SUP Surfing Taupo Bay, Northland, NZ. Starboard Airborn 97 L

Taupo Bay is a 50 minute drive north of Kerikeri, which can have reasonable surf on a NE swell. Being a beach break the quality is random, which is where a surf sup helps make poor quality waves more fun. A surf sup makes catching waves easier and with a bigger size board and paddle you can generate more power on waves that are not very grunty. I really like my Starboard Airborn (7’10” x 30” x 3.4” / 97 L) as it has more width (30”), providing considerably more stability, making it easier to stand on and paddle out through whitewater, particularly at my weight of 85 kgs (187 lbs). However, it is a trade-off between stability and performance. Most other surf sups of a similar length are narrower and therefore less stable. I like the look of the 2023 Starboard Spice (7’11″ x 29″ x 4.2” / 106 L) but I worry about the width being 1” narrower than my Airborn. I also have a Coreban Platinum (7'11" x 28" x 4.5" / 105 L) which surfs way better than my Starboard Airborn, but at 2” narrower, it is just too tippy unless it is glassy conditions. My original plan was to take both boards to the beach, and depending on the chop, always try and ride my Coreban, however, life is just easier riding the Airborn and living with the compromised performance. Probably the new Starboard Spice would be a great compromise, but they are expensive at NZ$4,000 (US$2,350). Although, the Airborn is a clever design as they achieve the extra width/stability with less thickness (3.4” compared with 4.2” on the Spice and 4.5” on my Coreban), so it has less volume (97L Airborn v 106L Spice and 105L Coreban). Given we mostly have small surf in Northland I prefer the quad fin setup as it gives the board more of a “skatey” feel, which makes it more manoeuvrable in less powerful waves. Whilst I have normal surfboards, in the lower quality surf we usually get at Matauri Bay and Taupo Bay, on a sup I get more waves and do more on them. Plus, I enjoy the challenging and technical nature of paddling my sup out over whitewater without falling. Of course, sup surfers have a bad reputation, which in many cases is totally justified, as too many suppers are greedy and catch every wave they can, without letting plenty of waves go by so the surfers can catch them. I am very conscious of being courteous to surfers and where possible stick to my own peak so as not to interfere with their enjoyment. Many surfers assume suppers are people that cannot surf – so not true – think of Kai Lenny and Daniel Kereopa. If you don’t think sup surfing is cool just search “SUP Surfing Sessions Geoff Breen 2013” on YouTube. I have watched this video so many times, trying to mimic Geoff Breen’s style and technique, quite simply a masterclass and a perfect demonstration of how to leverage the paddle. In the early days I would surf my sup like a longboard and treat my paddle as a redundant accessory on a wave, only using it to get out the back. However, the secret sauce is using your paddle to plant and leverage powerful turns and swapping your top hands, depending on if you are surfing forehand or backhand. Using your paddle properly means you can get shortboard manoeuvrability and power on a wave. Also, when paddling out through whitewater, your paddle is your brace and/or your third leg – always keep it in the water to support you to get up and over the oncoming wave without falling in. Developing this technique takes many hours. Make sure you hit the whitewater with your nose straight on and some forward power. Do a power paddle stroke to balance you and pull you through the whitewater. Also, crouch down to lower your centre of gravity and get into your surf stance to improve your chance of getting through the whitewater. I discourage you from trying to paddle out on your knees as it makes it much easier for a wave to take you out and you have little chance of paddling over whitewater on your knees, plus it doesn’t look cool. Sup surfers do not have the luxury of being able to duck dive, therefore, we need to be clever trying to get out the back. I find prone paddling out can get you moving through the lulls way quicker than trying to clamber onto your board and getting to your feet. Those precious seconds of getting moving on your stomach (rather than getting to your feet) can give you just enough metres to get you past the oncoming breakers. Sup surfing provides a huge benefit if you want to race your 14’ sup raceboard, in terms of fitness and skill level. Conversely, surfing a 14’ sup raceboard in small surf is also epic fun and great training. Racing 14’ sup raceboards in surf, turning around buoys is one of the most exciting sports I have ever down. Watch Kai Lenny on his 14’ sup raceboard on YouTube at “Ocean Beach Heavy Water 2017 - SUP Surfing”. Sup surfing will soon be cool again because everyone (me included) wants to go downwind foiling. Those who know how to sup surf will have a huge advantage in this cool new foiling discipline of downwind sup foiling.