Where do you think it is going , surfing & racing?.How big will it get?Will it be another FAD? Full on proffesionalism?Olympics?Will it Die? How long before the big surf companys get on board? Will sup surf world champ be bigger than short board world champ?
geez, where did you dig that out from. early nineties i think. actually brought that record
tt, sup is going to die a horrible death by christmas eve. then it will come back to life after the new year.
well that's what i hope happens around here for the chrissy break
I think SUP is unique cause it is really an extension of surfing (my opinion only and don't yell at me). The big surf companies are already getting the benefits of it as surfers take up SUP they are still buying surf related stuff. Racing I think is going to be huge, it brings a whole heap of new blood into the sport (kayaks, sailboarders etc). It can also be done wherever there is a body of water and to be honest people are naturally competitive so it has a huge potential. Could it be a bit of a fad, maybe. I can only speak from my experience and that is that I was pretty much over surfing after 35 years of it and the crowds and the attitude, when I took up SUP it just brought my stoke back. Just recently a mate of mine introduced me to racing and I thought that would bore the crap out of me, but god dam is it fun. I haven't used a surfboard in over a year and I have just sold all my sailboards so it has taken over for me.
The whole SUP racing thing is just SSSSOOOOOO silly!!! These things are just wide slow kayaks. And the big deal is what? Oh!!! yes you stand up to paddle and finish half an hour behind everything in the field. But hang on you standing up to paddle, INCREDIBLE....not really. SUP racing is like having the three legged race at the Olympics or racing a postie bike or swimming with one arm..... you get my point. SUP is inherently suited to certain styles of watersports and racing isn't one of them
I see SUP racing being huge in the same way that fun runs are huge..
For most it will be about the fun.. the fitness.. and the participation.
DJ
Chris has summed that remark from Logman up well. Its what you get out of it. I know I can go jump on any one of the fast racing ski's I own and do a downwinder heaps faster than anything else but I'd rather go out and fly the ama on my OC1, or preferabally do it on a SUP.
Yes the sup is slower but the fun and challenge of getting some long rides is just courses forr diffrent horses...each to their own.
Within 5 years (or sooner) we will see more races (stand alone) and the sport of raing SUP's will explode as it has in America and Europe.
Imo, we seem to of forgotten 'That First Glide'...Is this not what make's you crave for more???....Wether i'm surping, downwinder's or just chilling on flat water, I luv reliving that moment...I'll be suping till the day i can't stand, and then i'll be on me oc1 till i die...So, imo SUPing is here to stay wether the critic's like it or not...
Be humble, Be kind, but most of all be happy
Mele Kalikimaka Ho
SUP Future
Well its proved to be no fad as many questioned at the beginning.
Surfing SUP will continue to grow but at a slower rate than other mainstream short and longboard surfing.
I really see the racing side of SUP becoming more popular and BOP will be the big winner,BOP style is exciting to watch,it gives spectators an opportunity the watch close up and lets face it,most Australians like to see some carnage while watching any sport.
down winding on a sup when its good is the ants pants. would ski and oc paddlers be getting into it if it wasn't because a sup is anywhere as fast as those craft. its the fun for 'standing up' that draws the players.
as for racing, i prefer a dw race to bop.
it's a bit like rugby- better to play then watch
surfing sup comps- limited potential i think