Stand Up Boards and Paddles

As the sport continues to develop and grow, so do the number of boards, paddles and accessories to compliment the various disciplines of SUP’ing.  This guide will help you figure out which type of board and paddle you’ll want to put on your roof rack and ultimately, get the most out of it.  Until you expand your quiver of boards, you’ll want to get a board that you can use for the types of paddling you plan to do (or have access to do).

Most SUP boards can be surfed – But if you don’t plan on surfing, then you can look at a number of boards more specifically designed for flatwater and downwinders on lakes, rivers and even the ocean.  They typically have less ‘rocker’ on the nose and tail allowing them to track (glide) better on flatter types of water.

General Types of Stand-Up Paddle Boarding:

1.             Surfing – Ocean, lakes, behind boats and freighters

2.             Flatwater – Racing, Cruising, Leisuring (nice word eh?), fitness training, exercise on lakes, rivers, or any body of water that has relative calm conditions

3.             Whitewater - Rivers, Creeks, and Standing waves

4.             Downwinders - Oceans on swells or on lakes and rivers with the wind at your back.

 

How to pick the right ‘first’ board?

•                Going Surfing? -  If yes, go for a board that can be surfed on easily.  In most cases, longer will be easier to stand on – C4 Standem Up 11’6, Surftech Infinity Kuku Hoe, Hawaiian Pro Designs Alii II

•                Mostly just lakes and rivers for leisure and fitness cross training – C4 Waterman Holoholo, Rogue All-Rounders, Hovie Grand Sport

•                Whitewater/River Rapids – C4 10-6′ C-Mac iSUP Inflatable, Surftech iSUP, ULI GL-X1 Inflatable

•                Racing on Flatwater – The classes are primarily 12’6 & Under, 14′ & Under, and Unlimited.  In the first few years as the sport develops by region, the 12’6 racing class will be the most popular.  Though scientific research is limited, using the maximum size of board should provide you with the most glide and hypothetically, be faster. There are two types of shapes; Planing Hulls and Displacement Hulls. – Try the Bark Competitor 12’6, Surftech Mitcho 12’6, Ron House 12’6, Tomahawk Karno 12′, or C4 Waterman Holoholo

•                Fitness/Cross-Training – C4 Waterman Holoholo, Tomahawk Karno 12′, Starboard The Pin

•                Touring/Long-Distance - Ready for a journey?  Pack and paddle will soon be popular.  – Bark Expedition 14′, Lake Tahoe Rubicon, C4 Waterman Holoholo

A peek at various boards on the market – Ask your local dealer to find out the right one for you.

What makes one board more buoyant than another? About ‘Volume’ and ‘Rails’

Longer boards with thicker rails have more ‘volume’ which will help you feel more stable and balanced.   Boards like the Randy French Surftech Softop are among the most stable boards on the market.  The boards will generally be heavier so take that into consideration.  As a general rule, if you weigh more than 180 lbs, pick a board that has a volume rating of 180 Liters or more.  See the comparison below to get an idea of the difference in thickness compared to a standard longboard.