Paddle Boarding

How to Get Started

The fast-growing sport of stand up paddleboarding is a fun, easy way to go play on the water. With a minimum of equipment, you can paddle anything from oceansurf to lakes and rivers—no waves required. Paddleboarding offers an amazing full body workout and is becoming a favorite cross-training activity for skiers, snowboarders and other athletes. And since you’re standing at your full height, you’ll enjoy excellent views of everything from sea creatures to what’s on the horizon. It’s almost like walking on water!

You need just a few key pieces of equipment to enjoy this sport:
• Stand up paddleboard: This is by far your most significant gear investment. Sizes are based on the paddler’s weight and experience. More experienced and lighter paddlers can choose narrower boards. Novice paddlers should choose wider, flatter boards, which offer more stability.
• Paddle: Stand up paddles have an angle or “elbow” in the shaft for maximum efficiency. Choose a paddle that’s roughly 6” to 8” taller than you are.
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD ): The U.S. Coast Guard classifies stand up paddleboards as vessels, so always wear a PFD whenever you’re paddling navigable water.
• Proper clothing: In warm conditions, wear shorts and a T-shirt or bathing suit—something that moves with you and can get wet.
• Sun protection: Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. When you’re learning the sport, it’s best to start out in ideal conditions: flat, calm water that’s free of obstacles like boats and buoys. As a beginner, it’s easier to kneel on the board rather than to stand directly upright.

Here are a few pointers to get you started:
• Standing alongside the board, place your paddle across the deck of the board and use it as an outrigger. The paddle grip is on the rail (edge) of the board; the blade rests on the water.
• Hold the board by the rails. One hand will also be holding the paddle grip.
• Pop yourself onto the board into a kneeling position, just behind the center point of the board.
• From that kneeling position, get a feel for the balance point of the board. The nose shouldn’t pop up out of the water and the tail shouldn’t dig in.
• Keep your hands on either side of the board to stabilize it. Once you’re ready, stand up on the board one foot at a time. Place your feet where your knees were. You might also bring a friend to wade out about knee-deep with your board. Have your friend stabilize the board as you get the hang of standing on it.

A few tips to help you keep your balance as you stand upright on the paddleboard:
• Your feet should be parallel, about hip-width distance apart, centered between the rails (board edges). Don’t stand on the rails.
• Keep toes pointed forward, knees bent and your back straight.
• Balance with your hips—not your head.
• Keep your head and shoulders steady and upright, and shift your weight by moving your hips.
• Your gaze should be level at the horizon. Avoid the temptation to stare at your feet.
• It’s much like bicycling: When your forward momentum increases, your stability increases as well. Once you’ve practiced balancing on the board in flat water, it’s time to take off on a paddleboarding excursion—where the real fun begins. Here are some pointers for getting started with the basic paddleboarding stroke.
• If you’re paddling on the right, your right hand is lower and on the paddle shaft. Your top (left) hand is on the top of the grip.
• The elbow (angle) of the paddle faces away from you.
• Keep your arms straight and twist from your torso as you paddle. Think of using your torso to paddle rather than your arms. You have more strength in those abdominal muscles than in your arms.
• Push down on the paddle grip with your top hand.
• Plant the paddle by pushing the blade all the way under the surface, pull it back to your ankle, then out of the water.
• When you’re beginning, keep your strokes fairly short and close alongside the board. No need to overpower it.
• A small draw stroke at the beginning of the paddle stroke will keep you going forward.
• To go in a reasonably straight line, paddle about 4 or 5 strokes on one side, then switch to the other.
• When you switch sides, you’ll reverse hand positions.

Other tips:
• Stepping back on the board or looking over your shoulder to the direction of your turn also helps in making a turn.
• Another turn that works well, especially in surf, is to paddle on your dominant side (left foot forward,paddle on your right side). Really bend your knees and put more weight on your back foot. This allows the board to pivot and turn quickly.
• Stand up paddleboarding is relatively easy to learn, but expect to take the occasional fall as you’re gaining skills.

For those inevitable times you lose your balance:
• Aim yourself to the side, so that you fall into the water and not onto the board. Falling onto the board is more likely to cause an injury.
• If you get separated from your paddle and your board, get your board first, then paddle it to retrieve the paddle.

These mistakes are easy to make when you’re starting out. Try to avoid them and you’ll have a lot more fun on the water:
• A hunched posture. Keep your back straight, shoulders level.
• Staring at your feet instead of the horizon.
• The elbow (bent angle) of the paddle facing in the wrong direction. It should point away from you.
• Having both hands on the paddle shaft. Your top hand belongs at the very top of the paddle, on the grip.
• Standing straight-kneed. It’s much easier to balance with bent knees.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, there’s almost no limit to the watery worlds you can explore on your standup paddleboard. Play in the waves and ocean surf, carve turns or learn new strokes. You might find yourself wanting a narrower, more maneuverable board as you become more adept. Meanwhile, get out there, enjoy the view and have a great time on your stand up paddleboard!