that mangroves pic is delicious. First day of vacation. Throw on the new epicly radical neon boardshorts you bought at the quicksilver time square shop. Make sure the babes all have five toed water booties. Put that leash up around the knee, or even over the knee. Then.... SHRED IT UP! You are stand up paddle SURFING!
Here is your break on July 4th weekend next year. Enjoy the winter. [video=youtube;hNv1DRVGgPI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNv1DRVGgPI[/video]
On second thought, he WAS an SUP'er... Pie smash - nut tap - b!tch slap the dude! [video=youtube;Xo9eQ1PZQ1E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo9eQ1PZQ1E[/video]
jeez, I got hit i the eye with a 7' quad fish, took 29 stitches and was back in the water three hours later, and I couldn't sue anyone cause . . . it was MY fish . . . now how bad does that bite the big one! Damn surfers, I shouldn't be let out in the water within ten feet of myself!
SUPs are more dangerous because they are bigger, weigh more, and are harder to control.... Yes it's way more dangerous to be in a lineup with one of those than a shortboard or even a longboard. Paddling one out in a crowded lineup is negligent and dangerous behavior for all but the most skilled...and there doesn't seem to be many of them on SUPs.
The guys riding SUPs during small days at my break are some of the most experienced older surfers in the area. The board isn't the issue, it is ignorant riders.
BOTH are the problem. It's basic physics that SUPs are more dangerous (but not necessarily dangerous) regardless of who is riding them, but become especially dangerous when poorly skilled surfers take them out in larger surf. And even worse if there are other people there. It is negligent behavior.
Sounds like you are one of the clowns out there on a SUP putting other people at risk because you have no control over your board.
The board is never an issue where I surf. As I said, don't blame the board because a few idiots ride them. No, I am guessing he is a typical east coast surfer that gets bored during the many flat days and appreciates SUPs as an alternative to sitting on your ass and praying that you get some of that rare swell. Most of us don't live on the west coast and have to deal with what nature gives us.
It's common sense that the board is more dangerous. Obviously the person riding it is mostly at fault, but the board exacerbates the problem. I'm not saying ban SUPs, but how some people act on a SUP is very dangerous/negligent. I live on the east coast and I've seen many experienced riders lose their SUP in small surf around people. They are more dangerous than the alternative, no question. They are simply harder to control, and have more weight, surface area, and force behind them, making the potential results much worse. If you have one of those things and you ride it at a beach break when no one else is out, I think that's great. Sounds like fun. If you take it out around people, and you've ever lost the board around people, you are the problem. Longboards do a GREAT job of riding the east coast surf and are significantly less dangerous than your standard SUP. Personally, I have no trouble getting a fish type shortboard in the water multiple times a week when I want to. Much easier to control these types of boards and be safe when around people. However, there are still plenty of people on these boards who can't control them. But, they aren't as dangerous as losing a SUP because they weigh less so there is less force behind them, and they have less surface area to hit you with. Not to mention they are harder to lose. See the difference? Not saying its OK to paddle out a shortboard in a crowded lineup when you don't have a clue either....
Sounds like you need to move. The breaks in my area are never crowded enough to make SUPs a big issue. Longboards are not an alternative to SUPs. It is silly and pointless to paddle out on a log in 1ft mush.