Hi
Hoping to get some insight as I am a total newbie.
I am looking to start SUP boarding (I've had a few lessons). I intend to board on a lake and possibly on the coast with small waves.
Currently I am looking at the following boards
Naish Alana 9'5
Fanatic Diamond SUP 9'6
My question is, am I better off buying a cheaper board as I a new at it? Or should I pay more for an established brand?
If so does anyone know how the two boards above compare to each other? 
I am 57kg at 168cm
Cheer is advance!
Both are really good quality .
I can't comment on the fanatic because I haven't ridden it .
but the 9.5 mana or Alana ,same board ...is a great first board .for you .
it is very easy to surf .and has good width for learning .
I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the Naish 9'5" Mana/Alana.. It's such a great board..
Try and demo both boards before buying if possable.. 
Maybe 9'2" Waterborn Evoke. Good quality, stable, low cost first board. Once you've got the hang of it, you can move to something more advanced (shorter, narrower) if needed.
...and in the same way that DJ recommends the Naish, I'd recommend the Diamond. The Diamond would be perfect for your weight and what you want to do. I'd recommend demoing both as the new season's boards are about to come in. Testing boards is the best way to determine what is correct for you. Any good retailer stocking Fanatic or Naish will have a demo of both these boards
Naish and Fanatic are also currently announcing their demo days across Australia. Check out their Face Book pages for info and dates as both companies quite often team up to do their demo days together.
Agree with the guys above, really try and demo a couple of boards to get a feel for what suits you. Not sure where your located but there are a few good shops that can provide demo boards and good advise face to face. Natural Necessity on the NSW south coast (Gerringong) were great and Mick is a wealth of knowledge, but there are a number of good shops around the country with people who are more than willing to help.
Also try Facebook, look for groups in your local area. Meet up with a group, there are always people willing to give you a go on their boards, and give some advice. The Cronulla Paddleboard Posse are a great group of people that meet regularly at different locations around Sydney and have ties to the Cronulla SUP shop.
Good luck with it.
Hey guys!
Thanks for the responses ! I am in Canberra, and there are a couple of water sport specialist stores here!I'll head out to one of them in the coming days and see if i can demo the boards!!
Cheers again for the tips!
