Board Shapes & Designs
Understanding board design is one of the fastest ways to make better equipment choices. Explore in-depth guides covering board shapes, dimensions, construction, fins and performance to discover how different design features influence the way your SUP feels and performs on the water.
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Part 1: Choosing the Right Board
Learn the fundamentals of SUP board selection by understanding shapes, sizes, stability and the features that influence how different boards perform. These lessons will help you choose a board that matches your paddling goals and progression.
Comparing Starboard Touring SUPs - inflatable Touring Vs composite Touring PRO Extra
Preview LessonWhich factors affect SUP board stability? This question was sent to us from a SUPboarder Pro subscriber and its definitely something to consider when looking at buying a new board. There...
Pro
Factors that affect board stability / How to video
Which factors affect SUP board stability? This question was sent to us from a SUPboarder Pro subscriber and its definitely something to consider when looking at buying a new board. There...
Preview LessonIn this mini SUPboarder Pro series about fins, we test some theories around fins and show you how fins really do make a difference to your paddling. The first episode...
Pro
Fins Do Make A Difference #1 / Tracking and Speed
In this mini SUPboarder Pro series about fins, we test some theories around fins and show you how fins really do make a difference to your paddling. The first episode...
Preview Lesson
In this SUPboarder Pro series about fins, we test some theories around fins and show you how fins really do make a difference to your paddling. In this episode, we...
Pro
Fins Do Make A Difference #3 / 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fins
In this SUPboarder Pro series about fins, we test some theories around fins and show you how fins really do make a difference to your paddling. In this episode, we...
Preview LessonNew boards are expensive, but new fins are not just fancy accessories. Without fins, our boards would be useless and hard to control, so building a quiver of fins in...
Pro
Fins Do Make A Difference #4 / SUP Fins For Different Conditions
New boards are expensive, but new fins are not just fancy accessories. Without fins, our boards would be useless and hard to control, so building a quiver of fins in...
Preview LessonWetsuit boots or barefoot that is the question? For many of us, going bare foot on a SUP is just not an option if we live somewhere where the water...
Pro
Getting the most grip & control / Wetsuit boots or barefoot?
Wetsuit boots or barefoot that is the question? For many of us, going bare foot on a SUP is just not an option if we live somewhere where the water...
Preview Lesson
So, you’ve got the 32” wide isup at the moment and you’re looking to buy your first hard board to upgrade your quiver. What width are you going to settle...
Pro
How Wide Should My Hard Board Be Compared To My iSUP? / Dropping Width
So, you’ve got the 32” wide isup at the moment and you’re looking to buy your first hard board to upgrade your quiver. What width are you going to settle...
Preview LessonPart 2: Understanding Board Design
Take a deeper look at the design features that shape the way a SUP performs. Explore construction, rocker, rails, tails, fin systems and other design elements to better understand how different boards behave on the water.
In this SUPboarder Pro video we're going to be talking about making the correct board size choices to help with your SUP progression. Whatever your reasons for wanting to SUP...
Pro
Making the correct board size choices to help your SUP progression
In this SUPboarder Pro video we're going to be talking about making the correct board size choices to help with your SUP progression. Whatever your reasons for wanting to SUP...
Preview LessonWhether you're a couple that live together or just 2 friends that love SUP, paddleboarding together and sharing the whole SUP experience is a great way to enjoy our sport....
Pro
Sharing SUP gear / SUPboarder Pro ‘How to video’
Whether you're a couple that live together or just 2 friends that love SUP, paddleboarding together and sharing the whole SUP experience is a great way to enjoy our sport....
Preview Lesson
In this SUPboarder Pro video, we discuss the different fin box types that you find on stand up paddle boards and the pros and cons associated with each type. When...
Pro
SUP Fin Box Types
In this SUPboarder Pro video, we discuss the different fin box types that you find on stand up paddle boards and the pros and cons associated with each type. When...
Preview LessonThere are so many things that go into a boards design. In this SUPboarder Pro video we talk about how rail thickness at the tail affects a boards performance in...
Pro
SUP Rail thickness at the tail / Design & Performance
There are so many things that go into a boards design. In this SUPboarder Pro video we talk about how rail thickness at the tail affects a boards performance in...
Preview LessonSo lets talk SUP rocker-lines or board rocker shapes. Understanding what rocker is on a board doesn't have to be complicated or a subject that only applies to more advanced...
Pro
SUP rocker-lines explained / How to Video
So lets talk SUP rocker-lines or board rocker shapes. Understanding what rocker is on a board doesn't have to be complicated or a subject that only applies to more advanced...
Preview LessonIn this new SUPboarder Pro video series we are going to be looking and talking about the design features and shapes on your SUP. In this first video we are...
Pro
SUP Shapes Explained / SUP bottom shapes
In this new SUPboarder Pro video series we are going to be looking and talking about the design features and shapes on your SUP. In this first video we are...
Preview LessonIn this third video we are going to be talking about SUP Rail shapes and how they effect your boards performance. Just like the other videos is the series this...
Pro
SUP SHAPES EXPLAINED / SUP RAIL SHAPES
In this third video we are going to be talking about SUP Rail shapes and how they effect your boards performance. Just like the other videos is the series this...
Preview LessonIn this new SUPboarder Pro video series we are going to be looking and talking about the design features and shapes on your SUP. In this second video we are...
Pro
SUP Shapes Explained / SUP tail shapes
In this new SUPboarder Pro video series we are going to be looking and talking about the design features and shapes on your SUP. In this second video we are...
Preview LessonSUP surf fins are one of the smallest and yet most important pieces of equipment when it comes to surfing. And yet they're probably the one thing that many surfers...
Free
SUP surf fins explained / How to videos
SUP surf fins are one of the smallest and yet most important pieces of equipment when it comes to surfing. And yet they're probably the one thing that many surfers...
Start LessonThe SUP pump can make the start of your inflatable SUP session easy or it can break you into a big sweat and leave you exhausted before you even get on the...
Free
The SUP pump guide & test – Which is fastest & easiest?
The SUP pump can make the start of your inflatable SUP session easy or it can break you into a big sweat and leave you exhausted before you even get on the...
Start LessonPart 3: Fine-Tuning Your Equipment Choices
Complete your understanding of SUP equipment by exploring specialist board designs, construction methods and performance features. These lessons will help you make more informed equipment choices as your paddling develops.
For our Pro subscribers we have put together a series on Intermediate SUP touring, giving you some tips on kit, techniques, as well as sharing some of our experiences. This...
Pro
Things to consider when selecting your touring SUP / Pro video
For our Pro subscribers we have put together a series on Intermediate SUP touring, giving you some tips on kit, techniques, as well as sharing some of our experiences. This...
Preview LessonIt's a very popular question that many of you are asking when moving down from your mid length boards, to longer and thinner boards. But not knowing really where to...
Pro
Want to paddle further or faster? / Choosing the best board width for you
It's a very popular question that many of you are asking when moving down from your mid length boards, to longer and thinner boards. But not knowing really where to...
Preview LessonIn this SUPboarder Pro video Will talks about why many iSUPs have tail runners at the back of the board, how tail runners work on iSUPs and if they're something...
Pro
We talk about tail runners / edge releases on your iSUP / What do they do & why?
In this SUPboarder Pro video Will talks about why many iSUPs have tail runners at the back of the board, how tail runners work on iSUPs and if they're something...
Preview Lesson"What can I expect from a hard or 'real' raceboard?" is a question many paddlers are asking. Maybe you have an iSUP race shape already and are thinking of switching...
Pro
What can I expect from a ‘real’ raceboard! / iSUP vs Hard
"What can I expect from a hard or 'real' raceboard?" is a question many paddlers are asking. Maybe you have an iSUP race shape already and are thinking of switching...
Preview Lesson"What composite SUP board construction should I buy? Is it worth spending the extra for a full carbon over a wood/glass board?" This has to be one of the most...
Pro
What composite SUP board construction should I buy? Full carbon or wood/glass?
"What composite SUP board construction should I buy? Is it worth spending the extra for a full carbon over a wood/glass board?" This has to be one of the most...
Preview LessonIf you're unsure what SUP volume is, how it effects your board and how to compare it to your body weight, then this is a simple way to understand about...
Free
What is SUP volume? / How to video
If you're unsure what SUP volume is, how it effects your board and how to compare it to your body weight, then this is a simple way to understand about...
Start LessonWith well over a hundred brands in the iSUP world, and pretty much all of them making inflatable SUPs for surfing, there really is a colour and price point board...
Free
What makes the best surf iSUP?
With well over a hundred brands in the iSUP world, and pretty much all of them making inflatable SUPs for surfing, there really is a colour and price point board...
Start LessonIt can be overwhelming deciding what type of SUP to buy especially if it’s your first SUP. All-round, race, touring, family fun, or surf? etc.. SUPboarder goes through some questions...
Free
What type of SUP to buy? / How to video
It can be overwhelming deciding what type of SUP to buy especially if it’s your first SUP. All-round, race, touring, family fun, or surf? etc.. SUPboarder goes through some questions...
Start Lesson
In this video Harry joins Reuben to explain why a longer board is faster than a shorter board. Harry has a Master’s degree from Plymouth University in Marine Technology and...
Pro
Why are longer boards faster? / SUP Tech talk
In this video Harry joins Reuben to explain why a longer board is faster than a shorter board. Harry has a Master’s degree from Plymouth University in Marine Technology and...
Preview Lesson