SUPs have been a much debated wave riding device over the past few years. While the emerging sport is growing in popularity, the ethics of riding them has come into question. This article takes a look at some of the reasons why a SUP might not be a good fit for you or for a particular day. A true waterman can enjoy the ocean in a variety of ways, but they will understand how to be selective as well.
Why You Shouldn't Stand Up Paddle
1. Is It Surfing or Something Else?: I will stress that I love the ocean and all of the ways to enjoy it, but one question that frequently arises about SUPs is whether or not riding them is surfing. It certainly has the appeal of surfing, but sometimes it can be a be a bit more like kayaking.
Part of the enjoyment of surfing is the whole experience: duck diving through the waves, sitting on the board waiting, striking up conversations, racing towards a peak and then riding. In fact, 95% of the time we spend surfing, we are not actually riding waves, so is the fact that SUPs ride waves enough of a similarity to group them with surfboards? If you like sitting in the lineup, ducking through waves etc, the constant workout and standing required of a SUP might not be what you are looking for.
