I  have been doing SUP for a few years but I am looking into getting into prone paddleboarding. I weigh 175-190 lbs. I am told I am on the big side for a stock board so I think I would like to get an unlimited board but I don’t really have room to store the board at my house. I have been looking into 14 foot boards because they seem to give more glide than a stock board without the hassle of lugging around and storing an unlimited board.

From what I can tell you do not see them all that often either for sale online or at the races. My question is why so few 14 foot boards? It is because for racers it is stock or unlimited and there is no 14 foot race category or is it because a 14 foot board is like a Swiss army knife  – it does a lot of everything but nothing good? I guess I am also asking am I stupid in investing in a 14 foot board? Will it be hard to sell it if I need to unload it in the future?

Answer :As you mentioned in your question, there are some benefits of a 14 foot board over an unlimited board and a stock board. To sum things up:

• you go faster on a 14 foot board than a stock board
• it is easier to handle in the downwind and rough conditions than an unlimited.
• A 14 foot board is easier to store and move around than an unlimited.
• Surf entry can be easier in a 14 foot board than an unlimited board.
• In a headwind and choppy conditions, you get less spray in your face than on a stock board

As you can see, a 14 foot board is something of a “jack of all trades” board that bridges the gap between a stock board and an unlimited board.  If you have never been on one, the differences between a 14 foot board and a stockboard are significant. In many situations, a 14 foot board feels more like an unlimited than a stock board. I know that it is only 2 feet longer so that might sound crazy but it is what it is.

If you had asked me this question a few years ago, I would have said that even though you are on the high end of the weight range you should get a stock board and get some experience for a year or two then suck it up and go for the unlimited. In my opinion, the new Surftech Commander is robust enough to handle someone your weight BTW.

Since you didn’t ask me that a few years ago, my tune is changed. Although I might be getting a little ahead of things (predicting the future is a fools game but I am going to do it anyway) we are seeing a trend toward more and more 14 foot prone boards in the water. This trend was started by older guys or those that are not quite strong enough to push an unlimited board but want to go faster than a stock board. It might have something to do with the trend we are seeing where SUP racers are putting down their paddles and picking up a prone board. In fact, some of the growth we are seeing in prone paddling is from former SUP racers transitioning to prone.

The decision to purchase a 14 footboard, however, is not a clear one and if you mention a 14 foot board to a long time paddler you are probably going to hear some permutation of the following:

• If you are training with partners you are going to be slower than the unlimited folks and annoyingly fast for the stock boards. Conversely, If you train alone or your group has 14 foot boards this is not an issue.
• If racing your board is your primary concern don’t get a 14 footer. Currently, the 14 foot class is limited (or absent) at most races. Paddling is a small sport and there already limited numbers of stock and unlimited paddlers at events.  My recommendation, therefore, is that if you are looking for competition it is best to stick to stock or UL. This, however, may change in the near future. For example, at this yeas Jay Race, there were approximately equal numbers of stock and 14 foot paddlers.  Surftech, is making a bet on the future of the 14 foot class as they just showed their 14 foot Commander stock board at the Outdoor Retailer show. Moreover, according to Duke Brouwer, from Surftech, Joe Bark says that he and Jack are shaping more and more 14 foot boards these days.

As far as your question about resale value for a prone board goes, I do not have a crystal ball so I am going to withhold a guess on that one.

The bottom line for me on this question is that if racing is not your primary focus and you are not going to annoy the stock paddlers in your group by paddling annoyingly fast and “half wheeling”  them during your workout, you are by no means stupid for getting a 14 foot board. The glide, speed, and lack of spray in your face vs. the stock board are significant advantages and the ease of storage and maneuverability vs. an unlimited board is also advantageous. Yes, it is the Swiss army knife of prone boards but sometimes, even a Swiss army knife,  is the right tool for the job.

Price: $34.95 Prone Paddleboarding: Essential Techniques from breedfreakphoto on Vimeo .