editor’s note
Blue sky thinking
Paddlewoo’s podcast interview
(http://paddlewoo.com/dave-kalama-talks-big-waves-andhis-vision-for-sup-surfing/) with Dave Kalama (for those
who aren’t aware of Dave, Google him), is extremely
poignant. His comments regarding the state of paddle
surfing really hit home. For a long time I’ve been thinking
about the whole longboard art of riding waves and how SUP
surfing is currently lacking a little bit of style and
accessibility. That’s not to say I don’t admire what the top
SUP surfers in the world are doing – in fact it’s quite the
opposite. But hearing Dave comment about SUP coming up
short when compared to prone shortboard riding, I nearly
jumped out of my chair and cheered.
There are those who certainly won’t agree but we have to look at
paddle surfing from an everyman perspective. The fact is (and
we’ve known this for a while, if we’re honest) super narrow, low
volume surf boards with pulled in noses and tails are only really
applicable to lightweights and/or those with access to good
waves. Once you drop below 100L of volume it’s more about rider
weight – if you simply can’t float then what’s the point?
Bringing this back to a UK perspective, most breaks in our ‘hood
aren’t what you’d describe as quality. OK, every dog has its day
and there are spots that buck trends during good swells. But
chances of the average paddler scoring these is slim to none. Day
to day responsibilities and commitments simply halt this. What’s
really needed is equipment to help maximise time on the brine.
Looking at current board design trends and there does seem to
be a gradual swing back towards less extreme shapes that are
more user friendly (check out our Fanatic Stubby
8.6ft/Stylemaster 10ft comparison write up for evidence of this).
But again, as Dave comments in his interview, this isn’t the
whole picture.
Back in the 90s surfing cottoned on that boards of all shapes
and sizes have their place. The resurgence of eggs, magic
carpets, longboards gave surfing a much needed shot in the
arm. SUP surfing needs the same thing, with more emphasis
placed on style of riding not how many big moves you can bang
out. Which brings us to this issue’s Gear Shed section…
Here you’ll find a whole host of sleds designed to make the most
of your time in the waves. And, as an added bonus, a good
number of these boards are also applicable for flat water use –
greatly increasing kit versatility. After all, SUP isn’t just about
surf as we all know.
So if you’ve been quietly avoiding waves, thinking it was only for
those bendy featherweight individuals without regular jobs,
now’s the time to revisit and have a dabble. After all, winter’s just
around the corner – it’s the perfect time of year to get stuck in.
This issue’s early season wave theme is the perfect swan song
for the last SUP Mag UK of the year. Have no fear though as we’ll
back in 2016 with more UK SUP goodness. If you can’t wait that
long then don’t forget to keep an eye on our website as we’re
always adding content there. It’s been a blast this year, thanks
for being part of it – now, to the beach!
Tez Plavenieks, October 2015
[email protected]
@tezwoz
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