Me: 42, 100kegs, windsurfing in waves for ages and though that would help learn wave riding on SUP and Mal (false haha)
Starting in SUP was to improve off-season fitness and have some fun. Now I caught waves, I want more 
I have a JP widebody 10' x 33.5" which was a great choice at the start I think. It paddles easy and is very stable. Seems to be a good 'learner and some waves' kinda board
A while back I (finally) found a small board for the kids, old Starboard 9' x 30" with the camo deck and wingers, I think it is 2008-9 ish. I grabbed it for them and hopefully for me when I ride proper waves.
I found it quite unstable even on FLAT flat water in a harbour but so much faster to paddle. It dawned on me why the JP was so hard to catch waves on, almost 34 wide and rocker pushing water.... man the 30" wide was easy to paddle fast.
Thus I figured today after catching some nice waist to head hi waves on the fatman JP, I'd try the skinny minnie Starboard. OMG. Could not even paddle it, in small waves and 10kn cross shore wind. Yeah, tiny bit bumpy and yeah I am big, but fk me how does anyone use those 8' x 27" things????? 
Anyway - I can't really turn the JP ... I can turn it to scoot along the wave and sometimes after an eternity of bottom turn kinda hit the top in what feels like a really sad sorta way. I know that 9' x 30" Starboard would would do it tight and smash it.
But I feel maybe it is me, do I need to walk right back on the big board, stomp the tail and turn it hard? On a windsurf board that kills it.... I don't surf BTW so need to know if I need back foot 10cm from tail or 50cm.......?????
Then on the JP I paddle like 100% for a good few seconds before the wave, seems others make the choice late and start paddling when the wave is almost upon them. It has made me realise the width is bogging me down so much.
So do I go smaller?
It is clear 30" is too narrow for me ........ so 32" must be good right?
But like I said how the hell do people - even if they are skinny buggers - ride those things that are 27 or 28 wide? Or are they only used in zero wind glassy Indo?
Anyway I figure I need to try a 9'6" x 32" and see.
But I see guys on insanely big boards do pretty tight turns so it must be me. Can the JP ride waves hard...?
Thoughts?
For what it is worth I think most mortal surfers in the 95-100kg range are on 29" width boards at best and there is a transition to go from your pontoon to a board like the 9' x 30". So I would be looking at a board like the Starboard Widepoint 9'5" x 32". I was 95 kg (or bigger) when I bought mine and could "surf" it.
To me there are two issues to overcome when moving to the smaller/narrower boards.
The first is leg muscle memory (the brain may also be involved) - your balance improves when you get more practice. Your body just gets used to it.
The second issue is leg strength (and core strength). It is tiring work and your legs have to be up to it. When my legs get tired I fall off 4X more.
I could say the third issue is technique - foot positioning, use of the paddle as a "third leg", timing/positioning as you paddle for waves, not looking at the nose of the board, keeping your finger out of your nose, etc.
Hope that helps.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Me: 42, 100kegs, windsurfing in waves for ages and though that would help learn wave riding on SUP and Mal (false haha)
Starting in SUP was to improve off-season fitness and have some fun. Now I caught waves, I want more
I have a JP widebody 10' x 33.5" which was a great choice at the start I think. It paddles easy and is very stable. Seems to be a good 'learner and some waves' kinda board
A while back I (finally) found a small board for the kids, old Starboard 9' x 30" with the camo deck and wingers, I think it is 2008-9 ish. I grabbed it for them and hopefully for me when I ride proper waves.
I found it quite unstable even on FLAT flat water in a harbour but so much faster to paddle. It dawned on me why the JP was so hard to catch waves on, almost 34 wide and rocker pushing water.... man the 30" wide was easy to paddle fast.
Thus I figured today after catching some nice waist to head hi waves on the fatman JP, I'd try the skinny minnie Starboard. OMG. Could not even paddle it, in small waves and 10kn cross shore wind. Yeah, tiny bit bumpy and yeah I am big, but fk me how does anyone use those 8' x 27" things?????
Anyway - I can't really turn the JP ... I can turn it to scoot along the wave and sometimes after an eternity of bottom turn kinda hit the top in what feels like a really sad sorta way. I know that 9' x 30" Starboard would would do it tight and smash it.
But I feel maybe it is me, do I need to walk right back on the big board, stomp the tail and turn it hard? On a windsurf board that kills it.... I don't surf BTW so need to know if I need back foot 10cm from tail or 50cm.......?????
Then on the JP I paddle like 100% for a good few seconds before the wave, seems others make the choice late and start paddling when the wave is almost upon them. It has made me realise the width is bogging me down so much.
So do I go smaller?
It is clear 30" is too narrow for me ........ so 32" must be good right?
But like I said how the hell do people - even if they are skinny buggers - ride those things that are 27 or 28 wide? Or are they only used in zero wind glassy Indo?
Anyway I figure I need to try a 9'6" x 32" and see.
But I see guys on insanely big boards do pretty tight turns so it must be me. Can the JP ride waves hard...?
Thoughts?
Hey mark get a 9.6 x32 Hokua .loose as a bitch.has good volume and will be a good challenge for you .
it turns real sharp .does floaters if you want.a good big mans SUP surfboard .with performance .
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Anyway - I can't really turn the JP ... I can turn it to scoot along the wave and sometimes after an eternity of bottom turn kinda hit the top in what feels like a really sad sorta way. I know that 9' x 30" Starboard would would do it tight and smash it.
But I feel maybe it is me, do I need to walk right back on the big board, stomp the tail and turn it hard? On a windsurf board that kills it.... I don't surf BTW so need to know if I need back foot 10cm from tail or 50cm.......?????
Thoughts?
I'm nobody's surf instructor ...but here goes......
Sounds like you are trying to turn the board from standing in the middle and leaning.
You really need to step back (involving pushing the board forward with your front foot) and start steering from the back of the board.
To keep your COG forward by bending forward rather than standing upright.
Also really focus on burying the paddle, leaning on it, and using it as a pivot to turn around. That's probably going to help you turn "hard" more than anything.
Once you have that wired a bit then think about getting a new board I reckon.
Mark
wavesailing for many years you will probably be very front foot biased. Its taken me along time to switch to driving off back foot for surfing. I even tried going opposite stance but that was not successful.
As soon as you switch to surf stance on the SUP make sure your back foot is jammed against the kicker on the pad. With your front bias you'll weight the board evenly and it will only take a little lean back to turn the board tight. It takes alot of practice to force that back foot to be right at the back of the board. And a bit of courage too especially on decent waves as bombies exmouth where the board is really moving but when you foot is at the back, the boards come to life.
At cot you'll notice alot of folk straight lining waves because it takes alot of practice to turn. SUP is a gentler, less complicated and slow (board speed wise) way to learn to surf but you still have to lean to surf.
word of warning as you start down this path ..wavesailing is dropping off from being my first choice in waves. Its now surfboard, SUP then waveboard and only if its good conditions. Even been known to curse the wind for messing up the swell.
Thanks for the advice crew. Nice to know that it is all me really, so I can save the quids for now :)
Peguin, I reckon you'd be right I am front footed (spent 20yrs trying to drive hard off the front) and now looking at pics here I am nowhere near the tail with my back foot
Will be looking at a smaller board at some stage but yeah, LOTS more practice first.
Cheers
