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Fast Lane Sailing & Kayaking
2610 #A Ingraham St
San Diego, CA 92109
p. 619.222.0766
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Stand Up Paddle Boards

Nov 16, 2011

TIP: What to look for when buying a SUP

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Stand up paddle boards (SUPs) are becoming quite popular these days--and its easy to see why. The sport is intriguing. Many people are pleasantly suprised to find out that it offers enthusiasts a supreme mix of core exercise, balance training and fun in a variety of ways.

In the world of SUP you'll find everything from recreational flat water paddling to high stakes racing, things like SUP yoga and surfing. Usually people unexpectedly fall into the sport--they tried it while they were on vacation in Hawaii or at a resort in Mexico, they see people doing it around where they live and then finally get curious enough to go looking for it. This is where it gets exciting and can be a bit overwhelming at first. Picking a board is something I have helped numerous people with and there are some important things to keep your eye out for when shopping for a board.
Category: General
Posted by: bailey
1.) What do you plan on using it for?
Determine whether you are going to use the board for flatwater paddling only or if you would prefer a board that is a bit more versital--one that can paddle flatwater and also could be used to surf on (Most people are in the market for something that does a little bit of everything because it keeps your options open for the future). Going the flatwater route will narrow down your results and point you in the direction of a displacement hull style SUP; and you will also want to consider if you plan to race or simply tour on your new SUP?
2.) Height? Weight? Ability--Do you have any prior experience?
These are good questions to take into consideration because it will help to direct you toward the proper size board for your ability. But be careful here, bigger is not always better and having zero experience doesn't necessarily mean that you need the biggest board in the store. What you want to do is pair what you want/need in a board with your size and ability. This is not something that I would expect you to be able to do, so thats where I come in--at the shop here I have helped fit people to the right size board tons of times and have the experience to be able to recommend a few good options that will best fit your needs. So please don't be a stranger, I'm here to help.
If you just want to get into SUPing and have no clue where to begin a good place to start is somewhere around 10'6". Come down and demo one here at the shop or borrow a friends and go from there--generally bigger, wider and thicker will be more stable; and naturally just the opposite will be true--shorter, narrower and thinner will be more advanced.
3.) Buying--new & used
This is probably one of the most common questions: do you sell used boards? And the answer is YES! One of the best parts about the shop is that its right on the water. This is great because it gives us the ability to demo boards (we're one of the only shops I know of that demos boards on a daily basis). Generally I think people ask if used boads are available because they are looking for an inexpensive option and this is not always the case. On occasion we do have some very cheap used boards for sale (at or around $500 range) but used boards will range in price just as much as new product will depending on brand and quality. The average price of buying new will be between $1200-1500.
My suggestion: get a name brand board at a price your comfortable with. Why namebrand? Buying a namebrand you will get a better quality product and you'll also have something that will retain its value longer, much more so than if you purchase a generic sup. Look for (shameless plug): Hobie, Rusty, Paddle Surf Hawaii (PSH), Boardworks and Laird Pearson Arrow, Gerry Lopez, Surftech--all of which we sell here at the shop!
4.) Get a good paddle
I suggest spending a bit more and getting a good quality paddle. The paddle is something that you will have probably longer than you will have the board your buying. People often trade in and trade up boards but their paddle stays with them. Go carbon fiber and preferably one that's made here in the States-- I recommend Kialoa or Werner. Usually paddles are cut to length and I prefer to have my paddle about 10 inches above my head. Note: you can get adjustable paddles too which are a good option for multiple users (families, husband and wife, etc.).
5.) Come demo & buy your board at Fastlane
Come down anytime and I would be happy to help you get started with SUPing. I am passionate about this sport and would love to help point you in the right direction. Here is our address and phone number if you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch!
Fastlane Sailing & Kayaking
2610 Ingraham St.
San Diego CA 92109
P: (619) 222 0766
E: fastlanesc@aol.com
F: facebook.com/fastlanesc
T: twitter.com/fastlanesc