Hi All
Was going to post on an older thread but they are all locked down.
I tried a 7'2 Hypernut over the last few weekends and struggled. I am coming down from an 8'5 Pro and after 3 years off it.
Once I was on a wave it was amazing and did everything I wanted my old pro to do. Only thing is I cannot stand up on it for the life of me between waves. I had to stay on my knees and pop up right before the wave came.
This was on the west coast of NZ so a fair bit of chop and wind to deal with.
Do people actually paddle out on these boards whilst standing??
Select to expand quotePhilBennett said..
Do people actually paddle out on these boards whilst standing??
Of course.
You need to practice on the flat first. Any board smaller than you are used to will feel like hell in chop at first, as you have to learn to balance longitudinally and the chop will rock you.
Learn to always have your feet staggered, and close to the stringer.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Mastering-lateral-balance-on-a-small-SUP-board?page=1
At 1m67 and 97kg my Gong Fatal 7'3" x 105l is one of my stabler boards. And the Hypernut is stabler. But my first sessions in sub-7' boards in chop were abysmal.
Kia ora, I'm 78 kegs and yes it's very stable for me, stand on it all the time. My other board a SB 7'10 pro is defo more wobbly but it's nose rocker does make it an easier paddle out through the break. However wasn't always like that, when I first got the 7'2 it was a glassy day board until I got the skills tuned. Semi surf stance, shorter paddle, J stroke, using paddle as a brace, getting body low on the paddle into the wave with short high cadence strokes, these are all techniques that help one really enjoy small and short boards. That and perseverance to build the muscle memory, just keep at if with focus on technique, you'll crack it! Love the Hypernut, especially with Quobbas on the back 
Ah yes what colas just said, colas and the progression project/bluezone were my making friends with short board mentors 
Thanks everyone!
I think its a case of....I will get there!
As I said, once you are on the wave its awesome!
I've always found prone paddling back out is faster than standing. Than worry about standing up once out the back
At 64kg and 5 foot nothing i find the 7'3 Shroom easier to paddle than my 8'0 Starby Pro. However if there is backwash during high tide both are difficult.
I try to keep feet close together in hybrid stance
