After moving away from beach over 15 years ago and only getting my beach fix once or twice a year, I needed to find a way to bring the beach to Denver. So three years ago I purchased a paddle board. While I will be the first to admit that paddle boarding on a reservoir at 5,600 feet above sea level is not the same as surfing at sunset, paddle boarding is a lot of fun. Just last weekend we invited several families to a day at the beach, Colorado-style. I gathered up three paddle boards and headed to a local reservoir and spent the entire day teaching my friends and their kids, ages 8-48, how to SUP for the first time. The adults, more than the kids, expressed concern in their ability to paddle but most of the were standing and paddle on their own with 5 minutes.
So I thought I would share some tips on having a success first experience on a paddle board.
Taking a lesson v. trying it on your own
In my opinion, paddling is something that you can try without taking a lesson. Sports like skiing or snowboarding requires a much higher level of skill and carry a high enough risk of injury that starting with a lesson is almost a must or at minimum a full day of support by a very patient and skilled friend. Paddle boarding on the other hand doesn’t take a full day to pick up. But if you are the type of person that likes the instruction of an expert then by all means take a lesson. The one recommendation I do have is about location. If at all possible try SUP for the first time on calm water on a day with very little wind. If you can avoid waves and wind you have a much more enjoyable experience. If you are looking for a lesson, use a site like Yelp as it gives you an opportunity to read the reviews of others. Most companies that rent boards also provide lessons and vise versa. Paddling is a very social sport so consider trying it for the first time with a friend.
SUP Basics
Unlike learning a sport like snowboarding or tennis, paddle boarding doesn’t require a strong focus on technique or rules in order to get going and enjoying yourself. I should preface the basics by saying that I am not a trained expert but I found these tips helpful when getting started. If you are looking for more or want to see what this looks like in action, go to YouTube where there are tons of videos to watch.
Equipment
This is pretty basic. Board, paddle, and pfd (personal flotation device). The board is basically a longer, wider, and thicker version of a surfboard. Its size will provide you with stability and a decent arm workout when you carry the board. The paddle has a blade on only one end, much like a canoe paddle, with a knob at the other end. There is a front and back side to the blade, see image below, so make sure it is facing the right direction. I can’t stress the importance of a pfd enough. It doesn’t matter how strong of a swimmer you are, always carry one with you and ideally wear it when you are paddling. I have a fanny pack style pfd that I wear because of its small size.
How to paddle
To go straight, take 2-3 strokes on one side of your board and then put the paddle on the other side of the board and repeat. If you take more than 4 or 5 strokes on one side of the board you will slowly start turning in the opposite direction. So if you are paddling a lot on the right side of the board you will head left.
Holding the paddle properly is pretty easy. Place one hand on the knob which is located at the top of the paddle with your other hand a bit more than shoulder-width down the shaft of the paddle. If your right hand is on the knob, the blade should be in the water on the left side of your board. The reverse is true. Left hand on the knob, right hand on the shaft and the blade will be in the water on the right side of your board.
To paddle place the blade in the water start near the front of the board and drive it through the water heading towards the back of the board. Front to back. When you rent the board and paddle make sure they adjust the length of the paddle based on your height. As a rule of thumb, the paddle should be your height plus 10 inches.
Start on your knees
Every board has a sweet spot. What does that mean? Basically a spot on the board where you aren’t standing too close to the front where the front (nose) of the board is dipping into the water and not too far back where the back (tail) is dipping into the water. The sweet spot is usually about half way in the middle and is often very close to the handle which makes sense.
I recommend that you start out on your knees, actually what I call your “high knees”. Place your knees at the sweet spot (find the handle) and they should be almost shoulder width apart. Take your 2-3 strokes per side. Try this for a few minutes as you are getting comfortable on the board.
How to stand up
- While on your knees, place the paddle on the board in front of you with the paddle lying across the board. Place your hands shoulder-width apart on the paddle. Basically you are on all-fours in the position.
- Curls your toes under.
- Push against the paddle and raise you knees off the board. In this position it is almost like you are doing a push-up with your butt up in the air.
- As you move into a fully standing position, bring the paddle up with with you. As soon as you are standing, feet shoulder width apart, start paddling. Don’t worry about form at this point. What you will find when the board is moving you will feel much more stable.
Form and function
Last weekend when I was teaching my friends to paddle, I tried to keep the lesson short and simple trying not to get too hung up on form. My goal was to get them standing within a few minutes and feeling comfortable knowing they would figure out the details (form) as they spend more time on a SUP. So in the early days don’t get too hung up on form, just focus on function.
Final thoughts
Paddle boarding is a great way to get some exercise while either getting away from it all or hanging out with friends. It also provides you an opportunity to explore. The Gulf Coast of Florida is an amazing place to SUP with clear warm waters that rarely has significant wave action. On several occasions I have gone for an early morning paddle and had the beach and water to myself. There have been times that I have also shared the water with a school of sting rays as I was paddling. Don’t worry they are harmless. When you are in Anna Maria check out Beach Bums for great boards to rent. In fact, if you rent the Beach Cruiser between now and the end of October you will receive a $100 Beach Bums’ gift certificate. Click here to learn more about that offer. Happy paddling!