How much fitness has everyone here got from riding there SUP's?
I've noticed it allready and i've only been riding for a short time but try to give myself a good workout every time. What they say about improving your core strength is spot on too the ab's have never felt stronger and i've worked out for years..........so many benefits, so much fun while achieving them
Its my last day off today and im exhausted from all the paddling (i work 4 on 4 off 12hr shifts 2 days 2 nights so i try to get as much in as i can on my days off.) But i may just slip one last paddle in tonight before the sun goes down........lol
Yeah...This could be you..Here's before and after pics after this guy had just one SUP session..
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Seriously tho...
I feel fitter now that I ever have..It really works the chest and shoulders..stomic, lats and even legs..not to mention arms.
Jeeez..it works the lot....even your heart and lungs...and all while having fun..
DJ
I went for the LAGO sesh at the marina today and what a workout! You can feel that you are exercising but at the same time its actually FUN! Beats being in a gym with a bunch of muscle heads
Im finding my new board better and better and really dialing into it. Such a super fast board on flat water. Going upwind is a slight challange with the board wanting to turn with every paddle. Does anyone know how to stop this unwanted turning? The Starboard 11'2 only has a single 20cm fin. If I put the fin back in the box will this make the board stiffer?
But heading downwind is a breeze I found some real nice glassy spots to paddle around some million dollar yatchs.
I can see myself getting way too addicted to this hehehe
This arvo was blowing and my mates went windsurfing but due to the lack of waves I was not that motivated so I waited for sunset to get a paddle in
What is happening to me?
"Does anyone know how to stop this unwanted turning?"
You will learn to control that and soon you will be able to paddle as long as you like on one side and still go straight.
The trick is to sink the rail on the same side as you paddle..Normal reaction is to sink the other.
Also get your left hand over the right rail of the board when paddling on the right side..and visa-versa.
Getting the paddle blade more under the board helps heaps.
One more thing..The paddle stroke..You will develope a stroke that keeps you going straighter.
It all takes time but you will get there..Jeez it's only been a couple of days..
btw..Paddling a few strikes one side and then swapping sides is not such a bad thing because it gives the tired muscles a rest.
DJ
Hey Greenroom,
good to see you so stoked with your new board, i had the same problem with the board wanting to turn with every stroke going into the wind and i've tried those things DJ is talking about and he is right about the time part it just all starts to come together the more you go out.
Got out in the marina again for the late sunset paddle. Tried those tips and have found it alot easier now. Thanks DJ
I still wanna know how the fin position effects the board when paddling?
Something that is over looked a lot on sup boards is fin placement. The 11'2" reacts really well to fin tuning. Move it forward for more snappier turns, and back for more directional/locked in riding. You will find a sweet spot pretty quickly that suits your style of riding, but it is worth playing around with the fin set up. If your friend gets the Sportech version then they will have the added tuneability of the fcs inserts.
GR, have you tried shifting the fin around on your 11'2"? When you start to get it into the surf it'll be fun to have a play with shifting the fin around. It's pretty much the only thing to tune on an sup board (apart from paddle length!), which is good because I'm not a big tuner, but it does make a difference. If you can't be bothered to adjust it then put the middle of the fin about 2cm forward of the mid point in the box - but I really recommend moving it around a bit.
I got this reply from JH in the Starboard SUP forum
Here's an interesting vid showing how to paddle straight on a SUP board.
Click here
I'm not sure..I guess some things might work ok on flat water..but the surf is a whole different world.
I read how Bill was looking forward to trying it in the surf..but when he did it didn't work..The board is much less stable when you put weight on the front.
It's far easier to step back and raise the nose of the board..Then with one or two wide sweeping paddles the board is around.
You then have the added bonus of being in the surf stance and ready to go. (if you're turning to catch a wave)
DJ
I see now why it doesnt work. I fell off! I took it out late arvo and paddled until dark. The sunset was just amazing over the ocean with a lightning storm on the horizon. The waves were about knee to waist high.
Can I say one thing?... Its frigin hard! Wobbling all over the joint and trying to paddle into the waves with an offshore breeze was challenging BUT rewarding when I hooked into some nice waves and tried my first nose ride. Sweet!
The board is really loose! I managed some turns but they were very kooky.
Im really pooped. I can see that this SUPing in waves is really gonna be fun.
Super stoked. My whole body has really felt like Ive been to the gym.
I also invited Windy Miller down to have a go for his first SUP and he charged! First he lay down paddled into his first stand up wave and actually went across the face of the wave! Then he SUPed into another nice little wave!
Both super stoked
ha ha ... i'm keen for more!!!!!!! bit of swell and offshore 4 thurs?????? have to take camera, for proof for carmel
thankx again GR.... still about catching my first surfboard wave. 
i've exercised some dormant muscle groups 
good fun
Hey guys,
please get some pic's of the surf session as i haven't had a chance to get to surf yet and it still might be a couple of months. (dam work) All i've managed is a couple of boat wakes and to top it off im going to Hobart for a week for work and wont be able to ride at all
Hey Greenroom - where abouts in Perth did you manage to find any waves?
Were they local 
Not that I get out that much but I struggle to find anywhere rideable when the swell bouy is under 2.5m
Not that I get out that much but I struggle to find anywhere rideable when the swell bouy is under 2.5m
Isolators and those couple of reefs further south. I live in Swan View so its usually a bit of a punt whether or not its actually rideable.
Here's some interesting stuff on that 'sink the nose' to turn the board thing.
DJ
"I think Bill a while back suggested stepping forward on the board to make turns in preparation for paddling into a wave. he said it worked well on flat water, but then once he got back to maui found that it didn't work so well in actual wave situations.
I was cruising around today and came upon a vid in which shaper joe blair explains what I think is basically the same turn".
