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Forums > Stand Up Paddle General

What led people to SUP surfing.

Reply
Created by lam > 9 months ago, 6 May 2019
jvriesinga
NSW, 43 posts
3 Jan 2020 7:01AM
Thumbs Up

Moved to Australia 6 years ago. Wanted to surf but had no knowledge of the ocean. Bought a mini mal but didn't have anyone to learn with. Quit altogether until one day on a holiday in Melbourne I saw a show on pros supping in New Zealand. I've been hooked ever since.

Northerly
VIC, 22 posts
3 Jan 2020 8:50PM
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A love for all things water sports and a demo by Starboards at Point Roadknight got me going, not to mention countless rides on waves compared to surfing.

justaddwater
NSW, 746 posts
3 Jan 2020 9:24PM
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Select to expand quote
WetnWildWozza said..
A love for all things water sports and a demo by Starboards at Point Roadknight got me going, not to mention countless rides on waves compared to surfing.


Ahh Roadie had some great surfs there.from the point to the boat shed,looong rides,playing dodgems with the crowd,and Dean Snow on his sup and kite ha ha ha.

aceman8772
52 posts
3 Jan 2020 6:50PM
Thumbs Up

I started contemplating SUP back in 2013 after retiring from playing American football for Japanese clubs at the age of 44. I had new baby girl and after a torn biceps my wife said it was time. I grew on the beach in Oregon and while I loved the ocean, I love the game more.
I knew the challenge of transitioning from a very good sponger to SUP would give me an outlet to replace the training and feeling of game day.

But the price of boards here in Japan was a deterrent. Told myself when I got back to the States, I would buy a board there. Work took me to a place with no time to SUP and ended up back in Japan in 2017.

The hook for me was I could get on the water and not be driven by conditions i.e. no waves so even if I have the time, don't go. I knew it would be a challenge to learn but that was fine by me. Now, 2 years later I have done a race, paddle in one of the most pristine waters in all of Japan daily while training for next race, and my kooky wave riding ability is improving as well.

I have to also say the vibe here versus the zoneis nice. I am a proud American but we are pretentious pricks and I don't need the negativity that some of post on everything.

I am 51, 189 cm, and currently paddle my BIC Wing Tec and 11'6 BIC performer at 110kg. Good boards for me as I seem to find every way possible to hit something on the way to the water.

Someday, I will get up the skill and courage to get a Creek, the 12 footer that was just recently designed by one of the people on this forum. V/r, AC

aceman8772
52 posts
3 Jan 2020 6:57PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
supthecreek said..
Surfer since 1964
My entire life was designed so I could surf all day, every day.
Even after marriage, kids and opening a business.. all days were reserved for surfing.

At 50, both my shoulders collapsed simultaneously, while teaching my 4 year old daughter to surf. They never really recovered.

After that, my "pop-up" was basically "let the board drop down the wave and try to land on it"
For the next 12 years, I could only surf on OH days
Less surf = more weight gain

Had zero interest in SUP, although I shared the line-up with them for several years.

Unable to pop-up on little summer waves, I finally decided to buy a SUP, just so I could surf in the small summer conditions.

ha ha.. I never even thought about prone surfing again.
I wish I had found this when I was 40 instead of 62.
SUP adds SO much to the surfing experience... I can't imagine life without it!

My weight dropped from 130 kg to 95 kg in 3 months.
SUP is more than simple fun. it's life altering

I became an ex-has been... I was able to surf daily again!!!

The past 9 years of SUP surfing has led me around the world, chasing surf and meeting all the wonderful characters in our great sport!

At 71 years old, I am more stoked than ever.. with SUP driving the ship.






Creek, I remember looking at posts you did back in that big wide 34" board and thought if he can try something new at 62, then what's my excuse. Thank you for the inspiration and videos.

aceman8772
52 posts
3 Jan 2020 7:07PM
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Select to expand quote
OkiWild said..
Older thread, and I find the stories fascinating. Here's mine.In 1979, at 10yo, I graduated from a boog to a short board. The first ten years were great. The second ten the crowds and attitudes started to leave their mark, and the third ten+ went into a steady burn-out decline until I almost stopped surfing... I can hassle in the pack with the best of them, but having to put on my war face, and getting amped for the competition to come every time I was headed to the water lost it's appeal. About 15 years ago, I left the line up all together, and started using a sea kayak, or doing the big paddle to hit more remote breaks where I could surf by myself. Awesome at first, but being more cautious, more complicated, and lonely, eventually lost it's appeal. In July of 2017, I hadn't surfed in maybe two years. A co-worker who knew I was a surfer came to me one day and told me that he had taken up down wind SUP racing, what a blast it was, what great exercise it was, and that I should give it a try. Of course, the first thing I said was "SUP's are for kooks." I had seen a few people around on tankers trying to surf waves, but had no idea that SUP surfing was even a thing. I hadn't followed any surfing media in almost two decades. After thinking about it for a while, I thought a race board might be better exercise and less complicated than a sea kayak I was doing a daily paddle on (in), so I called a friend who owns a surf shop here, and asked what he had for race boards. I was a team rider for the shop many years ago (before the burn-out), and he gave me a new Kazuma 12'6" displacement board for maybe $1,500 less than retail here in Japan. I started paddling this board on the daily in a large bay I live by, and it wasn't long before there was a tiny summer swell making it into the bay. Some knee-high rollers going for hundreds of meters, off shore breeze, and I thought "I wonder if I can surf this thing?" The huge smile was instant, and maybe 50 waves later, I was completely hooked. Shortly thereafter, I realized I needed something better, so I bought a local brand, cheap pop-out 10'X32". Took it into some larger stuff, and broke the side fins out. Repaired and reinforced the back of the board, started doing SUP surfing research, and the world opened up. SUP made surfing possible almost every day of the year here. I started collecting SUP's and sold all of my short boards. Two and a half years in, 10 boards, back to surfing 3-5 times per week, and I still feel like a grom...again. I discovered the SUP surfing community here, and unlike the packed hassle of the normal line up, outer reef SUP line ups are friendly, and non-competitive. The biggest problem I have is the guy who got me into it is now also hooked on the surfing part of it, and while he's advanced quite well, he always wants to surf where the surfers surf, and I refuse to...LOL So many good waves here that SUP has made easily accessible. When he does surf with them, he then complains about being paddled around, burned, and all the other transgressions that are against "the rules" you read on the Internet...I've dislocated my right shoulder twice playing rugby, and it gets pretty twingy after prone surfing for a while. At first, I used this excuse to people who asked why I switched, but that was just an excuse. The reality is in what my one and only childhood surfing hero, Gerry Lopez, said: "SUP is just better." At 50, I don't do ACL-killing snaps, I surf below the lip, etc. I catch double the number of waves in a session. I surf when it's knee to double. I surf when it's all chopped up. Days I wouldn't think of paddling out on a short board, I'm frothing to get out there on a SUP. I'm having way too much fun to care if others think it's cool or not. I feel like it's given my my life back, and I'm in it for the long haul.



OkiWild,
We got some waves here in Nagasaki prefecture where it is just me. My skill is no where near yours but if I get to Oki, I will try to track you down for a paddle. Same to you if you are able to get to Kyushu.

pete53
NSW, 249 posts
3 Jan 2020 10:20PM
Thumbs Up

Needed shoulder replacement so took up sup while organising operation. 5 years supping n no op yet and don't see me going back to prone surfing (sold all but 1 prone board )

justaddwater
NSW, 746 posts
4 Jan 2020 10:30AM
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Select to expand quote
pete53 said..
Needed shoulder replacement so took up sup while organising operation. 5 years supping n no op yet and don't see me going back to prone surfing (sold all but 1 prone board )


Great post Pete,same for me surgeon said 2 replacements3 years ago ,but with supping and prone knee paddling to keep things moving and strengthening surrounding bits,I am mostly pain free,still miss trad longboarding,but sooo grateful to be out in the water

Chris_M
2129 posts
4 Jan 2020 2:04PM
Thumbs Up

Moved to a beach where there were smaller longboard type waves every now and again. Thought a SUP would be great for paddling around on, and maybe catching a few tiny waves. Wasn't expecting much, but had a LOT more fun than I was expecting. Pretty much stopped surfing my prone board, and started surfing my SUPs (bought another one) in nearly all conditions.

cantSUPenough
VIC, 2131 posts
4 Jan 2020 9:35PM
Thumbs Up

I got sick approx 9 years ago and was down for a couple of years. When I was recovering, normal surfing seemed out of the question so I tried a 10' Trigger Bros SUP - that was the start of a fun journey! That was 20 boards ago and the search continues!

I have surfed for a long time, but before SUP it was longboards. I was pretty lame, to be honest, and my dodgy back made it hard to get to my feet, and poor fitness made it hard to catch a wave. And the cold Vicco weather meant I did not surf much in winter.

But everything has changed now. I surf 50X as much and 10X better (until I look at the video).

It is unfortunate that so many people come to SUP surfing after injury. I am much fitter now, my back is much stronger now, and I think I would be a better surfer now - but I would never go back! If I knew about SUP surfing sooner I would have switched sooner. I see so many struggling long-boarders and think "if only you knew what you're missing out on".

Apart from anything else, and maybe it is just me, but I find SUP surfers are friendlier too. All prone surfers hate us, but I think they hate each other too. I always say gooday to sup surfers and they almost always give a friendly reply.

OkiWild
120 posts
4 Jan 2020 7:49PM
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Select to expand quote
aceman8772 said..
OkiWild,
We got some waves here in Nagasaki prefecture where it is just me. My skill is no where near yours but if I get to Oki, I will try to track you down for a paddle. Same to you if you are able to get to Kyushu.


Any time. There's always something here for everyone, and I love to surf anything. My daughter graduates Keio University in the spring, and I have one son at University in Takamatsu. So with the coming financial freedom, and a boy needing a visit some time this year, I was planning on taking a ferry with some boards, and doing a road trip up the coast, and just surf what I find. SUP makes that so possible, it's crazy.
I hear ya on zoners...LOL. Some really good people over there, but it can be a tough crowd.

Goodbye
QLD, 119 posts
5 Jan 2020 9:00AM
Thumbs Up

I hit my 50's and thought........... well it's either golf, cycling or surfing.

I'm not a good look in tight Lycra (is anybody!) Chasing a little white ball for 3 hours didn't appeal, so I hopped on a paddle board........... spent hours falling off, eventually got it right and eyed off those waves. Another steep learning curve but eventually got that too and now spend most of my time checking wind conditions and getting out whenever I can.

I do confess to being more of a fine weather sailor though and if it's overly bumpy, windy and choppy I'll go for a flat water cruise........... and thoroughly enjoy it! I do flat water on my surf shapes to make it a bit harder and to practice turns and balancing.........After all, I'm not really in a hurry to get anywhere!

I've probably wasted plenty of cash changing boards, paddles, etc and don't regret one cent of it!!

goggo
NSW, 366 posts
6 Jan 2020 2:12PM
Thumbs Up

I have been surfing since the 70's and been riding waves on any type of craft I could get my hands on.
In the mid 90's I found myself in Hawaii, surfing, sailing and outrigger canoe paddling.
OC paddling was so much fun in Hawaii catching bumps in the open water,riding waves close to shore, racing between islands. Initially I did this for cross training but not long after taking it up it became part of life.
When I moved back to Australia outrigger paddling was less accessible and sup surfing took its place.
Pleased sup surfing is not too popular round here not a good fit for wave hogs.

mollydooka
WA, 252 posts
7 Jan 2020 5:50AM
Thumbs Up

We went on a 4-week trip to Europe in 2006. I didn't take a board (mainly prone long boarding then, from 60's to early 2000's shortboarder) as part of the trip included Rome and Barcelona.
We spent 2 weeks in Getaria, an ancient fishing village on the Atlantic coast in the Basque country, my nephew (almost 18 at the time) joined us from France and brought his shortboard. So hired a longboard one day in another town and got some fun waves at some beach breaks about 15 minutes' drive from San Sebastian. There was ONE guy out on a paddleboard, we all stared in awe..............
Researched it when we got back home, but decided against it, too many negative tales of sup-hatred, surf accidents, ungainly 11-12 foot beasts (13 years ago, remember)........

A year later, November 2007, summer approaching, the period most Perth surfers used to dread with no swell and prevailing southerlies (unless you can make it down south), and thought I'd give wind-surfing another shot...........
The windsurfing shop in North Freo is 5 minutes from me, but winds were light offshore the morning I went down. Alberto said "why don't you try this paddleboard, it's no good for windsurfing today"
HOOKED, line and sinker!

Bought a Jimmy Lewis 11' off the rack without demoing it a few days later (in Cott), sold the 9' mal a year later (never got on it again), love the camaraderie, the stoke, the ability to just paddle 500m up the beach to your own little reefie if the people:waves gets out of proportion at the popular breaks.
And when the Doctor comes in (howling sou-westerly sea-breeze almost every afternoon in Perth in summer), it's down to the river, beautiful sheltered bays where we can have a flat-water paddle, or head across the river on a down-winder.
JOY!!
Have a great 2020 everyone, and next time you encounter an aggro surfer, maybe say something like: it's cool mate, it's only a wave, you can have it, at least we're not battling bushfires like all those poor folk on the other side of the country, calm down and spare a thought for them

HMB
VIC, 11 posts
7 Jan 2020 7:09PM
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I was fortunate to have owned/operated a watersports retail store in Melbourne for many years.

Around 2005/2006 one of my forward thinking employees bought SUP to my attention. With sup's not being available for purchase in Australia at that time, I borrowed a 12'0" x 26" Tandem Mal from a mate, fashioned a paddle from a windsurf mast tip section, bought a blade & T-piece from the local kayak store and I was up and running!

Fast Forward to 2020. [Yes, it's been that long!] I reflect on my sup journey and what it's given me. I feel honoured to have been amongst the first in Aust to have paddled. I've been actively in involved in surfing, racing, social, comps, ocean, rivers, bay, windsup, inflatables, rigid, foiling, basically the whole gamut. I feel blessed to be apart of this wonderful lifestyle.

I have too many boards, I don't have a favourite, I love them all. I'm a paddler and don't wish to be pigeon-holed into any particular paddling genre, as they're all awesome!

Saltydog888
NSW, 4 posts
7 Jan 2020 8:03PM
Thumbs Up

So good to read all these fantastic stories. I'm 54. Surfed small boards from 12 yo on singles through twins and thrusters. I was part of Newcastle High's first school surfing pioneers in 1977! Sure beat playing cricket in summer! Hit late 20's and.....to be honest put on weight and gave it away.
I'm a Newcastle lad and remember when MR gave his first appraisal of Supping and thought Jaysus, if MR's succumbed I'm in! (Don't know if he's still doing it).
Soon after in 2013 - I bought myself a Mana and was instantly hooked. I was 100kgs then and still capable of paddling out, catching a few waves and re-feeling the STOKE!
I put on 20kgs. Fat as F#$k. Gave up again..
2019 I gave up beer and wine, lost the 20 kegs and am proud to say I AM RELIVING THE STOKE!!!
Thank F#$k for vodka and soda??
More weight loss to do but I'm out there getting more waves than I ever did and feel fantastic!!
People ask me what's the difference between surfing and Supping? I tell them it's more fun.
Like I've read here, there isn't the hassle of sitting in the pocket, growling at eye level, seeing the best waves coming at me, cruising around and paddling easily between breaks at will and catching waves to shore just to rub it in!
Cheers

DazzaP
NSW, 4 posts
8 Jan 2020 2:02PM
Thumbs Up

I started prone surfing later in life, late 30s early forties, about 10 yrs ago. Before that it was body bashing, but as far back as I can remember always loved being in the ocean. Started on a 9' foamy and got pounded regularly, but persisted with it, came upon a well known shaper who made higher volume boards, and my progression really took off, to the point that I mainly ride short boards now.
Ican't remember when I first saw an SUP in the surf, but knew that I had to give it a go, for wave count reasons because I didn't want to go the longboard route, and because it involved a paddle. And I knew that with a paddleboard I could manouvre away from the crowded peaks and generally be on my own. Also, being in Sydney and only having access to surf on weekends, I wanted to make the most of every surf, regardless of conditions. I find SUP lets me do that.
Nowadays, if I go out, it will probably be on my 8' custom, or a foamy shortboard.

finsup
NT, 208 posts
26 Jan 2020 12:03PM
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Mango madness.

... or was it MangoDingo madness... probably a bit of both.

goggo
NSW, 366 posts
26 Jan 2020 9:04PM
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One of the best things about sup surfing is you can get that surfed out feeling when no other surfers can. Horses for courses.
Aa hui hou and aloha to all!

supthecreek
2676 posts
28 Jan 2020 9:25AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
aceman8772 said..

supthecreek said..
Surfer since 1964
My entire life was designed so I could surf all day, every day.
Even after marriage, kids and opening a business.. all days were reserved for surfing.

At 50, both my shoulders collapsed simultaneously, while teaching my 4 year old daughter to surf. They never really recovered.

After that, my "pop-up" was basically "let the board drop down the wave and try to land on it"
For the next 12 years, I could only surf on OH days
Less surf = more weight gain

Had zero interest in SUP, although I shared the line-up with them for several years.

Unable to pop-up on little summer waves, I finally decided to buy a SUP, just so I could surf in the small summer conditions.

ha ha.. I never even thought about prone surfing again.
I wish I had found this when I was 40 instead of 62.
SUP adds SO much to the surfing experience... I can't imagine life without it!

My weight dropped from 130 kg to 95 kg in 3 months.
SUP is more than simple fun. it's life altering

I became an ex-has been... I was able to surf daily again!!!

The past 9 years of SUP surfing has led me around the world, chasing surf and meeting all the wonderful characters in our great sport!

At 71 years old, I am more stoked than ever.. with SUP driving the ship.






Creek, I remember looking at posts you did back in that big wide 34" board and thought if he can try something new at 62, then what's my excuse. Thank you for the inspiration and videos.


Thanks Ace! Stoked if I helped draw you in.... and happy you are still loving it!

and yeah.... the agro Zoners are doing a good job of running a great forum into the ground.
Too bad, it was once an awesome and fun place to go...... but I still meet totally awesome Zoners in my travels, so I seek out the good that still exists there.

So many good stories from all of you.... thanks for sharing the many ways that we all took to get here!

surfinJ
674 posts
28 Jan 2020 11:58PM
Thumbs Up

So I saw the thread title and thought, now there's gonna be some stories. And that's true, thanks to all. Quite a bunch of diverse and interesting stories here.

Mine is just a basic one. In my late forties, with blown shoulders really cramping my surf life, the doctors tell me to stop or operate. Well thanks to the Laird, I decided to try this.
Now at almost sixty I am so lucky to still be able to surf my brains out.

And why a short sup instead of a short prone? Because it is better than just giving up.

Nofear4
NSW, 5 posts
15 Apr 2020 6:16PM
Thumbs Up

Hi everyone,

This is my first forum post and after reading others' stories, thought I'd add my own. I call myself a geriatric novice SUPer ! (I'm 68 yrs old)

II've always loved surfing and spent many holidays as a kid having fun on a surf-o-plane. I always wanted to learn to ride a surfboard but never got around to it.
Now that I've retired and live near a beach, paddle boarding is one way to keep fit and improve my balance. I didn't expect to have so much fun! I'm lucky to have a friend who is a patient teacher.

I started learning in January 2020 with an inflatable board, paddling in still water. As my confidence and balance improved I've ventured into the ocean. Since changing to a hard board I've been able to start catching waves. I've a long way to go and lots to learn but the journey is great!

I was devastated recently when beaches were going to be closed due to COVID-19. I'm over the moon that the directive was changed and surfing/exercise is permitted.

I have a few comments. I'm surprised that I never encounter women SUPers in the surf. I live on the mid north coast of NSW. And very few seem to write posts on the Seabreeze forum. Most board reviews are written by tallish males 80-100gs in weight. I'm female, 5'3' and weigh 50kgs. There is a shortage of information for someone my size to read about regarding potential boards that I will 'grow into' as my proficiency improves. I love my 9'5" x 32 156L sup but my height makes it very difficult putting it on the car roof independently and I don't think I'll ever be able to reach the kick board on a wave as my legs are pretty short. Any suggestions other than practice, practice, practice?

I look forward to some words of wisdom!

Gboots
NSW, 1314 posts
15 Apr 2020 7:42PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Nofear4 said..
Hi everyone,

This is my first forum post and after reading others' stories, thought I'd add my own. I call myself a geriatric novice SUPer ! (I'm 68 yrs old)

II've always loved surfing and spent many holidays as a kid having fun on a surf-o-plane. I always wanted to learn to ride a surfboard but never got around to it.
Now that I've retired and live near a beach, paddle boarding is one way to keep fit and improve my balance. I didn't expect to have so much fun! I'm lucky to have a friend who is a patient teacher.

I started learning in January 2020 with an inflatable board, paddling in still water. As my confidence and balance improved I've ventured into the ocean. Since changing to a hard board I've been able to start catching waves. I've a long way to go and lots to learn but the journey is great!

I was devastated recently when beaches were going to be closed due to COVID-19. I'm over the moon that the directive was changed and surfing/exercise is permitted.

I have a few comments. I'm surprised that I never encounter women SUPers in the surf. I live on the mid north coast of NSW. And very few seem to write posts on the Seabreeze forum. Most board reviews are written by tallish males 80-100gs in weight. I'm female, 5'3' and weigh 50kgs. There is a shortage of information for someone my size to read about regarding potential boards that I will 'grow into' as my proficiency improves. I love my 9'5" x 32 156L sup but my height makes it very difficult putting it on the car roof independently and I don't think I'll ever be able to reach the kick board on a wave as my legs are pretty short. Any suggestions other than practice, practice, practice?

I look forward to some words of wisdom!



I am no expert ....but I am also quite tall at 161cm
Yes getting to kick pad is hard . I have gradually reduced my board size down but even then it is not always easy . Just have to get the feet moving .
I also prefer boards no wider than 30. All of my boards except 1 are 28 or less. The boards at 32 width seem to become unstable as you need to reach wider at a lower height and it effects paddle technique from my experience.
In terms of managing boards out of water ....well this was one of the reasons why i chose to not have very long boards. I have a 12 foot Venom which is a lot of fun .....but if water it's a nightmare for me to manage so I hardly use . After a while paddling an 8 foot board is good enough if you mainly surf. Some brands are lighter than others but you have to pay for that benefit. Many brands like Starboard also have expensive light carbon boards but well priced boards (eg Starlite construction ).

MangoDingo
NT, 891 posts
15 Apr 2020 8:17PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Nofear4 said..
Hi everyone,

This is my first forum post ... I've a long way to go and lots to learn but the journey is great!


Nofear4 - so rad to read your story and how you got into SUP. It's classic that you're frothing as hard as a 16 year old with a brand new board!
Your mental positivity already has you more than half way to where you want to be - keep getting yourself out in as much different conditions as possible but be aware of your limits while you're still getting yourself sorted.
If you've only really just started in january this year, I wouldn't be too worried about the next board just yet. Keep paddling, keep catching waves and keep catching waves - get yourself totally comfortable with where you're at and when you feel like you've dialled your current board, then I'd be looking at the next stick.
Remember - great surfers/SUPsurfers can ride a dunny door and make it go well.
Most of all - keep frothing!!!
Looking forward to hearing more updates!!!

LastSupper
VIC, 369 posts
15 Apr 2020 9:36PM
Thumbs Up

Gboots is on to it 32 wide is detrimental to your long time sup experienc ! Shoulder injuries will keep you out of the water ! You need to work on your paddle technique which basically means probably no wider than 29 ! The more boards you surf on becomes addictive! So try to beg or borrow till you find the one! But there will b another after that !

Nofear4
NSW, 5 posts
16 Apr 2020 12:20PM
Thumbs Up

I'm smiling from ear to ear after reading positive responses to my post! Thanks, guys
The waves have been almost non existent this week so I've been practicing my paddling.
The days are warm and the water feels so good.
Thanks for the board advice. I did try a 9.0" x 30 (Carbon Vex) which I found stable and easier to manoeuvre than my 9' 5 x 32.
Sadly, they are no longer in production. Have also played on 9'8 and 10' wide boards but found them too long for me.

The VIP
QLD, 69 posts
16 Apr 2020 6:29PM
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I surfed (very poorly) a minimal for a few years before I had a benign brain tumour and lost most of my sight. Then proceeded to get fat and really unfit but kept looking for a way to get myself going again. Just wanted to get a surfing life back. Tried lots of different things but kept getting hurt or sick til I found a tricycle. Best thing ever... started riding to the shops for lunch everyday then a bit further and further. tweaked the diet (still a work in progress) and the weight started coming off. After about a year and a half of this took the first step back into the ocean on my old minimal on a tiny/flat day at Noosa. That must have been a sight for the people on the rocks watching this fat guy with dark glasses and a helmet crawling across the rocks to get to ocean. Almost got to my feet that day, but knew how far i'd fallen. The 2 things I found out that day were that I needed to get used to the light and the motion of the ocean again. This was November 08. Went and bought a boogie board and spent summer and til easter riding it between the flags at home(Peregian). Took the winter off from riding the booger but still rode the trike to keep the fitness going. Start of spring started going to the pool and swimming laps to bump the fitness up a notch or 2. Mid November my brother said he was paddling his mal to get fit so I got in on that. We were paddling at Noosa and kept seeing these SUPs, said i'd like to try one to see if I could do it so mid December 2009 went to the local SUP school (SUP NOOSA) What a day.. I could stand and paddle on 1 side but fell off when trying to change sides BUT I'm up and going, it's like stepping on the fast forward button of getting my surfing life back- one of the best days in a looooooong time! Went to a demo day a few days later tried heaps of boards and found the one to start on, an 11 foot Nsp. Started riding Monday to Friday, mostly flat water but out in the bay when we could. Then on February 5 2010 got my first wave!!! Just fluked onto it,concentrating so hard I didn't even realise til I went past my brother and he was cheering. That was the start of what has mostly been a great ride. Had a few detours over the journey, a change in my brothers life mid 2014 meant he couldn't bring my board anymore so I went to riding a softboard til the bus drivers put a stop to that ( too long) then got a midlength( 8 foot max on bus) and things changed again winter 2018 ...back on the sup fulltime rest of 2018 til a bad wipeout late that year(nerve damage to my shoulder) combined with some personnel issues wiped out most of 2019. But thanks to seabreeze classifieds I bought a 2 piece sup I can get on the bus WOOHOO. Only used it a few times til this covid stuff so I;m just waiting it out so I can restart yet again.

Gboots
NSW, 1314 posts
16 Apr 2020 7:19PM
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Nofear4 said..
I'm smiling from ear to ear after reading positive responses to my post! Thanks, guys
The waves have been almost non existent this week so I've been practicing my paddling.
The days are warm and the water feels so good.
Thanks for the board advice. I did try a 9.0" x 30 (Carbon Vex) which I found stable and easier to manoeuvre than my 9' 5 x 32.
Sadly, they are no longer in production. Have also played on 9'8 and 10' wide boards but found them too long for me.


Something at 9ft by 30 wide would be a reasonable step down in my opinion . The vex is a decent option .
Other boards that come to mind are Starboard Converse (not sure if they still make but it would be an excellent choice ) , JP Surf 9'2 (if you can find one).
I am surprised the Vex is still not in production .
They seem really popular

supthecreek
2676 posts
16 Apr 2020 6:55PM
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aceman8772 said..

supthecreek said..
Surfer since 1964
My entire life was designed so I could surf all day, every day.
Even after marriage, kids and opening a business.. all days were reserved for surfing.

At 50, both my shoulders collapsed simultaneously, while teaching my 4 year old daughter to surf. They never really recovered.

After that, my "pop-up" was basically "let the board drop down the wave and try to land on it"
For the next 12 years, I could only surf on OH days
Less surf = more weight gain

Had zero interest in SUP, although I shared the line-up with them for several years.

Unable to pop-up on little summer waves, I finally decided to buy a SUP, just so I could surf in the small summer conditions.

ha ha.. I never even thought about prone surfing again.
I wish I had found this when I was 40 instead of 62.
SUP adds SO much to the surfing experience... I can't imagine life without it!

My weight dropped from 130 kg to 95 kg in 3 months.
SUP is more than simple fun. it's life altering

I became an ex-has been... I was able to surf daily again!!!

The past 9 years of SUP surfing has led me around the world, chasing surf and meeting all the wonderful characters in our great sport!

At 71 years old, I am more stoked than ever.. with SUP driving the ship.






Creek, I remember looking at posts you did back in that big wide 34" board and thought if he can try something new at 62, then what's my excuse. Thank you for the inspiration and videos.


ha ha... thanks Ace, I am glad it helped get you into a new sport/passion!
Ride on and enjoy it all

Dansouthcoast
NSW, 7 posts
17 Apr 2020 8:07AM
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Yeah similar for me to a few here, hurt my shoulder and spent a lot of time out of the water. The art of pushing up with my right shoulder to stand is quite painful, so SUP became a good substitute. In fact SUP the Creek inspired me quite a bit lately. I love his videos, got me right back into it, Thanks Rick !!



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"What led people to SUP surfing." started by lam