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.
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.
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
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 )
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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!
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.
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 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 !
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.
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.
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 !!