hi all, i'm very new to SUP and looking for some guidance re best board size and type for me. my dodgy back doesn't allow me to lie prone on a board anymore, so it's my intention to get back in the surf via SUP.

i'm around 178cm and 77kg. looking to ride the sunny coast beach breaks in small to medium surf. not interested in flat water or cruising.

a mate leant me his C4 10'6" x 28" to give SUP a go, but i need to return it after a couple of weeks. i've done a couple of flat water and open water runs and keen to step it up now.

board advice (and any other tips) appreciated.

thanks, stamp

Just get a board and do it ! You'll get the hang of speendin big bucks soon enough !

How did that board feel? Were you stable? 28" width is relatively narrow. A lot of people start with 32" - you will be amazed at the difference.

At your weight and surf experience you could shorten the board, but you may want to go wider, maybe not to 32" but certainly wider than 30".

There are so many boards to choose from, but a 9'5" x 31" 150 litre board could be a good next step. I am heavier than you (>90 kg), but my second board (after a couple of months on 10' x 31") was a 9'5 x 32" 150L Starboard widepoint, and that worked well.

The fact is, with your surf experience, you will progress quickly. Whatever you buy now won't be the final solution. So either buy a used board, or a board that is less expensive.

thanks for the advice.

the 28" felt stable enough, but i don't have anything to compare it to! i'll keep an eye out for a 9'5" x 31" ish board...

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stamp said..
hi all, i'm very new to SUP and looking for some guidance re best board size and type for me. my dodgy back doesn't allow me to lie prone on a board anymore, so it's my intention to get back in the surf via SUP.

i'm around 178cm and 77kg. looking to ride the sunny coast beach breaks in small to medium surf. not interested in flat water or cruising.

a mate leant me his C4 10'6" x 28" to give SUP a go, but i need to return it after a couple of weeks. i've done a couple of flat water and open water runs and keen to step it up now.

board advice (and any other tips) appreciated.

thanks, stamp

Some great deals on C4 ATM..... The Bruddah would suit http://paddlesportsmegastore.com.au/product-category/sups/page/4/

Hey Stamp,
CSE is pretty well spot on... I got into SUP for the same reason as you but I am around 100kegs atm. Started on a 10'4x29... progressed to 9'6x30 (2 boards at this size) and then made a big jump down to 8'5x32. Each progression was fairly easy to make but I only ever bought boards on the cheaper end of the scale. If you got the hang of the 10'6 fairly easily (being an ex surfer) you will get the hang of boards in the low 9 feet pretty easy too. If your back is like mine, stability is the key and width will help.

Demoing is always advisable and if you can make a demo day where there are many different board types, you can check out a wide range of craft....

As CSE said.... whatever you get now wont be your last board..... and being able to get back in the surf is awesome!!

Hey mate, I'm 175cm and 77kgs. My first board was a 10 1/2 x 31. I've just gone down to a 9 x 29'. I'm in Mackay so we dont really get any decent surf, but I was down in Macksville for a couple of weeks over Christmas and went to Scotts Head and Grassy Head. The step down was just right for me. Cheers

thanks again fellas.

i ended up getting a second hand naish mana GTW 8'10" x 30 1/2" at 133L. smaller than i wanted or probably should have gone, but i couldn't resist the board's shape and timber finish

i've only had a couple of sessions in small surf but i love it. it's far harder to paddle, catch waves and stay on than the C4 10'6" but so much nicer on the wave face, and it actually turns on the fins.

i think it will be a steep learning curve, but i like a challenge...

Naish is an excellent board, saw some crazy prices on those C4 boards in SA $800 new most sizes, save up and get a flat water board to practise on when the waves are too big or small. RPG is on the money those are some crazy prices.

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pumpjockey02 said..
save up and get a flat water board to practise on when the waves are too big or small. .

would love to get a second board, but as well as 3 kids i have wakeboarding, kitesurfing and waveski habits to support...

Stamp you've got more to trade with. Cant see you going back to the waveski.