Hey Brooko I hope fishing off my board doesn't upset you?

I can't understand that if you are so happy doing what you are doing why you find the time to care about what other people do with their boards.

I kind of like the idea of people getting into it for different reasons, and trying different things with their boards. I also think in Australia we have enough coastline for everyone.

Ohh, and I hope that knee of yours gets better soon.

Oliver fishing def does not count, i think thats a great way to get a feed for the night And your so right there is heaps of coastline and unsurfed reefs that sups should start tackling. As a surfer i would hate to see inexperienced sups out at well known surf breaks. I think you guys in the bay are having a ball and when you decide to go out in the surf its not at well known surf spots I sure wasnt having a dig at you guys !

Hey Brooko,

I agree & disagree. Surf etiquette is the key. SUP is a diverse sport that covers many angles. It is being marketed as a surfsport as well as a physical fitness routine.
I am fortunate to have quite a few boards, I have my 9'0 for surfing, my 12'0 for cruising with the family and my 16'0 for ocean paddleracing. Some others however do not have this luxury and if I was to have one board it would be my 12'0 as I can surf it as well as enjoy paddles out on the flat water with the dog on the front and in Oliver's case a fishing rod.
I have been involved in the SUP scene in Oz since day one and I am quite amazed how this one sport has brought so many disciplines together from shortboarders, longboarders, kite/windsurfers, lifesavers etc etc all riding the same craft and having fun.

DavidJohn said...

I also think that most windsurfers (that windsurf in the waves) will pick up SUP quicker and be better at it than most hard core surfers.

That's just my opinion..But I know where you're coming from Brooko....and that's cool...but not all windsurfers are kooks in the waves..

DJ

Hey dj how are you mate ? i tend to disagree, know one is going to pick up surfing quicker than a surfer full stop ! I know some of the windsurfers around surfers point are no kooks, they rip in 10 - 12 ft surf !!

It also depends on what you mean by surfing. Anybody can learn to surf and have fun doing it. Very few people ever get really good at it.

Very few people ever get to the stage of shredding waves and getting deep barrels and dominating a crowded break. Most of these people have been surfing since they were kids and surf all the time to keep up their skills and fitness.

I think for most people a perfect surf is catching a reasonable number of waves, riding them with the board nicely trimmed and doing turns to stay in the pocket. Make a few sections, avoid getting caught on the inside and avoid being part of any rudeness or embarassment and you have a pretty nice day in the surf.

The latter kind of surfing is fairly easy if you choose the right break, have the right board and a reasonable level of fitness. Arguably the easiest way to do this kind of surfing is on a longboard or a large funboard.

SUP is a little simpler in that you are already standing, the paddle power is greater and you can sometimes get into waves earlier (especially small ones). SUP surfing does require more skill to manouvre the board into position and to time and control the power and direction when catching waves. The weight of the board tends to steamroller the bumps.

It's also more fun just cruising around the back checking stuff out. You don't have to just sit and wait for waves.

Thanks for the comments guys good to hear other peoples thoughts on the subject. Gorgo was talking about ironing out bumps and stuff, some of the bumps and chop i have hit on the sup i would get air on a shortboard on, by the way who elses board "sings" when you are flying across the face on big wave, my 11 6" southpoint makes this weird whistli ng noise when i am going really fast ? I think it may have something to do with the fins, it sounds reall cool actually

As a surfer first and then a windsurfer I feel windsurfers( wave sailers) learn to read waves very well from a perspective that a surfer doesnt get to see ( always standing up).

Anyone that has done any ultra light wind wave sailing is almost suping without the paddle anyway, and there is your similarity.

From my experience non surfing windsurfers (wave sailers) that start surfing pick it up relatively fast or at least much faster than a rooky surfer as they already have an understanding of waves.

Aw come on Brooko... you know you want to

Try sanding the sharp edge off the trailing edge of the fins.

That might help with the noise..and make it safer for you in a wipeout..and also lessen the chance of your leggie getting cut on the fin.

DJ

Yeah Brooko, I rode two different Kalama 11'6" demos and neither made the noise, then my newie did.



......Maybe after a couple of months of bumbling around I'm starting to surf them a bit smoother.