New to Stand up Paddle boarding? Check out this SUP 101 page!
Things you need to know before making your way to the water!
This page is under construction. I’m currently building one with a great design (just like the rest of the website 😉). For now you can follow the links over here:
- How to paddle board
- How to choose a paddle board?
- How to choose the right paddle board size?
- Different types of paddle boards
- Where to paddle board?
How Much Does a Paddle Board Cost?
If you love paddle boarding, getting your own board is an excellent investment. But with so many options, I’m sure it can be confusing as to which one to pick.
The first main characteristic that will make a difference in price and performance in whether you are buying an inflatable one or a hard board or epoxy board.
Inflatable boards are very convenient for transport and storage, and if you get one from the higher price range, they are known to be durable and perform well. However, pay attention to their construction and make sure your inflatable board is made of 2 or more layers of PVC.
The inflatable paddle board cost goes from $500 to $1600. You can find more on the pricing and purchasing the right one in this buying guide here.
Hard boards or epoxy boards, on the other hand, are a little pricier because of their construction and materials used. Even though for beginners, it might not make a huge difference at first, but it is said that epoxy boards provide better performance and speed when paddling or surfing.
Epoxy boards range from $700 to $3000, and you can find the complete buying guide here. It’s essential to follow the basic guidelines on which type of board to buy since they are designed for different activities, and choosing the wrong kind of board can be limiting your water activities.
Read more about the cost of paddle boards here
How to hold a paddle board paddle
Learning to enjoy paddle boarding requires that you learn some of the essential moves of paddling so that you can fully control your board in any situation.
However, before you go on and practice the strokes from this list, it is also important to know how to hold a paddle board paddle in the right way. While you can read the extensive guide on how to hold the paddle in the link above, it is important to note never to grip it overly tightly or put your hands too close together.
This will result in less powerful strokes, and you will lose your energy pretty soon after.
Of course, when picking the best paddle for you, you need to make sure you choose the right size too.
If you pick a shorter one that you actually need, you will be unnaturally hunching over it to reach the water. On the other hand, if your paddle is too long, then your hands will tire too soon, and you won’t be able to make the right strokes with it.
To know if your paddle is the right size for you, do the following:
- Stand the paddle up vertically, so the blade is touching the ground.
- Reach an arm up above your head and notice where it lands on the paddle.
- With a properly sized paddle, the T-grip handle will rest in the bend of your wrist.
With that said, click here for the full article on paddle size, paddle boarding strokes, and how to hold a paddle board paddle the right way.
Read more about how to hold your paddle here
The Best Stand Up Paddle Workouts
Paddle boarding with all its versatility is becoming the number one water sport during the warm months. It’s fun, it’s relaxing and can bring a vigorous workout if you know what you’re doing.
While there are tons of exercises out there that can be done on a board, in this article , I have compiled a stand up paddling workout routine starting from various yoga poses to planks and high-intensity interval training that will get your heart rate up and sculpt your body.
The best part is that working out on board will never be boring. Every time you finish, you will feel more relaxed and balanced just by getting out of the bustling city and its dull gyms. After all, nothing can beat the relaxing waters when it comes to getting a peace of mind.
Read more about Stand Up Paddle workouts
How to Transport a Paddle Board?
Paddle board transport with all its accessories is nothing complicated once you know the base techniques and equipment to secure all your paddle boarding gear. In this article (link to this entire article) you can find all the information you need on:
How to transport a paddle board
Search for the handle in the middle of the board. Carry the board close to you, which makes this easier to do.
How to put a SUP on a vehicle properly
The method of putting your paddle board on will largely depend on the type of vehicle you have. However, as a general rule of thumb, if you’re carrying your SUP board on the roof, then lift the board overhead and place it on top. Or you can lean the board against the rear end of the car and slide it into place.
How to strap down a SUP board
Among other strapping gear mentioned, cam straps are the easiest and most convenient way of securing your board to your vehicle.
Equipment needed to transport your SUP board on a vehicle securely:
- Crossbars
- Rack padding
- Cam straps
- Bow and stern lines
If you need more tips on how to transport a paddle board, read the entire article with tips and guidelines. It is vital that you do the strapping right, so you don’t deform, starch, or damage your board.
Read more about paddle board transport
What is SUP?
Shortly, SUP stands for stand up paddling. This great sport can be done on a river, lake the sea or the ocean and you can do various types of activities on your SUP board such as:
- Yoga
- Fishing
- Relaxing paddling with your dog
- Racing
- Touring
There are also different types of paddle boards that can accommodate all these types of activities such as:
- All-Round SUPs
- Touring SUPs
- Multi-Person SUPs
- Yoga Boards
- Racing SUPs
- Surfing SUPs
- White Waters SUPs
- Windsurfing SUPs
- Children’s SUPs
And while these are the types of boards you can buy if you know what precisely you will be doing on the water, there are 3 main categories of boards that will dictate the price, quality, and durability.
- Inflatable boards
- Epoxy boards
- Soft-top boards
You can read all about SUP meaning and what is paddle boarding in-depth here
Paddle Board Storage
Paddle board storage is very important. However, that will depend on where you live and how much space you have. But whatever you choose, the place where you store your board should:
- Keep your paddle board protected from direct sunlight
- Keep your paddle board away from moisture
- Keep your paddle board from being exposed to extremely high temperatures
Now, before we go into SUP board storage more in-depth, these are the things you must do every time you store your stand up, paddle board:
- Wash and dry your stand up paddle board first
- Remove any internal moisture (for inflatable stand up paddle boards)
- Keep the SUP away from heat
- Keep your stand up paddle board off the ground
Now that you know more about the steps to take before storing your board, here are the most commonly used SUP storage methods:
- With rafters mounted on the ceiling
- With wall-mounted racks
- Freestanding horizontal paddle board racks for one or more boards or
- Freestanding vertical paddle board racks for a single board
Of course, there are other ways and ideas of paddle board storage, and you can read all about how to store your paddle board and how to protect it from the elements and theft here.
Read all about paddle board storage
This list is constantly expanding, so make sure to check this page every now and then! In the meanwhile, you can also follow me on Facebook / Instagram to stay updated 🙂
