Bringing a different sought of craft into our crowded surf breaks,probably catch more waves,maybe upset the status quo of the long time regulars at said surf spots.
The guys got to be crazy
The pilot in questions indentity would suprise many of you.
I think its a result of many dislocated shoulders from a long and joyful windsurf carreer. (i beleave he can't paddle with a normal paddle).
it works tho.
We get called 'Stand Up Goatboaters' anyway. This just confirms our ties.
Many people I know believe SUP in the surf will go a similar way to Goat Boats, popular at first and then die a slow death to return to regular surfing. I wonder how many Eggbeaters I mean Goatboaters went on to Ocean Ski's looking for downwind runs? It is also no surprise to me that so many wind assisted guys have gained assistance from a paddle as well and that SUP is so popular with these guys.
An interesting anecdote to this is tow-in surfing. Due to the obvious madness that prevailed many of the true big wave guys are pulling back out their 10'6 and 11'0 guns to take on the huge outer reefs. I was talking to a guy in NZ this morning who is even trying to source blanks for his team rider (one of NZ's nutties big wave guys) as he and his tow partner are putting away the ski to take it au natarale.
I love my SUP in the surf but the more the crowds grow the less I want to do it and ride my normal boards.
Or is the Future?
Blane Chambers, very early pre PSH experimentation. In this post on swaylocks he said he prefers a shorter paddle. http://www2.swaylocks.com/node/1019025#254804
With a short paddle we can kneel down and ride a very short board with the faster cadence of stroke catch waves easier and require less stability. Is that the future???
If the guy in question can only get onto a wave like that due to previous injury then in my opinion do what you have to / need to do, dont give a hoot what people say! Just getting back in the water anyway you can must be a huge relief to you
If its an attempt at a new form of suping then sorry doesnt get my vote
Phill
Mac,
I'm a bit of a Greenough fan, his nice riding on long point breaks, and input into design, especially nice single fins....
But I didn't add any red thumbs !
I can just see it now in the lineup.
The SUPer glaring at the sitdown paddler
The longboarders glaring at the SUper and SITer
The Boggers glaring at the LONGer, SUPer and SITer
The Crawlers Glaring at the BOGGer, LONGer, SUPer and SITer
Bingo cheers, the knee boarder and the clown suit wearing rubber mat rider are sharing a joint on the beach and laughing at everyone and wondering how they can get enough money together to buy a packet of tim tams.
No one owns the waves and everyone has the right to choose what they ride as long as they abide by the rules whats the big deal ? Enjoy the surf while you can in anyway that you can.
Peace luv and mungbeans .....
Oh no, I have to come clean here. I know I'm in for a motherload of a kicking here but anyway, here goes. This is a great way to surf, it makes the not so good bits easier and the good bits even better. Knee paddling with a kayak paddle allows this 51 yo kook to paddle out easier and faster, turn to catch the wave easier and earlier and allows me to use a board that my ****ty balance and old bones really should have no right to . The boards I'm using at the moment are a PSH 9/6 as a do all surfer, a 7/11 homemade and a 6/10 homemade. I'm an unfit 95 kg that gets to surf maybe once per fortnight so making life easier and catching waves are the priority here and knee paddling is a perfect way to get that maximum enjoyment/ minimum effort formula just right. Anyhow where's the love guys?
If in heavy chop i often paddle on knees on the way out, Saves getting bucked off
But i have also paddled into waves this way in the same conditions, Its great but i find i loose a lot of the wave by the time i get up and put the paddle out of the way.
And its a killer in the ankles
I would not discount the short board and short paddle as it looks fun and is near what knee surfing is for a start anyway.
I would do it if it went that way but i would hope to have two or three boards and just the one for this knee paddle. The log paddle of now days is a pain if trying to or you have to kneel due to chop or crap conditions.
I was out last week in such conditions and was bucked off a lot and i was on my knees, But it was the big bannana so on a short board i dont think it would of been a issue
Oh ,call me a wanka for riding a longboard,shortboard and yes a sup,if that makes you feel better PS I only here to enjoy,hope you get some cracking waves, sounds like you need some
my point, mate, is that whatever you ride, if it gets you on the water im happy.
kite/windsurf/goatboat/sup or boogie.
enjoy share and love it!
