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But seriously, having always surfed, then taking up pole boarding and then switching to kitesurfing(with surfboard), I am keen to try SUP.
The thing with the afore mentioned sports is speed on water, absolutly love it! SUP isn't speed on water.
But I have tried SUP and did enjoy it.
I do appreciate that it is a learning curve - no problem there( even though I may be a slow learner).
The big question is...
You guys that post and SUP regurlarly obviously love it, but when the surf is crap, or too big do you still enjoy a paddle in the flat water? For example, will you go out on a creek or river paddle to satisfy an urge because you can't get a surf in? ( I appreciate its not all about surf )
Or do you get bored. I would love to think this is a water sport that doesn't just depend on waves or wind and just being on the water is the essence of what its all about.
Is there more?
It is an expensive thing to take up(but so is kiting and most water sports), and then if you do find yourself addicted, one type of board it is not enough. My kids have done a bit of it and love it, and it is more sociable and not as potentially dangerous as kiting.
Do you base your time off/holidays around it? If so how do you for example, put a(or two or three) 10 foot SUP in your motel room on the Xth floor. Or at your camp ground without it getting stolen?
Talk me into it! My kids will love you and I'm easily won over.
Thanks - alot to ask
Rob
For me SUP has completely taken over. My sailboards are sold, my surfboards are left in he corner. I live in Canberra so flat water stuff is the norm here. A mate of mine got me into racing and that is a new thing for me and if somene had told me a few months ago that i would like racing i would have laughed at them. When I'm not paddling I will still stick a sail on mine and play about a bit. Weekends that are free are spent on the coast in the surf. We do organise our holidays around the water and just spent some time driving stupid distances to indulge this addiction.
Not that i've ever 'true surfed' but the time on the face of the wave is short, very short. Even with the challenges of tricks, barrels and what have you...paddling back, crashing through waves with mastery, the view...maximises time spent.
I don't know where to start.
Had you told me a year ago I would be waking up at 4:50am three times a week to go paddle on flat water, I would have told you you were dreaming. Had you told me a year ago I was going to paddle 111km continuously over night, dreaming. On top of that throw in 2 or 3 down winders a week, maybe a surf if it looks good and you don't have time to get bored.
And the best way to convince wifey you need all these boards? I've lost close to 15kgs in a year! The amount a board costs is more than a gym membership, but you will use it more and still have it at the end of the year to sell if needs be.
My 3 yr old just got a life jacket for Christmas so that she can now come paddling with my wife and I, so that no one is excluded.
As far as holidays go, most definitely revolve around paddling. Just got camping gear so holidays no longer revolve around just the ocean, but now we have lakes/rivers to go to.
I've always enjoyed getting into the water, and as a bit of an old bloke who's spent the better half of his life churning the millstone at a desk job, changing nappies, taking kids to soccer, football, ballet, to and back from school it's a pretty simple water activity that you can do without too much hassle. All you need is a board, a paddle and a car with roof racks and you are free from all those mundane hassles of daily life for a few hours.
I can use the board for surfing when it's on, fish from it, paddle to explore cool stuff or use it as an exercise tool. I'm not particularly into any of the competitions - although there are plenty around if you are inclined. You can compete and network with other paddlers. If you can paddle fast around little bouys you can even win prizes and crap. For me it's just a simple way of getting out and enjoying our wonderful waterways and nature by myself.
I don't think it's any more or less boring than running, walking or anything else that you choose to do outdoors away from your obligations in modern life.
Yep, it's addictive- why, not sure ?
I spent the 80's surfing Sydney's northern beaches travelling from 'The Hills' which is an hour each way.
I lived above Cronulla Point thru the 90's and surfed 'short' boards and was the typical 20 something grommet living the life of barrels and parties.
The 00's married, bought the house, rode longboards and absolutely loved the 'next' stage.....I have been for 30 years the total surfer who bought and sold a zillion boards and surfed pretty much every day that whole period - my family and friends thought I had a disease.
To not 'surf' would have been absolutely laughed at and scoffed.
In 2009 I rode a SUP in the Royal National Park on flat water as the surf had been crap for a week and I had to 'get wet'.
I fell in love with it....the wildlife, the glassy river water, the peacefulness of it.
No, it's not fast paced, no speed involved but it sets off a whole different range of emotions and broadens your knowledge. Your always a surfer but you enhance those skills with SUP.
I still surf and ride a SUP in the surf sometimes but can go a whole week without checking the surf coast, looking at a forecast or the like cause I know the river is there for serenity and a break from life and Port Hacking always has runners when I need them.....totally changed my life mate - ridiculous but true and my wife still shakes here head at the change !
Thanks for all the insights.
I have no need to convice the missus, she likes the idea. The kids have done it before as well when they go to other peoples places for a sleep over. It's me trying to justify another wallet shrinking water addiction. Suppose there are worse things to spend on!
I guess I should get out there and hire / demo as much as possible. Starting off on a larger one to go through the learning process, and as I progress get one more suited to surf. I'm sure the other half would be happy to just cruise for fun and fitness. It would be awsome if the whole family were in to it.
One thing I noticed on this forum is with newcommers asking basically the same questions over and over, there is always some one pitching in with advice, and I've been trying to gleen as much info out of that as possible. You all seem to have a mellow vibe. On the kiting forum, a lot less patience towards the newbies.
Its a fairly crappy morning where I am and the prospect for wind is dodgy, and the surf is ordinary, time to round up the troops and go hire some SUPs....
i didn't really want to know about flatwater paddling or anything.
but the better you get at the caper the more the urge to be able to paddle fast sucks you in.
but hey there's surfing- shortboards and raceboards , flatwater and the icing on the cake down winding sounds like something hippies do, but it an amazing thing to do when you get it worked out
cheers
I love the variety of SUP. The surfboard is being used less and less as I find the waves near where I live in Perth (in summer almost non-existant!) as being better ridden on my Standup boards. Importantly I'm on the water now instead of just driving home because 'there isn't enough swell'.
One of my good friends is mad keen into dirt bikes. I have this debate with him all the time when he says that he likes to get out into nature - hard to be at one with the environment around you when your tearing up a track and making enough noise to be heard for miles! 
So SUP is a different approach - a different mindset to going simply 'fast' on the water. I treat a flat water paddle as the equivalent of a bushwalk or mountain bike - you're in nature, you are fairly quiet and not interfering too much with the environment around you. Doesn't mean you can't be going all out on the water.
True you will never go as fast on a SUP as you would kiting or sailing but I can tell you its a real kick when you paddle on and catch that runner during a downwinder - something more elemental about it too (without sounding too mystical).
There can be a great social element to it too. When I am not at work and back in town I join in with a paddle that is done on most saturday mornings between two jetties just south of Fremantle (Coogee). A great way to start the weekend! We get a good crew of guys and girls of various ages down there. While tearing along at 20kts over the water can be fun there can be a lot said about a flat water paddle alongside a good group of people.
It is only as boring as you make it, been shortboarding for over 37 years and that will always remain the number 1 choice but when its not right for that then sup takes over
There are days when it is best to get in the water, paddle out in the middle of the ocean, bay or river and just sit there, take it all in and just "be"
To live around here is bonus there is surf, river and bay so sup is just another way to stay in the water
I have started downwinding which is another realm altogether, dont have much of a clue yet but it will come
Get into it with the family, the opportunity to spend time all together is precious and does not last, enjoy it while you can.
Get them all boards 2nd hand and then have the range covered in their boards so you have the option of a surfing, paddling or dw sup when they dont want to go !!
Been surfing 35 years, and my local longboard spot for 15 years, live 2 minutes away. Know the ins and outs of the place well.
Started sup out there last christmas and probably sup more than longboard there now.
Have only realised this year that we are not the only locals. There is a pair of stingrays that are always there. I look for them every time I go out. They are predictable. Laying on a surfboard narrows your view in the water.
My experience into sup is similar to many others in this thread. I think its a natural progression for surfers and those into other water sports. It has broadened my horizons and has taken the boredom out of surfing for me. I got so sick of chasing waves with scant reward.
I think the addictive thing with sup is it gives you options. I love to surf and will continue but when its not available you can flat water, down wind, sup-surf and race if you choose. I literally hit the water every day all year round, get up at dawn and make the most of each day and this pre-occupies my mind, all the time.
Sounds like you have experienced a good range of water sports already and sup would certainly enhance those, but keep them in your back pocket because no doubt they are worthy pursuits
