Me and My Board - Evoke

So I have never owned a board before, been on a SUP twice for a total of maybe 10 minutes. The first time I couldn't balance - it was some 8' thing that, in hindsight was probably narrow too - and the second time I couldn't turn the Starboard Wide thing. Somehow I have taken it in my head that a SUP and I are a match made in heaven.

Why did I buy one? Well I have a really bad ankle injury that means I can't run, and dodgy knees which restrict bike riding and I hate swimming, yet I wish to do some cross training to retain some fitness for surfing(my boards can't get much bigger)? The days of five surfs a week are behind me for a while with a young family. I do, however, live two blocks from Geographe Bay, so SUPping on flat water is an easy possibility.

I looked at flat water SUPs but pfft...it was always going to finish up in the surf at some stage - who would I be kidding? A mate tried to get me out in double head high surf last night after I told him the Evoke arrived yesterday. He reckons I am soft for not getting straight out there.

A bit of fitness and a new skill set with the ability to surf some of our outer reef bombies is what I am after. I plan on updating my ignorant opinions and learning curve here. You have been warned. I'll also be asking my questions here rather than other threads.

My first impression of the evoke was amazement at the nose rocker, and the depth of concaves and vee in the bottom. It looks very dramatic. And, with my limited surfboard knowledge, looks like a bottom that should work. The vids I have seen have been in fairly crappy waves, but the bottom has given me a bit of confidence the board will work in bigger, punchier waves when I get there. I will be running the standard 2 + 1 for a while as my wife would shoot me with the cost of different fins. I reckon I want a centre fin anyway initially.

First question, I can surf. How much practice do I need before getting out in head to double head high waves?

I figure I need to be able to paddle in a straight line. Turn a bit. Anything else?

one of the first things you will have to get a hold on is standing on the thing in the ocean, flat water paddling is really easy as you don't have all of the water moving around, most of the time you only have side to side rocking at most, in the ocean your board rocks back and forth and side to side, so you have to move your feet around a bit or assume a different stance,

i would refrain from paddling out in double overhead straight away, especially if there are other people out, i would start of in smaller surf and try to go out away from people until you develop some skills, the best thing about standup is that you can paddle down the beach or surf it in waves that would be less than fun on shortboards

Jarryd

G'day Drip, welcome to the evoke club. I just bought my new carbon today and can't wait to give it a crack. All the comments above are spot on and definitely read CSE's post as there is some great pointers there. I'm a previous short boarder but now with shot shoulders I found sup a few years ago and love it.

Have a paddle on flat water and try doing some sprints like you are powering to catch a wave as your balance all changes and you can drag yourself off the board. Also try and keep your feet shoulder width apart but also one a bit forward and the other back (hybrid stance) as this helps forward / backward balance especially on the acceleration when catching a wave.

I wouldn't do head high yet mate, they're big boards with a lot of pull. Find a nice point break around 2-3' to start with and you'll soon pick up the basics and have a ball. Good luck ask as many questions as you can, I did!!

Fantastic pointers fellas. Quite a few things there I hadn't thought of.

We don't really have small friendly point breaks here. It tends to be all or nothing reef breaks - think the reefs around Ulladulla and you have a fair idea. Nor do we have spilling beachies - they tend to top to bottom heaving barrels that hurt. I have absolutely zero intention of hitting them on a SUP.

I will be going to some isolated ones without any or many people.

To get over whitewater, step back, lift the nose and paddle hard, or just get centred and ride it out?

Once again, much appreciated for all the replies.

Stay center and pop over for under knee high usually ok. Knee to sholders step back one big paddle up then plant the paddle on tge back off wave till balanced. Got to hit the wash dead square thans the hard part.anything bigger good luck usually throw the board up the wave and dive under this includes paddling up the face and the lip pitches out.

Before you get out on the water try setting up the board on a coffee table or chair in your house. Then practice balancing in surf stance in front of a large mirror. Naked is best, that way you can get a feel for your natural balance before donning a wetsuit.

Problem at margs is you have to be at the break wave point to catch a ride on the big sets as not much power on the shoulders. Boat ramp is probably the easiers of the big breaks at margs, it just takes at least an hour before you suss it. Gracetown is great on a big day and not too crowded where the SUP roam.
for these breaks on big day you have to start paddling across the wave with the aim to turn in the spot just below where the face is beginning starting to break. Elsewhere and it slips under you. Its a bit of a commit thing because if a really big set come then you are sitting in the impact zone. .
alternative head up north to Exmouth where I am currently and enjoy warm water, whales and big waves at bombies which are easy to pick and much longer rides.

So I have been out a few times now. The first time was in a little bay with unbreaking swell rolling in which made me aware of how tricky just stand I got can be. I went in quite a few times. The next three times were in Geographe bay. Twice just glassy conditions where I practiced paddling and sweep turns and had someone point out the efficacy of back paddling. And today I got out in some small waves which was quite humbling.

Positioning myself to catch a wave was hard - there was a bit of wind so I was constantly having to reposition - and paddling onto a wave was just completely ridiculous. On the odd occasion when I was in the right spot I either fell off or hadn't got enough momentum to catch the wave. There was another bloke out there in a SUP who was getting waves all over the joint. Then it got crowded and I was dangerous to be around so I went in and left my paddle on the beach and proceeded to prone surf my SUP. The Evoke went really well. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to bottom turn and hook in, and I managed to get a few high line speed pumps on a couple of waves with one bloke commenting how fast the board went when I connected a few sections. It was about shoulder to head high (I am 6'2") and barrelling just to give you some idea of the type of wave.

I still have a lot of learning and practice to do in board control, paddling(still using too much arm), and turning the behemoth while in the line up. Pivot turns need to be figured out too. Transitioning from paddling to surfing stance was very problematic and that needs a bunch of practice.

This year I got my first longboard so 2015 is turning out to be a learning year of new skills. It's fun and intimidating at the same time. Like most people who have been in the southwest of WA can imagine, I uncrowded learner waves are extremely difficult to come by. Our waves tend to big and powerful. Throw in a few bodies in the water and watch out...

Hey Drip, I have the 7'11 in carbon in both the new model and previous. I've had the previous in 6' and had no dramas but it's a fair bit shorter than yours.

On the paddling thing, when I first started I was the same and fell off all the time me was spewin! Thinking, I've surfed all my life, it shouldn't be that hard!! Stuck with it and you will find your feet. In the mean time try paddling into a wave on your knees and then stand up. I did that for a couple of sessions and then try "hybrid" stance. You are front on, feet shoulder width apart, but also spread your feet about a foot apart forwards and backwards (give or take, whatever feels comfy). If your natural footed put your left forward as it'll feel better and helps keeping your balance for strong paddling as well as the acceleration on take off. Works a treat and you eventually just close up the forward / backward difference until they're back next to each other. I still do it a bit on choppy says to make it a bit easier.
Good luck.

Nice pic mate, think I know the spot but so many like that down there...my advice would be, don't grab the leggie loop when you come off in those waves or your gonna lose fingers like a couple of poor buggers on this forum who were so kind to share their not so pretty piccies.

You'll get use to the paddling onto a wave thing. Depending on your board (which you should post pics of)...you generally stand forward of centre as your paddling into a wave & then stepping back into surf stance when you feel the wave taking you. I do kinda go into semi surf stance when I'm taking a later drop, as in feet not side/side but one foot is back & to the side not centred & the other vice/versa. Your then still going into surf stance as the wave takes you.