Ask The Experts has evolved to bring you discussions, insights, rants, news and our general thoughts about the SUP industry. Of course, we still answer your questions and weave these answers into the discussion. We hope you enjoy.
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jimmyjames1983
2 years ago
Merry Christmas guys ! I completely echo all your sentiments about the composite board industry at the moment. It’s a real shame that due to volume of sales and other emerging sports (wing foiling) a lot of the big companies have stopped progressing or innovating their their sup surf boards or even race and downwind boards. It’s really disappointing to me that two disciplines I’m into (sup surfing, Down-winding) have been completely sidelined in this way. Unfortunately there is a heavy bias in the supracer conversation as I’m pretty sure both of those guys are ‘foil brained’. I am lucky… Read more »
Hi James. Appreciate you leaving a comment with your thoughts. It’s great to hear riders feel the same about the direction of the sport. We get so excited about surfing and Downwinding too – maybe we could organise a meet up in the South West if you’re ever down this way! Merry Xmas and all the best for 2022.
Hey Beau, thanks you too. Always keen on a downwinder. Message me if you guys are planning on heading out. Based just just the other side of Plymouth so not too far away. Thanks James
hiya guys, regards to the SB Touring and Airline, the 28″ S only comes in DSC. The cable on the airline as well as making the board stiffer, also gives you a preload, so when inflated it bends slightly downwards, then when you stand on it, it straightens out, this also helps the board to deflect back into shape when paddling hard. Where as the Touring only has it’s construction to rely on. The Airline also has the EVA tray which gives loads of stability, but harder to get back on, The race handles do provide an extra way to… Read more »
Well said Jonny and some great points. I’ll get the rest of the team to look at this when they come back to work, haha. Happy New Year and all the best.
Kurt
2 years ago
Thanks for #26 ask the experts, always relevant and fun to watch. your insights are really helpful. I‘m very happy the way Beau is sharing his know how and being part of the team. I would appreciate the announced new wave sup clinics very much, digitally or live. Beau’s long board videos were,highlights in 2021. Northern Germany or Denmark could be an option for live clinics (Baltic sea with island Fehmarn northern sea with Sylt or klitmøller or Hvide Sande) aloha from Hamburg Kurt
Hi Kurt, thanks for your support. We are very much looking forward to bringing these clinics to the world. Let’s keep in touch to see how we might be able to do something near your area. Happy New Year too!
seanross
2 years ago
Interesting talk about the industry. I think alot of the reason right now for a reduction in the SUP surfing I think is definitely the availability in boards (at least near me). There is no way to get boards near me — and even demo-ing a product is impossible (and was before the pandemic issues). Also, the prices have gone through the roof. So you have to REALLY know what you want which isn’t easy when you are just getting into it. Alot of older surfers seem to be finding SUP at this point with the aging shoulders/back being a… Read more »
Great points Sean! Always hard to get demo equipment anywhere in the world. Especially now like you say. Agree with the progression side of things too. Being in the sport for over 10 years now, I can say that progression is spot on and is exactly the steps I took. Learning all those disciplines will make you a better foiler and all round athlete.
seanross
2 years ago
love the idea of a clinic (although getting to the UK would be difficult)! Hurricane season on the northeast brings good swell and cheap hotels near the beach! Sept-Oct the water is still warm.
aaah! actually now that you have soooooo many videos, maybe you need some kind of page or pages that organize them into hitlists. I know you can kind of search the site, but it would be nice to have some curated lists, like “workout and warmup videos” or “how to turn on a wave”
Also, there must be a SUP athlete who would do a sponsored video for you. I really like the videos by SBS and some others, but nobody has really done a follow-along SUP workout video….
Great points Sean! We are beginning to think about a curated section of the site to make it easier to find videos and content, so let’s hope we can launch it this year. And yes, we need some SUP workout guru to do a follow along video. You got us thinking Sean!
Rod Knight
2 years ago
Hi guys Happy new year
Interesting points on ask the experts as usual. I was very interested in the sup clinic idea. As someone who has been surfing badly for years and sup surf ing badly for about four years I would love the chance to take part in a clinic. if nothing else it would give your readers a laugh and you could show them how not to do it and I might get a bit better. Love sup pro Cheers Rod
Thanks for the comment Rob. Glad you like the idea of the clinics. Stay tuned for more info to come soon. Beginners are welcome!
Kovert
2 years ago
Great to hear the industry talk, in particular the custom thing is something I’ve been doing and looking in to more widely and sadly as you found the real issue is lack of willing within UK manufacturers as it disturbs the production schedule and takes up way more time and space than a standard shortboard so doesn’t make economic sense especially when the industry is so busy. From a sup perspective though it makes so much more sense to build performance sups in the UK with the numbers being so low that are sold rather than pre-ordering and shipping from… Read more »
I would sign up for a sup surf clinic in an instant! Presumably (depending on conditions) – would you run short board and long board style courses at the same time?
Hi Joe, thanks for the interest. Yes, we would be able to cater for all styles of riding be it longboard or short board. A lot technique crosses over into both. More info to come shortly on the clinics.
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Merry Christmas guys ! I completely echo all your sentiments about the composite board industry at the moment. It’s a real shame that due to volume of sales and other emerging sports (wing foiling) a lot of the big companies have stopped progressing or innovating their their sup surf boards or even race and downwind boards. It’s really disappointing to me that two disciplines I’m into (sup surfing, Down-winding) have been completely sidelined in this way. Unfortunately there is a heavy bias in the supracer conversation as I’m pretty sure both of those guys are ‘foil brained’. I am lucky… Read more »
Hi James. Appreciate you leaving a comment with your thoughts. It’s great to hear riders feel the same about the direction of the sport. We get so excited about surfing and Downwinding too – maybe we could organise a meet up in the South West if you’re ever down this way! Merry Xmas and all the best for 2022.
Hey Beau, thanks you too. Always keen on a downwinder. Message me if you guys are planning on heading out. Based just just the other side of Plymouth so not too far away. Thanks James
Not far away at all! Sounds good
hiya guys, regards to the SB Touring and Airline, the 28″ S only comes in DSC. The cable on the airline as well as making the board stiffer, also gives you a preload, so when inflated it bends slightly downwards, then when you stand on it, it straightens out, this also helps the board to deflect back into shape when paddling hard. Where as the Touring only has it’s construction to rely on. The Airline also has the EVA tray which gives loads of stability, but harder to get back on, The race handles do provide an extra way to… Read more »
Well said Jonny and some great points. I’ll get the rest of the team to look at this when they come back to work, haha. Happy New Year and all the best.
Thanks for #26 ask the experts, always relevant and fun to watch.
your insights are really helpful. I‘m very happy the way Beau is sharing his know how and being part of the team. I would appreciate the announced new wave sup clinics very much, digitally or live. Beau’s long board videos were,highlights in 2021.
Northern Germany or Denmark could be an option for live clinics (Baltic sea with island Fehmarn northern sea with Sylt or klitmøller or Hvide Sande)
aloha from Hamburg
Kurt
Hi Kurt, thanks for your support. We are very much looking forward to bringing these clinics to the world. Let’s keep in touch to see how we might be able to do something near your area. Happy New Year too!
Interesting talk about the industry. I think alot of the reason right now for a reduction in the SUP surfing I think is definitely the availability in boards (at least near me). There is no way to get boards near me — and even demo-ing a product is impossible (and was before the pandemic issues). Also, the prices have gone through the roof. So you have to REALLY know what you want which isn’t easy when you are just getting into it. Alot of older surfers seem to be finding SUP at this point with the aging shoulders/back being a… Read more »
Great points Sean! Always hard to get demo equipment anywhere in the world. Especially now like you say.
Agree with the progression side of things too. Being in the sport for over 10 years now, I can say that progression is spot on and is exactly the steps I took. Learning all those disciplines will make you a better foiler and all round athlete.
love the idea of a clinic (although getting to the UK would be difficult)! Hurricane season on the northeast brings good swell and cheap hotels near the beach! Sept-Oct the water is still warm.
Oooooh interesting. Thanks for your interest in the clinics.
Hey how about a pre-surf warmup video? Or maybe a workout video series?
Work out videos would be great! Nice suggestion. We have a few warm up videos: https://supboardermag.com/what-are-you-interested-in/?_keywords=warm+up
aaah! actually now that you have soooooo many videos, maybe you need some kind of page or pages that organize them into hitlists. I know you can kind of search the site, but it would be nice to have some curated lists, like “workout and warmup videos” or “how to turn on a wave”
Also, there must be a SUP athlete who would do a sponsored video for you. I really like the videos by SBS and some others, but nobody has really done a follow-along SUP workout video….
Great points Sean! We are beginning to think about a curated section of the site to make it easier to find videos and content, so let’s hope we can launch it this year. And yes, we need some SUP workout guru to do a follow along video. You got us thinking Sean!
Hi guys
Happy new year
Interesting points on ask the experts as usual. I was very interested in the sup clinic idea. As
someone who has been surfing badly for years and sup surf ing badly for about four years I would love the chance to take part in a clinic. if nothing else it would give your readers a laugh and you could show them how not to do it and I might get a bit better.
Love sup pro
Cheers
Rod
Thanks for the comment Rob. Glad you like the idea of the clinics. Stay tuned for more info to come soon. Beginners are welcome!
Great to hear the industry talk, in particular the custom thing is something I’ve been doing and looking in to more widely and sadly as you found the real issue is lack of willing within UK manufacturers as it disturbs the production schedule and takes up way more time and space than a standard shortboard so doesn’t make economic sense especially when the industry is so busy. From a sup perspective though it makes so much more sense to build performance sups in the UK with the numbers being so low that are sold rather than pre-ordering and shipping from… Read more »
Exactly our thoughts as well! Thanks for sharing.
I would sign up for a sup surf clinic in an instant! Presumably (depending on conditions) – would you run short board and long board style courses at the same time?
Hi Joe, thanks for the interest. Yes, we would be able to cater for all styles of riding be it longboard or short board. A lot technique crosses over into both. More info to come shortly on the clinics.