Hope the title is captivating enough to convince some of you in spending a few minutes reading and giving advices....even if the subject is not that original!
Here I am from Slovenia, new to SUP world, 6'6' and 220lbs. Seeing I played basketball for some years (swim and gym right now, guess I can consider myself kind of..fit) I saw the thread about Luc Longley and went like "If there's a board for the guy, there should be one for me too!". Fact is, have no chance to try and test boards in order to choose the one that fits better, same thing for buying one just for beginning and changing it after a few months. I don't care spending more time in learning on a board not for beginners, if then it can last more. (also consider I should buy it via internet) Surfing is not the 1st priority, I'd mainly use it to cruise/race up and down the coast (choppy conditions here and there). No downwind cause here winds r...breezes compared to yours!
I'm sure you can help me. If needing more informations just ask!
Thanks!
Thanks for the advice! looking around on the net I see that it's often compared to the Bark 14' expedition...other boards I was considering are Naish glide 14' or the Nidecker 12'6" All water race....other thoughts to share?
Cheers from Canada.
Consider boards made for open water paddling with high volume for your weight plus whatever gear you bring along while touring. The Starboard Race 12'6" series are great for touring, are very stable, and perform well in a variety of conditions. The 29.5" or 31.5" wide models would work well for you. I have the 31.5" version and it can carry a lot of weight and is very stable. Starboard also has the Coast Runner and Open Ocean 14 foot boards that will be faster than the wider and shorter Race series, but they aren't as stable at 28" wide, but certainly aren't considered to be tippy boards either. The Coast Runner doesn't have as much rocker(flatter profile) as the Open Ocean model, so it will be faster in flatter conditions and seems more suited to your coast line. At your height and overall size, a 14' board might be the better choice for coastal cruising.
Good luck and there are a lot of good options out there these days.
Those Nidecker boards look great, if I was over there I'd be considering one.
I don't think there available here in Aust.
"I'd mainly use it to cruise/race up and down the coast" .. At your weight and height (6'6" and 220lbs), and what you want the board for I would not recommend a specific flat water board like the Nidecker (as nice as they are) and you really don't have a lot of boards to chose from.. How long do you want this board to be? .. Is up and down the coast ' open ocean' conditions?
DJ
Highly recommend a Bark Expedition 14 or as someone else advised a Pearson Laird coastrunner 14. My pick would be the expedition and I know of someone a similiar size to you that owned and loved that board - you really can't go wrong with anything out of the surftech range.
Slovenia is nestled on the Adriatic Sea just north east of Italy. Never been there myself but I suspect the coastal water, being enclosed within the whole Mediterranean basin, is not the kind of wild coastal conditions that we are used to with the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans surrounding Australia.
Here I am with some news...had the chance to demo some boards last weekend. Fact is, right now should avoid boards <30" width. I tested the Jimmy Lewis Maliko (14' x 28" x 290lt.) and even if lenght and volume are just fine, had some problems with stability: hence the decision to start out more gradually. Will consider Laird Coastrunner and Bark Expedition, any other 2012 solution worth waiting?
Thanks all!