Hi guys looking to buy a sup not wanting to spend a fortune as just starting out! Have done lessons mostly used soft sup but have been on epoxy and inflatable boards also. Just wanted your advice. On what type and brand is best for a beginner, also needs to be suitable to take my young kids on it with me. (When I get better??) Thanks
anything cheap and long and thick and wide would do the trick.....forget about the brand if you just want to load the board up with kids and dogs and stuff like that and have basic fun paddling around in water where breaking waves are not an issue. Otherwise listen to DJ
Lau Lau great to see your going to purchase a board. I got my dad the 9, 8 odysseus almost a year ago now.
You really need to state/ add your weight to your post so the more experienced sup guys can give you more advice.
Rundown on the board.
Its held up so well for a year, I think its got two paddle dings in the rails and thats it. The foam construction just seems to take the bumps well.
It paddles well, very good on the lake, flatwater, open ocean say from beach to beach and also in fun surf. Its very stable for its width.
Its not overly light so I would get a shoulder strap to carry it if you are going to be carrying to the water by yourself.
The channels work well with its large fin to glide through the water. The fin is on the larger side.
The best thing about the board is that it caters for a large weight range 12 year olds up to 100kg men. My brother, his two sons can ride this on the lake no worries.
My 9 year old nephew is starting to paddle it by himself too.
:I can recommend this board for a beginner family and its also a great starting board for women too as its not as heavy in the water thanks to the channels.
If you can afford to buy one as your first board it will last you well until you want to upgrade to your next board.
I bought mine from the guys at balmoral boards manly, they fixed me up great. Drop in and see them if your in Sydney. You can also take the Odysseus out for a hire from the boathouse at Narrabeen Lakes. To see if the family likes it. Before you buy.
If your in another state I am sure the guys can direct you to a good dealer, shop. DJ is the naish go to guy in Victoria.
I need to take some go pro footage when it gets warmer of this board.
The Odysseus is a great learning board ...and it's short and fairly light at 11.8 kgs ...and has good width .
If you see something in other brands at similar dimensions ..it is good .. 9'8 ,200 litres ,34 wide