Legion said...
Things I don't like about SUP:
- I like to be able to turn. And I mean properly turn, not pivot a flat board about a pivot point. That's a deal-breaker for me.
- I'm yet to see a SUP person who can surf.
- people with no surf background who are suddenly "surfers".
- people with aircraft carriers attached to their roof semi-permanently, like a status symbol. Unfortunately I live in what's likely to become ground zero for SUP (from what I've observed) so I see a lot of posers like this.
- the forehand cutback/paddle lean.
- the paddle in general, for people who use it as a device to compensate for their inability to balance.
- the stereotypical middle aged, overweight, low ability level SUP surfer. They're just unnecessary flotsam and it was better when they weren't cluttering up the water.
- kooks jumping up the pecking order without paying their dues.
Things I like:
- wave count. But 100 waves on a board that doesn't turn doesn't == 100 x better than 1 wave on a board that does turn. For me, anyway.
Ahh, finally shows his true colours!
You will find Legion that yes indeed the majority of SUP riders are on large bouyant boards and in most cases because they want something as an alternative to a shortboard/mal/kiteboard/whatever. And this is fine.
Some of us have made the change for other reasons and have decided it is actually a better surfing experience - why is this?
I surf in Sydney which even when good; the waves are not perfectly formed and in fact my local is a mixture of 'death slabs' and fat walls. The beachies can get epic but 80% of the time aren't. For me SUP has made these 'OK' waves, friggen awesome again. Don't me tell the things don't turn - in fact, in average waves you can smoke someone of equivalent ability on a shortboard due to the extra drive and power you get out of the larger planning area combined with a curvy outline/rocker and paddle.
I get some of the local boys (who are **** hot surfers) asking me about the SUP all the time and commenting on how well they turn.
To say that once the 'competent shortboarders' take up the sport we will go back to the bottom of the ladder - who cares, besides local guys (over here) like Tom Carroll and Matt Grainger are better than competent and are lovin the sport.
I challenge you to try one that is NOT an 'aircraft carrier' - as this is what most of us 'competent shortboarders' started on, and tell me how easy it is! In terms of exercise, a one hour SUP surf on an under bouyant 'sinker' like mine is the equivalent of 3 hours on a shorty - no comparison.
Bottom line is it's just more fun, so if your not the type to worry about all the media hyped, vomit forming BS that sometimes get chucked around, go for it!
Legion, you sound like someone for whom 'image' is 'everything' so I doubt any of the above will apply to you.
