Stand up paddle surfing has been gaining popularity in Hawaii (where it started) as well as other countries like Australia.
Several championship competitions have been held here and abroad showcasing professional surfers and their skills.
But unlike other sports which involve surfboards, stand up paddle surfing is also becoming a favorite activity for the whole family since kids, even pets, can ride along in the board due to its length and width.
Options to Consider when Making Choices If you have been thinking about having your own stand up paddle surfboard for some time now, these options may help you in deciding which board would best suit your needs.
Several companies in Hawaii have been built up which cater to the manufacturing of these boards, both for professional and leisure use.
One of them is the Sandwich Island Composites (S.
I.
C.
).
Aside from Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards, they also manufacture outrigger canoes.
However, the Stand Up Paddle Boards is what they specialize in.
Professional champion surfers have used their boards in several competitions and they have surely delivered.
1.
The Length If you are thinking of going pro, you would want to consider several factors before choosing a board for you.
Two of the most recommended models that S.
I.
C.
has are the F16 and F18 boards.
Basically, the primary difference between the 2 is their length.
One is 16 feet long (F16) and the other is 18 feet (F18).
But aside from the length, several features between the 2 boards also add up.
These 2 choices could also differ on the style of paddling that you do - standing up or lying down.
2.
The Drag Force Drag force is another difference between the two.
We all know that drag also contributes to your overall performance when riding a paddle surfboard - or any other kind of surfboard.
"The F18 model creates a lot less drag while the F16 is flat and doesn't glide well on water" says Mark Raaphorst, founder of S.
I.
C.
if you experience less drag, your timing is going to improve because once you paddle for several hours, you will still have enough energy left at the end of the run.
However, it doesn't mean that the F16 is a much lesser choice.
This model has a fairly flat bottom.
This means that when you are going down on a wave, you'll probably go for about 14mph - 15mph.
The F18, on the other hand, would only go for only about 12mph.
These 2 paddle boards certainly have their own strengths and weaknesses.
3.
Haul Speed and Displacement When haul speed and displacement is to be considered, both boards work the same way.
What affects haul speed and displacement more is the water line.
The more the board touches the water, the higher the haul speed.
While in displacement, you want as little surface area of the board to be touching the water.
To achieve this, for the F18, you would want to ride it more from the center while for the F16, if you encounter a "bump" in the water, ride it from the center and step back to get the board out of the water.
To sum it up, personal preference still plays a big role in choosing a board that would work best for you.
Stand up paddle surfing is fun, so get on it and ride the waves.