SUP Board Shapes – Stand-Up Paddle Boards
There are numerous Stand up paddle Maui board shapes available on the market today. We will look at the various SUP board shapes and discuss their function and performance.
Are you looking for a Stand Up Paddle Board? Have you finally chosen to attempt the new sport but still have some doubts regarding the various board options? Perhaps you graduated from your first board and are looking for a second purpose-specific board. Let’s have a look at the many form possibilities available on the SUP market today.
The following are the most common types of stand up paddling:
- Recreational flatwater paddling
- Surfing with a Paddle
- Racing on Flat Water
- Paddling Against the Wind
- Paddle Boards for Touring
- Rapid/River Paddling
SUP Shapes All Around
Many stand up paddle boards aimed at beginners or casual paddlers come under the “All Around” category. All Around shapes can be used for all of the various sorts of paddling to varying degrees, although they are best suited for recreational flat-water paddling. An All-Around SUP board is often 30″ broad, if not wider. The wide nose, wide tail, and significant length, width, and thickness all contribute to an extremely stable and forgiving board. Stable and forgiving properties in a board are ideal for learning the fundamentals of balance, paddling, wave negotiation, and wave riding, as well as increasing general strength and conditioning.
Shapes of Paddle Surfing
Stand-Up Paddleboard Surfing has advanced by leaps and bounds as board shapes and riders have pushed the performance envelope. SUP surfing styles vary according to personal choice and wave size. Some like to “rip” and “shred” on a smaller board while keeping their feet in about the same position on the board, while others prefer to “walk” the board from nose to tail in a more traditional, but no less talented, fashion. Each of these several styles is typically, but not always, done on a distinct board shape.
When learning to paddle surf, an “All Around” form is usually a good place to start, especially in smaller waves.
The added stability will allow you to confidently paddle into the wave, and the length will aid your glide as you gain speed to enter the wave. An All-Around form will be quite stable under the feet once on the wave.
While larger boards are typically preferred for first-time paddlers, you may want to choose a smaller board for surfing. You’ll probably want a board that’s as small as possible while still stable enough for you to balance on. If you’re going surfing, you might want to borrow a somewhat smaller board from a friend and give it a shot.
