stand up paddleboarding

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

anyone else checking out this new "sport"? i use the quotes because it's not really competitive, but it is a great workout and pretty fun. more of an activity, i guess. whatever.

i'd been seeing a bunch about it on facebook and eventually saw a free meeting/demo post, so i figured i'd go check it out. i love the lake and had seen this on tv w/ laird hamilton out in the surf, so i was pretty excited to check it out. i've done it 3 times now and i'll absolutely be doing more - i'm going to abuse the free meetings/demos until i can afford the membership - $250 til end of august (i think) gives you unlimited access to board and paddle. that $250 also gets you a free pair of shoes from run-tex (local running store) and $100 credit towards buying a board ($785, w/ paddle), so there's quite a bit of value there.

anyway, pretty cool way to work out and enjoy the lake, imo. there should be a segment on the local austin fox news on thursday at 5 and 9 and then again on friday morning, so keep your eye out for it. (you know, if you live in austin and all...)

http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=b09b45b5-db9e-42a4-9299-4c5e0926142d

http://www.supatx.com/

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/SUP-AUSTIN-SUP-ATX/240014390551?v=wall

if you live in austin and want to try it out: http://www.meetup.com/sup-austin-sup-atx/calendar/list/

Zach M · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

I've been wanting to try this for a while. I live two blocks from the water so I wouldn't have to travel far to do it. It's been getting more popular around here, and I think a company is renting boards this summer. I want to do it a few times before I shell out $800 for a board. Plus, the storage of a 12 foot board would be difficult in an apartment.

TnR6Rida · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 12:14 pm Post subject:

Saw tons of people doing this out in the ocean when I went to Hawaii.

BurkeViper · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 12:47 pm Post subject:

Saw this for the first time a few years when I was in Santa Cruz. There was a fella paddling out from the harbor and into the ocean. He looked pretty peaceful, so I can see how you'd refer to it as an activity.

Then last year when I was up at the Stockton delta, I saw another gentleman paddling around, so I think it's catching on. He wasn't in a rush to get anywhere and I saw him a couple times throughout the day.

And I always wondered how they're able to stand on it without sinking. Everyone who drove past him slowed way down so as to not throw him off with their wake.

timmy · Addict Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 882 City: Jupiter, FL

They are becoming pretty popular around here for days when it is too flat to surf (and believe me that is more often than not) and also for old guys who are too lazy to paddle into waves when they are surfable.

I expect to get one within the next year, hopefully I can get a good deal on a used one.

PimpinD2 · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject:

blunt + paddle board + sunny day... that could be nice Wink

inter · Addict Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 539 City: BC

Mitchell · Posted: Apr 25, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject:

Costco sells them for 400.

ky1e · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 2693

If you do it in the ocean with some swell and current in the water, it is one of the best core workouts you can do. Basically like standing on a balance ball while trying to paddle at the same time. Some guys do it in big waves too. They are strait nuts.

Tbonez · Posted: Apr 26, 2010 4:45 am Post subject:

Great another hobby that I want to try...Dang it JT! Any other expensive fun stuff you want to peak my interest in? Laughing

mbuck · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 1629

There was a guy doing this down the Gauley River during the release. Insane is the only word I have for the guy. No lifejacket, no helmet.

Nooga678 · Posted: Apr 26, 2010 5:47 am Post subject:

I actually like the inflatable one they make for river surfing just because of ease of storage and transporting. A company here has them to demo, so I would like to try it out. I handled it at an outdoor expo and it seemed pretty rigid for someting inflated. Obviously it wouldn't be as rigid or efficient as other construction methods, but I would give it up for the packability of it. I would only be playing around on the lake with it anyway (and maybe running some rivers Shocked

).

I still plan on building a hollow wood one like the wakesurf boards I am building. I can build one for about 1/3 the price of most. I looked on Costco's website and only saw a longboard.

churchy · Posted: Apr 26, 2010 6:05 am Post subject:

I wouldn't call it new, but yes, I have been wanting to try it.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Last year my mom came back from Hawaii talking about this. We had a family reunion at the lakehouse and everyone wanted to give it a try. We have a bunch of windsurf boards and a boat paddle. Took it to the back of the cove. Definitely fun and a good workout but can be tricky if there is much chop, at least on the windsurf board.

Although overall, diving is a better workout with the climb to the dock and roof.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

jt09, a college teammate of mine is working for Surftech doing SUP sales. Pretty legit workout but I've seen some kooks drop in on some waves that they shouldn't have. Fairly amusing.

Tbonez · Posted: Apr 26, 2010 9:36 am Post subject:

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

3:41 into this video. This guy is insane.

More...

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

yeah, we don't have surf and waves here. we have lakes w/ glassy butter at 8am though. the sup-atx boards are shaped for inland lakes/rivers, not for the surf.

here's some pics from the other day. the chick in the pink top is a news reporter and the one in all black has a radio show. there should be a news piece airing on thursday. i'll post it if i can.

radio chick

chatting w/ nick matzorkis, sup-atx founder

GnarShredd · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 12:07 pm Post subject:

I'm resurrecting this thread from the grave. Yesterday I FINALLY got out on the water with one of these and it was awesome. (Currently looking to figure out how to afford a setup.)

Does anyone have experience/knowledge with Hobie brand boards? Good/Bad? I know they make sail boats and windsurfers. I'm looking at this deck specifically, I think it's freaking gorgeous and a good fit for my size/what I want to do.

http://www.hobie.com/stand-up-paddleboards/112ATR-5-2.aspx

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

GnarShredd · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 12:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info, good to know. I saw some of the Surftech boards in a couple shops and they looked really nice (also came highly recommended). I just want something that will last. These things are crazy expensive and I don't wanna get stuck with a dud.

Like wakeboards, it's really hard to find honest reviews that aren't just quotes from the company's catalog. It's proving tough to shop online, haha.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

GnarShredd, what does that hobie board run? ($$$)

paus21 · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject:

My wife has become hooked on this but we didn't want to spend a fortune on it before we knew how much we would actually use it. Local shop here started carrying Body Glove SUPs.

http://www.bodyglove.com/sup/

We ended up getting the Wave. Definitely not the top of the line but works well for what we need it for. Its made of a plastic so it can really take a beating. We scored a pretty good deal but they are around the $500 mark.

savage3221 · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 1:41 pm Post subject:

Chad H · Posted: Jul 18, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject:

A sup is definitely on the list of things i'd like to have by next summer. It'd be perfect for the gulf, and rivers and lakes around the state as well.

goofyboy · Posted: Jul 19, 2011 4:40 am Post subject:

tried this a month or so ago. I have a list of stuff i need to save up for and purchase. a SUP is one of them. Have to get a new wakeboard (yes, i still ride some) and I want a new road bike. I plan on having the SUP by next summer.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

GnarShredd · Posted: Jul 19, 2011 5:18 am Post subject:

jt09, Best I've found just through a quick search is about $1500 but includes a free paddle (worth about $250) on some websites. I'm gonna see if our local shop can make a similar deal for me. Other places had the board listed at $1500 without a paddle.

There's a couple others I've been looking at that aren't as pretty in the $1,100 range but if I'm spending that kind of money and am keeping it for a long time, I want something that I'm gonna really like (Plus, usually the paddle is separate and that would already put me at about the $1300+ range anyway).

I used this board for my lesson, the instructor was a rep for this company so I'm taking everything he said about them with a grain of salt. In any case, they seemed to be good quality and built to last. They're really good for beginners/just general cruising. They have a good flat-spot in the middle for gliding along flatwater but don't seem good for waves.

http://www.fanatic.com/content/products/sup/fly_hrs/index_eng.html

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

http://www.supatx.com/ - $785 w/ free paddle and free shipping

goofyboy · Posted: Jul 19, 2011 5:51 am Post subject:

JT - if it is still for sell later this summer, I'll probably take it. If you can sell it before then, go for it. I have to pay doctor bills before I get to have fun. Dang kid is already draining my pocket book. Very Happy

GnarShredd · Posted: Jul 19, 2011 5:52 am Post subject:

Damn, those things are some nice lookin boards. Those are super inexpensive, how do they do it? haha

If they're as good as they seem, I think that just jumped to the top of my list.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

goofyboy, i have been SUPER lazy about selling it. was thinking about it last summer and just never did it. it will still be for sale, most likely.

GnarShredd, they're pretty sweet. it's the company i listed in the op - go check out their facebook page for tons of user pics. i haven't been riding much this summer because of finances ($10 for group meetup rides, $20 for individual - they've told me i can get free rides because of the help i gave them w/ the old free group rides, but i would feel cheesy calling up and trying to claim it), but i dig their boards. i love the 12', but if i had my true pref w/o cost involved, i'd get the 14' racer. those track killer - super straight line, no floating off line at all. plus, they are skinnier so they handle easier when you WANT them to turn.

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

I have a surf tech out at the lake, It awesome going out at dusk and paddling around, there is something really cool about it over a kayak or canoe.

I work with a guy who builds really high end racing canoes and kayaks out of cedar, he is going to help me build a SUP this fall.

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

Something like this...

Zach M · Posted: Jul 19, 2011 7:32 am Post subject:

Went for a great 5 mile paddle in Puget Sound last night. I picked up one of the SUPATX boards about a month ago and I'm loving it. It's a great, inexpensive way to get into the sport. I'll hang on to this one for a while, but I have a feeling it won't be long before I'll want a faster board for long distance paddles.