CLEVER PADDLE BOARDING TIPS AND TRICKS TO TRY ON YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

Stand-up paddling is the fastest-growing watersport because it’s fun. It’s easy to begin by simply buying or hiring a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) and heading out to the nearest stretch of water.

However, while it’s fun to simply stand on the board and then fall off, at some point you’ll want to progress in the sport. When you improve at paddleboarding, you will be safer on your SUP, you will be able to explore more interesting stretches of water, and you will have much more fun.

The following simple tricks are the first things you must learn if you want to learn how to paddleboard so you can progress and get more from your SUP.

When you feel yourself falling, avoid your board. Most people only get hurt when they land on their SUP. The water is soft, but your SUP is hard. Fall flat instead of feet first. If you hit the bottom feet first in shallow water, any hard object down there will hurt your feet. When you fall flat, you only hit the water, and it will absorb your fall.

Also, hold onto your paddle as you fall. If you don’t, you could land on your paddle and hurt yourself. You might also lose your paddle. If you want to ensure you fall the right way every time, practice falling deliberately in safe locations until falling into the water while retaining your paddle becomes second nature.   

Dismounting from your SUP

Many tourists using hired boards jump off their SUP and splash blindly into the surf. If there’s something under the water or a hard surface, they can easily twist or otherwise hurt their feet. Bring your board into a shallow area, with a soft bottom where possible. Lower yourself into a kneeling position and then step off to the side one foot at a time. Don’t jump.

Don’t be tempted to paddle your board all the way onto the shore. Not only is there a danger of hitting something and momentum forcing you off your board onto a hard surface, but you will also scratch the base of your board. Keep your board undamaged by picking it up in shallow water and carrying it to shore.