SurftechAlta Madera

Who is it for?

If you’re looking for a high quality, sustainably sourced standup paddleboard that is designed for surfing, take a look at the Alta Madera from Surftech. This paddle board is priced at $1,425 and sits at the higher end of the mid-tier price point in terms of affordability.

This board is great for performance surfing but works equally well for all around, flatwater paddling. Due to the size of the board at 9’8” x 29”, this board would be best for intermediate or advanced paddlers.

First Impressions

The Alta in Madera construction is a brand new addition to the Surftech SUP lineup and she’s a beauty. Immediately the simplicity of the design in terms of the graphics and the use of the bamboo really make this board stand out. It’s really a stunning board that can easily double as something to put on display.

Something to highlight here is the new construction itself that really caught our attention. The Madera construction here is sustainably sourced which is a great feature in of itself and shows the care and consideration that Surftech as a brand has when designing boards. Love it.

When it comes to add on’s the Alta doesn’t feature a lot of bells and whistles which can be viewed as something positive or negative depending on what you’re looking for in a board. If you’re looking for a performance surf SUP, add on’s like d rings, holders, bungees and more aren’t something that typically make the board perform better so in this sense, it’s a plus.

But, if you’re looking for a board that has more to it than a good construction and shape then you might want to check something else out. In our minds, the lack of add on’s here is not a negative point and it speaks to the quality of the board itself. They really focused on the design and construction here as you can tell in its appearance. The diamond tail feature in the design helps the board feel shorter than it actually is, which is a nice feature to have in a performance surf SUP. The fin setup is also a pretty versatile one which is really nice to have, not just for surfing purposes but for when you’re flatwater paddling as well.

With the 4+1 fin setup you’re options are really versatile and you’re able to tailor the performance of the board to the conditions you intend on putting it in. On the water, the board was really easy to maneuver and didn’t feel too unstable for the width.

However, beginner paddlers, especially on flatwater, will most likely struggle paddling this board since it is of shorter length and width which affects the overall stability. Something to keep in mind. Carrying the board to and from the car and in and out of the water was a breeze with it being so lightweight (18lbs).

Overall, this board is a great option for intermediate and advanced paddlers looking for a quality surf SUP that will last and perform well and for that we give it an A-grade in the surf category.