Alpaka 11'0" Mintshade

The BLACK LAMA Alpaka 11'0'' has been designed for all-round use. It offers an ideal mix of effortless gliding and absolute stability. It is easy to ride and fun after a short time as you quickly gain a sense of achievement. The lightweight board is ideal for young people as it can be used for many activities. However, it is also very popular with families with kids. 

Construction: 
The BLACK LAMA Alpaka 11'0" board is manufactured using the well-known single layer technology. This type of construction has clear advantages over double layer in terms of weight and production costs. This enables us to offer an incredible price-performance ratio. In order to achieve good stability, the side rail is glued with not just one, but two PVC layers. This process gives the board more rigidity and more side protection. The EVA pad has the Diamond structure. 

Scope of delivery:

Includes D-ring on EVA pad for kayak seat and side paddle holder 

Why Buy a MINT LAMA SUP?
We want our customers to be satisfied and to recommend us. For this reason, we test all our products ourselves and we are thrilled with the results.

In addition to Drop-Stitch technology, some of our boards are now also made with Woven-Dropstitch material. This technology allows for an incredibly lightweight SUP to be crafted. Thanks to the pre-laminated Double Layer Fusion Technology (MSL), our boards achieve top scores in terms of rigidity, weight, and durability, even though they are inflatable SUPs.
Our production has been successfully manufacturing SUPs as a core business for years, alongside kayaks, boats, and other water segment products. This experience and quality awareness are a guarantee.
Our price-performance ratio is unbeatable. Our sets come with high-quality accessories at a very competitive price.

Visit our showroom and see for yourself. Feel free to contact us for an appointment. We look forward to seeing you!

Which SUP to Buy?
In the SUP jungle, it is not easy to get an overview of the different board types and ultimately choose the right board. Each board has its strengths and is more suitable for a particular activity than another.

MINT LAMA offers various SUPs for different riders and budgets:

The BLACK LAMA Allrounder Single Layer Line:
BLACK LAMA Alpaca 11'0"
BLACK LAMA Origin 10'8"

The MINT LAMA Single Layer with PVC Stringer:
MINT LAMA Family 10'6"
MINT LAMA Adventourer 11'6"

The high-quality MINT LAMA SUPs with pre-laminated Double Layer Fusion Technology (MSL):
MINT LAMA SUPreme 11'6"
MINT LAMA Racer 12'6"

You need to be clear about what and where the SUP will be used. There are boards that are certainly suitable for multiple applications. But fundamentally, a board that is made to race as fast as possible will never achieve the same performance in wave surfing as a board specially designed for that purpose.

Read more about each individual board in the product description to choose the right one for you, or contact us – we are happy to advise you in our showroom.

How Does the Size of the Board Affect the Riding Characteristics?
As a rule of thumb: more volume provides more buoyancy - length runs.

The thicker and wider a board is, the more stable it is. It is easier to stand on and maintain balance because it sits more steadily in the water.
The longer and slimmer the board is, the better it moves forward. This is especially interesting for those who like to be more sporty or want to cover distance.

Short boards are more maneuverable than long boards. They are especially suitable for a mix of paddling and wave riding. Short boards are also ideal for children.
Medium SUPs are the most popular because they can be used in a wide range of areas such as lakes, rivers, or small waves.
Long boards like racers and touring boards are ideal for higher speeds. However, due to their length, maneuverability and stability are affected.

What Should Be Considered in Stand Up Paddling?
A Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) is legally considered a rowboat. More precisely, it is classified as a paddleboat, a subgroup of rowboats.
The right of way follows this order: ferries, cargo ships, professional fishermen, sailboats, rowboats (including SUPs), other motorboats, windsurfers, and kitesurfers.
Anyone who paddles more than 300 meters out onto an open lake or on a river must have a life jacket with them. Wearing it is not mandatory, but recommended. On some lakes, there is a life jacket requirement.
SUPs do not need to have a registration number. However, they must visibly display the name and address of the owner.
At night and in poor visibility, SUPs must be illuminated with a visible white all-around light.
It is highly recommended to check the weather forecast before going out on the water.

How Stable is an Inflatable Board?
The stability is influenced by the shape, width, and thickness. More expensive models often use more modern techniques, more durable material, and are therefore more stable than cheaper SUPs.

How Many People Can Fit on the SUP Board?
Our boards are generally designed for one person. However, with most SUPs, it is no problem to take a second person, child, or dog.
Of course, boards with higher volume and good width are better suited for this and are more stable. The specified user weights can be a good guideline.

How Long Does it Take to Inflate the Board?
It depends on the volume of the board, so no exact time can be given. With the MINT LAMA 2.6-liter double-action pump, it usually takes between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on physical condition. Thanks to the 30% higher volume compared to conventional pumps, there is a noticeable time saving.
At the beginning, the double-action function helps to inflate the board's volume faster. Once it becomes more strenuous, the single-action function is recommended.
If the warm-up before paddling is too much, you can switch to the MINT LAMA electric pump. It can be operated with a battery or via the car's 12V connection.

To What Pressure Should I Inflate the Board?
Most boards need to be inflated to 15 PSI, which is about 1 bar. The exact pressure required for the board is usually indicated directly at the valve or in the operating instructions. We recommend inflating the MINT LAMA SUPs to 13/14 PSI, as a very good stability is already achieved with 13/14 PSI.

Important Note: The board is designed for a maximum pressure of 15 PSI. If the board lies in the sun for a long time, the pressure in the board can increase significantly due to the heat. To avoid overstretching or cracks, it is strongly recommended to reduce the pressure. After sunbathing, the pressure can be increased again, and the SUP can be put into use. When the board is in the water (even for a longer time), the water temperature reduces the risk of overstretching. Damage caused by overheating is not covered by the warranty.

Why Doesn't the Gauge on My Pump Move?
The board needs a certain base volume of air/pressure before the gauge (the pressure indicator) moves. This starts at around 7 PSI (= approx. 110 pumps). Therefore, the indicator is often not broken, but there is a lack of pressure in the board.

How Do I Deflate and Fold the Inflatable Board Correctly?
Deflating a SUP takes a few minutes – just open the valve (press and turn). To squeeze out the remaining air, the board can be folded from the tip. Properly folded, the rolled board fits perfectly into the supplied backpack. Make sure the board is dry before storing it.

Note: Opening the valve creates a loud noise. Protect small children and animals. If it is too loud for you, use one of our Silent Air Removers.

How Do I Adjust the Paddle for My Size?
There are different ways to set the paddle correctly:
Option 1: Height + 10-15% e.g., for a person of 170 cm, set it to about 190 cm.
Option 2: Bend the arm at 90° and hold the hand over the head. Set the paddle to this height. Your arm should be slightly stretched but still able to grip the paddle loosely. It is worth investing in high-quality and above all lightweight paddles, as they are moved with every movement on the SUP. A lightweight paddle makes paddling noticeably easier and increases the fun factor.

How Should I Store / Overwinter the SUP?
The best thing for the board is to store it rolled out and not fully inflated. If space does not allow this, we recommend folding the board loosely so that the material is not too "stressed".
Of course, a dry and not too cold storage room is beneficial. Moisture, UV light, heat, and freezing temperatures can damage the material.

How Do I Clean My SUP?
To keep the board clean, we recommend only water and mild, neutral soap. Cleaners that are too aggressive can attack and damage the material. Special care products are not necessary but can be applied.

Can I Take the SUP as Luggage on an Airplane?
Yes, inflatable SUPs are perfect for this. Best packed well in its own backpack as sports luggage. With some airlines, checking in sports luggage is even free!

Why Is My Board Losing Air?
By screwing and unscrewing the hose thread, air can escape at the valve since these are not glued but screwed. The problem can be easily solved by opening the valve cap and using the key in the repair kit to tighten the valve clockwise again.

Note: To avoid breaking the teeth of the key, it must be fully inserted and seated all the way in the valve.

How Do I Repair My SUP Myself?
The repair kit contains a PVC patch pad and adhesive. These are used to patch an open area on the top or bottom of the board.
First, locate the hole (e.g., you can see it from air bubbles when the board is underwater or by smearing soapy water). Then mark the hole and completely deflate the board. Cut the PVC patch pad to size and roughen the underside. Also, slightly roughen the area around the hole (making sure not to damage the material too deeply). Apply glue, press the pad on, and let it dry overnight. It is best to weigh it down.

Note: There are many SUP repair videos online that can help you properly patch the leak.

Who Can repari a SUP?
Depending on the repair, we can do it. If that is not possible, we recommend contacting the SUP-Clinic (info@sup-clinic.ch) or Segelklinik (info@segelklinik.ch).