Does Stand Up Paddle Surfing Mean Doom for Surfing?

There's an interesting post on Simon Jayham's site about the rise and rise of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in the UK. Check out this link, which recounts what I think is fair to describe as Simon's ambivalent view of the SUP revolution.

I've only seen a couple of SUPs here in the far west, though while in Barbados recently ran into a squadron at Freights on one occasion. Well, there were five of them, compared with some 25 surfers, but these guys are on (very) big boards and they make the average longboarders' ability to catch a wave early look non-existent. They get on everything beyond early, and once they're there, you really don't want to mess with them.

At Freights, two of the guys I saw on SUPs were very impressive. But they, and their mates, severely reduced my and the other surfers' wave counts while they were in the water. Back in the UK, I stopped in Exmouth on the way home, and saw long-time surfer Tids out on Pole Sands, enjoying a SUP. Now the thing about this was that there was no one else anywhere near Tids (who's been thoroughly stoked by playing around with his SUP), but what happens, as Simon asks, when SUPs start appearing in crowded summer line-ups?

When I interviewed Laird Hamilton last summer in Biarritz, he couldn't say enough good things about SUPs, and they're clearly getting more popular. But could this debate make the Sennen Cove leash v no leash longboard controversy seem like a fireside chat by comparison?

Comments

[No fan of SUPs]

they're a pain in the arse and you shouldn;t even gvie them the time of day. encourage this lot and disaster is round the corner. l;ine-ups are crowded enough as it is

[SUP Fan]

In the right place they are much better than surfboards and longboards. They also allow you to get out in the water when its flat and you can get fit. SUP has improved my regular surfing alot. I think comments like the one above are from bitter Cornish Pasties who don't like anything new. Remember the short board revolution in the 1970's - all the longboarders who did'nt give shortboards a go hated the shortboarders, remember when boogie boarders came along and all the surfers called them "gays on trays". You need to lighten up and try it, its a new way of getting more time on the water. I agree that its madness in crowded line ups, but the joy of SUP is that you can get to breaks that others can't or won't get to and enjoy a wave in an empty line up.

[dave d]

laird looks cool on his ,all buffed in some 8ft tropical barrel
...now lets be realistic here.

add thease to all the longboard "kook" carnage on the average uk over crowded beach. nice!
surfing a hard sport to master years and years of dedication needed no short cuts.

hey but what do i know!

[Niegà]

Here in the Bay we hardly see them in winter, even when it's small/flat, but come summer many people use and abuse them, even when there are waves. Sad.

I still would own one to keep fit when it's too small to surf.

Niegà
http://moodsofthebay.blogspot.com

[Evan A]

Not much a problem here in California. They're out when the surf is mediocre, but anytime it's good I haven't seen any out. And surprisingly never seen one at Malibu. Makes me think that local vibe will probably make the difference in dictating whether they take over the line-up. I'm indifferent though don't want them stealing waves, but would own one for small surf if they weren't $1500!

[Pete]

I have a SUP and it's great for flat day and tiny day paddling and fun.
But when there are waves I want to surf... not SUP.
I guy brought one out at a local surf break the other day - hogged waves.
The kook factor is high - if you own one I suggest using another part of the beach away from the 'crowds'

[PonoBill]

We have hundreds of them in Maui now, and the irritation factor is actually declining. Two reasons--first, most of them get used in flatwater for cruising, probably half the folks that buy them will never surf them. Second, the people that are getting good at SUP stay away from the regular lineup and draw away the newbies who don't belong in a flock of surfers.

You don't need to be in the perfect peak to surf a SUP. You can spread out and surf places that aren't popular or are less accessible. On the east coast of the USA SUP surfers are finding endless surf spots in the sand bars of river mouths that just aren't practical for surfers, but are a pleasant warmup paddle away for SUP. Paddling two miles is no big deal on a SUP. Most mornings I do five miles for exercise.

If someone is hogging waves, paddle over and tell them to stop. Doesn't matter if they're on a SUP or a shortboard. A wave hog is a wave hog. It's just easier to do it on a sup because you can catch a wave off on the horizon.

www.kenalu.com is an online magazine about SUP. We tell our readers to surf with respect, stay out of the lineup until you aren't a hazard, and go find places that aren't crowded. It's half the fun of the sport.