Had my first sup that I actually turned on a wave for 4 and a half months in knee to waist high waves. I was stoked The best thing about sup is crappy waves become fun again. Sort as like when you were a grommet and had fun in anything.
Sup will never be better than a shorty on good waves but I was the only one out for the last three days gotta love that
Below is the biggest grom around ripping the bags out of less than perfect waves. I can even dream of being this good.
And I wish my crap waves were this good.
Fully agree
I find my sup gets me out on those tiny days where I would not bother getting wet, its another way of enjoying the ocean when I would not normally get wet
And when its too big on the beachies the bay surf gives me another option, so yeah, love it but it will never replace the short board
Agree with you Hilly. And that's why I don't really understand why some Sups continue to go to the popular overcrowded spots and just stand out, like dogs balls in the lineup, when more often than not they can paddle a few hundred metres away and still get their fair share of good waves without all that stink eye and aggravation. No wonder sups have a bad name when peeps continue to do that.
Got every right to be out there. But I paddle to the less crowded waves as it is more fun to be with a couple of mates on an ok wave than fighting with 30 at the name wave.
Will be at Margaret's soon very much doubt I will go out at mainbreak but will score heaps of uncrowded quality waves to my self just by paddling around the corner or across the bay.
I agree,sup's have every right to surf anywhere,however I know one place on the GC,that this would not happen.Its a very congested point break on the southern end and if its 3+ it would be hard work for everyone.
Riding a 9 foot mal on these days can be a pain when there's a 100 out,so I paddle down the line 50 meters or so,gives me and everyone else some room.
Agree with both Mac and Hilly, Mac other than Christmas for 4 weeks we dont have anything like the numbers you get, nor do we have the number of SUPS you see on the Goldie. You may get 4 SUPs out worst case other than at maybe Torquay.
I was staggered at how many people hit the alley etc last time I was there, was a real eye opener to say the least.
Often here on the surf coast if a Sup is out at a busy break they are getting it wired for an up coming comp or they are surfing with their mates that prone surf or its simply thier home break that they have surfed for 20yrs.
I guess my point is its not always a problem or obvious why a SUP is in the line up.
The main problem that gets brought up time after time here is when multiple SUPS hit a break and dominate the break to the disavantage of everyone else. Its the pack mentality that pisses people off the most.
Phill
Not saying Sups don't have every right to surf where they want, but they have the versatility and the choice to make the right decision.
I believe it's a manners thing, and I was talking about a particular situation that I saw in Bondi a few weeks ago.
About 20 - 30 short boarders at a break and one inconsiderate SUP. Yeah, the guy had skill, he was reasonably considerate, but I could almost feel the unnecessary tension he was causing by being there. No reason why he couldn't paddle 100 metres to the side.