Hi all,

I'm in the market for a new SUP, and potentially have the oportunity to pick up a 8' SUP. I'm cool with the size as I only weight 69kg, but was wondering what type of conditions such a board would be able to handle.

I'd like to think you could paddle into a 6 foot wave on such a board, but maybe I'm being a bit ambitious. Any thoughts from those with experience?

Cheers.

I will open the can of worms - 6ft face, back or Hawaiian??

I will talk from 6ft back.

Seriously it depends on the shape there are 8 footers and 8 footers.

Wide and thick NO, thin and narrow YES.

Flame suit on.

Bugger Robbo you beat me

green0 said...

Hi Robbo,

Sure, but just to narrow it down, the board is 8' by 30" and 4 1/4 ish.

A rolling wave may be easier to paddle into than something sucky and pitching, but really I was looking for peoples experiences on the shorter board side of town.

Green0.

i,ve surfed 4,5,6 foot pretty good alley on a 8 10 x28.5, im 75 kg. i been on shorter boards too. personally at 30 inch wide, i wouldn,t fancy it on a bigger good alley wave
ps i think the weight of the board could be a factor too
cheers

Will second that 30 inches is a hand full on a solid wave.

There's a dirty joke in there just trying to get out.

green0 said...

Hi Robbo,

Sure, but just to narrow it down, the board is 8' by 30" and 4 1/4 ish.

A rolling wave may be easier to paddle into than something sucky and pitching, but really I was looking for peoples experiences on the shorter board side of town.

Green0.

hi greeno,i was having a think about it. i've had problems getting boards to hold on turns on bigger waves with a two plus one setups. with the speed and leverage you can get with the paddle i don't think there is enough hold with the side fins. i've been going with twin fins and a smaller centre fin.this way i don,t feel like my toes are going through the deck trying to hold on as board feels like its slipping away
cheers

Ben dover said...

I have come up with a new theory for board sizes compared to weight and it is......

Whatever your weight is you put a foot symbol before the last digit.

Example: I weigh 80kgs so im going to make myself an 8'0

So if u weigh 69kg you should be on a 6'9

But only pro's like Phil and Brooko can get away with not going by my theory.

Because Brooko's on a 8'6 and he weighs 105 kg

and Phil's on a 9'6 and weighs 105kg

Realistically they should be on 10'5's but just from pure skill they can get away with smaller.

hi, what do u normally surf on!

Ben dover said...

An 8'9 i've lost 9 kgs so i thought i better stick to my theory

will be keen to see to you on it. i,m 75 kg, can't see myself on a 7' 5", but then again i'm an o__ b______.
cheers

Ben dover said...

I have come up with a new theory for board sizes compared to weight and it is......

Whatever your weight is you put a foot symbol before the last digit.

Example: I weigh 80kgs so im going to make myself an 8'0

So if u weigh 69kg you should be on a 6'9

But only pro's like Phil and Brooko can get away with not going by my theory.

Because Brooko's on a 8'6 and he weighs 105 kg

and Phil's on a 9'6 and weighs 105kg

Realistically they should be on 10'5's but just from pure skill they can get away with smaller.

Your theory makes sense to me Ben I also believe the board MUST fit the waves you are riding,try ripping a 11 footer in two foot,but the same board in 11 foot would rip That's my take on board size. mac

lacey said...

Ben dover said...

An 8'9 i've lost 9 kgs so i thought i better stick to my theory

will be keen to see to you on it. i,m 75 kg, can't see myself on a 7' 5", but then again i'm an o__ b______.
cheers

I reckon Ben could SUP on a boogie board mac

I reckon Ben could SUP on a boogie board mac

hey, i wasn't being a smart arse. he pulls off some big sh-t

Greenroom said...

I reckon thats bull****. Thats shortboard mentality on a stand up paddle board
I weigh 65kg. So do I need to be on a 6'5?
Imo its all to do with what you want to get out of the SUP experience.
Can I SUP on my 6'6 shortboard? Hell no. Or even my 6'3 or 6'0? Even if they were 28.5"-30" wide and 4" thick, personally I would not even bother.
I ride an 11'2 x 30 and for me its got plenty of soul, groove and the ability to get some big waves.
And in regards to board and wave size I agree with the fact that it all depends on the shape, not the length.
For shortboard surfing the bigger the wave normally means the longer the board right?

each to his own.the question was could he ride bigger waves on a 8 x 30.me, i think at that lenght the board might be to wide. these arguments about boards being too small and you need a bigger board or you can only perform on a small board or whatever, who gives a sh-t. just do what you wont

My 2 cents

I loved my 12 foot Laird because the glide was awesome and it was a great vehicle to learn on. I actually miss it for just crusiing around but the guy who bought it has given it a great home down portland way.

The 10'6WAA is a great all round board and now feels like an aircraft carrier, but its pure FUN in even the worst conditions! It also allows me to convert non believers to the darkside with ease and performace to boot!

The 9'6WAA has just blown my mind, I could never have imagined the Sh1t I can do on this board. Dont get me wrong I am really joe average at SUP but this board makes me feel like I am surfin like Kellys Slater and have won a world title every time I get back to the car. For me in mid life crisis mode PMSL it rocks!

However this board for me is hard work so I really relate to Greenrooms comments about fun!

Just all comes down to what you want, for me it changes depending on the day and my mood!

Sell another kidney or a small child and get 2 SUPS!!!!!!!!!!

Phill

Ben dover said...

I have come up with a new theory for board sizes compared to weight and it is......

Whatever your weight is you put a foot symbol before the last digit.

Example: I weigh 80kgs so im going to make myself an 8'0

So if u weigh 69kg you should be on a 6'9

But only pro's like Phil and Brooko can get away with not going by my theory.

Because Brooko's on a 8'6 and he weighs 105 kg

and Phil's on a 9'6 and weighs 105kg

Realistically they should be on 10'5's but just from pure skill they can get away with smaller.

You know it

Lets go to the PUB and sort this out

who's coming,oh who won tonight

macQlD

I personally prefer smaller sups for smaller waves and bigger sups for bigger waves. on a solid day if i can actually get out I would much prefer to be on my 11fter because I can get in earlier and have so much down the line speed with weight behind it - and paddling back out I have much more paddle speed to get out of the impact zone (usually). On the other side of it I really enjoy riding my sub 10' board in punchy beachies and smaller grovelling days (just like a fish board).

Hey Bnaccas I half agree with you on half of that (female logic) - I have actually been in big trouble on one occassion on my 11' in overhead surf when I did hit a bump half way down the face and the board developed a bounce !!!!! V/F SCARY and struggled to get it back under control and that isn't fun on a very long and very big wave. I do not agree that over 10' is massive though - it very much depends on the board and personal preference. I personally think that most guys are trying to over compensate for the smallness of their equipment (non surf) by riding sups that are way too small for them or the conditions. What is it with guys - I thought they always going bigger with their toys to compensate for their shortcomings - maybe sup has made them honest at last - going smaller to show their true worth.