5 Paddleboarding Tips For Beginners

I love paddleboarding for lots of reasons not least because it’s one of the most accessible watersports for newbies.  You don’t have to worry about co-ordinating water-skis or catching a wave at the exact moment you need to.  Lots of people don’t even get wet the first time they try!  It’s an easy sport to get started in because there are so many places you can hire a board and give it a try.  That’s not to say there aren’t things you can do to improve quickly.  Here are my top 5 paddleboarding tips for beginners.

Dress the part

You don’t need any fancy clothes to give SUP a go.  Depending on where you are and when, you might feel comfortable in a wetsuit.  My first go was in Wales in June, and I did wear a wetsuit, which, it turns out, I was glad of!  These days, I prefer to wear a pair of leggings and a t-shirt or just my swimsuit if it’s really warm.  It’s really about what you feel comfortable in.  If it’s cold, I have some neoprene shoes but generally I prefer to be barefoot.

You might wear a personal flotation device (PFD) or buoyancy aid, but again, that’s up to you.  Lots of places that offer SUP hire will only insist on U18s wearing them.  I have one, but for the type of paddling I generally do, I don’t often wear it.  But I always have a leash, which means I’m always attached to my board in case I did fall in.  The board can act as floatation for me, and means it won’t drift away.  My leash is coiled and goes around my ankle but I would look at a leash to go around my waist if I were paddling on faster flowing water or where there might be more obstacles beneath me.  It is important to choose the right sort of leash for the conditions.

Start sitting

Yes, it’s Stand-Up Paddleboarding, but starting seated or kneeling is good advice.  It’s a chance to get your balance, adjust to the conditions, check you’re comfortable with everything.  There’s no rush to stand.  Get on one leg at a time and kneel as close to the centre as you can.  The handle is a good guide.  Find a position that’s comfortable, and you’re off!  It’s very difficult to tip a board from seated.  Once you’re confident, give standing a go.

How you negotiate going to sitting to standing isn’t a hard and fast rule.  Find what works for you.  Some people like to go one foot at a time.  For me, I find it easier to do both at once.  I put my hands down a little way in front of my knees, curl my toes under, and roll up in a single movement, lifting my hands as my body straightens up.  I paddle with my knees slightly bent, and my feet just wider than hip width apart.  Going the other way is a simple reverse of the motion.

Know where you’re going

First-timers will probably not venture far from their launch point, and may have others with them but as you grow in confidence you might feel happy to go it alone.  If you’re planning on any length of journey, plan ahead.  Check out the route, see if others can give you any feedback on it, especially recent comments about parking or launching.  There are lots of forums and groups online.  It might be as simple as knowing to get in and paddle left instead of right because of a sizeable portage, for example.

Checking out the popular spots will also give you an idea of how much ‘traffic’ there will be on whichever water you’ve picked; is it likely to be full of paddleboarders?  Does that matter? Are there a lot of boats in the area? If you’re paddling on a lake or in the sea, stick to the shallow water to start with. I know I said you might not even get wet the first time, but you will sometime and it’s much easier to get back on from shallower water.  Trust me.

Check the forecast

The conditions can change very quickly on almost any body of water big enough to paddle on so it’s really important to check the weather forecast before you set off.  Just looking out of the window isn’t enough – the wind speed and direction is the key thing.  Paddling against the wind is hard work! And it might carry you further than you expected.  There are lots of apps that can help you pinpoint a local forecast, including wind speed and direction.

I recommend only going about half as far as you think you can on your first couple of outings, just so you’re really comfortable with your board, your technique, and you have the strength to get back in case something – like the wind – changes.

Nail some basic techniques

The ultimate rookie error (we’ve all done it!) is holding the paddle the wrong way round.  The blade is curved like a spoon. It might seem obvious to ‘scoop’ water out of the way with the spoon coming towards you, but in fact you should hold it the other way round.  If you’re paddling on the right side of your board, your left hand goes on the top of the paddle and your right hand goes lower, about shoulder width down the length.  If you’re paddling on the left, right hand goes on top.

For the best efficiency, put the whole blade into the water with each stroke, and use your full body power rather than just your arms and shoulders.  Engaging all your muscles groups (core, legs and arms) means you won’t tire as quickly.  Keeping your core and legs engaged also helps with your balance.  And tempting though it might be in the first instance, don’t look at your paddle! Focus on where you’re going. It helps balance too, and keeps your posture right.

Those are my top 5 paddleboarding tips for beginners.  Like most things though, the more you do it, the more confident you’ll become and the more things you’ll pick up.  Try new things, go new places.  Every time you go out, you’ll come back just that little bit better.