Anybody tried? I'm thinking of buying a paddle and using it with my 130 litre freeride board whan there's absolutely no wind, like yesterday (in Singapore).
I can't justify buying the proper board, so if it's do-able on a sailboard...
A 130 litre freeride would be too short and wide, you would ruin the rails by bashing the paddle into them all the time aswell. But hey give it a go might be fun!
I've had a couple of sessions on my Starboard 161 formula board. Krusty was correct in saying that you have to watch the rails with the wider board. I made up a soft cloth boot for the top of the blade that stops the carbon paddle scratching up the rails. Apart from that though, it was heaps more fun that sitting on the beach when it's too light to formula and I can coach my wife, who is learning, without screaming from the beach.
Read my lips "no...freaking...wind" - I went out for a light wind slog around noon but by 2pm it was blowing a steady zero knots.
So, I was thinking of getting an old mistral longboard for light wind anyway, and in no-wind situations perhaps it would be better for SUP than a freeride board?
na SUP's are designed to be paddled, some even sailed some guys use One Designs in flat water, even use the centerboard for extra balance. check this out, mistral Superlite?
That guy on YouTube above must have balance+ or it took a few takes to get those dry shots.
I use my old Windsurfer Fun for mainly flat water SUP now. Longboards work, but start with the centreboard down as it will take a week to gain the balance skills. I still have mine down in side-on chop and with boat wakes. SUPs are about 76cm wide and longboards are usually about 63cm so more tippy. In theory I believe a windsurfer longboard should be faster on flat water (longer, thinner, less rocker etc). I have also done SUP on the Kona One, but found the Windsurfer a bit faster and less steered by paddling (a good thing).
I used my 150 GO with a two-blade kayak paddle to SUP in quiet water at Shark Bay (Monkey Mia). It was very stable and I did not notice a lot of rubbing on the rails. It was my first attempt and a bystander asked how long it had taken to learn, cos he was thinking of trying it out... I guess he thought I was doing OK.
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