4 posts
Hi all wise ones, I've decided to give this SUPing thing a good go, I've had a couple of quick (quick enough to fall off!) goes in the past but always on boards to small for me - or thats my excuse. Recently given up smoking and determined to lose a fair bit of lard. Weigh and measure in at... 6'3" and 127kgs - aged 44, background in standup and prone surfing - more prone than standup as the weight escalated. Live on the banks of the Hokianga harbor on northlands west coast. The board i buy will do a bit of both still water paddling and try a bit of surfing up to probably head high max probably 50% of each flat and surf - that is as i get better. More flat and falling off for awhile I'd imagine. I'm a wee bit confused as to which board to get - they are bloody expensive and cash isn't in excess at the moment - but health is important. I've looked at the starboard avanti as a very good bet. ticks a lot of the boxes - especially the one thats says **** loads of volume. BUT it is really pricey the only one i can see here at the moment is close to 2800.00 nz $ - there is a few others that I've seen but they have less volume. but are a lot cheaper.
2014 JP Wide Body - damaged but repaired - new 10'2"x 35 228L of volume $1500.00 nz
ASAP WHOPPER 10'X34" Including paddle and leash for $1649.00
My question probably is ... will the JP or the whopper float me while I'm learning????? is there something else i should be looking at.? is there any cheaper options ?
cheers - and looking forward to your replies - Justin
VIC
2131 posts
I lost almost 15 kg (now 86 kg and 6'3") thanks to my SUP (and a change of diet), and my skill level (ability to balance etc.) also improved. So my advice is to find a big SUP, that you are comfortable on, but buy it second-hand as cheap as possible. Don't worry if it has some dings or is five years old. As the weight comes off and the skill goes up (won't take long) go buy a better SUP that you can use in the bigger surf and that has a bit of a growth path.
If you spend your budget now you will either get something that is difficult to use (wanting longevity) - but you may not use it as much - or you will buy something you are comfortable on but you will outgrow it quickly and won't have the cash to get the next board. And there will be a next board ;)
I'll let others suggest boards. I started on 10' x 31", then 9'5" x 32" and now 8'8" x 32" (140L). Started 1 year ago.
Good luck!
SA
106 posts
Couldn't agree more. Go second hand or cheap. Go big and wide. If the bug bites you will be moving down in size soon and you have the experience and contacts to make a better decision. 11 ft + and over 30 inches wide for a cruiser/small surf board is my TFTD.
VIC
627 posts
JP should be no problem. Certainly the better board of the two. I surf a JP Fusion 10'8 x 34 and I have a couple of kgs on you.
2765 posts
karuhi, I think your instincts are right, you would be very comfortable on a Starboard Avanti 11'2 x 36 @ 230 liters
It is a great 1st board for a guy your size and it surfs amazingly well for a big board.
The Avanti was my 1st board when I was a little heavier than you. I loved it... actually wish I still had it for flat-water touring.
They have been around for a long time, so you should be able to find a used one. They are a bit heavy, so if you can find a used carbon one, so much the better.
If you want to go Whopper... I'd suggest the Whopper Extra at 36" wide and 208 liters
VIC
627 posts
My first board was a Starboard Atlas. Also a fantastic first board. Did Surf and flat water on that thing!
4 posts
thanks for that guys, yes i'd rather buy second hand at the start - can't find a lot ! first problem i live in the far north (4 hrs drive north of auckland) and secondly our ebay or gumtree equivalent - trademe. has very little in the second hand range of boards that i can float. i think i may go down to auckland next weekend and just have a look around. but surely in todays world wide information age i should be able to find something from home. i have contacted a couple of boards owners on trademe for further size/volume information but as yet haven't heard anything back. cheers
VIC
82 posts
Hey Karuhi
I have only been suping for 5 months or so but i was faced with not only buying a board that would float me but trying to get a wetty to fit me and all of that stuff . I started out at 130 kegs and have shed 20 in my time paddling and have had a ball doing it . Put a crack in my board yesterday which was heart breaking so im off to the big smoke tomorrow to get my hands on a new avanti . Yes there expensive but i look at it as an investment in your health . good luck with your seach for a board.
Cheers Mick .
WA
132 posts
just get the whopper you will never look back .
4 posts
thanks again for the replies, quite inspiring reading from someone like Mick. good on ya dude. I'll be ecstatic if i can lose that much in twice that long. thanks for adding it.
I'm really looking hard at the jp australia widebody at 10'2" x 35"x 5.1" and 228L of volume. theres a bloody good deal going (hopefully still going!) where its a hell of a lot cheaper than the avanti.
with the avanti coming in at 11'2" x 36" x 4.7" and 230L of volume
the avanti is a 2 + 1 setup and the jp a single fin
has anyone out there directly compared the two? or at least ridden both?
