Can You Surf on an Inflatable Paddleboard (SUP)?

We all know that paddleboarding can be a great way to work out in a serene and relaxing environment, but sometimes you just want to do something a bit more adventurous. If you’ve been to the beach and seen people catching the waves on their surfboards, you’ve probably wondered, “can I do that on my SUP?”. In this post I will answer the question, can you surf on an inflatable paddleboard?

The simple answer is yes, you can surf on an inflatable paddleboard. Whilst not designed in the same way as a traditional surfboard you can still use your inflatable SUP to surf, however, you will need to surf in a slightly different way compared to a traditional board.

Read more below to find out what sort of SUP you will need for surfing and how to surf with your SUP.

What is the Best Inflatable SUP for Surfing?

Size

When choosing a board for stand-up paddleboarding, beginners often go for longer, wider boards. The added surface area makes them ideal for learning to balance and getting comfortable on the water.

Whilst these boards are great for paddleboarding, surfing is a different story. When surfing, being able to manoeuvre your board in different directions quickly is key. Sharper movements allow you to ride the wave longer and this is much harder to do on a longer paddleboard.

Moving from calm lakes to breaking waves, you should try to get a board that is shorter in length than your beginner’s board. This will be a little bit harder to balance on than your standard SUP but does have the advantage of being easier to use for both surfing and paddling.

For smaller SUP users and advanced surfers, a board that is between 7-10 feet would be ideal. For those just beginning or who are taller, 10-12 feet would be fine.

You should also look for a narrower board when it comes to SUP surfing. Wider boards can feel quite bulky and sluggish to turn. A narrower board will mean better manoeuvrability in the waves.

Shape

The shape of your paddleboard will make a big difference when moving to use it for surfing.

Surfboards tend to have a more pointed end to help them cut through the water much better and not buffer against it. A curved tip paddleboard can sometimes hit more directly into the water, which can slow you down. Try and keep the nose up by using your back foot to compensate for this.

The curve of the rocker on the board will also have an impact. The rocker is the curve underneath the board and can make a big difference to the way the board sits on the waves.

A larger curve on the rocker will make the board travel better on the waves and less prone to nose-diving into them. This can have the adverse effect of making the board harder to control if you are a less experienced surfer. The key is to find the right balance between a smaller and lower rocker to suit your surfing and paddleboarding experience level.

Board Stiffness

The stiffness of the board you are using is another factor to consider, as you will need to move around the board when using it to help you ride the waves. A softer board, which is more typical of inflatable SUPs, will make this more difficult compared to a hardboard.

All is not lost though, the majority of inflatable boards should provide you with the right level of stiffness for taking to the waves. Depending on the materials used for your board, you should be fine.

The way to ensure you have a good level of stiffness is to consider the air pressure inside your SUP. If you are inflating to air pressures of around 18psi, you will generally be fine using this board for surfing.

Board Thickness

The thickness of your board will have an impact on your ability to turn when surfing the waves.

Thicker boards are great for general SUP use as they provide a more sturdy platform when you are out paddling.

For SUP surfing, however, thinner boards will allow for better turning in the waves, as you can push the rail of the board into the water much easier.

Generally, a board that is 4-5 inches thick is ideal for SUP surfing.

Fin Placement and Material

How you have your fin placed on your SUP, as well as the material used, can influence the way you surf with your SUP.

For surfing, it is important that you have a rigid fine material. As the fin helps the board move through the waves, you don’t want a material that will bend too easily to the pressures that the waves created as this could send your SUP off course. Look for a fin material that is rigid to give you extra control through the waves.

Having just one fin on the board will reduce the amount of drag you get through the waves, which is great when your board is designed with rails that are designed to carve the waves. However, most inflatable paddle boards have rounded rails, meaning that you don’t get the same level of performance in turns.

To compensate for this, you can add some additional, smaller fins to help the board carve better through the waves. Know as a tri-fin setup, and makes it much easier for you to control the tail of the board when riding the wave and needing to turn to keep the board moving.

Recommended Inflatable Paddleboards for Surfing

ITIWIT Inflatable Stand-Up Paddleboard Longboard Surf 500

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ITIWIT Stand-Up Paddleboard Inflatable Surf Shortboard 500

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No.32 Inflatable SUP Board Beginner’s Surfboard Kit

SUP Surfing vs. Traditional Surfing

Now we have established that you can use an inflatable paddle board for surfing, it is important that you understand how to surf with a SUP compared to using a traditional surfboard.

Paddling Out to the Waves

When paddling out into the waves, on a traditional surfboard you will lay prone on your board and paddle with your arms on either side of the board.

This is one of the major differences you will find using a SUP is that you will have to adjust your technique here.

The width of your board is probably the first difference you will notice. SUPs are wider than traditional surfboards and as a result, it is harder to reach the water around your board. Unless you have especially long arms, it will be difficult to paddle prone out into the waves. In addition to this, the added weight and drag of your SUP compared to a surfboard will put extra strain on your limbs and could lead to injury.

To combat this, you should use your paddle to get yourself out beyond the break and into the waves. You can do this in the same way you would if paddling normally (though it might be a bit difficult at first.

Turning Your Board

When surfing on a traditional board, being able to transfer your weight to the back of the board to lift the front end is the first part of turning. The second part is using your front foot, which is planted on the deck of the board to rotate the front end of the board in the direction you want to go.

The same method is applicable when using your SUP to surf, however with the board being wider than a surfboard and the rails not being as curved, the paddleboard will be much more cumbersome to turn.

To compensate for this, you can use your paddle to help you turn. Just like when paddling in calmer waters, paddle to the side of your SUP to assist your action of turning with your feet.

Catching the Waves

Once you are past the breaking waves and ready to surf, on a traditional board you would need to paddle hard in your prone position and then get into your standing position as quickly as you can.

This is where SUP surfing really comes into its own. On your board you will already be in an upright position, meaning you don’t have to worry about jumping to your feet once you have gathered speed as you will already be upright.

You will also find it easier to catch the wave on a SUP compared to a traditional surfboard, depending on your confidence with your paddle. To catch the wave you need to get your speed up and as you will have your paddle with you this will be much easier than lying prone on your board.

Finally, you can place your paddle flat onto the waves you are catching (behind you) once you are up to speed. This will give you an additional push on the wave and also help you with your balance.

How to Surf on a Paddleboard

If you’re now convinced that your inflatable SUP can be used for surfing, here is a summary on how to do it:

1. Adopt a surfing stance on your board – To give you more control over your board you will need to stand with one foot in front of the other, roughly shoulder-width apart. This allows you to tilt the front up to get over the waves heading out and also to turn when you are catching the waves. Most people choose to stand with their more dominant foot forward.
2. Paddle out into the waves – Standing up on your paddleboard, paddle out over the breaking waves. You will need to paddle harder when you get to the small and large breaking waves.
3. Position your board parallel to the wave – Get into a position where your paddle is between you and the wave. This will allow you to quickly turn in the right direction when paddling hard to catch the wave.
4. Paddle vigorously towards the side the wave is coming from – This will help your boards nose to turn in the direction you will be surfing.
5. Stop paddling as soon as you feel the board catch the wave – At this point, you are now surfing the wave.
6. Turn your body to ride the wave – Ride the break of the wave in the pocket. This is where the white and the blue/green part of the wave is.
7. Repeat

Summary

So, can you surf an inflatable paddleboard? Yes, you can. If this is going to be your primary way to enjoy your paddleboard or if you have the budget for a 2nd board, then I would recommend getting a surfing style board. You can still use your “normal” inflatable SUP for surfing, you will just need to take into consideration the points above