Over the past few years paddleboarding has seen a fascinating rise in popularity, with the sport now firmly established as one of the most done in the UK and further afield. Combine the fun that can be had with how accessible this water sport is and it is easy to understand why.
Paddleboarding is a great all round sport, with people of all walks of life regularly taking part. Whether you’re looking to have a relaxing paddle, surf, head to some white water, fish or even do some yoga. Stand up paddleboarding (SUP’ing), has you covered.
In this blog I will set out to show you how to get started in this sport. Including the benefits of the sport, an overview of the equipment you will need, and how you can get stood up and paddling!
Health Benefits
Did you know that there’s so much more to paddle boarding than the activity itself? Paddleboarding is a super fun way to get a full body workout and improve your mood, whilst being out on the water.
Getting stood up and paddling around can give you a great full body workout. SUP’ing is a fantastic way to strengthen your core and legs as you keep yourself upright. As well as your shoulders and arms as you paddle along. Another significant benefit of paddle boarding is the improvement to your balance. As you hone your skills on your board, your balance will improve considerably.
Stand up paddleboarding can also be beneficial for your mood and mental health. Studies have long shown that being near bodies of water can reduce stress. If you combine this with the exercise benefits that come with the sport it is easy to see how beneficial this can be. On your board, outdoors, is an ideal environment to relax. A whole sub-category of the sport has now even sprung up because of this for yoga enthusiasts.
Choosing a paddleboard
When considering what is the right paddleboard for you it is necessary to look at the length, max payload, material, shape and intended use. More and more people are opting for inflatable paddleboards due to portability and cost factors. As well as how capable the drop-stitch technology is in these now, allowing them to get up to super high pressure, giving a very solid feel.
If you are just getting into the sport it is a good idea to go for an all-rounder board such as the inflatable Charger SUP. Check out the details of this board in this video:
What else do I need?
The equipment you will need before you get going on your paddleboard will vary from person-person and use-use.
There are the essentials such as a paddle and a leash for your board. As well as a good high pressure stirrup pump to get your board rock solid if it is an inflatable. But there are also other accessories. Such as an electric high pressure pump for convenience. Or even a paddleboard seat, which is great for staying comfortable and learning on.
Safety wise, it is also essential to get yourself a quality buoyancy aid. Depending on the conditions you may also need a wetsuit to keep you warm!
Where to do it?
When getting into paddleboarding it is always a good idea to consider where you would like to do it! Whether this is at your local canal, or at your favourite beach, it is best to do plenty of research beforehand.
If you are a beginner, calm water is the way to go. This could be on rivers, lakes, canals or the sea (on a very flat day). You should also take the wind into consideration. Fighting strong winds can make paddling and standing up a lot trickier. Little to no wind makes for ideal conditions.
It is always essential to research where you are wanting to go SUP’ing as there are a few things to bear in mind. Depending where you go in the UK there may be regulations for you to navigate. Such as a one off paddleboard launching fee or insurance. For example, if you are planning on paddle boarding on a lot of different canals in the UK. It would be worth getting a waterways licence rather than paying a one time fee for each canal. British Canoeing include this in their membership, giving you access to 4500km of rivers and canals.
How to paddleboard…
First things first, how do you get on your new board? With your board in the water, pull yourself up and onto it. It can be helpful to have someone else hold it steady for you. Once on the board, the best way to get started is to find your balance and slowly get onto your knees.
It’s a good idea to get comfortable paddling on your knees and let your balance adjust before attempting to stand.
Feeling ready to try standing up? Place your paddle across the board with your hands down, and slowly stand up. Be warned, you’re likely to fall in a few times as you learn—even the most experienced paddlers do sometimes! Once standing, take time to get used to keeping the board steady with your feet positioned apart. When you feel ready, begin paddling and practice manoeuvring the board.
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