Hi all, new member to the forums but have been using Seabreeze for wind reports for a a year or more now.

My wife and I have decided we like the idea of SUPing, we both kayak and I surf a 9'5" mal. We started looking around at equipment and saw that the cost for a new board is $$$$. We borrowed a standard windsurfer board off a friend and use one of our kayak paddles.

We can both stand and balance no problems and after about the third session and after watching some instructional video's on various websites can get along at a decent pace.

We will be using it on flat water (lake) at least once a week and in the surf maybe 3-5 times per year. We would also like to be able to sit our young kids on the board with us on the lake.

What size boards should we be looking at and what will they paddle/handle/balance like compared to the old windsurfer board we have been using. I'm 6'5 95kg and my wife is 5'8" 55kg and both athletic.

Thanks!

Bigger is better if you're mainly cruising and only occaisionally surfing. Like Piros siad starboard and Naish both make good boards in the size range you want. Also try NSP which are slightly lower price level, tho they do have a tendency for the rails to chip.

If you're having kids etc on the front get a board with a whole deck pad. Starboard and NSP both offer this.

Awesome you guys are getting into it If your 95kg the best thing you could do is take an axe out to that windsurfer and smash the thing to bits

You will love it when you try a real sub, the difference is incredible.

Wow, thanks for the replys!

So the difference between the old windsurfer board and a similar size SUP (12') will be noticeable? I have started looking at ebay and searching google for new and used boards. A lot to choose from and prices vary dramatically for different brands.


DJ, that penetrator in your pics sure looks like a weapon, but a bit out of the budget at the moment.

Kiakaha, that picture of you on the board got my wife very excited about this new sport, thanks!

You have been given great advice from the responses to your post.

I have a trailer full of windsurfing and kitesurfing gear. I also ride a 12'6' Starboard cruiser and my wife rides a 9'8" GSI Uberfish. My advice is to save your $ and forget using an old sailboard as it will be too unstable in choppy conditions on a lake and would not have much rocker (if any) so it won't perform all that well in the surf.

My Starboard is the dedicated cruiser model with a full deck grip and mast track to attach a sail. ( one currently advertised on Seabreeze at Port Douglas ) It tracks at a cracking pace on the flat and has the versatility and performance in the surf which you won't appreciate until you ride one. I will SUP with my 100kg of lard with my border collie in the surf at noosa with size or paddle with my 3 year old on the flats and smaller swells off noosa. If you want a SUP with kids I definately agree with Lobes - bigger is better and I would ensure your SUP has a full deck grip and buy a lifejacket for your kids and only take off on a wave of size with the kid on the front when the wife is not looking.

A SUP's performance with a windsurfing sail for waveriding in 5-10 knots should also not be underestimated. If sailing a SUP is your thing then you would be looking at a Starboard, Naish, Mistral Pacifico or BIC.

My wife loves her Uberfish, Sups twice per week and is the same weight as your wife. Rest assured your wife will be hooked soon enough. The Uberfish is also pretty good and loose in the surf so make a nice combination for you with the big board.

The only 2 problems we had was chipping of the rails with carbon paddles which you can resolve with taping your paddles regularly and applying clear rail tape and secondly, that both SUP's were both stolen on Australia Day. Karma favoured us and we got them back with a local newspaper add with a reward offerred. Pity I didn't get to meet the thieves who set them adrift out to sea. So we now have a set of 4m lockable kayak straps which work great for carrying 2 SUP's on the roof. A very wise investment because insurance generally won't usually cover watercraft attached to roofracks.

Hope this helps with your research.

Check the windsurfer board widths before buying.. They should be at least 28" wide.

DJ

We met Simon from Newcastle Sups on the weekend for a demo of a few C4 boards. WOW what a difference a deck pad, a sup paddle and ..........a true sup board makes!

We tried a 9'3" Vector, a Vortice Xp 14" and another board around 9'6". The short boards would be perfect for the surf but not ideal for lake. The Vortice was like a battle ship compared to the others and so fast!

Big thanks to Simon for taking the time to meet us Sunday afternoon and show us the gear and give some advice.