hhahahah, is that a joke? actually i saw a guy down at yalingup doing the legendary stand up. He was very popular with all the surfers out in the water.... everybody was waving at him, they just weren't using all their fingers.

Its bad enough with goat boats and longboarders hogging the waves, do we really need another watercraft that can catch the waves a week before everyone else? not cool!

just reread my post and its a bit harsh. just had one to many "newbie" longboarders bailing in front of me when surfing and even though i am lucky and only get hit on the head it still sucks.

i'm sure your course teaches responsible surfing as well. putting my grumpy head back where the sun doesn't shine.

Rowdy is right, there is a lot of skill in SUP surfing properly, but like most things in life with a little direction and help it is a lot easier. I have been SUP surfing for quite a while now, and it is definately the most fun you can have on fat (normally unridable) waves and peaking wind swells. Desrection does need to be used when choosing a location as per meerkat's remarks, but this is so with every sport. There are loosers in every sport that don't think and turn up crowded location doing a sport that is not welcome in that area.

I think it is great to see a store putting in the inititive to teach people correctly including the do's and don't's to keep this great sport away from the labeling of goatboats. Sup surfing is not about stealing waves, it's a very powerful fluid wave to enjoy the ocean in areas normally unobtainable to other surf craft and it's a great core workout in the open air, anyone out there that has tried it will be able to vouch for how great it is for you physically and it's a lot harder and intense than normal paddling.

So don't jump the gun in labeling this sport as a ****er wave stealing sport, sure there is bound to be a few Dikheds out there that don't understand, and give the sport a bad name, but we can only try to educate them and hope for a better relationship amounst all water users.

I recommend you take advantage of this free demo introduction, if for no other reason but to understand it a bit better, I think you'll find your self hooked by the end of the session.

regards,
JB

P.S. and yes I sell the Naish and Mistral SUP!

No stress Meerkat and you raise a usefull point about respect of other water users especially when the paddle guys have the potential to take pretty much any wave they want.

There is an unofficial code of conduct initiated by Shane Steadman that stresses the need to show some sense when on SUP's in the surf. If you're inexperienced and finding your feet on the water then stay completely out of the normal lineup as you'll lack the control you need to keep yourself and more importantly other surfers safe.

If you can find a break that works for you apart from the crowds that's obviously better for everyone and a lot of the time breaks that can suit SUP's are pretty free of normal surfers which should make it pretty hard to piss them off.

Rowdy is also right in terms of how hard it is to surf a SUP with control. What I was talking about was getting people paddling in control and safety on flat water not surf. The difference between someone who can simply paddle a SUP in non surf conditions and someone who as Rowdy says can control a board in and around surf is vast and the two shouldn't be confused.

The Collaroy Basin area at the end of our road is blessed with a nice left and right on the sides when the surf is on but the whole mid section is mostly nice and flat and perfect for first timers. Crowds are rarely an issue at this spot and so far it's proved to be great for punters and also guys looking for a bit more of a challenge.

So if anyone is keen come on down as the spot we're doing most of our paddling should keep most people happy.

Sam.

can u boys come over to wa???

where abouts on the goldy are you going to be JB

Hey, big thanks to Sam and the guys at WSnS for the demo session y'day. It was bloody hard work, but can see the appeal for the days when it's too small to surf and no wind to kite. A serious workout on the shoulders and arms too. Sam has also also offered to do another demo day anytime there's a few people who are interested, so feel free to contact him and ask. Thanks guys. Cheers, Rob