Comments on: Screw stand up paddle boarding

By: patrick lucas

patrick lucas — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:04:57 +0000

I;ve surfed for 40 yrs. and was around and saw what gidget did in swelling the surf population surfing USA was # 1 on the pop billboard charts & no one had even heard of the rolling stones!!! in retrospect the beach boys probibly wish it'd stayed that way. Heres my point.....SUP will never replace surfing and the skill level it requires its alot different surfing a bonzer 6' 8' surfboard or a 5'10' wilderness twin fin which I never got used to. Actually I think its cool regular folk can experiance in some degree surfing smaller waves whats wrong w/ that???....U think those same people w/ be out when its 6-10 ft. swell I think not!!!unless they have a death wise I'm talkin real waves not mush balls that trickle in and nver hook in the first place. My problem w/ sups is ther so damb expensive!!!...I mean I windsurfed for 4 yrs. and theres enough carbon in one mast to make 3-4 paddles!!! agood mast 400-500 dollars. and they actually have paddles that approach that cost!!!......whats up w/ that???...I rest my case mahalo....wiamea

By: TomH

TomH — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:25:25 +0000

I think this is all blown a little out of proportion. I must say, I found the original article to be a bit of a one sided argument that essentially paints shortboards as being the one "true surfing" and all other surfborne craft as being unworthy. There were a few too many direct insults for my liking (to warrant it being called "tongue in cheek") but hey-ho, I'm not going to pretend to be a journalist.
What I am, is a watersports enthusiast (a Windsurfer, if I had to add a label).
For years, I stuck to my little sails and short windsurfing boards, and sat on the beach moaning that the wind wasn't right, the waves weren't right, the tide wasn't right etc etc.
Then I moaned about the kitesurfers coming along with their new sport that anyone can learn, doesn't take much skill, blah blah blah...
Anyway, I got over it when I grew up a bit. Nowadays I have a battered old van that contains a range of toys for the water including various windsurfing kit (covers the windsurfing equivalent of short boards, long boards etc) along with body boards, a smallish surfboard (still learning) AND a SUP.
The bodyboards have been great for when there is no wind, but plenty of waves - so more time on the beach and the water.
However, the SUP has now filled the gap when the waves are small to non existant PLUS I can now explore the coastline, and I've even paddled lakes and rivers.
For me it's all about loving the water and enjoying life. Whether it's SUP, Windsurfing, Surfing, Longboards, Shortboards, Skiing or Snowboarding (or even Kitesurfing :-) ) it's all good.
What makes it work are the people. And in my experience, it's only when the person with the ego arrives, it all goes wrong. Manners cost nothing, respect is free. Happiness is priceless.

Peace.

By: Nanimo

Nanimo — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:00:57 +0000

I love the way Miles calls for others to respect him whilst totally disregarding the fact that he should respect others.

Miles, your article was superficial and ill-informed. I was under the impression that surfers practised peace, love and respect. I guess, in your case, not.

By: atdi

atdi — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:38:30 +0000

My friend who SUPs (He is good and has surfed his whole life, SUPs N. Shore in big conditions) told me yesterday that it is pretty much cheating and that he takes the best waves because he can. The point being this easy sport is really robbing surfers of good waves and anyone on this equipment will pretty much do the same thing. My friend is a good guy too. I tried paddle boarding on the flat water and it is really easy. I never fell off even first time and there really is almost no learning curve. What takes years of dedication on a surfboard can be gleaned by some out of shape kook in a day plus they will get your waves easier than you can. I surf to escape people and relax and let me tell you SUPing is a nightmare in that regard.

By: Kewalo

Kewalo — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:53:35 +0000

I don't understand how people can say there's enough surf spots to share. I live in hawaii and SUPs are not only weapons that can take your head off it's also a virus that keeps multiplying.

By: over_supd

over_supd — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:11:16 +0000

I started SUP'n a year or so ago, prior to that only being a bodysurfer. Was so stoked that it was so easy to get into surfing. After a few weeks I was catching waves, cruising across them, doing some tricks etc.... I made sure I never dropped in and never got any grief in the lineup. However, i felt like I reached the limit of this paddle on and cruise down the line kind of surfing pretty quick. Started short boarding now. Selling my Sup to buy a fish. Thanks to SUP for getting me hooked on surfing. But really, it's not challenging enough.

By: Surfjunkie

Surfjunkie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:21:41 +0000

Every sport has had this happen to it. It sells gear. I am a skier, snowboarders came along and anyone with an ounce of balance could ride one in powder (sound familiar) but then we started making skis in snowboard presses and smoking them lol :o then wavesailing and all the stringy people came along on their kites trying to kill us but it works itself out. embrace or watch yourself getting less and less waves

By: garcia_s

garcia_s — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:37:48 +0000

"Notice to all...please conform by enjoying the ocean with the same device"...what a joke.

Miles - your rant isn't useful, insightful or intelligent.

By: tyler

tyler — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:21:21 +0000

Bradley, that article is an obvious rip-off and not anywhere as good. The guy definitely read this article and penned his own. The use of language is way too similar, and with no sense of humor.

By: Bradley Gold

Bradley Gold — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:04:11 +0000

http://www.wavescape.co.za/blo.....er.html

A Must Read!