SUP Tips for Beginners – Top 5 Lessons

Stand up paddleboarding is a fun and challenging activity that is suitable for just about anyone to take up. This sport is ever-growing in popularity, which means there are constant waves of beginners working to find their footing. So today I want to offer my top 5 tips for getting started, with the hope that your learning curve will be as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Let's get started!

Tip #1: Inflating your Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)

About half the SUPs that are sold these days are inflatable. So if you're one of the 50%, or are in the market for this type of board, I highly recommend investing in an electric pump. This will make the shoreline procedure much easier. Many quality boards are made with drop-stitch construction, which allows them to be inflated to significant pressures.

For example, the ISLE Switch SUP I've been using lately can be pumped up to a rigid 17 psi. That can be an arm, leg, and back-intensive task with nothing but a hand pump, especially compared to non-drop-stitch models that may only go up to a few pounds-per-square-inch.

How hard is it to inflate a paddleboard?

The beauty of an electric pump is that you can just plug it into your vehicle, sometimes even set the desired degree of inflation, and simply kick back for the 10 minutes or so that it will take. Or better yet, get a gentle warm up in while you wait. 

Tip #2: Safety gear for SUP

Do I need a lifejacket on a paddleboard?

Paddleboards are considered a “vessel” by the U.S. Coast Guard, which means you need to wear a life jacket (PFD). Paddling-specific life jackets are the best option because they are comfortable to wear for long sessions, they provide ample range-of-motion for the actual paddling, and they usually have some nifty pockets for snacks, keys, sunscreen, etc.

Inflatable PFD for stronger swimmers

Stronger swimmers can also opt for an inflatable PFD. This comes in fanny-pack form so that when you decide you need the assistance, simply pull the tab and it will auto-inflate. 

The leash on a SUP is for safety

Another key piece of safety gear is a leash that will connect your board to your ankle. This is important because a little gust of wind or bit of current can separate you from your board in a heartbeat. This might leave you unexpectedly scrambling for shore and then in a panic to salvage your SUP. The only time you wouldn't want to wear a leash is while paddling on a flowing river, since it could snag on something like a downed log, an inconvenient rock, or anything else that crops up without warning. 

Tip #3: SUP Kayak Hybrid

For a lot of paddlers, deciding whether to buy a kayak or a paddle board is cause for much deliberation. Thankfully, any stand up paddle board can also be paddled like a kayak. The only real piece of gear you need to pull this off (if you're not concerned with comfort) is a paddle with two blades – some multi-piece paddles even come with different attachments for just this occasion. From there, you can simply sit or kneel in the center of the board and paddle away like you would in a kayak.

Can you use a paddle board like a kayak? 

If you're interested in a more formal, sustainable approach, there are after-market seats that can be anchored to the attachment points that some paddle boards come with. In fact, my test subject as of late (the Isle Switch SUP) is specifically designed to be used interchangeably as a kayak, and even comes with a premium removable seat, footrest, and convertible paddle. If you want to learn more about the Switch, check out my sup kayak hybrid review here. 

Tip #4: Dealing with waves

Though it's good to aim for calm bodies of water on days with cooperative weather, there can always be sections of chop that have to be absorbed. In particular, power boats can send some wake your way at any time.

Get down to lower your center of gravity

If you don't want to take a swim, here's what you do. Get down on your knees (to lower your center-of-gravity), put the paddle on the deck in front of you (to get some extra purchase), and then assume a kneeling position with one knee on either side of the center handle. This will allow you to continue paddling while in a much more stable position.

Point the bow into the waves directly

The next thing you'll want to do is point the bow directly at the oncoming waves so that you can face them head-on, versus taking them from the side and pitching back and forth (or full-on tipping). 

Tip #5: How to get on a SUP

If you paddle long enough, especially if you're a beginner, you're going to fall off your board from time to time. When this happens, you have two courses of action. If you have practiced remounting from in the water (a skill best learned near the shore rather than in the middle of a lake), then you can do so from either the tail or the side.

Stow the paddle on the deck

But first, you may want to stow your paddle in the SUP's deck bungees. Or if you prefer, you can hold it securely in one hand while working your way back on.

Approach the SUP from the side

If approaching from the side, use the center carry-handle to pull your chest up onto the board.

Approach the SUP from the tail

From the tail, you’ll use your hands to push down on the board, giving yourself enough leverage to once again get your chest onto the platform. Either way, you’ll then worm your way to the center, reestablish your table-top starting position and then stand or hop back up. 

Swim to shore if you can't get back on the board!

If you aren't able to get back on from the water, or don't want to bother with these maneuvers, then you can swim to shore, towing your board with your leash, and then relaunch from there. This is a viable strategy as long as you don't stray too far out while paddling. 

Bonus Tip #6: Dress for getting wet

Do I need a wetsuit for paddle boarding? Not necessarily, but you will want to dress for the water, not just the air temperature. If both are warm, then nothing special is required. You can just rock a bathing suit. If the air and water are both cold then that's where a wetsuit, or even a full-blown drysuit come into play.

Drysuits

A drysuit is more expensive, but under those conditions, hypothermia is a real possibility, and so you'll want to invest in appropriate safety gear. The toughest conditions to dress for are when the water temperature is significantly cooler than the air temperature. There's a balance to be struck between protecting yourself from hypothermia but not overheating while paddling in the hot sun.

Wetsuits

I recommend erring on the side of protection, which once again involves a wetsuit. A wetsuit won't be as suffocating to wear as a drysuit, but it will do the trick when you take the plunge. Whatever you choose, at least make sure that it keeps you warm whether it's dry or wet. Cotton is not the way to go!

Extra Bonus Tip #7!

Check out the free online safety course offered by the American Canoe Association (ACA) and the U.S. Coast Guard. This will prepare you for all eventualities while out on your SUP (or canoe, or kayak). Even if you're a seasoned vet, it never hurts to brush up on your basics. 

If you're new to stand up paddle boarding then I hope this article answered a few of your questions and got you excited to hit the water. For more information about paddling, gear-reviews, and to share vicariously in my Paddle Tales adventures, check out PaddleTV. 

Other paddling gear I use and recommend

NOTE:  These are affiliate links where I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you, but it’s a great way to show your support. Thanks!     

FOOTWEAR  

PADDLING SHIRTS / TOPS  

PFD’S – LIFE JACKETS

OTHER PADDLING GEAR  

SUNGLASSES

WileyX