<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSize of the Rocker and Shape of the Board<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Rocker is the curvature or shape of a board when you look at it from the side, nose to tail. Boards that are more curved\u2013like a banana\u2013are said to have more rocker. Boards that are less curved and flatter are said to have less rocker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More rocker makes a board much easier to turn and more maneuverable in general, great if you want to ride waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfboards that are more curved have fantastic agility and are super responsive. They\u2019re great for advanced riders who want to surf steep and powerful waves, without the nose of the board diving into the wave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the more the rocker, the more responsive the board, and the easier it will be to surf bigger waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beginner surfboards have less rocker and are ideal for riding smaller waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the banana shape makes a board more maneuverable, it slows it down. This is not ideal for flat water stand up paddling. You\u2019ll struggle to make the board travel straight if it\u2019s more curved and it will be slow too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paddle boards have less rocker\u2013just enough to keep the nose from digging into the water. This ensures that they don\u2019t lose their ability to track well and cruise fast on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
SUP boards designed for SUP surfing will, however, have more rocker to make them better suited for riding waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Different Types of Hulls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n There are two main types of hulls that you find in paddle boards and surfboards: the planing hull and the displacement hull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The planing hull is flat-bottomed and, as the name suggests, it planes or skims over the water surface. Boards with a planing hull are maneuverable and easy to turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The displacement hull, on the hand, is V-shaped and cuts across the water, displacing it. Boards with a displacement hull glide fast and track well, that is, they travel in a straight line easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfboards have the planing hull type because maneuverability is key when surfing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Racing and touring paddle boards have a displacement hull and are not particularly stable because they\u2019re also narrow and long. These boards are designed for experienced SUP boarders who want to paddle fast. Speed is more important than stability with racing SUPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other boards\u2013for SUP yoga, recreational paddling, surfing, and whitewater\u2013have planing hulls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nFunction and Versatility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Surfboards are designed for catching waves, and not much else. A traditional surfboard has one function so there isn\u2019t really any versatility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stand up paddle boards can do so much more than just regular, casual SUP boarding; SUP is actually a very versatile sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other than paddling leisurely on your SUP board, there are other SUP activities that you can do. You can try SUP yoga, touring, fishing, racing, whitewater, and even SUP surfing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to try a little bit of everything, you can get an all-around paddle board. You can do most of the SUP activities with it as you learn what you like. All-around boards are perfect for beginners too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you decide to focus on one SUP activity, there are specialized boards for each activity. You can find yourself a long, narrow fiberglass board with outstanding speed for racing and touring. Or maybe a wide inflatable paddle board for yoga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nUse of a Paddle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Another major difference between paddleboards and surfboards is the use of a paddle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A surfer on a typical surfboard doesn\u2019t need a paddle to catch waves. They typically lay on their surfboards and paddle out with their hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paddle boarding requires a paddle because the rider stands on the SUP and has to paddle using a paddle. In fact, most boards come with a paddle in the package. You can\u2019t stand up paddle board without one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Generally, surfboards are cheaper than paddle boards. But you should know that the prices of both board types vary greatly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are good quality surfboards that cost $250 but you can also find others that cost as much as $1000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a nice, well-made all-around SUP, you should be ready to cough up at least $500. There are cheaper options though. High-end specialized paddle boards can cost as much as $2500, sometimes more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can I Use a Surfboard As a Paddle Board?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n No, you cannot use a normal surfboard as a paddle board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfboards are small and thin, which results in them being less buoyant and unstable. You can stay on board without falling when prone paddling on a surfboard or riding a wave. But if you try to stand on flat water, you\u2019ll find the board tippy and you will fall off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfboards also can\u2019t track as well as paddle boards. A regular surfboard is short and narrow with more rocker. These features make it agile and responsive but the board won\u2019t track well on calm water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can I Use a Paddle Board as a Surfboard?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Yes, you can use your paddle board as a surfboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stand up paddle boards are versatile and you can use them for catching waves. The size of waves you can ride depends on the SUP you have. A smaller, more maneuverable paddle board would work better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How About a Hybrid Surf Paddle Board? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n If you want to get into serious paddle board surfing, there are SUPs designed specifically for riding waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are shorter, narrower, and thinner than the average paddle board. Most of them are solid SUPs too because they perform better than inflatable SUPs in this case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is Paddle Boarding Easier Than Surfing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Yes. In my opinion, paddle boarding is easier than surfing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can easily learn to balance on a SUP on calm water\u2013and you don\u2019t even have to stand at first. You can start while seated or kneeling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfing is a little more advanced and there is more you need to learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nDoes Paddle Boarding Help with Surfing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Yes, many experts will tell you that SUP helps you with surfing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, stand up paddle boarding engages the key muscles used for surfing, more the core and leg muscles. It also greatly improves your balance. As you get better at paddling, you can try catching smaller waves with your SUP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This way, transitioning to surfing won\u2019t be challenging. You\u2019ll have an easier time learning compared to a non-SUPer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Surfboards and paddle boards are similar in many ways but they\u2019re not the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
SUP boards are bigger, more buoyant, and more stable. Stand up paddling is also more versatile as there\u2019s so much you can do with a paddle board. There\u2019s SUP fishing, yoga, touring, racing, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paddle boards come as inflatable or solid and you need a paddle to SUP. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surfboards are smaller with less volume, making them more responsive and perfect for catching waves \u2013and you don\u2019t need a paddle for surfing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inflatable surfboards are not a thing yet, but that may change soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As far as versatility goes, surf boards are built for one thing only. If you want to take up a water sport that will allow you to do multiple different types of activity, a SUP board is the way to go. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you struggle to distinguish between surfboards and paddle boards, you’re not alone. The two can be confusing. Sure, each watersport seems different and a paddle board appears to be bigger than a surfboard. But is that all? The answer is no. There are plenty of differences between surfing and paddle boarding, and therefore the … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":false,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4710"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5728,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4710\/revisions\/5728"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paddleboardtips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}