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Home > Stand Up Paddle Information

STAND UP PADDLE BOARD INTRODUCTION AND BUYER'S GUIDE

Stand Up Paddle Boarding has seen a tremendous increase in popularity in recent years thanks to many top surfers bringing the ancient Hawaiian practice into the mainstream. Michigan and the Great Lakes region in general has turned out to be a stand up paddlers perfect playground. SUP'ing can be done out in the Lake Michigan waves, flat water or the countless riveres and inland lakes home to Michigan; This makes stand up paddling accesible to just about anyone interested in taking up the sport. Besides being able to SUP just about anywhere unlike regular surfing, its also fairly easy to learn, fun and a great core work-out! If you’re interested in Stand Up Paddle boarding, and need some help deciding which board is right for you, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will provide insight into how to pick the best SUP boards for your needs. Stand Up Paddle, or SUP, boards are different from traditional surfboards in both shape and size. Below we offer some insight as to how these variables will effect performance.

GENERAL BOARD SIZING INFO

Anyone in the 100lb to 150lb will be best suited for a SUP in the 9'5" to 10'6" size range. SUP's have different widths and amounts of rocker which also need to be taken into consideration when purchasing a board. We will touch on this below. People in the 150lb to 180lb weight range will generally be best suited for a board in the 10'6" to 11' range. Anyone 180 to 190lbs and above will be best suited for a SUP that is in the 11'6" and above range. *Note that the size range above is a 'general' rule of thumb and can be effected by other variables such as balance, ability and athleticism.

ROCKER

What you consider the best SUP board to buy will vary depending on where you plan to use it. Stand Up Paddle boarding is fun in a variety of water conditions from lakes and rivers to open ocean and surf zones. An important variable to consider is the amount of rocker a board has. Rocker refers to a board’s upward curve from nose to tail when viewed from profile. This curve has a huge impact on the performance of SUP surfboards. A lot of rocker, or dramatic curve, will turn well in the surf, but it will be slower in flat water. In short, a board with increased rocker will be a better board for surfing Lake Michigan waves. Flatter boards, without much rocker, will glide well in flat water but may be hard to turn and easier to nosedive in waves. In short, boards with a flatter rocker will be great for distance on the calmer waters of Traverse Bay or other inland lakes and larger riveres in Michigan. In short, if you plan to use your SUP in calm waters or inland lakes, a longer board with less rocker will track better, and be more efficient during your paddle sessions. If you're looking to surf waves you will want a board with slightly more rocker. This will enable you to turn on the wave easier and also reduce the chance of nosediving while dropping into the wave.

WIDTH

The wider the board, the more stable it will feel. The downside is you may lose efficiency and your SUP will be a little less maneuverable. Although, if you are looking for a good all-around board that the whole family can enjoy the wider boards are generally the way to go.

TOURING/RACE SUP's VS RECREATIONAL/SURF SUP's

Touring or race SUP's are generally longer and have a pointed front with a V-shaped bottom through the front of the board that then tapers off to a flat bottom toward the middle to back of the board. The purpose of this SUP design is decrease the resistance of paddling and increase the tracking ability and speed. Although slightly less staple and less maneuverable, touring and race paddle boards are a blast for flat water distance. They allow you to cover much more distance and track easily in a straight line without switching sides too often with your paddle. The possible downsides of these boards are the fact that they don't surf waves well, they are not very maneuverable and they are usually a little more expensive because the construction process is more extensive. The up side of a touring or race stand up paddle board is the ability to cover large amounts of distance with relatively low physical exertion compared to a traditional SUP. A good analogy would be a mountain bike vs a road bike. Touring/race SUP's are the road bikes of the water. With racing becoming more and more popular and widespread this style of board will increasingly become more prevalent. Some of the touring/race SUP's that we at the Wet Mitten stock are the Naish Glide 12'6" and 14'0" AST series, the Naish Javelin series, the NSP 12'6" and 14'0" SUP's and lastly but not least, the Jimmy Lewis Blade 12'6".

STOP IN AND SEE US!

When it comes to puchasing a stand up paddle board, there's no substitute for getting friendly and professional in-store advice. So please give us a call or stop in to our Grand Haven or Traverse City location if you have further questions about the exciting and fast growing sport known as Stand Up Paddle! Stand Up Paddle (SUP) expert knowledge and paddle board selection in Traverse City Wet Mitten Surf Shop Traverse City 101 N Park St. (Downtown on E Front St. right next to Grand Traverse Pie Co.) Stand Up Paddle (SUP) expert knowledge and paddle board selection in Grand Haven Wet Mitten Surf Shop Grand Haven 301 N Harbor St. (Located in Chinook Pier by Temptations and the Trolly Stop) Still not sure after talking with our friendly and knowledgeable staff which paddle board to buy? No problem, The Wet Mitten Surf Shop offers a full line of rental and demo SUP's to test out. This will ensure that you get the paddle board that is best suited for you and or your family. Our "try before you buy" program allows you to apply a portion of your rental expense towards the purschase price of a paddle board or surfboard. Happy paddling from the Wet Mitten Surf Crew!
Welcome To Our Store

Welcome to Wet Mitten, we are Michigan's premier surf shop! The Wet Mitten Surf Shop is a locally owned Michigan based company, specializing in stand-up paddle (SUP), surf, kiteboard and skate/longboard gear. A wide variety of rental and lesson services are also available throughout the year.

Our mission is to share our love for the outdoors and water sports in particular through the promotion of stand-up paddle, surf and kiteboarding. Surrounded by a freshwater ocean and home to thousands of inland lakes and rivers, Michigan is a water sport enthusiasts paradise. If you've ever been lucky enough to surf a glassy northwest swell in Grand Haven, kitesurf Little Sable Point on a breezy south wind, stand-up paddle the pristine waters of East or West Bay in Traverse City, brave the chilly waters of Lake Superior to surf the perfect wave, or anything in between, you understand how truly unique and amazing Michigan is. Our goal at the Wet Mitten is to help make those stand-up paddle, kiteboard and surf experiences and adventures accessible to everyone through the gear that we sell and the lessons and rentals that we offer.

We at Wet Mitten Surf Shop invite you to get out on the water and "Explore Michigan's other half"

Now serving two locations:

Grand Haven location 301 N Harbor, suite B-3 Grand Haven, MI 49417 (616) 844-3388

Traverse City location 101 N Park, suite 2-A Traverse City, MI 49684 (231) 929-3388

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