Stand Up Paddleboard - Who does it?

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I gotta figure one of you guys rides or knows someone that does out there in Cali or Hawaii...  I'm interested, but dont wanna shell out the 2-3 grand to buy a board without trying it...  Just basically want to get some opinions and advice on the sport and ya'll are my best connections to CA and HI!  Virtually no one on the east coast rides SUPs so I can't even borrow a board to try it out and rentals are out of the question, they look at me like I'm speaking Chinese when I ask about it...

So here's the palm tree pic ::  Some kinda Hawaiian thing-a-ma-bob to keep us on topic, sorta...  :cool:

[paulgila]

looks like fun!

[Wai`anae Steve]

Like kayaks and body boards these guys get in the way!!!!

[MattyB]

2-3k?  I thought these guys were just using like a 12 footer long board.  It's fun to watch them.

[Brian]

Like kayaks and body boards these guys get in the way!!!!

I couldnt agree more.

By the way, these are growing at a beach where sup's, kayaks and bodyboards are given no respect.

[tank]

Is he paddling out to sea?

Shouldn't he be going in the other direction?

Also, full suit with booties and maybe a hood, looks cold!

[Dave-Vero]

One of the Cocoa Beach lifeguards has taken up standup paddling at work (Florida Today story).  A good place to ask about learning the ropes in Fla. would be 2ndlight.com (which has a vigorous surfer-gardening forum).

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Agreed, like yakers and spongers, these guys will certainly get in the way on good breaks...  BUT there's never really good breaks in Florida, maybe 10 days out of the year will Delray have nice swells, tops.  Any decent surf means travelling upcoast, and in my younger days I'd be the first to ditch work or school and run off to surf. But I've mellowed and this looks like a mellow way to be out in the water daily and still be able to view those lovely V. splendida that grow nearby the beach! ::

Matt, these boards are essentially longboards yes, but from what i get, a little bit flatter bottom, sharper rails and HUGER...  Up to 31" wide! and I've seen a couple that were 8" thick!  Sounds more like a river barge than a surfboard.  I've seen intro boards start at about $1000 and paddles start at 300 but of course I wanna be stylish so the new 2007 Laird SUP in wood and a crafty carbon fiber/wood combo paddle would run about the price of a economy car...  

Maybe if I get good enough to where I don't fall (as anyone could actually fall off one of these boats) I could paddle 8 miles up the intracoastal to work! :cool:

[Shon]

My brother and a few of his buddies do it. Not only are the boards expensive the paddles are 750$ to 1000$ apiece. Very good core workout and  a different way to surf. Not for me like surfing the old fashoined way. They mostly do it when its small maybe one or two do it after it is 6ft. I'll hook you up whenever you come out.

[sur4z]

there are a lot of guys stand up paddling in pb county...if anyone is interested i will give you the name and number of the guy who is the east coast rep for one of the boards.