SUP has been enjoyed for decades but we love that now, as one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, we see paddleboards on every river and lake that we see!
So you're a new paddleboarder! You bought your new inflatable stand up paddleboard, unwrapped it, tried it out, realised you absolutely love it, have all the gear but maybe not all the idea? Don’t worry, you are not alone! We have pulled together our top tips for new paddleboarders to get yourself set up properly to keep you safe and happy.
Keep yourself safe on the water
Make sure you practice getting back on your board by yourself (self rescues) in case you fall in (and you will, we all do, it means you are learning!)
Dress appropriately for the water temperature not the air temperature. Yes, in summer, quick dry tops and leggings may be enough to wear, but any other time of year, neoprene is your new best friend. Leggings, tops, boots, hats, gloves – you can find it all. In the winter, wetsuits or drysuits will keep you warm and protected - check out our winter paddleboarding kit blog for more.
Wear a buoyancy aid or a waist airbelt personal floatation device (PFD) when you paddle. It is like wearing a seat belt in your car, you don’t expect to need it, but you wear it just in case."
Not to be a nagging parent but always take two forms of communication. Take a whistle, tell someone where you are going, when you will be back and take a phone with full battery in a waterproof case. Apps like Paddle Logger and Geo SUP App can make this super easy.
Make sure you wear your leash! For river paddling, quick release belts that go around your waist enable you to release yourself from your board easily in case of an emergency and are worth every penny.
Learn the ways of the wind and the water
Wind is not a paddleboarders best friend, so always check before you go and learn what wind speeds is in your comfort zone. As a rule of thumb, I rarely go out over force 3 or 4 winds but learn your local spots, which ones are more sheltered and what different wind directions feel like on the water. There are lots of weather apps like Windfinder, Windy and XC Weather, that can help you plan.
Working together (or against) the wind, is the flow of the water. Be aware of the recent weather and rainfall and how this may affect your local spot. River flow can vary depending on rainfall but you can set up alerts for your local spots so you are notified when the rive flows are safe or strong.
If you are going out on the sea, tides can be very strong so always check the tide times online (including the water depth) to help you plan up to a year in advance. As a general rule, paddle with the direction of the tide. Paddling one hour either side of high or low tide on the sea is slack water so the current is less strong - so go with the flow and turn around and come back when it turns.
If you are not sure, the best thing to always do is paddle against the wind and against the flow for the first half of your paddle so you know you can get always get back.
The beauty of SUP is discovering amazing paddle boarding spots but you do need a waterways license to paddle on most water inland in England and Wales. You can buy an annual membership that cover most waterways, but not all. This helpful guide explains more, but you can be fined if you paddle without a licence. Your fee goes towards maintaining and protecting our waterways so it’s all for your own enjoyment really.
If you are on a river or canal, learn how to portage using canoe portage points to manoeuvre round a lock safely to protect your board. Basically, climb off, pull your board out, carry everything and get back on the water past the lock, securing all your belongings safely.
What else do I need to know as a new paddleboarder?
Paddleboards and paddling gear ain’t cheap so it’s worth spending time looking after it. Wash your board and equipment down regularly with water and an eco-product that will keep your board clean and free of invasive species (I love Supscrub). Washing your board stops you carrying unknown seeds, creatures, algae and bacteria to different waterbodies and unbalancing fragile ecosystems as you explore. Make sure that you always dry your paddle board to protect it from going mouldy, and store it at room temperature to help your board last longer.
The best thing you could do is tohave a lesson or some coaching to learn how to forward paddle, turn efficiently and get back on your board safely. You would be surprised how many new paddleboarders have their paddle the wrong way round when they start (yup I did too). Just one session to get your started can open your eyes to the possibilities of where your SUP life can take you. It can help you meet your goals, go for longer or faster, minimise and prevent injury or help you build fitness to make your paddling more enjoyable.
Take only photos (and litter out the water) and leave only ripples. As more paddlers join the paddle way of life, we all aim to promote an inclusive and friendly culture that is welcoming of people learning, respectful to fellow water users and to the environment.
So...that's it! Your paddleboard is about to open up a whole world of adventure for you and we can't wait to support you on your journey. The question is now.... where to go? Let us help you with that! Happy paddling!
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