SUP surfing commitment – staying stoked on wave riding.

SUP surfing isn’t an easy sport. As with prone surfing there’s much to learn and gain experience with. Yet it’s definitely one of the most fulfilling areas of stand up paddle boarding – if you commit! Whatever your level, be that beginner, intermediate, advanced or pro, commitment is key. Learning SUP surfing’s fundamentals, progressing important skills, stomping a new kind of turn, scoring regular sessions, nailing a new spot and so on. Commitment to the SUP surfing cause is required at every level and in everything you do when swinging a paddle in waves.

It’s tiring sometimes, we’ll give you that. Commitment to scouring surf forecasts, for instance, can become waring if you’re presented with a never ending stream of no swell days or tricky pulses that aren’t quite guaranteed to creep into your local. The flip can also be true. Weeks of clean offshore, groomed wave conditions can also be stressful. Can I get out today? Will tomorrow be slightly better? Is there a more efficient wind angle two days from now for spot X? I’m absolutely shattered but I should be making use of every given windy opportunity – shouldn’t I?

And then if the equipment should fail/break, yet your desire to SUP surf is still there. But with an added financial commitment. You’ll need to outlay for new gear. In fact, if you own equipment then this parting of readies will have happened. Possibly multiple times over. You’ll have committed to a path that can be a drain on finances.

As you can see, wherever you look within SUP surfing (SUP In general actually) commitment is needed. Managing expectations is a way to keep the juices flowing, however. Otherwise, there’s a risk of burning out. Overcommitted individuals have, and do, fall by the wayside, which is understandable. Keeping the fire burning for the long haul is a SUP surfing skill in itself.

You also have to take into account that general life stuff often will get in the way of your SUP surfing commitment. For those living in locations with irregular wave activity hanging on to optimistic outlooks only to then have your plans dashed at the last hurdle when a decent forecast does pop up is excruciating. Yet stick with the commitment and it’ll eventually all come good. Every dog has their day as the saying goes.

Ultimately, commitment comes down to energy and how much of that you’re prepared to pour into SUP surfing. One way to keep up those energy (or stoke) levels is to try different aspects the sport. Even if you’re a full power wave head it can’t hurt to bust out the adventure SUP board and head off for a coastal sojourn. Another way to keep those stand up paddling energy levels high – especially in the face of no swell – is to encourage others into the sport and pass your valuable knowledge on. Helping others learn and giving the gift of SUP surfing stoke can be as rewarding/fulfilling as riding yourself. Plus, you’ll still be surrounded by those familiar bits of kit, immersed in the ocean and enjoying the outdoors – no bad thing!

Let us know how you stay committed to SUP surfing and the tools you use to remain stoked on sailing.

You can find more McConks SUP surfing articles here.