PaddlePig said...CMC said...
Just to throw some acid on the fire here with the Mal argument.
Before I started to ride SUP I had a couple of different Mals, a highly rockered HP Brothers Neilsen 9'2 and a very beautiful Classic Mal full log Volane, trim lap pinlined amazing creation that Peter White shaped for me. I rode them quite a lot when the waves were small or average.
Once I got a SUP though I didn't ride them anymore. Not to offend but the Mals kind of provided no challenge. Easy to catch waves, stable, turn well etc and do everything they are meant to do. I found SUP very challenging. That year also there was a bank way out in the middle of the Alley that broke kind of randomly at 5 or so feet that was so much fun. Nobody was surfing it, too hard to read and better waves closer to the rock and at Laceys. You could take the bumpy drop and ride it to the sand. It was a new thing, I kind of got hooked on SUP on that one bank. Here I was surfing alone at the Gold Coasts most crowded break. (Note, very different now)
I sold both Mals, still regret the Classic Mal though.
In the last couple of days I have been riding a 9'1 Mal ex pro board, high performance I guess you'd say. It's great fun and I am a bit sore from a bit of training this week so absolutely perfect for the swell we have had. But in my very honest opinion it is not as high performance as my 8'11 SUP. It may have something to do with the ultra light weight of the SUP and being able to use the paddle but the SUP is way closer to riding a shortboard IMHO. Should probably note that this board is a local custom that is shaped by a shortboard shaper. I'm sure that will impress you all. I'm sure that if I spend more time on the Mal I will be able to achieve more but it was an interesting revelation for me comparing it to the SUP.
Over Summer I will probably ride the Mal a whole lot more, I end up paddling things so much for training that the last thing I want to do in the surf as well is hold a paddle.
Hey mate, I'll post honestly because this is short board forum. There's nothing good about the sup. Even if it is hard, it's still lame! I could paddle a chep pallet out into a crowded break and that would be hard to surf, yet I wouldn't expect a hero's reception. I'm simply responding to the'sup is harder to ride than mal so it deserves more respect' part. Other than that it's a good solid post.
Just read your post and mine again quoted also. Not sure what you mean about the hero's reception or that SUP deserves more respect part. I started the thread, I already knew most people's opinions. If I was looking for validation or to change peoples minds this would not be the place to do it. Also, if I cared what people think I wouldnt ride one. I still ride one.
I completely agree with many of the sentiments on here. I probably hate those guys on SUPS with no clue more than you guys do. I also dislike guys that can surf and use it become a greedy monster. I have to deal with them when I'm on my normal boards and then be tarred with the same brush when I ride the SUP.
Do I believe that riding a SUP is a good equipment choice in some conditions? Yes.
Do I want to convince you to try and like one also? No.
The whole thread was started as a bit of a stir and to poke fun at people that honestly don't even know what they don't like about it other than the generalised 'it's for fat old guys, kooks and kiteboarders and they take all of the waves'. I reckon a lot of people just hate it 'cos it's a popular opinion.
I know a bunch of guys that ride them that surf better on a shortboard than most people on this forum. Ex WCT guys, lifeguards, legends. People that enjoy the water and want to have the right tools for the day whatever it throws at you.
No hero's reception required.
had few bad ones,had some great ones and i would rather ride something than clean up my own mess
