Stand Up Paddle Boards.... What's Going On

Well… Good or bad, happy or mad, you like it or you hate it, you do it or you don’t… SUP people are here to stay and will soon be in numbers far greater than we ever wanted or feared… Far greater than hoped for… It depends who you ask…

I SUP surf all the time and I build SUP boards daily… The demand for them has reached a crazy, CRAZY, CRAZY levels and its really just beginning. I already knew over a year ago that this would happen regardless who built boards or who did the surfing… For some it will be a fad… For some it will be a core workout, for some it will be pure fun and a lifestyle… From the board builders view… Some will innovate and push progressive designs forward… Some will build big platforms for the masses to hand over their $$$$ so they can do the “IN” thing… There will be people getting paid to surf… People getting $$$ to surf SUP??? Yup… Contests will be sprouting up all over the place… This will be as big as windsurfing ever was, bigger than kiting etc, etc, etc…

Like it or not its here to stay… If you’re gonna do it or build boards for people PLEASE EDUCATE OTHERS ON HOW TO SURF SAFELY WITH MANNERS!!!

I seriously doubt we will grow without major problems… Not everyone is capable of even little bits of common sense… Oh well… I’ll see you guys on the progressive side of things…

Aloha,

Blane Chambers

Aloha Blane,

You put it right on. Here on Maui the water has become full of SUPs. All the guys in my little circlce of “buds” gave me grief when I started paddling a short while back. Now the guys that poo-pooed SUPs the most have just bought their first Laird or similar model and are all out flip-flopping around to learn. I personally didn’t get into it for surfing, as I prefer a surfboard when there are waves. I really enjoy being out paddling at daybreak for the exercise on flat or calm days watching the turtles and rays swim along under me while I scope out the coral and the great sights. It’s therapy out there.

Regarding the demand for boards, etc., I agree it’s become nuts. I recently made a double bent-shaft koa paddle because I just like the natural feel and soul of wood over the tech paddles. Even though the price to make one is outrageous, I’ve got guys everywhere wanting one. The latest craze is guys out paddling with their dogs sitting on the nose. This morning a guy and his dog were out cris-crossing through the lineup taking every wave.

“No paddle zones”, “Paddle only zones”…will the signs start going up on certain beaches? Makes you wonder where its all going to go. Focus on aloha and enjoy the ride?? Having fun is a crazy business.

richard mccormick

I feel you Blane.

I was out the other day and pulled up to a spot I usually take off from to see 8 guys out there. All very interested, all trying out boards to buy them. This on a ho-hum 2 foot day with nothing going on, unless you count the 75 degree sunshiny day with no wind. I feel like its going to be a rough summer looking for breaks out of the way to do your own thing on, but…

thats what SUP is allllllllllll about!!!

I already have super top secret plans in place for the summertime, all involving bikes with board trailers and coolers of beer for long fun days…

Its nice to see the refinements in boards going on. Steve Boehne is making some sick boards that handle California swells quite nice, Ive got to ride a few of those. I heard something about a maybe Surftech plug in the works from him and a quad fish SUP plug from Munoz. Rons making some clean shapes and the Hobie guys have a little going on.

It will be a very interesting summer indeed. I hope some of the more experienced guys around here will set a nice example for everyone else interested.

Here at San Onofre, they have set a “craft” zone (made awhile back for the wave ski guys) meaning anyone using a paddle of any sorts isnt allowed to surf north of a boundary. Its put in place around a rule stating you cant launch “craft” from state beaches. But its just a matter of time before someone makes it a bit dangerous, and more rules are put in place. Thats why if we can teach newer folks to start flat water and when surfing, just do your own thing somewhere with a mellow crowd.

Self regulation is wayyyyyyyy better than the “man” telling you where you can and cant do your thing…

.

Hey Carve,

I’ve yet to see a SUP here in the deep south though I’m sure it will come. I fully agree that there are those without the faintest shred of common sense. The jet skiers who jump waves right out front of my home beach when there are multiple kilometers of deserted beach to either side come to mind.

Since reading your posts I’ve started to think about making one. What is some of the recognized etiquette in SUP boarding? Even for those who do care one persons common sense is not always anothers. I think some of your insight on this might be really useful.

Quote:

Since reading your posts I’ve started to think about making one. What is some of the recognized etiquette in SUP boarding? Even for those who do care one persons common sense is not always anothers. I think some of your insight on this might be really useful.

He’s already laid it out for you… just go to

http://paddlesurfhawaii.com/default.asp?doctype=mm&C_ID=129

.

Thanks

I think my area would pe perfect for this. Lots of empty coastline.

I copied this from Blane’s site:

Especially in the beginning you should surf away from others. When you get good at it surf with Aloha! You can catch a lot of waves with the paddle but it doesn’t mean taking waves from others. The other surfers will either love you or hate you depending on how you are in the lineup. The cool thing about SUP surfing is you can now enjoy waves you normally wouldn’t surf. Even closeouts that reform can be a blast! The key here is to avoid large crowds to begin with. When surfing with others, SURF WITH ALOHA… SHARE ! Go find waves off the beaten path. You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have at spots you used to think were junk. Waves that once seemed far away or a long paddle are now open to you. Even a mile paddle is well within reach… Don’t limit yourself to places with crowds…

[=1]1. You paddle out floundering to a lineup with surfers. You can barely stay standing but proceed right into or outside of the lineup. You paddle for waves while people scramble out of your way only to fall off before you can even get on the wave.... Your big board becomes an extremely dangerous projectile.... [ 4]Kook alert!![/] [/]KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!! KOOK!!
2. You can barely stay standing so you practice in an area where no one is around that you could endanger or bum out. You care about the world wide effects of SUP surfing so you paddle and surf with Aloha. Very Kool!!
[=1]3. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and stand outside everyone. The sets come and you paddle in like a locomotive right thru the pack. [ 4]You get waves in every set...[/] [/][=1][ 5]KOOK!![/] [/]
[=1]4. You start to get the hang of it and want to surf better waves so you decide to surf a more popular spot. You paddle out and check out the situation. You see waves off to the side that a lot less people go for. You catch a few of those... Since you don't want to wear out your welcome, you decide to catch only a few set waves at most. You surf with Aloha.... [ 5]Kool![/][/]
5. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You stand outside everyone the whole duration of the lulls. [=1]You never sit down so you tower over others the whole time... [ 4]You make sure you catch a wave from every set.[/] [/]KOOK!
[=1]6. You paddle out on an in-consistent day to a crowded spot. You feel like you're on stage so you stand off to the side or sit down between sets because you don't like blocking everyone's view of the beautiful ocean. You catch a couple waves then move to the inside or on to another spot or just paddle around because you figured out how to surf with Aloha... [ 5]KOOL!![/][/]
[=1] 7. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You surf crowded spots and catch all the waves you can. Small ones, set waves etc. Because you can surf good you get plenty waves. You're always calling people off your waves. You just can't help yourself to sit sets out so [ 4]you basically take over the spot for the duration of your surf. [/] [/]HUGE SELFISH KOOK! HUGE SELFISH KOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!
[=1]8. You're pretty good and can get in and around the surf well... You go to a crowded spot and check out what's going on. You see some of the lesser quality waves going un-ridden and surf those. You catch a ton of waves but ones that no one really wants. You paddle out and get a few set waves but you make sure others get waves by quietly cluing them in to incoming sets. You become a [ 3]quiet [/]spotter of sorts for others to score good waves.... You always sit out a few sets. You use your high vantage point to stoke others out. KOOL!![/]
[=1]9. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can paddle fast and want to get back at those greedy longboarders. You decide to get into it to take over and be the dominent surfer at any spot at any time. Do the entire surfing world a favor and don't get into it. You are the biggest [ 5]KOOK!!!!!![/] [/]
10. You see how cool SUP surfing is because you can do something that is a challenge, get great exercise, paddle far up the coast at will, have a blast riding waves you never thought would be fun, discover new spots, like to enjoy the comraderie of the SUP surfers around the world. KOOL!!