Which blade surface and shaft length for SUP / SUP foil

Choose a paddle tailored to your needs thanks to our Carbon Pro paddles!

Proposed with blade surfaces of 7”, 8” or 9”, our Carbon Pro paddle guarantees very high performance on the water thanks to its lightness, reactivity, and catch. Being of a fixed length, it ensures the best flex and maximum performance: the ideal transmission of your physical effort. Let’s see together how to choose yours.

Blade surface
Shaft length

SUP foiler: Moritz, GONG team rider, with the NOTW EPS Pro, Carbon Pro paddle and GONG Sunguard t-shirt.

Which blade surface?

The choice of blade surface depends on your practice, your style, and your body type.
Between the cadence of a smaller blade and the power of a larger one, here’s what we recommend:

7” size

Perfect for touring and long-distance racing. Its main asset is cadence, ideal for explosiveness at take-off in SUP Surf, SUP Foil, as well as sprints in SUP Race. In SUP Foil, it is particularly recommended with a fast foil, allowing frequent paddling to easily reach take-off speeds for experienced riders.

SUP Surfing: suitable for lighter riders under 75 kg, or for anyone wanting to increase paddle frequency.
SUP Racing: suitable for riders under 75 kg in sprints, or all riders wanting high cadence over long distances.
SUP Foiling: suitable for riders under 75 kg or for those using long boards that glide well.
Downwind SUP Foiling: suitable for riders under 75 kg or those used to paddling in cadence, like in SUP Racing.
Flat Start: suitable for lighter riders under 65 kg or experienced riders using fast foils and/or gliding boards.

SUPer: Moritz, GONG Team Rider, on a Karmen FSP 2X with a Carbon Pro paddle.

8” size

Best for surfing and versatility. A light rider will choose it for power, a heavier rider for more cadence.

SUP Surfing: suitable for riders over 75 kg who want more power at take-off and more support in surf.
SUP Racing: suitable for riders over 75 kg in sprint mode.
SUP Foiling: the paddle we recommend most, offering the ideal compromise between frequency and power.
Downwind SUP Foiling: suitable for riders over 75 kg wanting more power at the catch to launch on small bumps.
Flat Start: suitable for riders over 65 kg looking for performance and balance between cadence and power.

SUP Foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, on a HIPE Intruder with a Carbon Pro paddle.

9” size

Recommended for SUP Foiling and maximizing power with every stroke. Particularly suited to heavier riders, making it easier to take off with large foils, especially in flat start.

SUP Surfing: reserved for riders over 90 kg, seeking powerful, technical paddling for an even sharper take-off.
SUP Foiling: for those wanting maximum power or heavier-than-average riders.
Downwind SUP Foiling: reserved for strong, technical riders over 90 kg who can maintain flight without relying heavily on the paddle
Flat Start: suitable for riders over 75 kg looking for the best performance in power and efficiency. Particularly effective with large foils tolerant at low speeds.

SUP foiler: Patrice Guénolé, GONG boss and shaper, on his Sner EPS Pro, with a Carbon Pro paddles, Sirus front wing, associated with the Curve stab.

Which shaft length?

The maximum length of this paddle is 220 cm, available in two options:

Handle unglued: to cut and glue yourself. We recommend using two-component epoxy glue (not included).
Cut and glued to your size by us: for an additional €20.

The paddle length is determined by activity, skill level, and sometimes board type. Here are some simple rules to guide you:

For SUP surfing, paddle length should be close to your height.
For SUP Foiling, add +5 to +10 cm above your height.
For relaxed cruising, set length at +15 cm.
In Racing, add +10 to +20 cm depending on your board (recessed deck or not).

SUPer: Moritz, GONG team rider, on Karmen FSP Pro and Carbon Pro paddle.

For SUP Surfing:

The ideal paddle length is generally between your height and +10 cm.

On small boards → prefer a shorter paddle for dynamic surfing.
On larger boards (like an NFA) → you can go +5 to +10 cm above your height.
Some advanced riders even use paddles shorter than their height.

Advantages of a shorter paddle:

Allows tighter turns (length directly affects turning radius).
Lowers center of gravity → improves stability and balance.
Favors higher paddling cadence → particularly useful at take-off.

For cruising :

Generally around +15 cm above your height. This varies with:

Board thickness: affects how high you stand above the water.
Planned outing: length and intensity.

Examples:

Long, calm water trip → longer paddle for more amplitude and upright posture, comfortable over time.
Short or sporty outing → shorter paddle for quicker, higher cadence strokes.

For SUP Racing:

Length is usually between +10 and +20 cm above height, depending on:

Race type or effort (sprint, long distance, training, etc.).
Board thickness (affecting waterline stance).

In practice, most racers choose around +17 to +18 cm. This offers the best compromise between power, stroke amplitude, and long-term efficiency.

SUPers: Vilayta and Moritz, GONG team riders, in I-SUP Race.

In SUP Foiling, choosing paddle length is strategic and depends on the phase you want to optimize:

To make take-off easier, a paddle about +5 cm above your height is recommended.
To optimize flight phases or pumping (relaunch once in the air), a longer paddle, around +10 cm above your height, will be more effective.

As always, these adjustments must be adapted according to the thickness of your board, which affects how high you paddle above the water.

In Downwind SUP Foiling, paddle choice evolves with experience:

For beginners, the main goal is to make take-off easier, whether from the start or after a fall. A shorter paddle, about +5 cm above your height, is ideal because it allows:

Better balance,
A stance closer to the water,
A higher paddling cadence to help with take-off.

With experience, a longer paddle, up to +10 cm above your height, is preferred to optimize speed while flying and improve pumping phases. This length helps prolong flights, especially on long courses or in technical conditions.

In flat start, paddle choice must strike the right balance between stability and paddling cadence:

A paddle that’s too short (your height or less) may compromise your balance and stance on the board.
A paddle that’s too long, on the other hand, will make quick, rhythmic paddling, essential for efficient take-off, more difficult.

For a Downwind-type board, it’s recommended to choose a paddle measuring +5 to +10 cm above your height. This setting will depend in particular on the length and thickness of your board, which influence your stance above the water and your comfort when starting.

SUP foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, on a HIPE NOTW 8'3, HM77 mast, and Sirus setup.