Although here at the Paddle Cabin, we love paddleboarding in winter, we know it’s not for everyone. For those that are fair weather paddlers, one of our fave things is welcoming back familiar faces each summer back onto the water!
So, as the warmer months approach (hurray! – how miserable was that winter, am I right?), it might be time to dust off that paddleboard that's been sitting in the cupboard and get back out the water again.
For those who may be feeling a bit nervous about getting back into paddleboarding after the winter months, fear not! With the right preparation, mindset, and our paddleboarding tips, you'll be gliding through the water in 2024 in no time. In this guide, we'll cover 8 essential paddleboarding tips to help ease you back into SUP and make the most of your season on the water.
8. Wash Your Board
Before heading out on the water, take the time to inspect your paddleboard and gear especially when it has been in storage over winter. Check your paddleboard for mould - give it a good wash, use a soft bristled brush to not damage your board), rinse clean and dry. Make sure you clean not just your board, but do the same for your fin, leash, paddle, buoyancy aid, water shoes and dry bag too. We want to make sure that we are not
into the water especially when we first go out.
7. Check Your Equipment
We want to make sure that everything is fully serviced and ready to go so…
Pump up that inflatable paddleboard to its recommended PSI and leave it pumped up overnight to check for punctures
Tighten up that paddleboard valve with your valve key (in your repair kit)
Check your paddle screws if you have an adjustable paddle
'Float test’ your body buoyancy aids to make sure its in good condition and doing its job
Run your hand along your leash and check for dinks and nips, and if you find any, replace your leash
6. Choose the Right Location
For your first few outings, opt for a very calm day, with minimal wind, on safe sheltered waters without river flow or tidal pull. Also pick a quiet day with minimal boat traffic. This will help build your confidence with safe conditions and less hazards to be aware of so you can just focus on paddleboarding! Choose places (check out our SUP Spots blog)with easy access to the water, such as a calm bay, lake or safe stable jetty, where you can launch your paddleboard without any hassle. If you launch from the Paddle Cabin, our friendly team will be there to advise you of the safest route option and can help you onto the water too.
5. Start Off Slowly and Refresh Your Skills
If it's been a while since you last paddled, let’s not jump straight into a big paddleboarding session straight away. It's essential to ease back in gradually. Start with shorter sessions to reacquaint yourself with the basics. Check your paddle is adjusted for your height (you want it to be about a handspan above your head!), take some time to practice balancing on the board, paddle on your knees, practice standing up and coming back down and turning before venturing out further.
4. Take Deep Breaths and Relax
Feeling nervous or anxious about paddleboarding again is entirely normal, especially after a long winter break. To help calm your nerves, don’t forget to breathe when you get on the water, especially when you first stand up. Focus on your breath, look ahead at the horizon, and visualize yourself feeling confident and at ease on the paddleboard. When you first start paddling again, it’s quite common to get sore feet, so stretch out those legs before you stand, and wiggle your toes and lift your heels throughout your paddle to help those feet relax their grip on the board.
3. Buddy Up and Make New Friends
Paddleboarding with a friend or group can sometimes be all the extra encouragement you need. Chatting away can take your mind off what you are doing, having a giggle helps you relax and having someone more experienced than you out with you can just give you a little boost of confidence. Plus, it's always safer to paddleboard with a buddy just in case of any unexpected challenges too. If you don’t have anyone to paddleboard with, don’t fear, the best way to make new friends is by joining our paddleboarding community in Kent – where 90% join our social group as strangers and (never) leave as friends.
2. Book a Refresher Paddleboarding Lesson
Our very top paddleboarding tip is that if you're feeling rusty or unsure of your skills, book a paddleboarding lesson to refresh your skills, learn water safety tips and remind yourself of paddleboarding technique you may have forgotten. Our paddleboarding coaches provide tailored guidance and support to help you regain your confidence on the water in our 121 sessions or group lessons. Plus, our group sessions are a great way to meet other new paddleboarders to paddle with too!
1. Have Fun on the Water
Finally, don't put too much pressure on yourself to paddle perfectly or achieve a certain level of skill right away – it takes a while to rebuild skills and paddleboarding fitness. Set realistic goals for yourself and above all else, enjoy yourself! Paddleboarding is all about connecting with yourself, and with nature, so relax, take it one paddle stroke at a time, and most importantly, have fun!
So, that's it - those are our top paddleboarding tips! Getting back into paddleboarding after a winter break may feel daunting at first, but with the right preparation, we are pretty sure you’ll be rediscovering your love for paddleboarding in no time. And we have got you every step of the way! If you want to chat through any of our paddleboarding tips above, book a paddleboarding lesson, join our community, or visit our paddle board shop in Kent, just get in touch with us - we would love to say hello.
So, now you finish reading this… remember our paddleboarding tips and go grab that board out of the cupboard/attic/garage and get ready to make some awesome memories with your beloved paddleboard this summer.
Happy paddling!
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