This is a great post, from reading some of the responses it's obvious that most are old school surfers who have old injuries or just reached a point in their surfing where it became to frustrating to ride a short board anymore, so we have evolved our surfing expreince to now include SUP surfing. I too feel like a grom again, the feeling and anticipation of seeing that set from way out back while standing and getting in position, dropping into a huge wave again and drawing out the bottom turn with paddle now replacing open palm, eyeing that steep section and either pulling into and cross stepping or snapping back into a re-entry...you just can't beat that feeing. For me it out weighs any negative feeling you may get from carpark, beach or line up. As far as Im concerned at 58 yrs old. Like most here, I've invested in time and money with the amount of surf boards and SUPs I have owned and still own, from someone who use to be a hater of SUPs to now only wanting to ride SUPs I feel privileged to be a SUP surfer and now try to educate those around me who have yet to try SUP as another option... Some are a few hard core surfing peers who just don't get it...Kiwis surfers generally tend to resist change, more waves for us...Stay stoked

Greystoke said..

JEG said..

Greystoke said..
Same here for all the reasons stated above. I started SUPing 5 years ago for the same reasons, I still have my short board and longboards but they are just gathering dust now, I won't part with them as they gave me so much and enjoyment over the last 30 + years. I remember Luke and the boys at Ocean Addicts warning me after purchasing my first SUP a 9"6 Manawa "you'll never go back" I just laughed and thought SUPing will only be for flat water and small waves. I was wrong they were right... Now I own four SUPs, from 8"3 to 10"6 for all wave types. I will never go back stay stoked.

as you get older sup is a good mate to have before retirement village.

And beyond I can see it now, SUP pensioners board riders club awesome! Looking forward to it.

I'm there already (pensioner) just need the club! But maybe not. Too many pensioners in the line-up now - crowds don't thin out during "business hours"!
Great to see people staying active.

Count me in just turned 65, one knee replacement, buggered shoulders and elbows but can still sup. Great for the gracefully ageing surfer .

Been supping it for about 3 years now after 10 odd years on short boards. My knees were stuffed so bought a sup and never looked back. Really enjoy being out there getting long rides and enjoy the view from the stand up .
What ever makes you happy eh.

JEG said..

Greystoke said..

JEG said..

Greystoke said..
Same here for all the reasons stated above. I started SUPing 5 years ago for the same reasons, I still have my short board and longboards but they are just gathering dust now, I won't part with them as they gave me so much and enjoyment over the last 30 + years. I remember Luke and the boys at Ocean Addicts warning me after purchasing my first SUP a 9"6 Manawa "you'll never go back" I just laughed and thought SUPing will only be for flat water and small waves. I was wrong they were right... Now I own four SUPs, from 8"3 to 10"6 for all wave types. I will never go back stay stoked.

as you get older sup is a good mate to have before retirement village.

And beyond I can see it now, SUP pensioners board riders club awesome! Looking forward to it.

lets form a club Greystoke, something old and vintage, something special and better than all other clubs

Agreed!

Yes, hard to go back to a short board. Broke my back 3 years ago and couldn't walk for 3 months due to spinal damage, rodes in my back, 5 fused vertebrae, weak leg muscles and nerve pain, so makes it difficult to get up on my short boards. So I now ride a SUP nearly all the time, and have dropped down to a 7'10 - 27 wide ESC weapon, which I can nearly surf like a short board on my forehands, not backhands. But I actually really enjoy it and didn't miss the short board unless its long walled barrels which rarely happens. When SUPing I hardly even notice the nerve pain or sore back. I really think SUPing has helped heaps with my recovery. I just don't like the hate you get from intermediate shortboards. Since coming from shortboarding I do have etiquette in the surf, I take my turn even when I could get more wave, but we all seem to get tainted with the same brush. Having said that I know most of the shortboards in my local breaks but there are still a few middle aged shortboards and mal riders that have a really bad attitude towards SUP riders and go out of there way to wrecked the tranquility of just surfing and having fun.