Sticking At It

Been on the SUP Surfing journey for a little while now - still really enjoying it and have been slowly but surely pushing it. Thought I would share the experience so far. Hope this helps anyone who is new to the sport and feels similar or hope it just gets a giggle.

Started on flat water, went to the ocean on no/low swell days on each breaks, started surfing smaller waves and now feel pretty comfortable in good metro waves at reefs and beaches. At some spots I have really made an effort not to be 'that bloke on a SUP'. I know that I am not but go to extra lengths to make it clear. I don't want to stuff up some one else session by hogging waves or ditching my SUP in front of them.

Even managed my first down south trip with the SUP which was a buzz, it was not big for down south standards but plenty big enough for me!

Have mentioned it before but the crew I am getting to know are mostly easy going friendly people who just love their sport. Been given the chance to try some different gear as a result of some new friendships as well which is awesome fun.

In saying this there has been a fair few challenges along the way - can't make an omelette without breaking eggs!

Started on a 10'4 x 28 board - great for flatwater but really struggled in the early stages when I went to the ocean, solution was to move to 30 wide and a little shorter - 10ft. Recently been on a 9'5 x 32 and think I have found my magic carpet.

Storage and cartage - Big boards with a small, pokey 2 storey townhouse, a single garage and a young family that needs sleep are not condusive to wielding big boards around early in the morning - needed to get creative. Strapping board on the night before and having literally everything ready to go so I can sneak out for a dawny without waking up the little demon! Im pretty good at it now - even have the coffee mostly pre done and can time how long it will take me to get out of the house so I don't need to rush.

Temptation - Not totally by choice but I have a limited range of boards, have done for a while now. 9'4 Mal and the SUP. When it has looked a bit windy or waves were really good (early days before I was confident) I was always tempted to take the Mal and leave the SUP. Made a conscious effort to stick with the SUP. Still occasionally take the Mal out for fun but it just confirms that I enjoy the SUP more.

Crew - Meeting new people at new breaks is awesome, if you start to go to the same place at the same time you will come across like minded people and that is what has happened with SUP surfing - in fact some places I used to prone surf are like new breaks on a SUP. On the flipside, surfing with mates who are prone surfers is a challenge, you want to be social but you just can't sit inside and chat. Almost got caught out by that down south! I am in a longboard club and still go on a few trips, bringing the SUP along brings groans but they get it...eventually. Whilst I enjoy the SUP more getting on a Mal is a nice change occasionally.

Hope any fellow frothers enjoyed the little snapshot of my SUP surfing journey so far and can relate. These are only words, keen on getting a Go-Pro to really show what it is like, love SurfinJ and Supthecreek's footage. I got the hat, just need theGo-pro! For beginners out there don't let the little setback stop you from enjoying yourself on a SUP, enjoy it and be responsible, it just gets more fun the more time you put into it.

Exactly the same with me Souwester.
I started to SUP from a shortboard. Well it was a 7ft board & I just couldn't get my paddle speed & courage to drop down that steep wave face. And when I did, I got smashed! But did at times get a few good rides. But hard work since my young fearless glory days.
Then along came my older work mate who heckled me to get a SUP. I just blew out watching him get onto those big freaky waves on something that resembled a boat! A 10 or 101/2 foot Coreban. Then a shorter SUP.

So finally gave it a go on a 9ft 6" Vex Profusion. Sooo frustrating! But after 20 sessions it came more natural. Um well, twisted knee, sprained ankle from jumping off the board into shallow water, broken rib, deep cut behind the ear from board spring back & deep cut to chin from being dumped! Lol! Oh, and banged on the head that broke both my skin & the board's skin. Lol!

Then one day my paddle broke. So decided to prone surf it & loved it. So got my old 8ft mal out. Loved it. So bought a 6ft4" Surfboard Warehouse Zephr shortboard & got the hang of that. And since then a square nosed 6ft 4" Sunova Darth copy of a Firewire Vader & a 6ft 6" Soul that I use as a single fin. Love them all.
And since then about 6years ago. Less injuries & met up with some great surf mates.

And now getting into foiling. Love it. But will never let go of of short boards & mals.
But what I must say. Getting into SUPs got rid of being intimidated by big waves. So at 58 years of age I am slowly getting back to my younger days of late 70s to 80s thanks to being introduced to SUP surfing by my mate who is sadly having serious back issues at age 68 years. He was one of the first on a SUP at my home breaks of Windang & Warilla. His name is Butch, Geoff Young. I owe it to him for re-opening my surfing world. Sorry for the ramble on.

My SUP quiver at about 80 kg weight more or less.
Sunova Soul 8ft 3", JP Widebody 8ft 2", Jimmy Lewis Super Tech 7ft 10", Coreban Wahine/ Hyper 7ft. Using this as a foil board as well.

8ft mini mal forgot brand.
And shortboards mentioned earlier.

Love them all! And keepers.