Ever thought about building a whitewater SUP?

[the great gonzo]

Difference is, Jeff is actually in control and styles it.

TGG!

[hazardharry]

good to practice canoe poling first to get your legs.

[localpaddler]

Here is a video that is a few years old:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cdmJIuwMs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This shows SUP on the US whitewater center course. Not naturally whitewater but fun whitewater on a SUP. Jeff is the man.

[avlclimber]

I picked up a cheap inflatable SUP last year.

Reasons why it's awesome:

All your canoe strokes transfer.
Class .5-1 rivers become challenging again.
Floating through town to the brewery is a marvelously relaxing way to travel.
The same board will work on the Nantahala, the lake, the ocean, and slipping through marshland.
6 feet up is a cool perspective on wildlife, water currents, fish, etc.
When its hot out and you want to be wet anyway, it will oblige you.
It floats in very shallow water. Great way to float some ELF streams, and no biggie to step off and walk a while...
The inflatable ones are very light and easy to handle.
I don't think I would ever try (regular) surfing, but the paddle gives a lot of stability, control, and balance.


I'm not giving up my canoe, but it is a neat and very adaptable toy.

[Bob Wiggins]

just out of curiosity, which fins/fin boxes did you use? i went on the foamez site, but was having trouble figuring out which boxes to get and which fins would fit.

[Smurfwarrior]

I used the standard 8.5" fin boxes.
http://www.foamez.com/fin-box-85-black-p-675.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
For fins I used these..
for deep water tracking...
http://www.tactics.com/fcs/dolphin-soft ... -fin/black" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
for shallow water I used these... it says they are center fins but they work good as rail twin fins
http://www.tactics.com/fcs/knubster-center-keel-fin" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

to use the FCS type fins in the standard fin boxes I used these..
http://www.tactics.com/fcs/longboard-fin-box-adapter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sbroam]

I think it's pretty cool - I've spent a few minutes on boards twice and found them to be challenging - a too small board is even more so... I"m sure a properly sized board designed for river use would be more fun. It inspired me to get a stand up paddle sized paddle (Mohawk paddles makes them long - an economical way to experimant) and try it in one of our canoes - a 16' Intrepid. An interesting challenge, but I'm probably not switching

[Bob Wiggins]

smurf- i just got a set of fins from a friend who broke a board, and i think i will probably just epoxy them into the one i'm making without a box, as it is just going to be for one trip to the beach probably probably, and they are only 4.5 inch fins, so i could use them elsewhere. thanks for the help, though.

[Smurfwarrior]

Cool, yeah SUPing is good fun, makes easy runs harder, but nothing to consider 'changing' to full time. Just another challenge to try. NOTHING beats canoeing

[Bob Wiggins]

If I got one, I'd seriously consider glueing or velcroing a foam saddle and knee pads on it. Anyone else tried that? Umm..from SUP to KUP?

actually, this is what i'm trying. i needed something short enough to fit in the trunk of a car, but knew a SUP wouldn't be stable enough, so i designed it so i could kneel on it. if it works well, i'm even considering using it on some rivers.