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Surf sup options for the lighter rider?

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Created by NatureNut > 9 months ago, 15 Jan 2022
NatureNut
4 posts
15 Jan 2022 8:22AM
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Help! I've gone down way too many rabbit holes to openly admit in an effort to find a board that fits my needs, ability and frame.

I've been mostly flatwater paddling regularly for quite a few years but have been so hungry to get into SUP surfing. My current isup 11"32 was initially purchased to accommodate SUP'ing with my best mate -the dog. He LOVES it but it's time to find something just for myself and a little more versatile and manageable.

I'm 5"3, 54kgs and pretty athletic. I don't know whether being female changes much in terms of selection. My surfing experience is pretty limited - attempts over many years but nothing regular to progress my skills dramatically.

I had my mind stuck on a Sunova Style 9"6 (incredibly difficult to find in stock) as it also seemed decent on flatwater too but it was recently suggested I look into the Starboard Longboard options. I also read an interesting article on the Sunova Creek. I just want a fun board that I'll want to hold onto for a while. I've read too much and there's a lot of advice for heavier framed people. I really just want someone to tell me what to get ??


Gboots
NSW, 1314 posts
15 Jan 2022 11:37AM
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Something 9ft by 30 wide in my opinion is good .
I am 60-65kg make and started on an inflatable of those dimensions. Managing board out of water is also an issue because if it's too hard to carry you will stop going out

This is a old vid but listen to what he says at end

NatureNut
4 posts
15 Jan 2022 8:45AM
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Thanks Gboots. That's helpful advice!

SupChickadee
VIC, 137 posts
15 Jan 2022 12:03PM
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Agree with Gboots, at your weight and experience 9x30 should be ideal in all conditions.

I would recommend the lightest sup you can afford for ease of carrying around as well.

Where abouts are you based NatureNut, as it helps to trial the sups if you have an opportunity.

Happy Supping

BigZ
170 posts
15 Jan 2022 9:04AM
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If you want a board you will keep even after you progressed and are ready for a 65 liter board :) I would recommend a high performance longboard shape. It will be stable, easy to learn the foundations of surfing and you can keep it forever to practice beautiful art of longboard surfing. Many options to choose from

9'0x28 Starboard
9'0x28 Kalama Performance
9'0x28 Infinity New Deal
9'0x28 Sunova Revolution and many more.

At your weight and height there is no point going over 28 in width and much more than 100l in volume.

I would also argue that if you don't mind struggling a little bit for the first few sessions (you said you are athletic) you could start at 26 or so versions of these boards. A 9x26 wide longboard sup will always be one to keep in your quiver even when your primary sup is 7'5x25x70l :)

Bigger shapes like 9x30 will be by definition transitional and you will be selling them after a few sessions- so if you want to go this route don't buy new, find a cheap used one.

lam
VIC, 251 posts
15 Jan 2022 5:04PM
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My wife is very similar size to you. She started on a 8'10 sunova speeed, she can manage it very well. At times she says she could go smaller. Generally speaking it seems to be ideal for her.

NatureNut
4 posts
15 Jan 2022 3:53PM
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Amazing. Thanks so much for your suggestions Iam, BigZ and SupChickadee. BigZ - thanks particularly for your advice re: size, use and longevity.

slsurf
234 posts
16 Jan 2022 2:05AM
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My wife is similar size, hard to find low volume boards with enough width and length, 9x26 would be tricky for you at first unless you are in consistently smooth conditions. My wife loves this size (infinity new deal 9x26x93l) but when you are learning in small/weaker surf you can go wider and higher volume without much penalty. 28 wide would give you all day stability even in chop. Definitely a lighter board is really nice and I do agree a high performance longboard is best way to go since it can always have a place in your quiver down the road.

Gboots
NSW, 1314 posts
16 Jan 2022 6:54AM
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My first hardboard sup was a 711, 32 wide 132 L Evoke.
Stable but very hard to catch waves . I then added a 12 ft 28 wide Venom. Awesome but to big for beaches and a pain to manage out of water . Next i sold Evoke and added 88 long 28 wide Speeed. Fantastic board which i still have (but rarely use now). An 88 Speeed catches waves easily and paddles nicely . Easy to carry. But hard to get back right on tail for lightweights

micksmith
VIC, 1674 posts
16 Jan 2022 9:13AM
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IMO at your weight, height, self proclaimed description of being pretty and athletic , I'd suggest demoing the infinity new deal line, start with the 8'x28", my daughters have jumped on my starby 8' pro and were able to balance and paddle no problems on flat water ( they don't sup or surf ) both would be around your weight and and over
30 yrs.

Surfnbjj
NSW, 57 posts
16 Jan 2022 10:43AM
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I'd suggest looking at a Jimmy Lewis Destroyer. Great board for a single board quiver, it does it all. They are nice and light and have some sizes that would suit. Perhaps the 8'0" would be good for you if you don't want to go too small. I'm around 72kgs and ride the 7'7", so that could be an option as well.

jvriesinga
NSW, 43 posts
16 Jan 2022 1:35PM
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Surfnbjj said..
I'd suggest looking at a Jimmy Lewis Destroyer. Great board for a single board quiver, it does it all. They are nice and light and have some sizes that would suit. Perhaps the 8'0" would be good for you if you don't want to go too small. I'm around 72kgs and ride the 7'7", so that could be an option as well.



Select to expand quote
Surfnbjj said..
I'd suggest looking at a Jimmy Lewis Destroyer. Great board for a single board quiver, it does it all. They are nice and light and have some sizes that would suit. Perhaps the 8'0" would be good for you if you don't want to go too small. I'm around 72kgs and ride the 7'7", so that could be an option as well.



Look at the Super Frank as well. I love that board.

BigZ
170 posts
16 Jan 2022 2:56PM
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micksmith said..
IMO at your weight, height, self proclaimed description of being pretty and athletic , I'd suggest demoing the infinity new deal line, start with the 8'x28", my daughters have jumped on my starby 8' pro and were able to balance and paddle no problems on flat water ( they don't sup or surf ) both would be around your weight and and over
30 yrs.







I would second that. If you don't want to go a longboard path an all-around mid length like Infinity 8x28 or JL Destroyer 7'7x29 would be a great choice. As you progress it would stay in your quiver as a "choppy, messy, I should not be supping :)" board. Both boards are incredibly stable, bullet proof, and very light. Very similar construction, built in arguably the best board sports outfit - Kinetic factory in Vietnam.

That is why I keep my 8'5x30.5x130l Destroyer - a backup when my 10x28x121l Kalama or 8'5x30.5x121 Infinity Blurr are too much work. By the way, Dave Kalama's boards are virtually the same construction as Infinity and JL, light and bullet proof.

LastSupper
VIC, 360 posts
16 Jan 2022 7:09PM
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NatureNut said..

Help! I've gone down way too many rabbit holes to openly admit in an effort to find a board that fits my needs, ability and frame.

I've been mostly flatwater paddling regularly for quite a few years but have been so hungry to get into SUP surfing. My current isup 11"32 was initially purchased to accommodate SUP'ing with my best mate -the dog. He LOVES it but it's time to find something just for myself and a little more versatile and manageable.

I'm 5"3, 54kgs and pretty athletic. I don't know whether being female changes much in terms of selection. My surfing experience is pretty limited - attempts over many years but nothing regular to progress my skills dramatically.

I had my mind stuck on a Sunova Style 9"6 (incredibly difficult to find in stock) as it also seemed decent on flatwater too but it was recently suggested I look into the Starboard Longboard options. I also read an interesting article on the Sunova Creek. I just want a fun board that I'll want to hold onto for a while. I've read too much and there's a lot of advice for heavier framed people. I really just want someone to tell me what to get ??





You r a fly weight at that size so if you wish to surf i suggest thayou go as narrow and short as u can it may go against the grain of some peeps but to much litres and lenght is a liability at 54 kg i dont think you could hang on to much in the surf ! Find a shorter board with more parralell rails or not much outline waist it will paddle straiter and faster to get on the waves earlier and perservere you will get it and mayb stay safer

supthecreek
2583 posts
16 Jan 2022 11:30PM
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NatureNut said..

Help! I've gone down way too many rabbit holes to openly admit in an effort to find a board that fits my needs, ability and frame.

I've been mostly flatwater paddling regularly for quite a few years but have been so hungry to get into SUP surfing. My current isup 11"32 was initially purchased to accommodate SUP'ing with my best mate -the dog. He LOVES it but it's time to find something just for myself and a little more versatile and manageable.

I'm 5"3, 54kgs and pretty athletic. I don't know whether being female changes much in terms of selection. My surfing experience is pretty limited - attempts over many years but nothing regular to progress my skills dramatically.

I had my mind stuck on a Sunova Style 9"6 (incredibly difficult to find in stock) as it also seemed decent on flatwater too but it was recently suggested I look into the Starboard Longboard options. I also read an interesting article on the Sunova Creek. I just want a fun board that I'll want to hold onto for a while. I've read too much and there's a lot of advice for heavier framed people. I really just want someone to tell me what to get ??





Hi NNut
Enjoy the research... it's always one of my favorite phases of a new board!

There are lots of great suggestions here, by folks who have been at this for a while.... but I know it can get a bit daunting, sifting through everything.

Over the years I have developed some questions and interviewing strategies to help me suggest the right board for people.

Each person is different, so a deeper dive really helps get folks headed in the right direction.
Full disclosure: I am a Sunova something... not quite sure what, but I am in the mix somewhere

Please email me if you want some help wading through of all the info and choices.
supthecreek@gmail.com

micksmith
VIC, 1674 posts
17 Jan 2022 7:43PM
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supthecreek said..

NatureNut said..


Help! I've gone down way too many rabbit holes to openly admit in an effort to find a board that fits my needs, ability and frame.

I've been mostly flatwater paddling regularly for quite a few years but have been so hungry to get into SUP surfing. My current isup 11"32 was initially purchased to accommodate SUP'ing with my best mate -the dog. He LOVES it but it's time to find something just for myself and a little more versatile and manageable.

I'm 5"3, 54kgs and pretty athletic. I don't know whether being female changes much in terms of selection. My surfing experience is pretty limited - attempts over many years but nothing regular to progress my skills dramatically.

I had my mind stuck on a Sunova Style 9"6 (incredibly difficult to find in stock) as it also seemed decent on flatwater too but it was recently suggested I look into the Starboard Longboard options. I also read an interesting article on the Sunova Creek. I just want a fun board that I'll want to hold onto for a while. I've read too much and there's a lot of advice for heavier framed people. I really just want someone to tell me what to get


Full disclosure: I am a Sunova something... not quite sure what, but I am in the mix somewhere

Please email me if you want some help wading through of all the info and choices.
supthecreek@gmail.com


Well I for one would put you in the ambassador category, whether that's the correct title or not is open to debate.

NatureNut
4 posts
18 Jan 2022 6:53AM
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Thank you all so much for taking the time to provide some suggestions and advice. There's a lot to take in here but it's certainly made me re-think what I should realistically be looking for. Cant wait to be getting out on Far South Coast NSW waters on a new board soon. P.S. @MickSmith - I never said I was pretty I'd never self-proclaim that one, haha!

micksmith
VIC, 1674 posts
18 Jan 2022 4:21PM
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NatureNut said..
Thank you all so much for taking the time to provide some suggestions and advice. There's a lot to take in here but it's certainly made me re-think what I should realistically be looking for. Cant wait to be getting out on Far South Coast NSW waters on a new board soon. P.S. @MickSmith - I never said I was pretty I'd never self-proclaim that one, haha!


Haha I know, just throwing a bit at ya no offence taken

Kisutch
392 posts
19 Jan 2022 4:07AM
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Please report back on how it goes and good luck! - I'd like to get my wife into SUP surfing but too hard to get out together often with little kids. She is something around 5'5" and 60kg, paddles flatwater/light whitewater for fun and is into fitness. She had a perfect first time on a 10-6 x 30" (160L?) Naish Nalu cause it was super stable and caught waves early, but she couldn't really carry it to beach, especially in wind (we surfed a glassy spot behind jetty on a windy day). Also she pearled on a couple late entries and almost got whacked by board. I fell on that board learning and injured my ribs. But day two she was riding down line on tiny waves having a blast.

In theory she should be able to surf a 120l board and she has no problem paddling my 110L surf sup on a river with moving water, but she tried my friends 9x28 118L in surf and struggled a bit. I have no idea what I'd get her if I was going to get a board, tricky trade-off between something super light that's not a burden to carry/handle in whitewater vs. stability (and guessing how stability will change during progression). Also some of the boards that come in small sizes might not be in the optimal shape. Like for a longboard it's gonna be a performance shape that's maybe less stable, not necessarily what a person wants in first board.



cheers



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"Surf sup options for the lighter rider?" started by NatureNut