I'm a Sup fanatic on the end of many years surfing. I have an observation I want to bounce off Seabreezes.
Are Sups, especially in the surf - on a fast decline in numbers?
I think so following a recent trip up the coast and into Qld - seems like Sup numbers are well down on what they were 2 years ago at many popular Sup locations - prime examples, Arrawarra and Currumbin Alley?
Interested to know....and from an industry perspective....
Doesn't bother me if numbers are dwindling - just curious

I've only been surf supping for a little over 2 years (after proning for many many years) and it seems to me, in my part of SW Vicco, that surf supping is neither growing or shrinking - just the same numbers. However, non-surf supping seems to be growing massively in bays, lakes, rivers etc.

Nothing scientific, just some personal observations

I've seen numbers over here go big at some reef breaks, beaches pretty standard numbers, once it gets a bit of size not too many out

I think it's dropping too... SUP crowds were way down (before lockdown) especially considering how many more surfers have been in the water.

Also, quite a few very good SUP surfers I know are now foiling and not going back to SUP.

It is winter though, they are out in for in summer along the qld hotspots.

A week or two ago I was out at Mermaid, it was about chest to head high, glassy and really fun. Was great for supping or proning. There were heaps of sups and about two proners. Haven't seen that in a looong time, but it was midweek and as the morning wore on those numbers reversed as the suppers got their fill and went in and the proners woke up, thawed out and headed out.
It was one of those sessions where you just get back out and there's another, and sometimes you don't even make it all the way back out and your on a smaller tastier one. And that's what is great about the sup - wave count. A board might cost 2 or 3 times a prone board but as for $/wave its way more cost effective (thats what you tell the minister for finanance!)

Surf SUP'rs are moving over to the foil in pretty consistant numbers.

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bobajob said..
A week or two ago I was out at Mermaid, it was about chest to head high, glassy and really fun. Was great for supping or proning. There were heaps of sups and about two proners. Haven't seen that in a looong time, but it was midweek and as the morning wore on those numbers reversed as the suppers got their fill and went in and the proners woke up, thawed out and headed out.
It was one of those sessions where you just get back out and there's another, and sometimes you don't even make it all the way back out and your on a smaller tastier one. And that's what is great about the sup - wave count. A board might cost 2 or 3 times a prone board but as for $/wave its way more cost effective (thats what you tell the minister for finanance!)

Spot on Bobajob, I have gotten a friend into it, hes a decent surfer in his own right but he is loving being able paddle down and check an uncrowded part of the beach as the tide or swell changes and score fun waves with no crowd and loving the glide again. Its just a really pleasant way to go about it and you end up having a lot more fun.

I'm definitely not selling out on the benefits of sup surfing and also not at all concerned about less suppers in the line-up....but I'm sure the numbers are dropping off ---- Have seen lots of suppers cross to foils which is great....there might be pockets where it's super strong -- winter/summer....shouldn't really be a factor, especially nth of Sydney.....

Every shop in the US is selling boards like hot cakes!
Sunova is busier than they have ever been.
I just had a shop call me wondering if he could get 50 boards... any kind.

Flat-water recreational paddling is growing in the US....
from my deck, I see way more paddlers than I ever did before.

CoVid has been a serious boost to the renewed interest in paddleboards.
The place I used to teach paddling, is busier than ever.

SUP surf has always been on the rise where I live... even the top surfers are going to SUP in high GW season.
On the flip-side..... prone surfers are disappearing in droves.

Typical day around here... with SUPs at every break.

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supthecreek said..
..... prone surfers are disappearing in droves.

Because they dangle their legs in the water?

My local beach break in Sydney is packed with proners. The etiquette (or lack of) amongst them is out of control. I have avoided my local a lot lately due to crowds and poor form . Just not worth it.
Am considering a 14 footer (bump rider / down wind all rounder) to diversify my options in other waterways .
Definitely this Covid crap has increased prone surf numbers and the desperation to catch waves is seriously ridiculous . People just jumping on peoples waves without a care in the world of the consequence

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Gboots said..
My local beach break in Sydney is packed with proners. The etiquette (or lack of) amongst them is out of control. I have avoided my local a lot lately due to crowds and poor form . Just not worth it.
Am considering a 14 footer (bump rider / down wind all rounder) to diversify my options in other waterways .
Definitely this Covid crap has increased prone surf numbers and the desperation to catch waves is seriously ridiculous . People just jumping on peoples waves without a care in the world of the consequence

They must have returned from Snapper now they're locked out of QLD

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Gboots said..
My local beach break in Sydney is packed with proners. The etiquette (or lack of) amongst them is out of control. I have avoided my local a lot lately due to crowds and poor form . Just not worth it.
Am considering a 14 footer (bump rider / down wind all rounder) to diversify my options in other waterways .
Definitely this Covid crap has increased prone surf numbers and the desperation to catch waves is seriously ridiculous . People just jumping on peoples waves without a care in the world of the consequence

I agree. I have not surf supped in Sydney for ages. Just too much hassle, and bad vibes. Surfers just hate suppers. Mind you they hate each other as well. To be honest it seems weird that international surfing has just got control of supping given they hate us so much. Instead it is so much more fun to do a cranking downwinder on my 14 bullet.

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Casso said..

supthecreek said..
..... prone surfers are disappearing in droves.

Because they dangle their legs in the water?

Yuppers..... GW's are everywhere.
Two days ago, they closed 5 beaches in an hour.
There are only 11 beaches in a 20 mile coastline.... last year over 300 different GW's identified by researchers.
It's all National Park with few access roads in.

It really has made for nice empty line ups... most dawn patrols I share with one SUP buddy.
ha ha, I swear to God my phone just pinged.... the beach in this pic was just closed for the 7th straight day due to a sighting.
That's why we surf before the lifeguards come on duty.

Here's Davey smiling as we have the whole place to ourselves.... again!

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supthecreek said..

Casso said..

supthecreek said..
..... prone surfers are disappearing in droves.

Because they dangle their legs in the water?

Yuppers..... GW's are everywhere.
Two days ago, they closed 5 beaches in an hour.
There are only 11 beaches in a 20 mile coastline.... last year over 300 different GW's identified by researchers.
It's all National Park with few access roads in.

It really has made for nice empty line ups... most dawn patrols I share with one SUP buddy.
ha ha, I swear to God my phone just pinged.... the beach in this pic was just closed for the 7th straight day due to a sighting.
That's why we surf before the lifeguards come on duty.

Here's Davey smiling as we have the whole place to ourselves.... again!

I love what you have there! Where on this great continent are you?

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garyjonno said..

supthecreek said..

Casso said..

supthecreek said..
..... prone surfers are disappearing in droves.

Because they dangle their legs in the water?

Yuppers..... GW's are everywhere.
Two days ago, they closed 5 beaches in an hour.
There are only 11 beaches in a 20 mile coastline.... last year over 300 different GW's identified by researchers.
It's all National Park with few access roads in.

It really has made for nice empty line ups... most dawn patrols I share with one SUP buddy.
ha ha, I swear to God my phone just pinged.... the beach in this pic was just closed for the 7th straight day due to a sighting.
That's why we surf before the lifeguards come on duty.

Here's Davey smiling as we have the whole place to ourselves.... again!

I love what you have there! Where on this great continent are you?

Thanks garyJ... I am at the very far end, then over the Equator to Cape Cod

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Bowerboy said..

Gboots said..
My local beach break in Sydney is packed with proners. The etiquette (or lack of) amongst them is out of control. I have avoided my local a lot lately due to crowds and poor form . Just not worth it.
Am considering a 14 footer (bump rider / down wind all rounder) to diversify my options in other waterways .
Definitely this Covid crap has increased prone surf numbers and the desperation to catch waves is seriously ridiculous . People just jumping on peoples waves without a care in the world of the consequence

I agree. I have not surf supped in Sydney for ages. Just too much hassle, and bad vibes. Surfers just hate suppers. Mind you they hate each other as well. To be honest it seems weird that international surfing has just got control of supping given they hate us so much. Instead it is so much more fun to do a cranking downwinder on my 14 bullet.

Totally understand about proners hatred. I was harassed by five surfers at the one consistent break for a sourthern swell. They followed me from peak to peak. Telling me local rule is no sup allowed. I told them it was a public beach and the city had no such ordinances. They said it was their rule. Needless to say I couldn't focus let alone try to catch waves. They followed me in to the beach and one them was really itching to make it physical. He just needed me to start it. I would have loved to oblige him but as the foreigner I would have been the one to pay no matter who started it. Not worth losing my job over and I didn't want to run the risk of getting Corona virus off this dude.

I have my own spot and it is a weak wave but I am not a great sup surfer so maybe it is for the better. I certainly don't miss the bad vibes and getting harrassed. I always leave happy compared to the other place.

SUPs at my local beaches have increased at some & decreased at others.
Foilers are increasing but only slightly.
Proners are still increasing due to new local townships increasing in population.
As for me, I'm still keeping my SUPs, foilboards, wingsurfer, mals & shortboards. I love them all. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none. Haaaa!
I've been on the foil the most over the last two years & surprisingly it was starting to become boring. But I can say I'm confident at it in small to overhead surf.

Then just recently had a few awesome surfs on my SUP.
Still love the skateboard feel of a proneboard after changing from a SUP but at my age of declining flexibility especially in my spine it's so much harder & slower to pop up to standing. So I need quite a few sessions to improve on that. And as most of you know I got bitten on the foot by a shark I'll be back to square one. But will soon have another go after healing up. But probably won't be dangling my legs waiting for a bite in dirty, sudsy waters again.

As for surfing ettiquette. It's not the type of surfcraft. It's the attitudes of the people. That's why we have road & boating rules to reduce the accidents & yes, RAGE! And you're scared of sharks?

The problem is, is that most humans just think about themselves and only on what they want to do. Which leaves out courtesy for others.
I've sat with proners whinging about SUPs. I've chatted with SUPers whinging about proners & listened to all three, proners, SUPers & goatboaters.... um sorry surf skiiers whinging about each other. And I too have joined them. But it wasn't to me about the surfcraft but the arrogance, disrespect or plain simple mindedness of the surfer who just doesn't know what the problem is, even after having multitudes of run ins & arguements with others because they think what they are doing is right.

The most annoying things in my view is an experienced surfer who has to catch every wave like a seagull competing for a potato chip, even when they are paddling back out to only turn quickly on the inside of the wave you are catching to force you to bail out & give way to their 1 thousands wave!

The other most annoying is lazy paddlers who paddle back out to the break right in front of your surfing path! And just expect you to be able to surf around them! Goatboaters.... sorry again, I mean wave skiiers & SUPers just definitely don't need to do this and can easily paddle back out wide of anyones surfing path. For proners it's a bit more understandable due to their paddle speed & shoulder fatigue. But, they too should really paddle out through the break due to their duck diving abilities or again paddle around wide to avoid any collisions and when it happens they'll blame the wave rider especially the one with a bigger board!

I've experienced so many waves missed because of not wanting to run into someone that stares at you like a cow in a paddock. It's made me just give up & find another break leaving them to each other.

And looking for another break has sometimes come to my advantage when I find that I can get a much better wave count or an even better wave. The last time I made a move I accidently found a nice foiling spot that cannot be surfed as the wave breaks for a second but keeps rolling on or nearly breaks over a very short shallow reef that gave me good 100 metre rides all to myself. But this still all depends on swell height & tide levels.

I would hate to see surfing courses & testing for a surfing licence but can see it coming.

So now for me it's all in my planning that will suit me for the surfing conditions.
When surf is huge or small it's foiling in an entrance or foiling on rolling swell.
When surf is around head high its SUPing. Usually the opposite break to the proners or the ones they miss.
When surf is average it's SUPing or proning or both.
And hopefully when it's windy I'll be wingdinging! If I can get up on my new big foilwing.
So plenty of choices for me to have fun & avoid the monkeys of our surf. Haaa!

"I've experienced so many waves missed because of not wanting to run into someone that stares at you like a cow in a paddock."

Classic and so relatable!!
GT from me.

I've found suping is great for social distancing

Seajuice, you nailed it in regards to finding an alternate break as a result of the crowd, I know its off topic slightly but having the advantage of the SUP to be able to either go and suss out an empty bank that is starting to turn on up the beach or surfing really small waves when there is nothing else on offer is one of lifes little pleasures.

Even better when the bank you are on is going well and the frothers make their way over and try to take over, I just paddle out the back and over to where they were ha ha

Bowerboy I think it is your accent more than the SUP as manly locals are being deprived waves from foreign surfers who are way better than them and thus head further out to more isolated breaks like the bower and harder spots. manly is nothing like narabeen of the 90's which was heavy. I still see suppers at freshy and at collaroy. Never let dickheads in the water intimidate you. Don't fight or argue. Just leave.
Its not worth it. Plenty waves gong unridden up here on the mid north coast and I would say sup is on the increase.
pump.

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Seajuice said..
SUPs at my local beaches have increased at some & decreased at others.
Foilers are increasing but only slightly.
Proners are still increasing due to new local townships increasing in population.
As for me, I'm still keeping my SUPs, foilboards, wingsurfer, mals & shortboards. I love them all. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none. Haaaa!
I've been on the foil the most over the last two years & surprisingly it was starting to become boring. But I can say I'm confident at it in small to overhead surf.

Then just recently had a few awesome surfs on my SUP.
Still love the skateboard feel of a proneboard after changing from a SUP but at my age of declining flexibility especially in my spine it's so much harder & slower to pop up to standing. So I need quite a few sessions to improve on that. And as most of you know I got bitten on the foot by a shark I'll be back to square one. But will soon have another go after healing up. But probably won't be dangling my legs waiting for a bite in dirty, sudsy waters again.

As for surfing ettiquette. It's not the type of surfcraft. It's the attitudes of the people. That's why we have road & boating rules to reduce the accidents & yes, RAGE! And you're scared of sharks?

The problem is, is that most humans just think about themselves and only on what they want to do. Which leaves out courtesy for others.
I've sat with proners whinging about SUPs. I've chatted with SUPers whinging about proners & listened to all three, proners, SUPers & goatboaters.... um sorry surf skiiers whinging about each other. And I too have joined them. But it wasn't to me about the surfcraft but the arrogance, disrespect or plain simple mindedness of the surfer who just doesn't know what the problem is, even after having multitudes of run ins & arguements with others because they think what they are doing is right.

The most annoying things in my view is an experienced surfer who has to catch every wave like a seagull competing for a potato chip, even when they are paddling back out to only turn quickly on the inside of the wave you are catching to force you to bail out & give way to their 1 thousands wave!

The other most annoying is lazy paddlers who paddle back out to the break right in front of your surfing path! And just expect you to be able to surf around them! Goatboaters.... sorry again, I mean wave skiiers & SUPers just definitely don't need to do this and can easily paddle back out wide of anyones surfing path. For proners it's a bit more understandable due to their paddle speed & shoulder fatigue. But, they too should really paddle out through the break due to their duck diving abilities or again paddle around wide to avoid any collisions and when it happens they'll blame the wave rider especially the one with a bigger board!

I've experienced so many waves missed because of not wanting to run into someone that stares at you like a cow in a paddock. It's made me just give up & find another break leaving them to each other.

And looking for another break has sometimes come to my advantage when I find that I can get a much better wave count or an even better wave. The last time I made a move I accidently found a nice foiling spot that cannot be surfed as the wave breaks for a second but keeps rolling on or nearly breaks over a very short shallow reef that gave me good 100 metre rides all to myself. But this still all depends on swell height & tide levels.

I would hate to see surfing courses & testing for a surfing licence but can see it coming.

So now for me it's all in my planning that will suit me for the surfing conditions.
When surf is huge or small it's foiling in an entrance or foiling on rolling swell.
When surf is around head high its SUPing. Usually the opposite break to the proners or the ones they miss.
When surf is average it's SUPing or proning or both.
And hopefully when it's windy I'll be wingdinging! If I can get up on my new big foilwing.
So plenty of choices for me to have fun & avoid the monkeys of our surf. Haaa!

Personally I found your post negative and fairly depressing. I can assure you it's not like you described everywhere. I would like to think that a lot of us surf where there is a good vibe amongst surfers and actually enjoy seeing each other catch good waves. Not that everyone is perfect, but I find the majority, at the very least, give me no reason for complaint but add to the whole experience.

(Iam). Agree with what you said. Yes I commented on the negatives that we may view in hope that those who read it will understand that we all would like a better wave count if just some easy & respectful adjustments are made by those that are either selfish or haven't realised that they do get in the way of others. Gee, if we were on the roads we would be seeing a lot more driving on the wrong side of the road!

I have mates, both prone & SUPers that are family & friends who praise each other on a good wave. So there is my positives.

As for my local favourite break where I mainly SUP, those that know or recognise me are always friendly & know that I don't get in their way.

As a SUPer I know that it's me that can cause the most damage to a proner so it's up to me to ensure it doesn't happen and would be less a chance if no one is in my way.

But we're not all perfect and I think all of us have had some sort of run in with others that couldn't be helped. I've done it twice on seperate occasions to the same person that's told me off for dropping in on his wave when I thought I would make it out of his way. And I still feel bad about it. So now I ensure that it won't ever happen again and hope that our friendship will improve. I was the monkey to him & deserved to be told off.

Going back to the main topic of less or more SUPs. I have found a reduction in SUPs on the more populated beaches that have obviously more proners. I wonder why? It's because Monkeys got involved & not the surf craft.
Sorry for being negative.

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lam said..

Seajuice said..
SUPs at my local beaches have increased at some & decreased at others.
Foilers are increasing but only slightly.
Proners are still increasing due to new local townships increasing in population.
As for me, I'm still keeping my SUPs, foilboards, wingsurfer, mals & shortboards. I love them all. I'm a jack of all trades and master of none. Haaaa!
I've been on the foil the most over the last two years & surprisingly it was starting to become boring. But I can say I'm confident at it in small to overhead surf.

Then just recently had a few awesome surfs on my SUP.
Still love the skateboard feel of a proneboard after changing from a SUP but at my age of declining flexibility especially in my spine it's so much harder & slower to pop up to standing. So I need quite a few sessions to improve on that. And as most of you know I got bitten on the foot by a shark I'll be back to square one. But will soon have another go after healing up. But probably won't be dangling my legs waiting for a bite in dirty, sudsy waters again.

As for surfing ettiquette. It's not the type of surfcraft. It's the attitudes of the people. That's why we have road & boating rules to reduce the accidents & yes, RAGE! And you're scared of sharks?

The problem is, is that most humans just think about themselves and only on what they want to do. Which leaves out courtesy for others.
I've sat with proners whinging about SUPs. I've chatted with SUPers whinging about proners & listened to all three, proners, SUPers & goatboaters.... um sorry surf skiiers whinging about each other. And I too have joined them. But it wasn't to me about the surfcraft but the arrogance, disrespect or plain simple mindedness of the surfer who just doesn't know what the problem is, even after having multitudes of run ins & arguements with others because they think what they are doing is right.

The most annoying things in my view is an experienced surfer who has to catch every wave like a seagull competing for a potato chip, even when they are paddling back out to only turn quickly on the inside of the wave you are catching to force you to bail out & give way to their 1 thousands wave!

The other most annoying is lazy paddlers who paddle back out to the break right in front of your surfing path! And just expect you to be able to surf around them! Goatboaters.... sorry again, I mean wave skiiers & SUPers just definitely don't need to do this and can easily paddle back out wide of anyones surfing path. For proners it's a bit more understandable due to their paddle speed & shoulder fatigue. But, they too should really paddle out through the break due to their duck diving abilities or again paddle around wide to avoid any collisions and when it happens they'll blame the wave rider especially the one with a bigger board!

I've experienced so many waves missed because of not wanting to run into someone that stares at you like a cow in a paddock. It's made me just give up & find another break leaving them to each other.

And looking for another break has sometimes come to my advantage when I find that I can get a much better wave count or an even better wave. The last time I made a move I accidently found a nice foiling spot that cannot be surfed as the wave breaks for a second but keeps rolling on or nearly breaks over a very short shallow reef that gave me good 100 metre rides all to myself. But this still all depends on swell height & tide levels.

I would hate to see surfing courses & testing for a surfing licence but can see it coming.

So now for me it's all in my planning that will suit me for the surfing conditions.
When surf is huge or small it's foiling in an entrance or foiling on rolling swell.
When surf is around head high its SUPing. Usually the opposite break to the proners or the ones they miss.
When surf is average it's SUPing or proning or both.
And hopefully when it's windy I'll be wingdinging! If I can get up on my new big foilwing.
So plenty of choices for me to have fun & avoid the monkeys of our surf. Haaa!

Personally I found your post negative and fairly depressing. I can assure you it's not like you described everywhere. I would like to think that a lot of us surf where there is a good vibe amongst surfers and actually enjoy seeing each other catch good waves. Not that everyone is perfect, but I find the majority, at the very least, give me no reason for complaint but add to the whole experience.

I didn't find it negative nor depressing ( a tad too long maybe ) just giving his slant.
i wouldn't have any idea if SUP is declining, increasing or level, I did notice more on a recent trip to mid north coast nsw but it was school holidays, on a selfish side I'd prefer if it wasn't increasing.
and by the way Iam, you should have written No ones perfect.

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pumpjockey02 said..
Bowerboy I think it is your accent more than the SUP as manly locals are being deprived waves from foreign surfers who are way better than them and thus head further out to more isolated breaks like the bower and harder spots. manly is nothing like narabeen of the 90's which was heavy. I still see suppers at freshy and at collaroy. Never let dickheads in the water intimidate you. Don't fight or argue. Just leave.
Its not worth it. Plenty waves gong unridden up here on the mid north coast and I would say sup is on the increase.
pump.

Ha! I'm an old school northern beaches resident, but thanks for thinking of me as an exotic foreigner!

My pleasure, how many brazilians are there at manly though seriously.
Cant believe you copped it around the northern beaches. Just get a bigger board and run em down.
Seriously cant be any worse than those nasty fin chops I see from surfers.
Also bring back the noseguard, I was at curl curl and it was 2-3 feet with 50 guys out on a winters day, no wonder they are getting shirty in sydney at the moment.

Sups are still popular out in the surf at Noosa, I don't feel the numbers are declining. Also feeling very lucky as there is a great vibe amongst all of us and it's also pretty chilled with the local prone surfers, especially considering how busy it gets on good days.