Hey all

Really looking to push on with my sup surf progression this autumn/winter after some great trips to Sri Lanka and Morocco this year, which have really opened my eyes to gaps in my technique and where I can progress after feeling like I'd been stuck for a while due to a lack of local sup surfers operating at a high level to learn from.

I recently listened back to the first Josh Waitzkin episode of the Progression Project, and he raised a really interesting concept of intended practice and talks about identifying role models with similar body types/shapes and almost mimicking how they move and surf to get to the level you aspire to, before then going on to develop your own style.

I've been watching lots of videos of people like Benoit Carpentier, and Mo Freitas, but wondered if people had any thoughts on surfers who were more developed muscularly and weighed over 80kgs.

Laird seems like them most obvious but a lot of his sup surfing footage is generally a bit older and lower quality.

Who else should I be checking out on Youtube that is operating at a high standard?

The Gong shaper, Patrice Guenole, but before 2020.
He weighted 106kg but I guess is now less than 80kg (He said just by eating non-processed food)

Click on "Oldest" to see them starting with the oldest ones:
Videos are on the Gong channel,

E.g:





As for OZ SUpers, Dogman has nice vids too:

I Think Jackson Close weights 80kg

www.youtube.com/@SUPSurfingSessions

Awesome thanks - there are a few new threads to check out and research there :-)

Most footage you will find is probably a bit older (from back in the heydays of 2010-2015), but Dave Kalama and Chuck Patterson were both in the right weight class too.
Dave's vids would be great if you are keen on longboarding and fun, Chuck was chasing Robby and Kai around and surfing short boards with them.

Slight aside-how much improvement in their surfing have people noticed just by dropping a few kg/lbs?