I am shopping around for a new board. I just sold my 12-6. It was an older board that was quite tough for me to haul around…especially as it got colder out. It felt just too cumbersome when conditions got cold and slippery.

Anyhow, I’m now trying to figure out what I want. I’m not a real racer but I am totally in to longer distance races like  The Cape Cod Bay Challenge…Blackburn…and maybe even Chattajack some day. I usually am paddling in the ocean…bay or open…but the conditions are variable …choppy…flat, etc…you know the deal.

I was thinking about getting a 14ft. I was going back and forth between a boga team tsunami and a bullet v2. I would love your input.

It looks like you have a few questions that you need answered. From what we can tell you are really asking 2 different questions:

1.  Do you have any recommendations to help me carry my board?

2.  I am a woman who wants to go the distance. Why are women subjugated to the 12-6 board class? Should I consider a 14 foot board even though everyone tells me women are not supposed to be on 14 foot boards?

Question 1:  Do you have any recommendations to help me carry my board?

No matter who you are, lugging around a SUP or prone paddleboard is a huge PIA in the winter when the wind is blowing. There is really no way around the physics of putting a 12-14 foot board over your head (to load it on your car) when it is windy out. That takes some strength.

That said, the one tidbit we have found that works is putting a new handle on your board. Most boards come with a handle that is dug out of the board deck. These types of handles make the job of carrying a board difficult. In our experience, a LiftSUP handle goes a long way to making the job of carrying a board easier. Because the handle comes out (e.g. above) the board deck it makes it easier to hold and you might even be able to squeeze your neoprene gloves under the handle.

Another trick to consider is that if you have an older board (like the one your got rid of) you are going to find that many of the newer boards are lighter and easier to carry. Many of the older boards were a bit over produced and too wide and heavy. They were overkill. Many newer boards are more narrow and significantly lighter. For example, carbon NAISH Javelin is very light and several women in our local paddle group have no problem lugging it around and loading it on their car.

All of that said – BE CAREFUL BEFORE YOU BUY A 14 FOOT Board. I know it does not sound like an extra 1.5 feet is a huge deal but it is. It always seems like a 14 foot board is exponentially larger than a 12-6 board. Our recommendation is to go to a shop and ask to allow them to allow you to load and unload a 14 foot board IN THE WIND before you buy one.

Question 2: Should a woman buy a 14 foot board?

Traditionally, women raced in the 12-6 board class. If your goal was to be competitive in women’s racing we would say that you should at least have a 12-6 board in your quiver or skip the 14 foot board altogether. That, however, does not seem to be your situation.

You want to do longer races. Everyone knows it is generally easier to go farther, faster, on a longer vessel. The physics don’t change for women. In fact we are seeing and hearing about more and more women who are exploring the 14 foot board class for the same reason you are describing. They want to go far on a stable platform.  Distance is more important than competition. Since they do not race or care if there are any women in their category at a race – they are going with 14 foot boards.

In conclusion,  we can totally get behind your decision provided that you can transport the board. Keep in mind when switching to a 14 foot board, however, it will take a bit more strength to get the board up to speed. You might need to monkey with the size of your blade face so you don’t overload your shoulders. Please also ramp up your miles  SLOWLY when switching to a 14 foot board. Give your connective tissues some time to adapt.