Hi guys
Can anybody please help me?
After renting a board and getting bitten by the SUP bug, I've just bought a second hand board. (Bic Ace Tec 10'4")
Can anyone advise me if there any rules with SUP, eg can I go out on Sydney Harbour (obviously nowhere near the ferries) I know JetSkis are banned. Am I supposed to wear a lifejacket?
Any practical advice for me? eg What do people do with their car keys when on the water?
Also can you recommend any nice peaceful calm waters where I can safely continue to learn
Thanks guys
Chezza

Hi Chezza,

Try this for your keys;
www.surflock.com.au/


As for places to try;

Watsons Bay area is nice.
Also down in the shire at Burraneer Bay or Gunamatta Bay. Burraneer bay has a sup school that operates out of there also.
Vaucluse is also nice too.

You can SUP anywhere in the harbour, usual right of way rules apply.

You don't need to wear a lifejacket legally.
Some guys in big surf are starting to wear wake boarding vests.
Which sounds like a good idea if you do want a bit of extra buoyancy without being completely restrictive.

I had a car key cut without any electronics.
It just opens the doors.
It can't start the car because there is no immobiliser chip.
I take this key with me in the water and lock the full key inside the car.


I paid $40 to get the key cut, but I probably got ripped off as I just used the first place I saw.

The problem with all these methods, including using the surf lock thing, is that your insurance may have a clause about you not being covered if the thief who steals your car has the key.

If you're North side then Manly Cove around to Collins Flat etc is a good spot to learn. Clontarf and Balmoral are two other great options.

Nice calm waters are a tad dependant upon the wind strength and direction - try all of the places listed in the above posts and see which is best for the conditions!

An option for car keys might be one of the many waterproof wallets/packs that can take your keys and phone - I don't use one (car's too old for immobiliser keys) so i can't recommend anything specifically...

Hi Chezza
I write a blog centred around SUPing in Sydney and environs. Check it out a www.supinthecity.com.au and will hopefully guide you around while you get used to the areas.
cheers
Craig

Hey Chezza, welcome to your new addiction, plenty of places to go as mentioned above. If you're looking for a nice calm SUP friendly location in the Eastern Suburbs try Malabar, it is a great location to learn as it is sheltered in all but the strong E and SE winds and doesn't have huge breaking waves. The good thing about Malabar is that if you stay close to the beach it is normally pretty calm but as you venture further out toward the headlands the conditions will become bumpier meaning that you can paddle out test your skills and you're only a short paddle back the relative safety of the bay.

I'm basically a newbie to( only about 10 ) months. But for keys what I do is put my keys in zip lock kids sandwich bags, "use two" they're waterproof when locked, and them sling em in a bum bag and pop it on ya waist

Hell you could probably even carry a sandwich as well lol

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NinjaTurtle said..
Hi Chezza,

Try this for your keys;
www.surflock.com.au/

I bought one of these on-line, but without my glasses I couldn't read the digits...

I have the same problem.

Seacured have one with buttons - I can count the numbers to open it.

I use one of these for my key, www.paqua.com.au/paqua_range.htm the clip secures around the elastic in my zippered boardies pocket and I go a small snaplock bag on the inside just in case. As was recently pointed out there is no way you are going to lose your keys even if you get dacked in a big set if you're wearing your leggie.

Guys,
Thanks so much for all this advice, all very useful
Malabar is not too far from me, so I'll check it out next week, looks lovely
Great advice re keys, it's these small practical tips that help
Is there ONE piece of advice you wish you'd been given when you started out?
Thanks again
Chezza

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SUPHIREAUS said..
Hey Chezza, welcome to your new addiction, plenty of places to go as mentioned above. If you're looking for a nice calm SUP friendly location in the Eastern Suburbs try Malabar, it is a great location to learn as it is sheltered in all but the strong E and SE winds and doesn't have huge breaking waves. The good thing about Malabar is that if you stay close to the beach it is normally pretty calm but as you venture further out toward the headlands the conditions will become bumpier meaning that you can paddle out test your skills and you're only a short paddle back the relative safety of the bay.

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ChezzaSUP said..
Guys,
Thanks so much for all this advice, all very useful
Malabar is not too far from me, so I'll check it out next week, looks lovely
Great advice re keys, it's these small practical tips that help
Is there ONE piece of advice you wish you'd been given when you started out?
Thanks again
Chezza

Select to expand quote

Dingleberry said..
I'm basically a newbie to( only about 10 ) months. But for keys what I do is put my keys in zip lock kids sandwich bags, "use two" they're waterproof when locked, and them sling em in a bum bag and pop it on ya waist

Mmmmmm Malabar!! That looks so lovely. I did think about trying Little Bay, but not too sure how I'd negotiate the steps with my board, probs OK going down, not so good on the way back up. I'll give it a try next week. Thanks so much

Is there ONE piece of advice you wish you'd been given when you started out?

Yep, always paddle upwind first!!!!!!!!!!!!