Distressed mullet hit it on the head with this entry in his blog
From The mullet forum
www.paddlemonster.com/2011/12/19/monday-chum-surf-and-padle-report/10 tips to buying your first SUP
1. Try before you buy.
Almost every store that sells SUPs will have demos. If not, the owner should have some of their own. If not, don't buy from them. Not all boards will have demos. I'm not saying every store should have a C4 demo version of every size and shape. You should get on a board first.
2. Look for used boards.
Your first board will not be your last board. Most likely, it won't even be the board you're riding in 6 months.
3. If you buy new, buy smart.
If you are beginning, get a board that you can then use for friends, kids, whatever. A big first board will get you stoked on paddling, but still give you something to lend out when you move to a more advanced or specialized board. Buying a SUP from a shaper/company with a good reputation will help resale value.
4. If you buy new, protect it.
Get rail tape so it doesn't chip. When you first learn, you hack the crap out of the rails. When you resell a board, the chips, even cosmetic, are what the buyer sees first. They aren't big enough to fix, but too big to hide.
5. If you just want to SUP, go all-around.
At first, you don't know what you're going to do, so try to find a good all-around board. One that surfs and is good for paddling the flat water.
6. If you're getting into it for a specific reason, be specific.
If you're a surfer and you want to surf a SUP, look into entry-level surf SUPs. If you're looking to race or tour flatwater, look for a entry-level flatwater boards.
7. If you're starting out to race, start stock.
You need to learn to handle a 12#8242;6#8243; board before you can handle a 18#8242; board. There is a learning curve. It takes time. You need to learn how to pull yourself through the water first, then you can work on technique. Going to the open division without learning the basics on a stock board will hinder your growth.
8. Get an appropriate paddle that fits you.
A paddle should be 8-12 inches above your head depending on the use and the theory. They are expensive, too. If you're starting out and are swapping paddles with members of your family, an adjustable version isn't a bad option as an interim step towards getting your own. Don't let someone cut your paddle down and set the handle who doesn't know what they're doing. The last thing you want to have happen is to cut a paddle down to a size that doesn't fit you. Find someone with experience customizing paddles.
9. Borrow Boards.
There are plenty of people around who have SUPs and who would be willing to let you try them. Also, the forums on this site and Standup zone are amazing. If you have questions, ask them. The top pros and super experienced paddlers in this sport are surprisingly accessible and willing to share info.
10. Take things from whom they come.
I know I've said to make sure the seller practices what they preach. You wouldn't go to an obese physical trainer. Don't get surf advice from a non-surfer, race advice from someone who doesn't race, fishing tips from someone who doesn't fish. Find the people who are doing what you want to do and ask them, buy from them. Unless you know exactly what you want and it's a good price. But price isn't everything. For instance, I'm not a pro, but I've taken the time to learn to SUP in surf, downwind, flatwater and races. I've bought my first board, made good and bad decisions and have learned a lot from really great paddlers, from all over the US. However, I don't know everything.
EDIT I - Always, always, always tape your paddle with a good quality tape.
It's not to protect the board (although it helps). It's to protect your mega-expensive paddle from dings to the blade. No matter how skilled you are at paddling, if you get out in the surf, or even choppy water, you can hit the paddle on something and do damage.
EDIT 2
How are you representing Stand Up Paddle Surfing?
Are you Dangerous to others? Are you a WAVE HOG?
When Beach Boy surfing, there are Kool things and things that make you a huge KOOK!
This section is dedicated to Kook & Kool!
1. You paddle out floundering to a lineup with surfers. You can barely stay standing but proceed right into or outside of the lineup. You paddle for waves while people scramble out of your way only to fall off before you can even get on the wave.... Your big board becomes an extremely dangerous projectile... Kook alert!! KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!!
2. You can barely stay standing so you practice in an area where no one is around that you could endanger or bum out. You care about the world wide effects of SUP surfing so you paddle and surf with Aloha. Very Kool!!
3. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and stand outside everyone. The sets come and you paddle in like a locomotive right thru the pack. You get waves in every set... KOOK!!
4. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and check out the situation. You see waves off to the side that a lot less people go for. You catch a few of those... Since you don't want to wear out your welcome, you decide to catch only a few set waves at most. You surf with Aloha.... Kool!
5. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You stand outside everyone the whole duration of the lulls. You never sit down so you tower over others the whole time... You make sure you catch a wave from every set. KOOK!
6. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You feel like you're on stage so you stand off to the side or sit down between sets because you don't like blocking everyone's view of the beautiful ocean. You catch a couple waves then move to the inside or on to another spot or just paddle around because you figured out how to surf with Aloha... KOOL!!
7. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You surf crowded spots and catch all the waves you can. Small ones, set waves etc. Because you can surf good you get plenty waves. You're always calling people off your waves. You just can't help yourself to sit sets out so you basically take over the spot for the duration of your surf. HUGE SELFISH KOOK!!!!!!!!
8. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You go to a crowded spot and check out what's going on. You see some of the lesser quality waves going un-ridden and surf those. You catch a ton of waves but ones that no one really wants. You paddle out and get a few set waves but you make sure others get waves by quietly cluing them in to incoming sets. You become a quiet spotter of sorts for others to score good waves.... You always sit out a few sets. You use your high vantage point to stoke others out. KOOL!! (When you arrive and it's already crowded NOT GOING OUT THERE is the KOOLEST!)
9. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can paddle fast and want to get back at those greedy longboarders. You decide to get into it to take over and be the dominent surfer at any spot at any time. Do the entire surfing world a favor and don't get into it. You are the biggest KOOK!!!!!!
10. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can do something that is a challenge, get great exercise, paddle far up the coast at will, have a blast riding waves you never thought would be fun, discover new spots, like to enjoy the comraderie of the SUP surfers around the world. KOOL!!
Note:
If there are more than one of you SUP surfing, everything becomes doubled, tripled, quadrupled, etc.
Avoid heavy rotations with other SUP surfers when surfing with others.
Be aware of your actions and the actions of others. BE KOOL!
