Know the nose on your SUP

August 4, 2015

Not all standup paddleboards are shaped alike. One of the key differences, and one that is easy to spot, is the shape of the nose and hull of your SUP. The nose of the paddleboard generally falls into one of three categories: planing, displacement and hybrid. Let’s take a quick look at each:

Planing: A planing board has a wide and more rounded nose shape, thus the board rides on top of the waves more easily and has great stability.
Planing boards do well in the surf and in rough-water conditions, so beginners and those who like to do yoga on their SUPs gravitate toward them. Because these boards skim the surface, the paddler typically works harder to track straight, and he may hear a “slapping” sound as waves hit the bottom. In general, planing boards are smaller, designed to carry less weight, and they are less expensive than displacement and hybrid boards.

Displacement: A displacement board has a narrow nose that cuts through the water, pushing it to the sides rather than under the board.
These boards excel at tracking straight, and the hull is designed to displace water in order to carry heavier loads, so they are the favorites of racers, anglers and anyone transporting a lot of weight. A narrow displacement board can be a bit on the tippy side.

Hybrid: A hybrid board has some features from each of the two boards above: a displacement nose shape that pushes water aside but then the hull flattens out in the middle of the board. The paddler is able to get up a great deal of speed and glide, but at the same time he can enjoy the ease of turning and surfing the board.

Come in to the Bill Jackson’s and talk to our experienced SUP staff about which board is best for you and your adventures.