Of the many advantages that a sup surfer has over their prone brethren, one of the biggest and most fundamental is potential water time. You may live several hours from a breaking wave but unlike a prone surfer, time spent on flat water with your new board is not time wasted.
Sup surfing, unlike prone surfing, has a bifurcated learning arc con-sisting of wave skills, and board handling skills. Paddling in wind, chop, honing step back turns, cross bow rudders, working on paddling speed and power when you’re not able to surf is productive stuff. You could make a special effort to get these sessions in or you could just take your new surf sup out on your regular paddles with friends and family.
Building these skills adds up to you being able to use a smaller, more throw-about-able board than you may currently be riding, which adds up to more speed, bigger turns and more fun on the wave. It should be remembered that a smaller board is relative to the individual. If your current board is a 250 litre plus 10’6 inflatable, then the Bic Tough Performer 11’6 is going to feel pretty responsive. In fact, this bright, durable, affordable board would make a great entry level into the world of surfing. If the idea of progression in a more, well, progressive manner appeals then the Starboard Longboard in its 9’0 shape must be checked out. This low-volume performance nose-rider has stacks of accessible performance for intermediates and above. Ambitious surfers looking to mount a vertical attack will be impressed with the RRD I-Wave 8’0; simply one of the best high-performance surf sups we’ve tested yet, this light-weight board is also quite beautiful to behold. Fanatic’s Pro Wave 8’5 offers a dependable and dynamic step-down for riders ready to move on from their 9’0 all-rounder. It goes well in a broad wave range and custom surfboard look sets it off. Finally, the JP Surf Pro 8’1 is likely the fastest board we’ve set foot on. The construction means it will last for many years and international surf trips and it would feel at home from Bantham to Barbados.
Esta historia es de la edición Winter 2018 de SUP International.
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Esta historia es de la edición Winter 2018 de SUP International.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Turning Points
With spring in the air and the start of a new decade, thoughts naturally turn to what we can do differently in the name of betterment. Finn Mullen reflects on some changes to consider when looking to improve your SUP surfing.
THE CLOSE OUT- TREV'S GREAT BIRTHDAY ADVENTURE
I have had my fair share of great birthdays, usually coinciding with a national holiday in a country that I’m visiting. But this one was a bit different.
Paddle Science #18 - The Body Fortress. Boosting Immunity
At this time of year, the rate of infection for colds and flu normally tends to slow down as we enter warmer, springtime months. However, if you’ve been anywhere at all in the world recently, then there’s one word you can’t escape at the moment: Coronavirus. Infection rates, mortality rates and prognostic data are changing daily at the moment. As a new virus none of us have previously been exposed to it, meaning that currently, we have no immunity to it. It’s only through being infected by a virus that our bodies are able to make the right antibodies to not only enable us to recover but to also help protect us from any recurrent and future infection from it. If you’re keen to stay well and keep getting out on your SUP board this spring, then focussing on boosting your immune system is a positive step to take.
Ceylon Stories
Like a teardrop on the tip of the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka is a little tropical El Dorado of beautiful landscapes, rich cultural heritage and people with incomparable kindness. Thanks to its favorable exposure to the swells of the Indian Ocean, the has a large number of good waves along its incredible southwest coast where French pro Alexis Deniel and his partner Melanie had an unforgettable experience this winter. Discover their colorful journey through this dream destination sharing its jewels after decades of civil war and the tragedy of the 2004 tsunami.
Polar Bear
In 2019, the Polar Bear showed the world his teeth. After a fourth place in the toughest SUP race in the world, the Red Bull Heavy Water, the now 19-year old Christian Anderson became World Champion in November in the Technical Race at the ISA World Championships in El Salvador. He also won the U-18 title on the Euro Tour with an 11th place overall. What’s behind the young Dane's rise to power?
SHADENFREUDE
TEST REPORTS
Desire Lines
We were on the outskirts of Helsinki, scouting a new destination for our sup camps. Just 45 minutes’ drive from the city, the untouched nature of the Nuuksio National Park stretched out before us. Mirror-smooth lakes, wild herbs and an impressive fauna waiting to be explored over on board or on foot via the many desire lines made by the land mammals.
Magical. Mystical. Epic.
Alexandra is a club ambassador and SUP racer for Bray Lake; relatively new to the SUP scene she completed her first race season in 2019. She participated in her first international event, the Gla Gla, 2020, and placed 1st Brit, 8th lady and 81st overall, out of a mass start of 637 paddlers. Here she shares the highlights of her first Gla Gla experience.
Green Medicine
As a keen outdoorsman and busy GP, Paul Sampson has come pretty close to attaining the mercurial work-balance. When not busy with his patients, he can be found hiking, climbing, paddle boarding, wild swimming… anything that gets him outside soaking up the great outdoors and reconnecting with nature in the beautiful South of Cornwall.
Depth Charge
Many of us have are staying away from the beach for a while, some are confined to our homes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still train for the surf. If you try the following for just one week you’ll see results, never mind three months…
