First SUP Advice: 10'7" DT Ali'i, 10' GL Surf Music, 11' RH Laird, or 12' Softop

[Rick81]

I am purchasing my first and only SUP. I am looking for an all-around board that I can surf in ankle to chest high surf and paddle around the bays and ocean on flat days.

I am 6'2" and weigh 175-185lbs. I have been surfing for 12 years. I am not quite sure what size/volume board I should be looking at given my weight and experience. My budget is $750. Here are a few used boards available locally that I am considering. I would appreciate experienced SUPers feedback on these boards.

12' Surftech Softop (Mickey Munoz Ultraglide)
Nose: 18.25"
Mid: 26.25"
Tail: 16.25"
Thick: 4.38"
Volume: 147L
I used to surf the 11' Surftech Softop when I was an instructor for a surf camp (5 years back in college). It was a fun and surprisingly maneuverable wave catching machine. I used to be able to stand and balance on it in still water but never had a paddle to try to SUP it. I like how it surfs and think I will be able paddle it in flat water. Unfortunately I can only find the 12' Softop used locally. The 11' Softop specs are N: 17.63", M:25.5", T:15.88", Th:4.25", V:120L. Is this board to narrow / low volume? If it will work I may hold out for this board because I have actually surfed it.


10'7" Donald Takayama Ali'i (Surftech)
Nose: 21"
Mid: 27.5"
Tail: 16.75"
Thick: 4.13"
Volume: 140L
I have read great things about how this board surfs.


11' Ron House Laird (Surftech)
Nose: 20"
Mid: 27"
Tail: 15.5"
Thick: 4.25"
Volume: 168L
I was originally considering the 10' and 10'6" Pearson Arrow/Surftech Laird. But I may have just bought in to the marketing. Who doesn't want to SUP like Laird  . After reading Stand Up Zone it appears that SUPs have gotten wider in the last 3 years, most likely for user-friendliness and sales to a larger beginner market. It appears that the Laird boards went this route and most likely lost some maneuverability in exchange for stability.


10' Gerry Lopez Surf Music (Surftech)
Nose: 19"
Mid: 28"
Tail: 17"
Thick: 4"
Volume: 132.2L

I will be buying one of these boards by saturday and appreciate any advice fro experienced SUPers.

Thanks

[supcymru]

Hi Rick!
Just wanted to share with you my thoughts on one of the options available to you- the Gerry Lopez Surf Music.
When I first started SUPing, about 3 years ago, I was out at my local spot (basically, teaching myself to SUP!) on my 10'5" Starboard Widepoint. There was 1 other guy out on a Gerry Lopez Surf Music. We got talking and swapped boards for a while. I knew that the board was a bit narrower and had less volume than my board so I was thinking that I was going to be for a fair few falls! However, I was surprised that I was able to paddle it fine and I also noticed that the glide was better than the WP and was able catch some small waves with (relative!) ease. I'm 5'8" and 85kg by the way.
Hope that this gives you some help and enjoy whichever board you go for! Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[dingfix]

All are quite narrow for a first sup, is that a deliberate choice?

[bbqSUPer]

Double check the surf music. I have one and it is 34 wide.  I've never seen one 28 wide but I could be wrong.  I had been doing the flat water thing for two years before I picked up the Lopez to learn to SUS. The Lopez has been great to surf on. It is however a real dog to just paddle around with.  Not at all a all-rounder. I would say mostly surf.  Now having said that, if you just want to cruz around at a very relaxed pace it would work of course.  Any board would.

It is super, super stable.

Don't have experience with the others.

[Zooport]

As someone who went through the first board questions myself about a year ago, I made the mistake of buying boards that were too easy.  You have been surfing for 12 years, so you should know the ropes.  Don't be like me and waste a whole bunch of money on boards that are too easy.  I first bought a 10'3" beginner barge and was bored with it within 6 weeks.  I then bought an 8'10" AllWave and enjoyed it for about 6 months, then decided it did not turn well enough for me.  I am now riding an 8'3" custom board and I am finally happy for now.  (Although I'm eyeballing a 7'8" Phoenix that Ralph at Sup-Position has).

All of this to say that surfing isn't much fun on a beginner barge, even if they say that it can be surfed.  If the Lopez is an effective surfing SUP, then you should go with it.  If you had a little more funds, I would recommend either the 8'10" or 9'2" Fanatic AllWave.  They are stable and float well, yet surf well.  Stay away from the barges unless you are OK with buying another board that surfs better in a few months. 

[Zooport]

All are quite narrow for a first sup, is that a deliberate choice?

Yes, just now reading the specs, a little narrow for a beginner.  Even more support for going for an AllWave which is around 32" wide, I think I remember.  A 9'2" AllWave would probably be more stable than any of those longer boards, yet it would probably surf better.  I wish I would have skipped the beginner board and gone straight to the AllWave.  Would have saved close to $1000. 

[SlatchJim]

Of these, the surf music would be my choice for that (pretty sweet) price.
Honestly, if that's all you had, there are a bunch of budget brands that I'd get before with dimensions around 10 x 30 or 31 inches wide and ride it until you know what you want beyond that.

[anonsurfer]

Out the ones you listed the GL Surf Music.  It's at the lower end of the volume scale so you can "grow" into it and not get bored too quickly.

If surfing is a priority over flat water I'd recommend a Simmons style board (Phoenix, Simsup etc) in the 140L range and you can get a new one for about $400 over your stated budget.  A used one might run $700 - $900.  Trust me, it will be cheaper in the long run :-)  You won't believe how much fun you will have, especially in the ankle to waist high surf you mentioned.

[Rick81]

All are quite narrow for a first sup, is that a deliberate choice?

Those narrower boards just happen to be the boards I can pick up used locally right now. Based on my experience surfing and standing on an 11' Surftech Softop I figured that I would be able to balance on these widths. I don't mind a steep learning curve up front if it helps me develop even better balance.