Can’t we all just get along (board)? 

With: Rob Small  // Photo: Dom Moore

(This feature originally appeared in the Summer 2011 issue of SUP International. Print and digital subscriptions for readers worldwide are available HERE.)

How many times have you heard muttered comments, copped sly looks or even suffered out-right hostility in the water? I’ll bet my first-born you’ve had to deal with more haters since you picked up a paddle. Yes, the sad fact of it is that the surf sports community is at it again, indulging in a bit of cross discipline slagging off. And stand up paddle is firmly in the crosshairs of much of the surf world.

We all love a little banter (I mean SUP kiting…what’s that all about ?!) but SUP seems to be attracting a degree of vitriol normally reserved for when your footy team blows it against much lesser opponents. All this got me thinking, why is it that within certain parts of the surf scene SUP-surfers are regarded as unworthy at best and vermin at worst? After much reflection and discussion I narrowed it down to three factors:

The nature of the craft
Think about it, SUP surfing is more efficient than regular surfing. You can catch the first wave of the set, power back out and nail the last one too. Another thing to think about: your board probably measures 3m, your leash another 3m, the paddle 2m and most of us are heading for 2m in height. Caught inside and wiping out, that’s a potential kill-zone with a 10m radius! No wonder other water users get worried. Oh and we’re not even talking about loose SUP boards washing through the line up…

2. Learning curve.
When I learnt to surf it took me years so when I finally made it into more serious line ups, I had these years of experience behind me. Lay-down surfers are making (very broad generalisation here!) decisions with more water time behind them and often use this to act appropriately in any given situation. Accordingly, one of the great things about SUP surfing is that you can come from a non-surfing background and within a few months be riding waves that would take regular surfers much, much, longer to get to. Obviously this puts people together that have wildly differing levels of competence.

3. Irresponsible Behaviour.
This is the big one (as it is in most factions of society), guys abusing the advantages their SUP gives them over other water users. Going out in conditions or on certain days that are too much or too crowded. And of course, plain old just not giving a f**k.

So how do we, as a branch of surfing that’s not going away, harmoniously slot into the existing surfing hierarchy? We’ll here’s some suggestions on how we can address the above issues:

1. The nature of the kit.
Be aware. Think about what you as a SUP surfer represents to other surfers and act accordingly. Be aware of how you’re going to behave with a SUP board and paddle if you get caught inside and how that will affect those around you. Remember that you’re standing up on a huge board, holding what amounts to a carbon fibre axe in your hands…remove risks, lessen the friction.

2. Learning curve.
Just because you can paddle into a head-high wave, ride along and kick-out with a flourish does not mean you’ve cracked it. Yes push you limits a little, but never bite off more than you can chew. One day it will end in tears, yours or somebody else’s.

Endeavour to learn from more experienced paddlers (and surfers) and watch how they deal with the surf conditions and the crowd. Learn skills. Small steps my son, because as they say, fools rush in.

Responsible Behaviour
Here’s the chestnut. Truthfully you could cover the two prior issues here too, but let’s keep things simple. Basically, don’t be a dick. If it’s crowded or there’s a bunch of paddlers out already, go somewhere else.
There’s always another peak, always another day. Caught inside? Guys around you? Don’t throw you board and endanger people, get on your belly and get out of there, be safe. Paddling into a late one with surfers in front of you? Don’t go, let one of them have it. I mean, would you drive your car into a family walking in front of you in Tesco’s car park ?

If you’re already an experienced surfer don’t abuse the inherent advantages a stand up gives you. You should know better. Strikes me it’s not so different from the real world. SUP

“  Remember that you’re standing up on a huge board, holding what amounts to a carbon fibre axe in your hands… remove risks, lessen the friction ”