Standard vs. Stand-Up Paddle Surfing

Over the past 40 years surfing has become an increasingly popular ocean sport for people around the world. There are dozens of different kinds of surfboards designed for different kinds of surf. Most recently, a new trend in surfing has arose to become prevalent. Stand up paddle surfing is a style of surfing where the surfer stands on his or her board, and paddles with an oar. This style began in Polynesia as a way for surf instructors to keep an eye on their large groups of students. Today it has evolved into a multimillion dollar a year business.
Traditional surfing requires one to lay face down on his or her surfboard and paddle with their arms. After paddling for the wave, the surfer must pop up using their arms in order to ride the wave. Traditional surfboards are much more maneuverable and give the rider more options as far as tricks and turns go. A smaller traditional surfboard also gives the rider the ability to launch themselves off the lip of the wave and do a number of aerial maneuvers. This is also the most popular and well recognized type of surfing.
When it comes to contests there are annual stand up paddle competitions held in different places. Contestants are scored on their style and overall ride. While these contestants are recognized and given prize money they aren’t recognized on the ASP (association of surfing professionals) world tour. This is another reason that traditional paddle surfing is the dominant of the two styles.
Another factor that is a major factor in this match-up is cost. A standard paddle surfboard can cost you anywhere from 300 dollars all the way up to a few thousand depending on the shaper and the materials used. This may seem kind of expensive until you consider the cost of a stand up paddle surf board. A stand up paddle surf board can start at around 800 dollars and go all the way up to 4,000 dollars and higher. Not to mention your going to need a good oar which normally costs about two to three hundred dollars. Considering that you could buy your whole standard paddle set up for the same price as one stand up paddle oar, it’s a no-brainer.
Both kinds of surfing are great, and can only be described as a physical art form bringing people and the ocean together as one. When it comes to choosing one way of surfing over the other I choose traditional paddle any day. Not only is it better for a surfer on a budget, it is the more versatile of the two. Not to mention that a stand up paddle board is probably five times heavier and twice as long as a standard paddle surf board. So when your thinking of giving surfing a try remember these things I’ve mentioned and buy the traditional board you’re looking at.