I've really been getting into SUPping over the last couple of months. I think it was the change of board that really got me hooked, changing from a Starboard Converse (9'x30" 142L) to Quatro glide (8'8" x 33" 145L).
I surf on a beach break at a river mouth, where I am going out in waves from head high (rare and I'm catching the wave out the back as just the top breaks a little, not as it pounds down on the sandbar ) to knee level. But I really like the days where I don't have to work too hard, and I can get a little bit of a buzz from catching waves. I'm not radical in any way.
I am 49years old, hovering around the 85kg mark. Fairly fit.
My current paddle is a three-piece Aqua Marine carbon pro bought off Aliexpress in 2020
shaft 1.25mm thick 70%carbon 30%fiberglass 28.7cm diameter
weight 750g
blade 40cmx19cm
I would like to get my wave count up, though and maybe being able to paddle a little faster might help, so I was thinking about buying a new paddle.
I went to the Starboard website star-board.com/blogs/paddle-boarding-how-to-guides/paddle-setup-chart-the-definitive-guide-to-sup-paddles
checked out, and it looks like I should be M size enduro paddle F40-F35 shaft. Was thinking of getting a 2-piece (I usually go out at the same length of 195cm, but I was thinking of doing some foil suping, which might mean changing the length).
I went down to my local shop, which advised me I should look into L size, which is more for 90kg to 100kg paddlers. So I started researching only to find that weight is only a general rule, it is also shoulder size, fitness ect....
I am at the point where I am not sure what to buy. Any advice?
I've been looking through some of the previous thread. How about I change the question 80 to 90kg wave sup people what paddles are you using? Are you happy with it? What do you like? ect...
Copilot response to your question:
Recommended SUP Paddles for Wave Riders (80-90kg)
1. Nixy Pro Carbon Fiber Blade Size: 86-94 sq in Length: 68"-86" Weight: 21.6-25.9 oz Material: 3K or 12K Carbon Fiber Why it's great: Lightweight, responsive, and adjustable-ideal for catching waves with quick strokes.
2. Honu Evolution Blade Size: 86 sq in Length: 67"-88" Weight: 21.5-22.6 oz Material: 12K Carbon Fiber + optional Bamboo Why it's great: Excellent flex and feel, with a premium build that suits intermediate to advanced paddlers.
3. Hydrus Tough Blade Blade Size: 96 sq in Length: 65"-85" Weight: 26.4 oz Material: Carbon Fiber + Fiberglass + Armalight Why it's great: Durable and powerful-great for heavier paddlers who want a strong catch and drive.
4. Starboard Enduro Carbon Blade Size: 76-95 sq in Length: 60"-84" Weight: ~23 oz Material: Carbon Fiber Why it's great: Versatile blade shape for wave riding, with good balance between power and control.
Tips for Choosing Your Paddle Blade Size: For 80-90kg, a blade in the 86-96 sq in range offers a good balance of power and cadence. Shaft Flex: Medium to stiff shafts are ideal for wave riding, offering better energy transfer. Adjustability: Telescoping paddles are great if you switch between flat water and surf. Weight: Lighter paddles reduce fatigue and improve maneuverability in surf conditions.
Key Insights:
Smaller blades (< 80 sq in): High cadence, low power-best for lighter riders and quick strokes.
Medium blades (80-86 sq in): Balanced performance-great for riders around 70-80kg.
Larger blades (86-94 sq in): High power, moderate cadence-ideal for 80-90kg wave riders.
Very large blades (> 94 sq in): Maximum power, low cadence-suited for strong paddlers over 90kg.
Basically, a paddle has three functions:
[1] act as an anchor into the water so that you can pull your weight on it. The larger the blade, the less slippage and efficient the anchor, but also the stress on your joints and the weight of the paddle when moving it in the air. (and the impact on the rails on hits). A flexible shaft can compensate a big blade to spare your joints, and a proper paddling technique will compensate a small blade extra slippage: a big blade half submerged to 3/4th will be less efficient than a small blade completely immersed
[2] act as planing surface to lay on your weight in turns while surfing. This is less important than [1], but enjoyable, and is given by a fluid blade shape without gimmicks.
[3] do not break under stress: the heavier the rider and the larger the blade, the more important the quality of construction. In the same construction as the 8" I was using daily, I broke instantly a 9" paddle on takeoff.
For instance, as a reference, on the Gong pro paddles I love (for their fluid shape and efficiency), my advice is:
7" wide (490cm2 / 76 sqin) for everybody
8" wide (645cm2 / 100 sqin) for heavyweights wanting a lot of power in their hands (my choice for my 100kg and short boards, I would use a 7" for longboard SUPs 9'+)
9" wide (950cm2 / 116 sqin) I don't think the extra power/weight/stress is worth it for most people. Maybe for some specific uses?
Hilly, I appreciate you taking the time.
I also checked on ChatGPT with some interesting answers.
Those first 3 recommendations, I never heard of them, and the websites look very similar. They just seem a little bit mass manufactured, but I don't know, just a bit sceptical when a company sells only isups (sorry to all the people who have one, I just feel that the hard boards perform better).
What are you using, and what's your body height and weight?
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Do not paddle now use a tow boogie or pwing 
That para wing stuff looks interesting. Some of the fellas in the local area are into downwinding and para. Am thinking of doing a downwinder at the end of the year and give para winging a good after that.
Tow boogie, I really can't wrap my head around. I'm a DIYer on foil.zone and have an electric foil system. I understand that you use it to tow you into the wave, and then you let go of the line and surf the wave but I don't understand how you can then make the boogie come in and pick you up, can you steer it from the remote? What happens if you're on a busy break? Do other people have to be careful of a mini speedboat racing past them?
Select to expand quoteHenners said..hilly said..
Do not paddle now use a tow boogie or pwing
That para wing stuff looks interesting. Some of the fellas in the local area are into downwinding and para. Am thinking of doing a downwinder at the end of the year and give para winging a good after that.
Tow boogie, I really can't wrap my head around. I'm a DIYer on foil.zone and have an electric foil system. I understand that you use it to tow you into the wave, and then you let go of the line and surf the wave but I don't understand how you can then make the boogie come in and pick you up, can you steer it from the remote? What happens if you're on a busy break? Do other people have to be careful of a mini speedboat racing past them?
Not for busy line ups. GPS links boogie to the remote in your hand.
Select to expand quotehilly said..Henners said..hilly said..
Do not paddle now use a tow boogie or pwing
That para wing stuff looks interesting. Some of the fellas in the local area are into downwinding and para. Am thinking of doing a downwinder at the end of the year and give para winging a good after that.
Tow boogie, I really can't wrap my head around. I'm a DIYer on foil.zone and have an electric foil system. I understand that you use it to tow you into the wave, and then you let go of the line and surf the wave but I don't understand how you can then make the boogie come in and pick you up, can you steer it from the remote? What happens if you're on a busy break? Do other people have to be careful of a mini speedboat racing past them?
Not for busy line ups. GPS links boogie to the remote in your hand.
That sounds very cool. I saw one person on foilzone wrote "comes to me like a dog", but I could never figure out how. Might be a future future project.
Select to expand quoteHenners said..hilly said..
Do not paddle now use a tow boogie or pwing
That para wing stuff looks interesting. Some of the fellas in the local area are into downwinding and para. Am thinking of doing a downwinder at the end of the year and give para winging a good after that.
Tow boogie, I really can't wrap my head around. I'm a DIYer on foil.zone and have an electric foil system. I understand that you use it to tow you into the wave, and then you let go of the line and surf the wave but I don't understand how you can then make the boogie come in and pick you up, can you steer it from the remote? What happens if you're on a busy break? Do other people have to be careful of a mini speedboat racing past them?
Most of the DIY ones don't have the "come back" feature. We generally launch from boogie way far outside the lineup and catch the swell before it turns into a wave. The boogie just floats out the back over the bumps and waits for you to either pump back to it or paddle back to it. Sometimes you can get it to drive to you but that's rare as there should be no people near you and the boogie has to be facing the right way since 99% of the diy boogies don't have a turning function, they only go straight.
Select to expand quotecolas said..
Basically, a paddle has three functions:
[1] act as an anchor into the water so that you can pull your weight on it. The larger the blade, the less slippage and efficient the anchor, but also the stress on your joints and the weight of the paddle when moving it in the air. (and the impact on the rails on hits). A flexible shaft can compensate a big blade to spare your joints, and a proper paddling technique will compensate a small blade extra slippage: a big blade half submerged to 3/4th will be less efficient than a small blade completely immersed
[2] act as planing surface to lay on your weight in turns while surfing. This is less important than [1], but enjoyable, and is given by a fluid blade shape without gimmicks.
[3] do not break under stress: the heavier the rider and the larger the blade, the more important the quality of construction. In the same construction as the 8" I was using daily, I broke instantly a 9" paddle on takeoff.
For instance, as a reference, on the Gong pro paddles I love (for their fluid shape and efficiency), my advice is:
7" wide (490cm2 / 76 sqin) for everybody
8" wide (645cm2 / 100 sqin) for heavyweights wanting a lot of power in their hands (my choice for my 100kg and short boards, I would use a 7" for longboard SUPs 9'+)
9" wide (950cm2 / 116 sqin) I don't think the extra power/weight/stress is worth it for most people. Maybe for some specific uses?
Sorry Colas, I don't know how, but I did not see your answer (I was just checking over some info this morning and found it).
Point 1 is very interesting. I had never thought a paddle was an anchor, but yeah it is.
Based on surface area that gong 9" seems huge. 8" would be close to the enduro L, which is 610cm2.
Good news, I managed to find a mate willing to let me use their enduro M-size adjustable next week. I'll take it out in our regular small wave conditions and give it a try.
Select to expand quoteHenners said..
Point 1 is very interesting. I had never thought a paddle was an anchor, but yeah it is.
Yes, just changing your perspective and looking at the paddle in the water, your realize it is immobile and you are hauling yourself and the board onto it.
It is the key to progress in your paddling technique.
Or: Imagine you are on the sand, and must dig your paddle in it to haul yourself and the board forward. Any slippage is extremely bad. So you must perfect your "catch" to obtain this goal, and pull by the hips.
E.g: better a smaller blade that is easier to penetrate deeper in the water than a big one but that will slip if not properly in the water.
Tip: there should be no depression, no pocket of air, in front of the paddle blade.
This is BAD:
This is GOOD:
