SUP and short boards don't mix

Had a SUP rider plough through the lineup at Curly on Sunday - he paddled for the first wave of the set, missed it, and then turned around only to cop a succession of meaty 5ft bombs on the head.

I gotta admit, it was kinda funny watching the rider negotiate his impending doom on his knees as the first wave approached. However, carnage then ensued through the lineup as he tried to get under each wave without losing his lance.

here's a simple solution - ban all surfcraft with fins :)

e wrote:

relaxed and easy going small crowd

YEAH RIGHT!!
when has there ever been a small crowd at the sunshine coast??
what a dump!

as opposed to the Gold Coast? plenty. dump!! each to their own. was out there that day and was surprised by the lack of crowd at Plats and Carties for a weekend. saw the afore mentioned SUP ers and agree they should be other places. all good till they come off then it's carnage because there's no chance to control that board until the next lull. didn't see the incident but sorry to hear of the injury.

The nerve of those idiots. Whatever is going on? How dare these weirdos think they may enjoy Mother Nature in her purest form, with such ridiculous pieces of equipment? What is the world coming to? Whoever thought up such strange and obviously "weird" tools to ride waves. Don't they realize that the only way to remain pure, is to ride a surfboard (and NOTHING else) that has to be specific in it's size, shape and design. I mean if those clearly intelligent/purists (in their own teacup) say you have to ride a board (and NOTHING else) that is precisely 6'2", and has a specific shape and number of fins, then clearly anyone who dares venture out on anything over or under that size (let alone on anything that is even remotely different from what they have deemed appropriate) should instantly be removed from the ocean. That will let them know what's right from wrong. Idiots. And lets not start up with those retards who think it's okay to swim in the ocean without a surfboard. I mean, what the???? Perhaps it would also be appropriate to create an age group separation. I mean we can't have those groms learning our secrets can we? We could make them go somewhere else to surf. Doesn't matter if they can kick our arse with ability. They probably wouldn't truly appreciate the surf as well as our most humble selves? How are we ever going to teach these retards that there is a hierarchy on surf equipment, and where you "may" be permitted to use such contraptions. Just stay out of our way. We enjoy the waves, and respect them, and utilize them better than those "other weirdos? They simply must be put in their place and made to find a break where the "real" surfers are not around. One day perhaps? Do i hear an AMEN??? GET F***** The Ocean is for "EVERYONE" FULL STOP. Egomaniac.

Epic fail at missing the Point.

totally missed the point. ride what ever you like as long as you can control it.

Garrett McNamara just uploaded this photo to his Facebook page, taken at Point Dume, California. Looks pretty sensible to me.

SUP riding in crowded surf is just another chapter in the evolution of greed in surfing and in the line-up. Before SUPs it was PWCs and tow-ins and before that it was wave skis and in many cases mals.

Its good that people surf and on different boards but the reality is some do not mix without lots of common sense and respect and folks that is where it falls apart.

Locally, SUP riders have pretty much taken over two breaks and regularly surf 4 or 6 others. Everyone I have spoken to about their presence on the coast hates it but they seem powerless to anything about it.

For what its worth I believe SUPs and wave skis should not be permitted to surf amongst surfers on small boards just like PWCs are banned but that will not happen unless there are deaths or riots or both.

Shortboard for 25 years, added a mal 5 years ago, added a SUP 6 months ago (the later two due to relocation to a small wave coastline). When I'm on my shortboard, I'm annoyed by mal riders hogging waves and getting in the way. When I'm on a mal or shortboard, I'm annoyed by SUPs. When I'm on a SUP (typically when it is too small to properly surf), I'm annoyed by other SUPs. Yes, I'm greedy. Aren't we all?

But when I'm on my SUP I try to avoid all other surfcraft as I know they are damn hard to control if you fall. Perhaps the distinction is that many SUPpers never learned surf etiquette because they didn't grow up surfing and that they need to learn it the hard way... a call to all hard nosed local enforcers to come out of retirement?

Sounds more like the surfers didn't know surf etiquette,if you are up and riding (or falling) you have right of way over those paddling out...

eta: Plenty of good days on the sunny coast with nearly no-one out. I've surfed certain (near-shore) locations with <5 guys on good days.

Not that I support violence but jonesurfer makes an interesting point about hard nosed local enforcers coming out of retirement (or young turks).

Perhaps its a measure of how successful modern day surf marketing is that something like SUPs can come along and change the face of surfing around the world without so much as a whimper of serious protest from the tens of thousands of joe blow surfers that are routinely effected. Just because you can buy a Chinese made SUP with Laird Hamilton's, Gerry Lopez's or Simon Anderson's name on it doesn't make it right.

Further, I doubt whether SUPs would have ever been so easily intergrated into mainstream surfing before its wholesale commercialistion without some biffo doing down at local breaks up and down the coast.

I also agree with jonesurfer's point that it appears many SUP riders haven't surfed before and they have never learned surf etiquette most of which comes down to commonsense and respect.

Sounds more like the surfers didn't know surf etiquette,if you are up and riding (or falling) you have right of way over those paddling out...

eta: Plenty of good days on the sunny coast with nearly no-one out. I've surfed certain (near-shore) locations with <5 guys on good days.

By: "blow-in-9999"

BUT!!! as you could appreciate and must have experienced, sometimes despite knowing this and adhering to this there is the odd occasion where you stuck in limbo land and you're staring down an inevitable collision if the surfer takes off. then it's down to surfer taking off whether he uses his brains and pulls back or not. no wave is worth killing or injuring someone!!

same day old guy on a mal bailed on his board and worse his leggie snapped and his board went through the line up as well. control it. seems to me you have some responsibility whether your paddling out or taking the wave

Yes but its a sup its not like he just decided turn and go late onto his head. Also at Carties its pretty bloody obvious where the wave is going to break it sounds more like the surf didn't want take one on the head.

Bailing is dick move you'll hear no argument from me that if you aren't fit enough to control your board you shouldn't be out but I see that from everyone not just SUPS.

-- I lid fwiw, so obviously I run into less sups than most.

G'Day all,
Well unfortunately I was the unlucky one in the way last Sunday. I'd been surfing for about 3 1/2 hours and honestly it was about as good as the Carties breaks get. Wasn't spending much time on the section that is Carties. I was getting most of my waves from Platties and halfways. Managed to shimmy across one right through into Carties and rode all the way through.

As I pulled off a couple of young kids on lids (I think, it's a bit of a blur) were paddling out near me. We came over the next wave and the SUP was slowly turning to catch a wider wave. He really had eyes only for the wave and was watching over his shoulder as the wave came up behind him. I couldn't get inside him cos of the guys inside me so had to go wide or get mown down. The wave jacked a bit more than he thought so to compensate he changed his entry angle to wider angle. Basically straight at me. In all this time he never once looked toward his path he would take. At the last second he realised he was going to run me over and just jumped off his board. I duckdived as deep as I could but must have left my left leg up as you do, and got smashed by, I guess, his fin. I felt instantly sick in my guts and my leg was agony. I surfaced and gave him a verbal spray. Lifted my leg out of the water so he could see it. "Look what you've fukin done to my leg" His reply was,

"Well you shouldn't have been in my way" !!!!!!!

He then grabbed his board and paddled away leaving me to make my own way in to the rocks. Blood was pulsing out of a 10cm gash in my lower calf. A couple of people helped me out over the next hour to get me to hospital. (Big thanks to all involved, you know who you are if you read this) Ordeal was not over yet...

Doctors advised me that the cut was so deep that I would require surgery. The bone and surrounds would need to be cleaned properly or infection was a good possibility. I was put on the surgery list. Unfortunately/fortunately I was a fairly low priority and spent the next 3 days getting bumped by more urgent cases. No food or water until 8 pm each night until it was certain I wouldn't be operated on that day. Finally Tuesday arvo operation was performed and here I am stitches, crutches and no surfing for I'm not sure how long.

To reply to some of the speculation on this thread...
I've been surfing 30 years.I don't rip but I go ok. I've made some good decisions in the water and some bad ones... like most of us I reckon. I have gotten in peoples way over the years and people have gotten in my way, it just happens sometimes.
The previous morning I surfed the open beach at Buddina. It was bigger Saturday and to be honest was probably outside my comfort level, but I took it on. I only mention this to refute claims I should have duckdived the wave rather than paddle for the shoulder into SUP's path. It just played out that way. I have no problem duckdiving 4 foot waves. I just had little choice and judged that Sups entry angle he should clear me, until he changed angle.
When Carties gets bigger and the swell is straight out of the east there can be waves that break tight to the rocks (the better ones) or there can be bigger wider fatter ones. So Carties does not break down the same path every time. When you pull off a wave you are where you are.
MrsBradPitt it was a strange swell as Carties/Platties was very good (strange) and the crowd was way down on normal numbers.

A few thoughts...

If there's someone in your way, and there is doubt you can get around them, pull back, it's just a wave. If someone sits inside and doesnt move when your trying to take off, give them a spray but pull back. It's just a wave. At least once anyway.
If someone is coming straight for me from now on I'll be protecting my body before my board. It's just a board.
If you injure someone in the surf, even if you believe you were not at fault, help them to the beach. Paddling away is a dog act. Face what you have done even if you are copping a spray. I gave this guy a mouthful, but if he helped me and showed a bit of remorse it would have been such an improvement on what actually went down.

I'll get better and be surfing again soon and was very very lucky. Another 2 inches down and my ankle would probably been crushed. It was a big impact. I hope the SUP got a good look at the damage inflicted and he had a rethink of his actions later on.

Wanna see some photos???

Poida

Everytime a SUP takes off on a wave everyone is in his way as he sits out further than anyone else. Recipe for disaster I reckon.

Holy shit poida, that is heavy. Thanks for sharing your story.

No worries Ben. Got plenty of time up my sleeve at the moment :)

Cool story poida, hope you get back out there soon.

And to the miscreant street sweeper, wake up to yourself toolbag.

I have known and surfed with Poida for over 15 years, on the coast as well as in Indo in 8ft+ waves and I haven't seen him shy away from getting hammered by a wave to keep out of another surfers way. It makes me sick to think about what happened to his leg and angry that this goose on the SUP didn't even try to help out after injuring Pete so badly.
grow some balls and take responsibility for your actions, and don't surf beyond your capabilities as you endanger yourself and others.

Hope your back in the water soon mate.

what a dog act.

I'm a good mate of Poida's too. And can vouch for the fact that he is a very competent surfer, with plenty of line-up awareness.

I surfed the point a couple of weeks back under similar conditions. Solid E swell, waves lining up really well through halfways, small spread out crowd. There were 2 guys out on SUP's this day as well, both competent and getting loads of waves. I'm betting one of these guys was involved in this incident.

As much as I despise SUP's in the line-up, it sounds like it is the rider to blame here. In a reasonably uncrowded line-up, with plenty of waves, and I'm sure a hefty wave count already under his belt, there is no excuse to take a wave in a dangerous position, on a potentially dangerous craft. The onus is squarely on him to be aware of others in the line-up. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd barely gotten back out from a previous ride.

All that aside, shit happens, and accidents do occur. The fact that this bloke didn't have the decency to assist Poida is the real worrying factor here.

Oh, and Poida. I don't neccesarily agree with your putting your board before your body from now on, I think it was a very heroic gesture for you to take the brunt.

Poida, I really admire your positive attitude given what you have gone through and will go through with your rehabilitation. I wish you a speedy and full recovery.

Agree with others Poida is a competant, cruisy surfer in the lineup & is not the kind to foist his ego into this matter, but is looking for answer to this farkt up situation...

This is an issue & with the attitude of some of the local SUPs it aint getting any better. It does sound very much like the Mal v Shortboard debate from 20 years ago...However the following incident is concerning...

The following is a recollection of a recent conversation a local "waterman" had with his son (~12yo) whilst SUPing. This local ‘waterman’ consistently displays a fair amount of distain for his fellow surfers & neighbours in the water.

Paddling out through the middle of a lineup, son asks father a question about the surrounding surfers & their proximity...

“...don’t worry (son), they are just surfers, paddle in & you’ll be right...”

The attitude demonstrated is frightening... I know all the SUPs out there will cry, "these are exceptions..." The reality is that respect in the water is a 2 way street, ability, localism, ignorance can be present irrespective of craft... the difference with SUPs is the ability to create 20ft circumference of serious carnage... they should consider their surrounds / conditions / egos prior to hitting the lineup...

I'm a mate of poida & saw the carnage first hand :( I helped carry poida to the awaiting ambulance. I personally believe sup riders are sup riders because they're to retarded/lazy/fat,& uncoordinated to be able to ride any other water craft. To the wanker SUPrider, karma is a bitch to people like you. The ocean is there for all to enjoy true, respecting one another right to be there is part of the spirit of surfing. I don't in particular like lids, mals, goat boats, & especially sups, but I never drop in on any of these other craft, nor do I try to snake any of these other ocean lovers. We all share the same ocean, & we're all out there basically for the same reason. Respect one another in the line up regardless of the board, Don't get your abilities & ambitions mixed up, especially when taking off right in front of others who are scrambling to get out of the way. To the wanker sup rider, how would you feel if you injured or killed one of those kids you narrowly missed. You've helped to give your fellow sup riders an even worse name. Well dick sup rider we'll see you in the water sooner or later. To the rest of you sups Why don't you give real surfing a go. Yes it is very hard art to learn, but it's worth it. Better yet just stick to pulling your golf cart around the course.

Podia, from your description fair enough (re going to the left). The real thing that worries he is his attitude after that to me is really shit. Having not ridden a sup or having been there I'm not sure how easy it would be to pull out but given the normal wide ones at carties... (fat as)

Certainly there has to be some give and take there given how much easier it is to change direction catching the wave than going back out.

Sorry for the comments without the facts

No worries Blowy. Don't know about facts but that's how it went down from my perspective. A bit awareness and and a quick visual by SUP would have made all the difference in this instance. He could still have caught the wave and missed me by aiming a bit wider form the get go. I could have easily slipped inside him then. Was more a case of him being totally oblivious to the fact there was people around the course he intended to take.

Getting around a bit easier already and have ditched the crutches. A slow hobble is how I roll these days. Encouraging to feel improvement already. Best time of year for waves up here too. Why can't these things happen in November if they have to...

Bad news poida, the circumstances that you describe how you got hit are very common, it seems many surfers have a very narrow focus when padling for that "dream" wave regardless of the consquences.

Strikes me you, more than any of us, could make a difference here. It depends on your inclination which seems pretty chilled from your comments todate. Nonetheless .............. Possible action you could take ranges from telling people what happended as you are here (and possibly the local newspaper) through to speaking to the local Council, Police or even one of those No Win No Pay Legal outfits. The person who hit you is very much likely to be a local and would be easily found if legal action could be taken.

I don't have a problem with surfers wheeling out any surf craft they like but like others in this forum I would like to see SUPs and other surfers seperated. So your story could go some way to either making that happen or even educating SUP riders in some small way of the dangers they place others in by their lack of commonsense and respect.

Some questions about SUPs. Locally and elsewhere business have sprung up hiring SUPs from the carpark of local surf breaks. Who has given these guys the permission to do this? Do they pay a fee to Council in which case speaking to your local Council may make a difference now or into the future poida and finally do they have public liability insurance and do their insurance companies know the risks? I certainly would want to know the answers to these questions before hiring a SUP from such a business.

I'm normally aren't interested this legal stuff but I am worried surfers will be killed just like the sad stories coming from recent national surf life saving carnivals where competitors were hit by wave skis.

Another observation about SUPs is that they tend to treat it like a sporting club with 6+ of them getting together and heading out at once. Not cool.

Here's a suggestion (and it can really pertain to any surfrider) -

1) Calmly educate upon first notice of surfing etiquette infraction (most are likely nice enough blokes)
2) No second chances - verbally abuse the hell out of 'em making sure all others hear upon second infraction

The more times other surfers turn a blind eye, the bolder they will get in their ignorance.

Would be good to get a fix on the demographic of SUP riders. Age, surfing experience, etc.

Poida, sorry to hear about your unfortunate event, and wishing you a speedy recovery. I'm amazed there is'nt more incidents as such and if not worse on the sunny coast. Having moved from WA to Noosa 6 years ago i found the surf etiquette disgustingly bad among all surf craft. There seems to be no education whatsoever, the old guys are terrible so what is this teaching the grommets? I had a quick surf at granite today only to be burnt numerous times.(mostly by one old guy on a mal who has a rep for it) It seems nobody looks back, calls or communicates. Its sad really, as your mate said we are all out there for the same reason so a bit of respect for each craft. It's only ever been about having fun. I had a couple of days down at Lennox beginning of that last swell, all i can say is tip of the cap to all the locals there. 2 days of surf and neither me or my mate had any drop ins or dissagreements in the water. People were communicating and everyone got waves, it was great. So poida education is the key. With education comes respect for all, communication so all can enjoy. all the best mate. Poida swoit!

Would be good to get a fix on the demographic of SUP riders. Age, surfing experience, etc.

By: "thermalben"

As much as it would be great to categorise everyone into one blanket stereotype there isn't one for SUP riders. Everyone from Jamie O'brien to joe blow who has never surfed in his life is getting into them. I got into it about 3 years ago after getting sick of being hassled out by mals and being generally over the usually average surf here in Sydney after surfing for 35+plus years. Never ridden a mal and reckon they look lame.

Generalising a bit myself now, there are 2 basic types of SUPs - the big heavy pop outs and the lightweight epoxy customs that are around the 8 foot mark and weigh about 6 kilos and take a few years to work up to. The latter ride like gun short boards and still out paddle mals. I have had 20 year old very good surfers try and stand on mine in flat water and they couldn't even get to their feet so to those that think all SUPS are for unfit kooks think again. it gets you real fit as well as it's a constant wrestle just to stand on it.

I can totally understand the animosity towards SUP from short boarders and generally would prefer none in the lineup if I am out with a bit of a crew. Many SUP riders have no clue about etiquette either through lack of experience or because they are greedy. BUT... there are also crew who rip and have decent attitudes in the lineup. There are a heap of guys here on the northern beaches who are respected local surfers who also SUP and a few who have replaced tow-in with SUP as they are brilliant in big ocean waves.

Sorry to hear about the accident Poida, the SUP guy sounds like a major tool, leaving the accident like that. It does worry me that there will be more incidents, but nobs are not limited to one craft either.

SUP is the worst introduction to surfing since the legrope.

SUP is the worst fashion-board in the history of surfing. (if not, name another one?)

someone riding an SUP should not be allowed to be in the lineup, espeically a crowded lineup, with other surfers.

The Maritime Authority should pass some legislation banning them from crowded surfspots, because they are dangerous.

I dont care if you are Laird hamilton, or some other hero, the SUP is a hideous addition to surfing . I simply hate them.

The worst type of SUP riders are the ones who went from a shortboard to a SUP without ever getting into traditional longboards.

It would make me very very happy if every single one of them was burnt or buried and never seen again.

end of rant.

I wish you would tell us how you really feel 1963 mal.....

The law of physics dictate that heavy objects or blunt instruments cause more damage than lighter ones.

The lightest "high performance" SUP would have to weigh twice the weight of a "glassed to last mal" and many many times heavier (5-10 times????) heavier than the average shortboard. And then there are those longer, wider, thicker SUPs that must be nearing 20kgs.

Riding a SUP among shortboarders and mal riders and in any crowded surf regardless of the skill of the rider is a very poor form of anti-social behaviour.

Last week I was sharing a few little peelers at my local with a mate when an old fat bastard appears on a sup and comes out with this gem "Short boards are out, everyone is getting into SUPs, you can do anything on one of these that you can do on your shorty ha ha " He then proceeded to hog the next few sets and it was painfully obvious he had never been a surfer and had the ugliest style Ive ever seen. So this is what we're up against,the general public can go out and buy a SUP practice for ten minutes and then think they deserve a spot in the lineup.I'm 55 and still ride a 6ft2 state of the art board and am proud of it. When Im too old for a shortboard I'll retire gracefully and may even get a SUP but I wouldnt bother trying to ride waves on the mother.Comparing surfing a shortboard and a SUP is like Formula 1 and lawn bowls.

The law of physics dictate that heavy objects or blunt instruments cause more damage than lighter ones.

The lightest "high performance" SUP would have to weigh twice the weight of a "glassed to last mal" and many many times heavier (5-10 times????) heavier than the average shortboard. And then there are those longer, wider, thicker SUPs that must be nearing 20kgs.

Riding a SUP among shortboarders and mal riders and in any crowded surf regardless of the skill of the rider is a very poor form of anti-social behaviour.

By: "rattle"

My SUP is only 5kg so it is lighter than some small boards and easily lighter than a performance mal let alone a log.
Some waves are better suited to sup's, I go out for a surf on these waves and then some dick on a shortboard will come out and be pissed off because I'm catching waves that they can't, so in the end I get blamed for ruining there surf when the real cause was that they cant read the conditions and have no idea what a good wave is.

SUP's have taken over the Mid coast in SA but thankfully haven't seen many at Victor or Yorkes.

The Mid used to be overrun by 9ft mal's but these days the SUP's are burning the Mal's so I reckon that's why they are so popular.

Victor is mainly beachbreaks with lots of duckdiving so that seems to keep em at bay.

Yorkes is nearly all reefs and the better waves break quite fast so don't think the SUP's are up to it. Got a mate who now rides one due to a back injury but he keeps to spots where the waves are too fat for a shorty.

Biggest problem I have with them is 1. They take every wave because they can and 2. When they get stuck in the whitewater they can't get out of it which usually results in 8-10ft of board bearing down on ya. They don't have leggies to stop the board do they?

Having said that goat boats are just as bad I reckon - possibly worse.

Yorkes is nearly all reefs and the better waves break quite fast so don't think the SUP's are up to it. Got a mate who now rides one due to a back injury but he keeps to spots where the waves are too fat for a shorty.

Biggest problem I have with them is 1. They take every wave because they can and 2. When they get stuck in the whitewater they can't get out of it which usually results in 8-10ft of board bearing down on ya. They don't have leggies to stop the board do they?

Having said that goat boats are just as bad I reckon - possibly worse.

By: "maddogmorley"

Thats my point, I ride waves that are to fat, but I still get guys coming out and getting pissed at me.
Being greedy, well the same could be said of mals, not all mals are greedy, same for sups.
I always wear leggy, so do all the other sup riders I know.

That's fair enough then crustt - no point having good waves going to waste even if they are fat - better to have someone out there having fun on them. Horses for courses.

So SUP's do have leggies - well then I reckon that makes goat boats worse cause once they get stuck in the white water or lose their craft it just rolls right through to the beach taking out everyone in their path.

My mate with a bad back loves his SUP and I can fully understand why he rides it cause without it he wouldn't be getting out there amongst it.

if i am out surfing and an SUP enters the lineup, it changes the whole feeling in the water.

you have these twats standing up and visually disturbing the scene.

they start paddling for waves before the wave has even formed any shape on the sandbank.

they come steamrolling through where other more conventional surfers are sitting and generally speaking they are not in control of their boat.

they are trying to surf a boat.

Where do we draw the line?

Can i go out on my windsurfer, which has a board quite similar to a SUP (in volume) and i catch a swell line out to sea and sail it into the point then carve through the lineup sail and all? I fall off my sail rig and board go flapping about in the crowded lineup. Nothing wrong with that is there?

If I change the way you feel about the surf when I paddle out, that's your problem. I'm usually the only sup out, I sit(stand) with the surfers and have a yak and take my turn, some times I snag a double up that no one else can get, the only people that seem to crack it are mal riders, why is that? Is it because they used to be able to paddle into waves earlier? Most good sup riders have never ridden a mal. There are a lot of ignorant sup rider and they are a problem, but there is way more greedy mal riders that know exactly what they are doing, who's worse?

If you think SUP riders are bad now, just wait until the motorised SUP is perfected......

I don't understand how these old tools can get a kick out of standing on these massive boats making fools of themselves and ruining everyones day. It was a novelty to see old legends like T.C. in good waves skillfully nursing them around but now its just a cheats shortcut into the lineup for old kooks who never could surf a real board.Apologies to the few old legends who don't fall into the above category.When Im 80 I might get one ,bolt a deck chair and an esky onto the deck and use it for fishing.Cheers.

Common guys...

Accidents will always happen, unfortunently.. it is just a matter of time until SUP's get used to the line up rules...
If the sup ridders are so fat and stupid, probably they will not surf your amazing big and dangerous waves... and you guys can keep being the owners of the ocean ok, so don't worry...
I think you are jealous, specially when the waves are not so nice so only SUP'S can ride them and you guys only can see...
I think learners (like me) on SUPS or Shortboarders, bobyboarders or whatever, should avoid the crowd, that's it.
SUP is giving people who maybe never could have the emotion of ride a wave that possibility that you have... people who are already very old, people like me with a back injury, people who doesn't have time to do too much training...
There is so much EGO is this surf word... keep passing wax in your hair, walking at the beach with your cute little board to impress girls and complaining about that the SUPS are ugly?? common!!!! so weird!!! \
in despite of the jokes... My point is that everyone in the world should have the right to ride one wave... doenst matter how...

ALOHA!

PS... take it easy on the replies ok ;;))))

there isnt a wave that an SUP can paddle into that i cannot paddle into with my longboard.

These SUP riders, most of them, are fashion victims. The sort of surfer that was probably a hardcore shortboarder who was always spouting off about how malibus'/longboarders are KOOKS and how they would never ride on. But HELLO, the SUP is the king of kook in longer boards!

Its such a shame that these shortboarders are so affected by the corporate magazines selling them the story. They truly believe that longboarders are kooks and SUP;s are ok. it is so so weird. If you are a SUP rider and you acknowledge that it was the fashion and seeing the SUP's endorsed by the shortboarding magazines, dont worry, its not too late. You can burn your SUP, drop it at a tip and get a longboard and start to enjoy surfing without offending other innocents in the water.

shiiizzzzz we all just want to go for a surf and have fun. But some of us, ME, dont want to see you paddling past me looking down at me and changing the whole vibe out there just by riding these stupid SUP's. They are stupid. acknowledge it, this is the first step in your rehabilitation.

Very interesting debate. I've only read part of it, so if I'm repeating anything I apologise in advance.

I agree that Podia’s story outlines an idiotic act by a SUP rider, however when I used to read Waves Magazine as a kid, I remember the 'gash of the month', had many gashes as a result of various watercraft. Not just SUP's. I think that this incident can be written off as exceptionally unfortunate, but not unique to SUP’s.

urely the objective isn't to marginalise or ridicule someone’s choice of hobby. The core objective of this debate is twofold, one being to make the ocean as safe as possible for all users, the other is to ensure equality in enjoyment - i.e. don't monopolise the surf, just because your chosen watercraft can catch waves earlier than the majority. In the same way cars shouldn't muscle out cyclists on the road because of their size.

My view is that the majority will sort out those acting dangerously. People shouldn't be afraid to speak up when someone is behaving dangerously - or are out of their depth. Another possibility is that some sort of rule needs to be implemented - similar to the 'drop in' rule. Maybe SUP's should have to call their wave and only be allowed one wave allocated to a SUP per set and they need to call it (i.e. ‘I’m going the second wave’)...?

I think in the more populated zones that the issue can only be dealt with by local councils. I've been to certain beaches where only swimmers/bodyboarders are allowed in one zone and surfers in others. Perhaps boards above certain dimensions or volumes should be forced into another zone?

Further & somewhat irrelevant to this debate – I’m only saying this because a few people on this thread consistently miss the point. I'm a short board rider. I have been for 15 years. I really don't get why people criticise other sports so much. Surely the point of this particular thread isn't to assess the merits of SUP riding versus SB riding. Geez, I'm not into bird watching or frisbee, but you don't see me getting up in arms about it. Whatever floats your boat?!

Peace, Arbus.

Is there any common ground here? It seems not.

There are always exceptions to the rule; a surfer's stoke, attitude and ability can smooth out tension and lack of these things can only elevate it.

I believe that its good that we surf and it doesn't matter what surf craft is used.

But what I want to understand is why is it acceptable to ride really large boards like SUPs in crowded surf?

Swimmers and board riders are separated by lifesavers and PWC are seriously restricted on how they operate .... we all see the good sense in having these restrictions so why are SUPs free to roam up and down the beach?

SUPs should be restricted but I suspect the problem is getting a state or local government agency to take responsibility to put the required restrictions in place. In the meantime the same surf shop that will sell you your next 6'2" will be selling SUPs. Perhaps time for a consumer boycott?

First up, poida, sorry to hear your story mate. Thanks for taking the time to relate it to us.

Maybe this was answered earlier but the question I have is what happened to this bloke? I would have thought he would have got sent in after doing that. Did anyone have a go at him for doing what he did?

As for the divide, in my experience, all the SUP riders I've surfed with have been very competent. Wave hogs, but good surfers. They piss me off cos they get one wave every set while everyone else gets a wave every few sets. But I haven't seen anything dangerous.

I mostly surf beachies anyway to avoid crowds which means no SUPs on good days but I reckon if they can control their board and respect the lineup, I can't see em having any less of a right to be there than a longboarder. it's a big if but restrictions and stuff seems a bit far fetched to me. I mean, you know, free country and all that.

Mal 63, why would I want to surf a log, 10 ft of straight rail that I'll get a hernia trying to turn, I would much rather surf my sup, being 30" wide it has heaps of curve so I can turn it on a dime and it's 1/4 the weight of a log. After 40 years on a short board sup's are a breath of fresh air, sorry you get upset about a sup paddling by you but I get the impression that your just as upset about the world going by you.