Hi Scott! Thanks for the comment. If you are talking about the stock paddle that came with your board, the ATOLL logo should be facing you when you are using it. You can also say it’s the flat side, not the scooped side that you should be paddling with as well. Let us know if that makes sense. You can always reach out to our team directly via email at customerservice@atollboards.com thanks!

Hi Cole!

It comes with 2 patches in case you experience more than 1 hole or tear. Just use one patch at a time. As far as the fin box goes, that sounds like just a simple cosmetic problem. As long as you aren’t experiencing any leaks you should be good to go. However, if you’d like to take a picture of your board and send it to customerservice@atollbaords.com, we’d be able to give you personalized advice on the issue you are experiencing and how to fix it if need be. Thanks!

Hi Kelley! Thanks for the question. Truth be told, you’d do fine on either board. To make the right decision for you, we’d need additional information. How do you plan on using the board? Will you be sharing it with other paddlers who have a bigger stature? Do you plan on carrying any extra gear? Maybe paddle with your dog? (If you have one).

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might want to go with the 11′ board. But for your size, the 9′ board will be more manageable in and out of the water. Let us know if you have any additional questions. You can always reach out to us at customerservice@atollboards.com – we’ll get back to you ASAP. Thanks for your interest in Atoll!