Short SUP's why?

Short SUP's - Are they suitable for you?

You may have noticed that Kelly Slater has been riding shorter boards with rounder noses over the last few years.
As he puts it ”it is about the feeling not about the look”:
http://vimeo.com/11145393

Consider SUP and the direction Starboard took 3 years ago developing shorter paddle boards with rounded noses.
Also the direction Starboard windsurfing took some 9 years ago with the EVO, the board that Starboard Shaper Scott McKercher helped to develop and use to Win Serial Wave Windsurfing Championships.

Shorter SUP's have less "glide". When you stop paddling the board stops moving. They are harder to paddle in a straight line and require more effort for less speed.

However, they are lighter, stronger, cheaper, easier to transport and turn more easily on waves.

At Amara Watersports Pattaya Blue Lagoon Thailand we have the following short SUP models available so that you can try and see which board works best for what you expect from your Paddleboard.

9'8 Pro

Hero 9' x 33"

Pocket Rocket 8'5" x 30"

Seven Eleven 7'11" x 29"

Rush 7'4" x 32"

Impossible 6'6" x 30"

Using Shorter SUP's - (under 10')

1. When using shorter boards on waves

You need to be more "on-peak" as you need to use more of the waves energy to the wave has to get you going.

Be more aware not to put too much weight on the back of the board, which will create too much drag.

Basically, the more efficient you are, in paddling and shifting your weight to match the trim of the board, (as described above) the smaller the board you will be able to use.

I use the one foot forward, one back surf stance from the moment I start paddling for the wave.

Then I lean my upper body fwd over my front foot to help the boards tilt match the wave angle - I believe this mates a larger surface area and also engages the forward part of the board. IMO this is more important than paddling for initial speed.

Note: Be prepared to move your upper body back to centre if the nose starts to go under water,(preferable before). As speed picks up, then you can shift weight to the back foot and start to engage the fins and nicely thinned out rails of the tail section.

Once you have programmed this into your body memory, (see lots of time catching ankle biters and anything that looks remotely wave like) you will no longer need to use longer boards for surfing. Though they do still have value.

2. Paddling Straight.

In order to stop paddling and concentrate on the "trim" as mentioned above. You need to make your first few paddle strokes really count.

The shorter boards take more skill to keep going in a straight line and are harder work for less result. However, if you maximise your Paddle technique you will be able to travel with a shorter board. Also once you are on the wave, the front two thirds of the longer boards are just extra swing weight. Short Boards turn faster and more easily without wasting energy. However more "responsive" means more sensitive to rider input.

3. How to Paddle Straight

This should really precede any wave lesson. It normally takes from 10 - 30 minutes to learn how to paddle in a straight line if you have good coaching.