I'm pretty new to most water sports really, been kayaking for a couple of years, kite surfing for two seasons, and surfing since about May last year.
It's around about a 2 hour return trip for me to the nearest surf beaches, but a five minute walk to the river so I got my first SUP at Christmas. Since then I've been out Supping anywhere from 4 to 5 times a week, surfing and kitesurfing once and haven't touched a kayak
It makes flat water fun and the simple rapids 10 mins drive up the road awesome
Like Hilly was saying instead of having to stuff around with lines, pumping up kites and then more often than not sitting around waiting for tassie's fickle winds to sort themselves out I can just grab my paddle and go
Best of all, the whole family enjoys it and instead of me getting my gear and nicking off by myself for hours on end I can grab the kids and missus and we're all stoked to be out together. If my 2.5 year old so much as sees me look at my board and paddle he's off getting his life jacket repeating "I come, I come"
And to top it off it's somehow improved my surfing as well
I went for my first surf in months the other day, expecting to be gumby reincarnated and somehow by osmosis I had one of my best sessions. I was heaps fitter paddling out and onto waves, and even my popping up and balance was better
