Hey Guys,

Been toying with getting a SUP for a while now, as a keen waterman I think I could use it a fair amount. One area which appeals to me and I'm trying to find out if you can use a sup in white water rapids?? The reason I ask is my brother lives out in Toodyay and toyed with a kayak but this could be the added reason for me justifying a SUP to the wife:)

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers,
Gaz.

We've been white water sup'ing for a little while now, although this video might suggest otherwise...




We use boards designed specifically for white water. They are usually inflatable, as the hard boards cop a pounding on the rocks. My board is a Starboard Astro Stream, which was designed by white water pioneer, Dan Gavere.

Awesome, that looks like a heap of fun.

Thanks for the reply's guys.

The best thing I've seen on this forum for 2 years. You (Woody) and the Teeps man are killing it!! Was that past Warrandyte? Absolutely brilliant!!

PTWoody said..
We've been white water sup'ing for a little while now, although this video might suggest otherwise...




We use boards designed specifically for white water. They are usually inflatable, as the hard boards cop a pounding on the rocks. My board is a Starboard Astro Stream, which was designed by white water pioneer, Dan Gavere.

Thanks Paul.. great vid..

HBsups said..
Hey PTW
cool vid. Are those knee pads and shin guards SUP specific or are they generic types? I was thinking about doing some WW river supping and wondering whether I can get away with a generic set of knee pads to start with (although the idea of swimming in them does not appeal).
cheers HB

Not SUP specific. They are mountain bike / motocross pads. We've found the most likely injury is jagging your shins or knees on a rock so they are a good idea. I also wear motocross padded shorts under my boar dies - I'm like the Michelin man and everyone laughs at me. Until yesterday when Teeps came off and landed on his hip twice. He has a blue bruise right on the hip bone.

I think the only issue with these pads is making sure they don't soak up too much water in the padding. I remember wearing a pair of cricket pads while SUP'ing for a photo op stunt a few years ago and when I came off, I got sucked down and could easily have drowned under the weight. Presumably anything you get for a winter sport (motocross / soccer shin guards etc) will resist water much better than cricket pads.

Thanks PTWOODY for posting..that looks so hard yet so much fun..the Starboards flatos look perfect for the task. Awesome.

We only go where we know the kayakers and canoes have been before, and whenever we come to a new section we've never done, someone will usually go down first on their knees to make sure it's passable.

It's seriously the most fun I've had on a SUP in quite a while. It's not as hard as it looks especially on the right boards. The Astro Stream is a joy to paddle and bulletproof. Landing a drop, then spinning around and catching the suction eddy back up and 'surfing' the backdraft as you watch your mates give it a go is a hoot.

Blackfish make a great quick release bungee that I hook onto my PFD - keeps it away from snags and can be quickly removed to avoid traps.

The paddles take a battering as you tend to also use them to push off on rocks.

The hip bruise wasn't serious but just reminded me that rocks are hard!