I was just sitting down reading through the study guide on surfing culture the topic being Soul Surfing and it made me start to think about a few questions in relation to the sport we all talk about here, SUP!

The questions I'm throwing out are:

1. Do you think SUP is to commercialised by our big board manufacturers and are they dictating what the industry should look like rather then the people in the sport deciding?

2. What is it that makes you SUP? now really think about this one, what is it that motivates you?

3. Has SUP moved away from self expression, individualism and the aloha spirit? and where do you fit into the line up?

I'll leave it there and look forward to the responses.

Adapt said...

I was just sitting down reading through the study guide on surfing culture the topic being Soul Surfing and it made me start to think about a few questions in relation to the sport we all talk about here, SUP!

The questions I'm throwing out are:

1. Do you think SUP is to commercialised by our big board manufacturers and are they dictating what the industry should look like rather then the people in the sport deciding?

2. What is it that makes you SUP? now really think about this one, what is it that motivates you?

3. Has SUP moved away from self expression, individualism and the aloha spirit? and where do you fit into the line up?

I'll leave it there and look forward to the responses.

not to much we can do about #1 but join up to SUP australia and have a say.
#2 i have compressed neck vertebra (spelling sux) and bone spurs in there as well so laying down with head up was getting so painful, could only surf for 20 mins. tops and paid for it the rest of the day. was sitting round the house on my arse getting fatter and depressed, till my eyes were opened on sup now i am like a grommet all over again can stay out for hours with no pain. geting to the motivation bit FUN and weight loss 20kg so far and counting.
#3 dont know if sup has had time to develop much of this stuff yet, so lets see on that one? been surfing shortboards, windsurfing, longboarding and now sup in the lineup at my local for over 35 yrs, dont really care what they reckon i aint going nowhere so if they aint used to me by now they have the problem not me.

on a road to nowhere come on sing along

I'd like to think that we were heading in the direction to not be 'pretend' Hawaiians.

Yes, our sport originates from Hawaii but just as prone surfers have done Aussie surfers and athletes in general stand alone as their own people with their own presence. It is a presence respected around the world. In fact sometimes I think the people that respect Aussies the least are Aussies.

Maybe I missed out on my packet of 'Aloha' that gave me some kind of honorary Hawaiian heritage when I got my first SUP. Yes, I know what Aloha is and I think in principle I live my own version of it. My friends favourite saying is "No Smile, No style" and this is true. BUT I'd feel like an imposter with all of the Shakas and "Aloha's" this and that.

I mean this with the greatest respect to the Hawaiians and Polynesian people in general. In fact I respect them too much to try and be some white soft version.

Adapt said...

I was just sitting down reading through the study guide on surfing culture the topic being Soul Surfing and it made me start to think about a few questions in relation to the sport we all talk about here, SUP!

The questions I'm throwing out are:

1. Do you think SUP is to commercialised by our big board manufacturers and are they dictating what the industry should look like rather then the people in the sport deciding?

2. What is it that makes you SUP? now really think about this one, what is it that motivates you?

3. Has SUP moved away from self expression, individualism and the aloha spirit? and where do you fit into the line up?

I'll leave it there and look forward to the responses.

#1. No definitely not. If you want a custom there are heaps of guys up and down all of the coasts that will sit down and shape what you want. DTM, DC and Luke Short just to name a few. Without the R&D of the big names we would be riding oversized ironing boards. Look at the exciting prospects of Blair Chamber's chine technology and the Dihedral noses on BOP boards. You need the big names to fork out the cash and do the experimentation and provide people with a sound and affordable product.

#2. At 53 and with 4 kids (youngest 4 years old) it allows me to go for an early morning paddle (flat water) close by before they require their chauffeur/servant to assist them. I then get go to work with the buzz of the sun coming up either over the river or the bay. It also allows me to catch little peelers at my secret spot in the bay ( in the right conditions) . Since I have a dodgy back and mediocre knees it allows me to still surf down the coast as hard or as laid back as I want to.

#3. Lets not kid anyone, there are huge differences in the way people look at Supping. Up in QLD and NSW there is a hell of a lot more competitiveness because of the warmer climate. You can surf all year round and there are more people in the water that might not necessarily take up the sport down South. Therefore there is a tendency to more aggression and and showmanship. Down South there are no where near the amount of people in the water (except for certain times of the year) because its colder, so when you see someone else on a SUP you tend to be more friendly, I will now call this 'Guday mate Spirit'. These are not hard and fast rules just observations over years of surfing in both places. Down here there are a lot of Downwind crew. I will eventually get into it, but lets face facts, most of them are paddling stand up kayaks. But what's wrong with that? The technology overlap is fantastic. I SUP to be happy and not hurt anybody. Hopefully I will still say that when I'm 73.

Got to go now Playschool just finished.

taking that ride, were on a road to nowhere

tortise said... Nope lads of with the in laws and i will be riding heaps.........

on a road to nowhere come on sing along

1. Do you think SUP is to commercialised by our big board manufacturers and are they dictating what the industry should look like rather then the people in the sport deciding?
Dont really care so long as i'm having fun

2. What is it that makes you SUP? now really think about this one, what is it that motivates you?
Being in the water getting maximum waves that can be ridden longer and further.
love this ****

3. Has SUP moved away from self expression, individualism and the aloha spirit? and where do you fit into the line up?
for those passionate about surfing dont think it has moved away but its all about education to those who poo poo it in the surf.
as for me in the SUP line up i just love it. if theres waves i'm on if theres no waves i'm on so who cares i am passionate.
i love this sport its AWESOME FUN

I do it because I saw a guy doing it at my local and it looked fun.

I tried it and found out it was great fun, a really positive experience learning a new skill and enjoyed it as a way of riding waves and keeping fit..

The guy I first saw SUPing is a good mate of mine now and so are about at least 6 other guys and some girls from my local.

Also I love to SUP on flatwater with my kids, my wife, friends and when its flat and I just need to get out on the water.

I do it cause it makes me feel good. If I could make my own I would.

I'm heading in a direction that will always include SUPing .

Aloha. (Never be afraid of using terms that are positive and mean goodwill to others)

Fergus said...

I do it because I saw a guy doing it at my local and it looked fun.

I tried it and found out it was great fun, a really positive experience learning a new skill and enjoyed it as a way of riding waves and keeping fit..

The guy I first saw SUPing is a good mate of mine now and so are about at least 6 other guys and some girls from my local.

Also I love to SUP on flatwater with my kids, my wife, friends and when its flat and I just need to get out on the water.

I do it cause it makes me feel good. If I could make my own I would.

I'm heading in a direction that will always include SUPing .

Aloha. (Never be afraid of using terms that are positive and mean goodwill to others)

Nice post Fergus.

Hey CMC I understand your comment about the Aloha bit but don't share your views. Can't see anything wrong with borrowing a thing from another culture that you admire.

My parting thoughts are kia kaha, kia mana - stand up for what you believe in (Adapt this is also my answer to your questions 1 and 2. The answer for 3 is a classic quote from Dean Morrison about pipe- "so far down the pecking order that I don't get to peck")

Bill

You do what you do because you love. Surfing has changed so much over the years. Long bords, shorter boards, short boards and back to long boards. Now sups are starting to appear and for me I love it because it means I can continue to surf and enjoy myself as I get older.