Im looking to buy a sup for me and my 11yr old son to muck around on. Looking for something ideally that we can sail in light winds as well as surf. Im looking at the starboard 9'8" as the size of the 12fters scares me, for getting it to the beach ect. Does anyone have any experience with sailing these? Any advise is much appreciated

I'm keen to give SUP a go but it seems really pricey to start off with new gear and there doesn't seem to be much of a market in 2nd hand gear as yet. Is it possible to start off on an old windsurfer or I have seen those soft beginner surf boards for sale that are 9ft and really big and floaty, or am I better off getting straight onto the real thing?

we have been getting some perfect SUP swell courtesy of some tropical lows far off in the indian ocean.

sending nice Westerly swell that get in everywhere on the coast...

had a magic session at cott on thurs night - knee to shoulder high (these waves on a sup deliver the drive of an over head high wall on a 6'4) mechanical walls with not a drop of water out of place - the starboard 11'2 was gettin 40 m long lefts at a mysto reef break.

Pumping for speed down the line or getting low grabbing a rail for some extra drive when set up behind the section.

I reckon there were 10 stand ups spread out over 5 breaks - all loving life!

apparently friday night was joy too..

and there is another west swell building as i speak..