The back is giving me not so subtle hints that prone surfing is not the only way to go any more, have disc issues that I manage but lately prone paddling is giving grief after only an hour - time to re-asses.

Keen to get into SUP so I can spend more time on the water, currently riding everything from bodyboards to mals and everything in between so adding SUP to the mix is almost logical!

I have used a SUP before but not consistently or in the waves, I understand that flat water is where you start, would it be an idea to get a lesson or to to avoid any bad technique issues etc..especially considering i would be keen to get into some waves once up to speed?

Welcome to SUP. There are many who have travelled this path before you, with back issues a leading contributor to the conversion of short boarders to stand up paddle surfing. That's why it always amuses me to hear of aggro coming from young short boarders towards SUP, as inevitably they too, will come to the dark side one day. It's just a matter of time.

You could certainly do yourself a favour in getting a lesson, but the most important thing beyond that is to seek out local SUP surfers with a history of back concerns as there is more than one way to apply technique, and the best way for you will be the way that places the least pressure upon damaged discs.

Cheers for the advice, don't really buy into the argy barfly between the craft it's all good fun and any form of surfing is better than none!

this very issue took me away from longboarding to standup. It was that or give up all together, and that wasnt going to happen. Its been about 5 years now surfing a standup board and my back has increased in strength that i never new it could. Even thought Id try and long board again,but unfortunately it wasnt the strength issue, just the angle of prone paddling. One thing that those few surfs on a long board did show me though was how greedy sups can be in the surf. Maybe not intentionally, its just so easy to be.
So yes, start paddling,and being a surfer you will absolutely end up in the surf, but you will find it different on a sup out there.
I have a 9'7' that I hardly use and a 14' that I use all the time, flat water, down wind and surf. I can just spend so much more time on the longer board with my back not giving me grief. Good luck.

Hey Souwester,
I do lessons on a small scale. Have done instructors course and have been SUPing for about 6 years. I have all the gear a selection of boards. I've got wave, flatwater, downwind experience. PM me if your interested.

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broadman said..

this very issue took me away from longboarding to standup. It was that or give up all together, and that wasnt going to happen. Its been about 5 years now surfing a standup board and my back has increased in strength that i never new it could. Even thought Id try and long board again,but unfortunately it wasnt the strength issue, just the angle of prone paddling. One thing that those few surfs on a long board did show me though was how greedy sups can be in the surf. Maybe not intentionally, its just so easy to be.
So yes, start paddling,and being a surfer you will absolutely end up in the surf, but you will find it different on a sup out there.
I have a 9'7' that I hardly use and a 14' that I use all the time, flat water, down wind and surf. I can just spend so much more time on the longer board with my back not giving me grief. Good luck.

Yeah that sounds like the same as me, prone paddling compresses the spine and if you have a bulge that may even be mostly settled it, the paddling will aggravate it, its just not good for it and if I can find another way of staying surfing then I will take it.

I have seen the greed in action plenty of times and not just from SUP, def. dont wanna be one of those blokes ha ha

"Just because you can does not mean you should" is a pretty good little rule when in a line up I reckon.

you in perth?
pm me if you like. get a board then come out and learn.
Ive just gone thru the learning phase the last 4-6 weeks, coming from surfing and kiting. at first thought id never get it:
balance, then balance came
getting onto waves, then i worked out some secrets and get onto em easy now
turning on a wave, then started to learn some more secrets...
having a blast, even when it is tiny.
such fun on waves that would be poo to prone surf on.

i got an allwave, super easy to get onto waves. far from performance but just fun.
in saying that ill prob want something a bit more performance soon, but the wife n kids love the alwave too in flat water so its a keeper.