LE MAGAZINEOur tips for learning stand up paddle boarding
Learning stand-up paddleboarding is not rocket science, all beginners go through it. By following these few tips, starting paddle boarding will be a real child’s play for you!
The ideal spot to learn stand up paddle boarding
For the first launch, choose a calm body of water with an easy launch. A departure from the beach will be easier to get on your paddle. Once you’ve found your balance, you can try your hand at starting from a pontoon or slipway.
Which SUP to start with?
To learn stand-up paddleboarding, it is better to choose a wide paddle board with a round nose. This will give you maximum stability during your sessions. The thinner, pointy-nosed boards are more for the search for speed and performance.
Our inflatable paddle boards specially designed for beginners
Easy 10′ and 10’6
Malibu 10′ and 10’6
Girly 10′
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The first paddle session
1 – Adjust your paddle properly
In order to be comfortable and have the best possible performance, it is important to adjust the size of your paddle paddle. To do this, all you have to do is open the adjustment system and then position your paddle vertically in front of you. Extend your arm upwards and adjust the height of the paddle so that the handle is level with your wrist (about 15 cm above your head). Finally, all you have to do is close the adjustment system.
2 – Start on your knees
In shallow water, start by kneeling on your paddle board to familiarize yourself with balance. Place your paddle on your board perpendicular to your knees until you get down on your knees. When you’re on your knees, take it in your hands to help with your balance. Once you feel comfortable, you can start paddling. In this way, the gesture and the balance will integrate themselves little by little.
3 – Don’t be afraid to fall
Don’t worry about falling, it’s okay to fall into the water. In addition, with an inflatable paddle board you really have very little chance of getting injured.
To avoid hurting yourself by falling, when you feel an imbalance, avoid plunging forward or backward. The best thing to do is to let yourself fall into the water on the sides of the paddle while holding your paddle forward so as not to fall on it.
How to paddle stand-up paddle?
This question may seem very simple, but when you learn to paddle for the first time it is not innate.
1 – Hand positioning
Place one hand on the handle at the top of the paddle and the other near the middle of the paddle, as shown. When paddling on the other side, simply reverse the position of your hands.
Be careful to hold the paddle in the right direction so that you can move forward. To do this, the “hollow” side of the blade of your paddle should be in your direction, i.e. facing the back of the board.
2 – Moving forward
To get your board forward, you need to paddle 2 or 3 strokes on one side, then 2 or 3 on the other. Fetch the water far to the front of your paddle and bring it back to your feet by pulling with your lowest hand. To move forward properly, the entire blade must be extended into the water.
Video Presentation
3 – Rotate
To turn on a paddle, you have to draw an arc with your paddle on the opposite side to the one you want to go to. Repeat the maneuver until you are going in the desired direction.
To quickly turn or turn around while stand-up paddleboard, step back onto the board, and do the same motion with the paddle while pressing down on the back of the board. In this way, the back of the paddle will sink slightly and thus make a pivot point to turn quickly.
Check out our full article to learn how to turn in stand up paddle boarding.
Have fun!
The most important thing is to have fun. No need to look for performance at all costs! This will come quickly with time and experience. Once you’ve got the basics, the possibilities will be endless!
If you still have questions about this, or for any other request, please do not hesitate to contact us !
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