride.
My current technique is to enter a 'surf stance' and paddle in it before the wave reaches me, then keep in this stance, only lowering or raising my body a bit using joint work.
So I guess, along your lines, for me a slightly shorter board (say 9' like the ULI Gerry Lopez) would be interesting.
In any case, I guess maybe I'm best off improving my technique first on the current board.
Thanks

Select to expand quote

SleepLessInTLV said..
then keep in this stance, only lowering or raising my body a bit using joint work.
[...]
In any case, I guess maybe I'm best off improving my technique first on the current board.

Yes, just try moving more on your board first, before changing boards.

For your weight a smaller board will be better... but also a bit less stable.
So it should be best to fist learn to move/walk on your current board to have a stable platform to experiment new things...

PS: 15 PSI is OK.

Hey Colas and SleepLess
I just thought I'd let you know that you guys inspired me to get back out on my inflatable 10.6 red paddle Ride for a surf. I'm 6.3 and about 90kgs with gear. I tried the Ride about a year ago in waist high surf. I caught nothing and got hammered - I figured the inflatable just would not surf.
More recently I've been surfing my 2011 version 12.6 glide in v.small empty waves while I save for a proper board. the glide catches waves and tracks along them well, but turns like a supertanker. Good fun tho.
Anyway after watching that vid I thought I'd give it another go on the Ride. This time in knee to waist high. Maybe it was the time on the Glide and Colas's advice to step back, but this time I had much more success. I probably got 80% of the waves I went for. So far, the inflatable doesn't track along the wave as well as the Glide, but it's early days and maybe I'll get better. At least I dont have to worry about smashing my glide.
So, cheers for the posts - I definitely got something out of them.
Hamish

Just going to add my 2p's worth, as I've got a 2012 Red Paddle 10'8 Mega SUP which I occasionally take out for a dabble in decent sized surf - Head high +, which is really pushing its limits

I'm 6ft, 95ish kgs. I find I've got to inflate it to at least 20 psi otherwise it's not great. I have to really go back onto the tail and lean on the rails to turn as it is a supertanker, but is good fun in hollow waves. From the photo SleepLess, is there any way you can inflate the board any further?

As Colas has said, you've a nice stable platform you've currently got to experiment with shifting your position on. I find at the moment when on my inflatible I slip into bad habits as its so stable, when compared to my new board where stance and position and the sweet spot for paddle is a ver critical.

I (68kgs - 1m80) have the Red Paddle Surfstar 9'2" for over 2 years now and it has traveled to several places (beach breaks, points breaks). I have surfed it in small waves (3-4foot) and waves up to 7 foot (even hollow almost scary). You need to stand back as far as possible with your back foot (end of the pad) in order to steer it in bottom turns and top turns. This is feasible thanks to the pintail and the rigid construction (24-25PSI and the 2 lateral sail battens).
Other SUPpers will be amazed what you can achieve with this board.

Getting into the wave is no problem as hardly any speed loss compared to hard boards (you might need to row a bit fiercer).
In case you 'miss' the wave just put your front foot far in front (beyond the pad) and then the board will dive into the wave. Unfortunately the nose of the board is slippery as there is no pad (and no wax) so in some cases you just slide of the board.
Once on the wave the board is slightly slower compared to hard boards of the similar lengths (9'0" and 8'5") but still fast enough to give you a hell of a ride. Nose rides are feasible but then you will feel the nose bending a bit.

Great board - recommended

The ULI Gerry Lopez will be perfect Check out ULI and Steamroller in Youtube and Vimeo.



The second half of the video goes black but you get the idea of what a 230 pound 5'8" guy can do. Check the other links too
the guy is an absolute brute and rides a Harley with the gear on the



=

I took the red 12' 6" x 28" Red Race out into the surf for the first time, it's fast.

The 9'2" Red surf star looks the goods.

All this is great. Looks like there is loads of scope to get more out of my inflatable. loved that steamroller video.
Maxxeboy I bet that 12.6 will zoom along on a wave.

Hi HBsups, yeah love the red 12'6, it's fast & fun. Picks up runners on down winders too :))
Great go to board & when you come off on a wave, no potential damage to yourself, others or the board. Great for traveling :)