What sort of waves you do surf? What waves are you talking about that are suitable for shortboards and not for SUP? This will influence my answer.

If you really want to learn, start on something a bit longer and a bit wider to enable you to catch as many waves as possible for about a year. Like a 7'+ mini mal. It's a slow sport to learn, harder than any other IMHO. This sort of board will still suck, but the catching waves part is the hardest part. Surf as much as possible. After 1000 waves or so you'll be in a better position to start thinking about a more performance shape.

If you start on a performance shape you'll get frustrated. There are plenty of people who are still bobbing about in the lineup on performance boards that shouldn't be.

I suspect if you want to surf waves that are too hollow and fast for a SUP, or beachbreaks, you'll still take a long time to get to a good level on a shortboard. It won't be easy. A wiser man than me said something like after about 16 it's much harder because grommies aren't afraid to throw themselves after any death pit and get dumped. Older people are more self-conscious and afraid of pain so it takes much longer. It's good to hurt yourself occasionally to humble yourself.

I started this year on a 7 foot, I'm 60kg and a few months in I still can't claim any level of competence! Practice your pop up on the beach and a few broken waves until its automatic (maybe even take a lesson, they do help a lot). It will probably only take a few sessions to learn how to stand, but how to catch a wave properly may take much longer than you expect, especially if you limit yourself to those messy days when you don't want to SUP.
Is there really much difference between a small SUP and a big board, could you use your SUP to practice on and once you've got catching waves and turning dialled, then progress to a real shortboard??

You can use your SUP to start with, but only if its small. I have given my sister a few lessons on mine. The problems are - It wont turn at all. The nose will catch pretty easy and its hard to paddle out.

The best part is - If you can go somewhere shallow so you can walk it out and just push yourself onto broken or little rollers you will stand up no worries the first day.

I have taken mine out in some waves and caught them like a regular surfboard, but it is actually harder than on a normal surfboard.

I would take it out for a crack before you go and buy a new one. But like what has already been said, longer and wider is the only way to start when you do go to get one.

Legion said...

DILLIGAF2 said...

I guess I'm thinking of those windy semi blown out days and also west coast NZ where its often just to messy to get out for SUP.

Windy, messy, onshore days aren't good for learning. What tends to happen (around here at least) is we get very short period wind waves, and when a wave peaks it breaks very quickly (blown over by the wind) or is otherwise very fat and flat. It can be fun but it's not easy. The short period and fast breaking means you have to react very quickly and you spend a lot of time duckdiving. Best conditions for learning are probably a very light onshore and a gently sloping bottom.

Thanks for the info
Sounds like I'll stick to the SUP then for now

red thumb away by all means [}:)]