SUP and short boards don't mix

Quite the debate going on. I don't really know what the guy did after he paddled away. I just got my board and went in asap. After that I was lying on the path after that and my view was obscured by the rock wall. Maybe the guy who started this thread might know. It was towards the end of Carties so not many even knew it happened I wouldn't think. I lifted my bloody leg out of the water so he could see the carnage. Hopefully this replayed in his mind later on and caused him to reflect on the decisions he made.
Anyways, healing pretty fast now. Stitches out Tuesday. getting around much better. At first I thought I was unlucky but honestly I was so lucky it got me in a meaty area rather than bone, or my head. Would be out of the water a lot longer.

I don't claim to have the answers to the dilemma. Perhaps I could offer my own perspective. When i'm on the 6'6, its often reasonably crowded. If everyone else is on shortboards, Its more comfortable because its easier to predict what the others are going to do, so its easier to stay out of trouble. Years ago I got a 8'6 because it gave me the ability to go choose uncrowded places, and surf shitty waves all to myself all day if thats what I felt like.
For christmas I asked santa for a SUP. Must have been a good boy because I got a nice 8'6 surf oriented SUP. I've had a lot of fun with this thing on really full waves.
The point I want to make is, now that I can surf it reasonably OK, I would NEVER paddle it through a crowded lineup. Its lighter than the mal, but at 140 litres compared to my shortboards 35 it feels massive when I'm on it. Why the hell would I want to surf it where a shortboards working. Be like going to bed with a huge fat chick when a bikini models waiting for you in the loungeroom. Besides that, The legropes about 10' long and made pretty stretchy so it doesn't pull your leg off. When I've surfaced after a crash, and I have plenty, its a bloody long way away. People could and are getting cleaned up.I like to think I have good manners on the ocean. Last thing I want on my conscience is hurting someone.
These are my thoughts only. I don't mean to offend any sensitivities.

I still don't see the attraction of SUP'ing (besides flat water yoga sessions obviously). What can you do on a SUP that can't be done on a longboard?

I still don't see the attraction of SUP'ing (besides flat water yoga sessions obviously). What can you do on a SUP that can't be done on a longboard?

By: "sandspit"

You can also, stand up and paddle ;)

My gosh, really? That sounds incredible. Where do I sign up?

I still don't see the attraction of SUP'ing (besides flat water yoga sessions obviously). What can you do on a SUP that can't be done on a longboard?

By: "sandspit"

Get some exercise. You get very little on a mal.
Gwendy there are probably no answers to the dilemma unfortunately.

I don't surf for exercise, crustt. I surf to surf. If I want to exercise I'll go jogging or head to the gym.

nobody wants to see you standing up altering the natural scene of the horizon, you look like a twat standing up in a movie theatre obstructing the scene. SIT DOWN.

get it??????????????????????????

no seriously, get it?

what gives you the right to stand up with your arse in my face?????????

what gives you the right to paddle out and ruin the visual aesthetic of the lineup??????

what can we do about this hideous fashion?

nothing.

the horse has bolted, powered and fed by the corporates trying to keep the fat boys in the water so they buy more surfing crap.

the whole thing makes me want to vomit.

the horse has bolted, powered and fed by the corporates trying to keep the fat boys in the water so they buy more surfing crap.

By: "1963-malibu"

Really? I dislike the presence of SUPs as much as the next shortboarder, but the increasing popularity of SUPs is hardly an orchestrated campaign by the 'corporate surf industry' to sell more XXL t-shirts.

I blame the fitness industry. After all, aren't SUPs touted as the perfect way to 'increase your core strength'?

Yeah you said it Ben

If I hear one more line about 'core strength' I'm gunna puke

I don't surf for exercise, crustt. I surf to surf. If I want to exercise I'll go jogging or head to the gym.

By: "sandspit"

Yeah mate , I surf to surf too. But I go out to get exercise on the sup in fat waves that are not worth surfing on a short board or a mal for that matter, but there are still guy's that come out and struggle on the wrong equipment. So I would not be a problem for you as you probably don't waste your time trying to surf fat gutless waves.

1963-malibu, i think i know the area you surf from previous posts.

no names okay ...

i understand your frustration to some extent given the number of SUPs on your local waves.

2 points

first, check out the local surf shop site and see for yourself what said in name of selling more SUPs. there are apparently many waves in your area that are perfect to learn SUPing on. that should get your blood really boiling but it supports your perspective about a buck being made. personally, i see it as those guys shitting in his own nest. why not boycott their shops or front up and have a crack at them?

second, there are plenty of other waves around so check them out.

as annoying SUPs are not one of us owns the local beach.

nobody wants to see you standing up altering the natural scene of the horizon, you look like a twat standing up in a movie theatre obstructing the scene. SIT DOWN.

get it??????????????????????????

no seriously, get it?

By: "1963-malibu"

Yeah, I have been thinking of getting a goat boat for a bit of cross training, I get it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah , sit down and paddle, I'll get a helmet too, can't goat boat without a helmet.

But I go out to get exercise on the sup in fat waves that are not worth surfing on a short board or a mal for that matter, but there are still guy's that come out and struggle on the wrong equipment. So I would not be a problem for you as you probably don't waste your time trying to surf fat gutless waves.

By: "crustt"

I don't have an issue with SUPs in small, weak, fat waves. I hear it's great for building core strength (I jest! I jest!).

However this thread originated with a story about a bloke who got mowed down in a 4-6ft pointbreak session, and I then threw in a recent story about surfing 4-5ft mixed peaks at Curl Curl where a couple of inexperienced SUPs were creating a dangerous environment for the forty-odd shortboarders surfing the same area.

In my eyes, that's the issue - SUP riders surfing waves beyond their abilities and/or in crowded conditions.

Agreed the guy in queensland that ran poida over and did not help him was without any doubt an arsehole.
The situation at curl curl could have been sups, longboarders ,goatboaters or just beginner shortborders out of there depth throwing there boards away, a dickhead is a dickhead is a dickhead , no matter what they ride.

Maybe wisdom from that master surfer who unfortunately legitimised these messed up surfcraft (tom Carroll) should apply, I recall him saying something about, if u cannot hold onto your board don't paddle out in crowded conditions, he said it 20 years ago, a long time before sups but isn't it common sense really? As is the case with jetskis, but some people seem to lack common sense hence the need for rules/laws regarding watercraft that are closer to boats than boards

SUP's got heavily regulated from my local Pointbreaks for the very, very simple reason that they present clear and present danger to other surfers above and beyond other water-craft.

Local SUP'pers surf the uncrowded spots and evrything works fine.

I got one. I paddle it in the lake when it's flat, fish off it in the river and surf it occassionally in small, weak surf for fun.

There's no way you can SUP safely at a crowded Pointbreak. And TBH, only a dickhead/egomaniac would try.

Everyone talks about rights : I've got a right to do this or that, it's a free ocean etc etc.

What about responsibilities? You've got a responsibility to not put people in danger by your actions.

Many SUP riders are well-heeled professional types who are late-life surfers. Fair enough, providing they have as good a grip on surf etiquette as the rest of us who were force-fed it by our betters when we were groms.

If they don't and their actions cause harm, the only significant response is through the courts. A negligence suit or two will soon get the message sorted clearly. Nothing like the hip-pocket nerve to get behavioural change.

There was a bloke last year made front page on the Newcastle Herald. Paddled his brand new SUP into a crowded break and something happened and the locals beat the absolute shit out of him.
Not condoning violence for a second. Just saying........

The SUP invasion has hit the Mornington Peninsula too. :-(. Demographically most SUP riders are over weight middle aged men who do not understand surf etiquette. The subject generates heated discussions amongst shortboards and Mal riders. This includes surfers who use SUPs too but admit they normally ride fatter and less quality waves due to the line up issues mentioned in this forum.
The tension in the water has lead to this sticker being placed on most available signs locally.

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Whats-with-this-s...

Education through experience and socialisation maybe the key here. Like most surfers of my generation 30 years + we learnt by observation and gaining the skills of working the lineup. We learnt how to hassle and we quickly knew who had the right of way.

IT WAS CALLED RESPECT.

A common point of conjecture seems to be with the gooses who sell these SUP's.
I walked into the local surf shop and overheard a well known board seller saying " You should buy one of these boards (SUPS), because you can go out and catch every wave!" He continued to mention that there is a local surf break just down the road which is perfect for your new SUP. The idolt failured to mention this was the most popular surf break for longboarders.

I have been surfing longboards for over 10 years now :-) and I was acutely aware of the danger it represented in the water. Control and skill was easy to obtain, simply due to the past 20 years of shortboarding. But for some reason SUPs dont get the message? Greed is the big issue here too, the same longboarding pigs have now moved up into SUP's and are just as bad.

I Intend to stay with my longboard, it was hard enough swallowing my pride moving on to one, but the day I cant surf the mal is the day I take up kite flying!

I believe there is a place for SUP's but NOT in the lineup of challenging surf breaks. Maybe when they grow older and more overwieght the SUP's may die out?

Poida I hope your leg heals well and you are out and amongst the surf soon. :-)

Regards Apaulo

apaulo, check out that said local surf shops website .... there you will read that many local breaks (they are all named) are perfect places to LEARN to SUP. So people with perhaps no expeirence in the surf or knowledge of surf etiquette are being encouraged to take their shiny new SUP out in the surf among short and longboarders.

Supports my long held view that those guys are dickheads. I'm not sure why any locals would support that business.

Yes Floyd you're correct!
The websites aren't helpful either. Personally the shaper I have used for years (15) is a longboarder like myself and has a simular back ground in surfing. I don't support the "Dickheads" and I certainly dont agree with their philosophy of making a buck at the expense of others.

Still surfing has been subjected to negative changes as of late, the surfcams, mobile phone at el. The days of getting it right, predicting the swells and conditions, those skills are long gone..
Call me old fashioned but the modern day surfer has it easy..No wonder the days of the uncrowded surf is a thing of the past..

Shit I sound like an old whinging fart..still the message is relevant. :-)

I was out at Carties on Boxing day with a couple of mates and a SUP burnt one of my mates on a pretty solid wave, then abused my mate haha. Fools.

You only need look at these stand up pensioners(and to a lesser extent log riders) and it becomes obvious that the bigger the board the smaller the penis.BTW ladies I just picked up my new 5'6". The reason people ride SUPs is the same reason dogs lick their balls.

Beacause they can clean and groom while simultaneously enjoying themselves?

I think a dog licking his scrote is not half as ridiculous looking as a flapper on a SUP.

George Carlin: The Dog is Licking His Balls

Good on all of you for 'standing up' in what you believe in.
I really enjoyed reading some of these posts.
stand up pensioners.

the Respect thing is big.

What can we do about it though? How can we put enough heat on these SUP riders so they leave their boats at home and ride something more functional and less offensive to other surfers?

I think a happy ending would be that all the SUP riders unite and bring their 'surfboards' to the beach, we pile them all together in a big heap and set them alight as some sort of sacrifice to HUi, then pretend that this ugly fashion board never existed in the first place.

Overall these videos are instructive but neither mention the potential danger SUPs present to surfers.