Trip to Byron Bay
Taken in last week of January 2014 using a Coolpix dangling around my neck. Yes, it is hectic.. And here is the background story to the weather that week. slideaholics.com/journal/2014/little-low — at Byron Bay January 2014
Posts
Message to people selling short SUPs
You may have a SUP too small to comfortably stand up on to paddle. My bet is that it is fun to surf! What you need is a paddle that is short enough (or that telescopes) so that in the kneeing position you can hold the top of the paddle when the blade is out of the water on the up-stroke, arms out in front the top one at about a 45 degree angle. Paddling like this you can get on the wave easily, surf it like a longboard and go out in surf that is way too bumpy to SUP on. [Copy and paste this into places where short second-hand SUPs are sold.]
OK, so where do I get a board for this?
No point starting with a new board at full retail price. Check the second-hand market. Some SUP riders buy boards too small for them and sell it to buy a bigger one. Some teenagers outgrow there SUPs. So there are quite a few out there. One place to buy boards in Australia is Seabreeze.com.au Here is a link to the site and a search of NSW with the boards listed from short to long. bit.ly/1eoudNG To find more info on these boards go to the brand's website. Here are some of them: Naish naishsurfing.com/hokua-series Star Board star-board-sup.com PSH paddlesurfhawaii.com/../8-6-wide-ripper Laguna Bay noosasurfworks.com.au/boards/laguna-bay-stand-paddle Let us know if you know of other makers that make suitable boards.
Worse than goatboating!
Yes, it can be if you surf at crowded beaches. However you can explore places where it is too choppy for SUPs to go. One such place is around the point at Long Reef on Sydney's northern beaches. There is a fun little wave that breaks between two rocks. It looks like a close-out but because the whitewater backs off the top of the swell after it breaks you can drive across the wall in either directions (away from the closest rock). Still, goatboats do that too..
Here's a good idea - kneelupps.info
I will explain how I have been surfing since mid 2012? KUPS - Kneel-up paddle surfing Any SUP I can stand up on is too big to surf. With the paddle I use I don't have to. It is a variable and in the short position just the right length. Upsides: With the usual short period swell we get in Sydney SUPs get jostled by the chop, Stronger stroke at the take-off, Quickly adapt to different boards, Easier to get up than from lying-down paddling, Easier to take off by being hit from behind by white water, and All the benefits of surfing a long-board. Downsides: Hard to keep your knees on the board as wide and your feet would be; Have to get up from kneeling at take-off; Some SUP people will say it's the lamest thing they have ever seen. Boards that I have ridden: Star Board 8'5"a bit like this 2012 model, but much older. star-board-sup.com/2012/product/?q=pocket-rocket-8-5-30 and Bonga Board 9'6" 2019 - the Naish Crossover 120 supwindfoil.blogspot.co...