Choosing a travelboard and/or SUP

General Discussion
1

First of all I have to say that I’m not a homebuilder, though I wish I could.

I would have preferred to post in a forum aimed at buyers of surfboards, but I know that here is where the knowledgable people are.

Here’s the deal. I’m looking to increase the amount of wave time I get as much as possible.

I already own a common 6’ Twin Fish and a 7’10" MiniMal. I’m a minimalist; because I’ve lived in a campervan I don’t like baggage in life so ideally I would prefer just one board. I sold a lovely 8’10" Retro and the 7’10" Mal I learnt on; so I’m serious.

I work on away in Oil and Gas and often find myself in somewhere like Norway, Ireland, Aberdeen, Thurso or the Shetlands watching the waves roll in but with little way of surfing them.

In addition when I’m at home I spend time with the girlfriend in Bournemouth where waves are rare.

I like to travel in free time when I can.

To combat these 2 problems to make sure I get my hit of waves I’ve been looking at Travelboards and Stand Up Boards.

Last week I rented a SUP from Longboard house in Newquay. I noticed a multitude of things. It’s fantastic exercise; the best exercise I’ve ever seen. I quickly got the hang on it in that first 5 hour session, but I was frustrated that I couldn’t catch enough waves. I caught a few at first but then my core balance muscle got destroyed and I fell off inexplicably. This was really very annoying! But at least I had something on a day when most others had nothing. I also noticed I wanted to ditch the paddle at times, just to make sure I got my fill. Still, I was happy that I nearly got into catching waves (1-3.5’) in just the first session.

At first the SUP Uli looked fantastic. It can roll up and I can take it anywhere. With a paddle even if there is no waves I can do something - fantastic. But on closer inspection I can see that it doesn’t compare to a Pope Bisect/Trisect. The Uli is ~£782, while the Pope SUP is ~£1249. The Pope is the better board, but I wouldn’t be able to bring the Pope on work with me, so although it’s great in the waves I wouldn’t be able to use it as much.

The Uli flexes…

Uli also have a 15’ coming out. I’m not sure which one to choose… and I’m doing this from thousands of miles away.

So what about buying a Uli SUP and a smaller foldable… as well? Regretably Pope seems to be blocking the manufacture of small travelboards though strict patent enforcement and them not making themselves so I won’t be able to get one of those just yet. Please someone just buy the technology and make one. (By the way I don’t have anywhere available to make to build one, or the skill, though it has been suggested to me). I would really like a different kind of foldable to the ones Pope do.

Perhaps I should get a Uli SUP for the time being (paying the import duty). I would much prefer to buy from UK/Europe, and I would much prefer to try one out beforehand though.

As you can see this is a pain in the neck. The sums involved are nearing the value of a small car and it’s really hard to choose.

What would you suggest to help me decide on what to get?

2

Before I go any further - is there an alternative to the Pope Bisect?

 

I went for the Uli (10’) and it’s 8 months on. How did it go to choose such a wierd thing? It was nearly a months wages!

Yes, I know it flexes. And yes, it would be a lot nicer to be naturally made. In a way it’s not really a real surfboard but I’ll tell you what, it feels like it saved my life!

I have now:

  • surf far out breaking waves

  • paddles across to boat access only waves

  • always got it ready in the van rolled up

  • able to surf all day, everyday when before I’d be tired

  • ridden it at both sides at Newquay, south coast UK, Norway, Maderia

  • ridden it right onto a reef!

Drawbacks are:

  • the flex is there no matter what you do. I wouldn’t really class it as a surfboard exactly, more something you pull out as a magic bullet medicene. Doesn’t compare to real boards. The flex is kinda ok though

  • you still have to get weight forward and then jump back to avoid the nose dive

  • hand pump - aggh!

  • rails are off the scale of rubbish

  • SUP in headwinds is impossible. As is offshore -it blows you off the wave beyond like 20knots. Plus your body acts as a sail so longshore drift and you’ve got a walk on your hands. A real shame - the only thing limiting when I can use the board

 

I don’t think you guys have anything to worry about. A hand shaped board is in a different Universe to a Uli.

Now what I would really like is a board that all you guys would approve of, but that I can break into 2. Will that ever happen?

3

Why not get yourself a proper surf mat made by a caring surfer-craftsman?

http://fourthgearflyer.com/

http://neumaticsurfcraft.homestead.com/

 Weight measured in ounces, fun measured in tons, always overhead.......

 

Unless your one of those folks who can't have any fun with a wave without standing on it........

 

4

I’m with grumpy… 

prone seems like the proper choice.

like riding your bike down the street and shaving the chin on the asphalt.

5

There is a shop in Santa Barbara, CA that carries a newer brand (Imagine Eco) of two-piece Stand Up Paddle board.  I'm not sure where they get them but the ones I saw looked pretty good.  Can't really vouch for their durability as I haven't tried one.  I've heard mixed reports on Pope Bisects.  I think they need a little tweaking now and then to keep the latches tight and everything together.

http://www.surfingsports.com/2008/12/imagine-this.asp

 

6

dont buy a paddle board unless you are a very good(skilled) and considerate surfer or in areas where there are no other surfers

or you will be disliked, scorned, abused and possibly assaulted

some people like to stir the applecart and ride these annoying craft just to piss people off and hog waves.

if you realy must ride one make sure you drive a shit box car , key scratches , dents and delfated tyres can get expensive

7

Thank you kindly for the links :slight_smile:

Got a quote for the Imagine at £530 (Rage Asym).

A surfmat would be best for taking away with me. Thanks for suggestion. I’ll get a cheapo bodyboard and give that a go first.

Eventually it could be a Uli SUP for small days, a mat for taking away, and a Splitboard for travelling Indo. That adds up to nearly £2000 (~$3000), who said there wasn’t money in surfboards?

 

Regards SUP. Not wanting to go offtopic but that’s true and it’s fortunate I’ve gone through my ignorant phase. Mine catches waves to a same level as a longboard though. I’d imagine there could be a problem if it was used for bigger waves in competition with shortboarders, but thank god it’s not very popular here at the moment -up to 10x more expensive, needs a massive car and massive arms just to get it to the beach. 

It’s always a worry that more people could be out there cluttering it all up. But then I remind myself that most of them are too lazy to get out of bed, aren’t very good at predicting the waves, always want the biggest wave, too scared to surf at night (or sensible to surf alone), or 9-5, or don’t like the cold, or can’t afford/able to drive, ad infinitum. Where there is a will and positivity, there is a way. If you put surfing before everything else and be accept just a litle compromise, you will get what you want.

 

Peace to you

8

Still love the Uli. Use it for rivers too and just paddling around…

Now looking at the Imagine splitboards. Does anyone know of anything similar to these guys?

 

For anyone who found this thread and wants to find similar threads:

http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1008576