The Uli stand up paddle board is the weapon of choice for the SUP enthusiast.  It’s high quality construction, performance oriented design, overall stiffness and inflatable technology make this board one of the best around. Uli makes two models of inflatable stand up’s.  The 11′0″ SUP is the most popular board in Uli’s lineup. It’s very stable which adds to it’s versatility. Beginners can learn to SUP on flat water, and veterans of the sport can still enjoy it on waves. The 10′0″ Steamroller is the other Uli SUP that we are currently stocking. This board is named after one of Uli’s pro riders.  Steamroller is 6′5″ and weighs 295 lbs. He paddles it on flat water and carves big waves on his board. It’s hard to believe that these things are inflatable!

What separates Uli’s from other SUP’s , is it’s stiffness. This is a direct result of high quality  construction and the stringer system that runs along the bottom of the board (see picture below). The Uli is very stable and fast on flat water. It turns smoothly with no flutter. On moving water, the Uli begins to show it’s true colors. It surfs and paddles down river with confidence.  People that are used to glass surfboards will find that the Uli is not quite as stiff, but still enjoyable.

The stringer

The blue stripe is the stringer that provides stiffness.

The Specs:

The Uli 10′0″ Steam Roller:

Height: 10’0”
Width: 29”
Thickness: 3 7/8”
Weight: 30 lbs

The Uli 11′0″

Height: 11’0”
Width: 29”
Thickness: 3 7/8”
Weight: 33 lbs

Dropping in.....River style.

Dropping in.....River style.

Toe stand splat?

Toe stand splat?

Pealing out

Pealing out

Lean back....

Lean back....

Pros:

The primary advantages of  Uli SUP’s are quality of construction, ultra-portability (see photo below) and high performance design.  All Uli boards are built out of the same material as inflatable military boats. In short, they are built to take a beating. Uli’s are strong enough to be surfed on 20′+ waves, beaten on reef and rocks and surfed directly into the shore on beach breaks.

A great thing about SUP’s in general is that they allow ALL populations to enjoy the health benefits of flat water paddling. Balancing on the board is fairly easy, and works all of the body’s core muscles. It is similar to a pilates workout. After mastering flat water technique, moving water offers even more workout potential as well as unlimited fun! Since the sport is in it’s early stages of evolution pertaining to rivers, you can literally invent tricks and try to master surfing on a variety of river features.

The deflated

The deflated Uli rolls up into a small package and fits inton a backpack. Hike it into your secret break in the tropics!

Cons:

Because the Uli is inflatable, it is not as stiff as a fiberglass surfboard.  It also costs a bit more than some other brands of SUP’s due to it’s superior quality.

The verdict:

The Uli inlfatable stand up surf board is tons of fun for everyone in the family, ranging from young children to seniors. These SUP’s are stiff enough to be aggressively surfed on river and ocean features, yet docile and forgiving on flat water.

Carving

The Arkansas River

The Arkansas River here in Colorado

Flatwater workout in Colorado

Flat water workout in Colorado