The 2014 SUP season is upon us and we thought this would be a great time to give you a sneak peak at some of the coolest new 2014 SUP boards coming out for this summer. Some of these may be brand new models and others are updates to current models. Either way, we are hyped on these boards and we know you will be too!
Riviera Yoga Mat
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, you’ve probably seen SUP yoga growing at an alarming rate. This sport has blended both yoga and SUP enthusiasts and has taken over a life of it’s own. Riviera saw this growing trend and decided to make a board specifically for the SUP yoga crowd and that is where the idea for the Yoga Mat SUP board came from. Shaped to be a yoga board first and a paddle board second, this wide-bodied and super stable board will offer you a large flat platform perfect for poses and still be a board that is super fun to paddle. Available in 9’6″ or 10’0″ this board also offers four anchor points for either tying down gear or anchoring for class and has an extra comfortable nose to tail deck pad.
Riviera Ron House Coastal Cruiser
Riviera’s solution for the SUP enthusiast who wants to be able to do it all is the Ron House Coastal Cruiser. This sleek yet sturdy board can cross over from flat water touring to small wave riding to choppy lake days with ease. Beginners will enjoy the the versatility of this board, allowing them to attempt various conditions with confidence while the experienced paddler will love the smooth glide, speed and cross training benefits of a board with this shape. The 12’6″ is 30 inches wide and this board has 6 leash plugs so you can load up all your gear for longer treks.
Bic SUP Air Touring Board
For the 2014 season, Bic stepped up their inflatable game by adding a killer new touring board – the Bic Sup Air Touring Board in two sizes – 11’0 and 12’6. Perfect for those looking to explore uncharted territories or simply travel easier with their boards, this new shape is a welcome addition to their already solid line of inflatable SUP boards. The soft displacement hull style nose will help slice thru the water easier and is ideal for flat water conditions. Both sizes offer a highly sturdy 6″ thickness so you can feel stable even at higher speeds and the perfect 32″ width is wide enough for a beginner yet narrow enough to keep a nice, fast stroke going thru the water. For an inflatable touring board at a very competitive price, the Bic SUP Air Touring Board is a great choice!
Naish The One Inflatable
The One SUP from Naish was brand new last season but was such a hit that is was nearly impossible to get your hands on one. This is essentially the king of all inflatable SUP boards. The “one and done” iSUP that will be a blast for paddlers of any kind. This 12’6 board can tour on flat water, float perfectly in waves and even compete in open class racing. With a sleek race influenced outline and beefy 6-inch thickness, this board is fast, stable and a ton of fun to paddle. Comes with a grippy EVA foam deckpad, bungee tie downs at the nose for your gear and an overall highly durable construction so this board will last for many SUP seasons to come. Just like the rest of the inflatable line, this board comes with a removable fin, pump, bag and repair kit (just in case).
Naish Odysseus
Brand-spanking new from the masterminds at Naish is the Odysseus, their self proclaimed “most stable do anything” board in the entire line. No matter your size or skill level, the Odysseus is perfect for touring, cruising around, entry level wave riding and anything else you might want to try on your board. Thanks to the 34″ extra wide shape, recessed deck, full rails and square tail, this board is as stable as it gets at a compact length to make it easy to manage for smaller riders. Other features include a quad-concave bottom to channel the water under your board for an extra smooth glide and a diamond groove EVA deck pad for added stability and grip. For the perfect board for the entire family, look no further than the Naish Odysseus.
Riviera Series
Completely renovated for the 2014 season, the Riviera Series 10’6 and Riviera Series 11’6 boards are back and truly better than ever. Standing strong as one of our best selling boards, these newly designed boards now offer a highly durable and lightweight bamboo construction with kevlar rails and a stringerless EPS foam core. This new build is lighter and stronger than their past models and is their go-to model for any beginner looking for a great do-it-all board. Another exciting addition is a carbon fiber ‘standing patch’ placed under the deck pad for added rigidity under your feet, giving the paddler a highly stable footing area, which is also a great feature for beginners. The Riviera Series boards will get the job done for the family or anyone looking for one board that everyone can enjoy.
Red Paddle Co Explorer
Impressed with the quality and ride from our 2013 Red Paddle Co boards, we decided to bring it back for 2014 with some new models including the 12’6 Explorer. The name says it all. The Red Paddle Co Explorer Inflatable SUP is for the enthusiast looking to Explore their local rivers, lakes or ocean, this is the board for you. Every inflatable they make offers extremely high durability and comes with one of the best bags in the industry (front loader w/ wheels!!) and the Ezee Pump which allows you to pump up your board faster than ever. The narrow nose will cut through the water while the 32″ inch width offers a nice, stable platform. Toss in all the tie downs and this board is ready for your next adventure.
Rogue SUP North 2.0
With an updated shape for 2014, the Rogue North touring board is back and better than ever. Taking the smooth glide characteristics from their race boards but adding a wider and more stable platform makes the North a great board for any paddler looking for a fast and stable board. Thanks to the recessed deck pad and almost 7″ thickness, the North is extremely stable in almost any conditions and glides thru the water as quickly and smoothly as any race board on the market. Eight leash plugs means plenty of room for tie downs so you can easily store your life vest, a dry bag, or a small cooler for your longer adventures. If you are looking for a fun and stable board with speed, the Rogue North may just be the board for you!
That does it for our quick peek at some of our favorite boards coming out for 2014. Stay tuned for more SUP knowledge as the 2014 season continues on.