How To Start Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
So you’ve seen photos of SUP yoga on your friend’s Instagram feed, perhaps you’ve spotted a stand-up paddle board rental business near you, stand-up paddle boarding (known by many as SUP) is EVERYWHERE these days. However if you’ve never tried it before, it can also seem quite daunting. If you’re thinking ‘gosh there is no way I’ll be able to balance on that thing’ - you’re not alone. So in this blog, I am going to talk about how to start stand-up paddle boarding.
Firstly, the fact you’re reading this blog and visiting She SUPs is bloody brilliant. Empowering yourself with as much knowledge as possible is the best way to gain enough confidence to give it a go.
Find a good teacher. As SUP is a very accessible sport, many people’s first experience is just ‘giving it a go’ at a hire location. This is great for some, but many have a horrible first experience this way and then it puts them off paddle boarding again. So look for a SUP School backed by a governing body such as ASI (the Academy of Surfing Instructors). With ASI qualified Instructors you know you’ll be setting yourself up for success with a well-structured first lesson featuring information on safety, posture, paddle technique, understanding the environment and tips and tricks to help things go smoothly.
Similarly to finding a good teacher - ensure you have good equipment. Again, many people’s first experiences these days are on cheap boards that they’ve bought for $200-$300 from eBay, Aldi or Kmart. Typically these cheap boards will not provide the best paddle experience for first timers, with many inflatables not being stiff enough for easy standing or designed for efficient gliding making it hard work to paddle. Again, start off with a lesson at a professional SUP School. Learn the basics on a good quality board in order to increase your SUP Confidence.
Standing is not everything. Whether you’re standing, sitting or doing a headstand, SUP is a fantastic way to connect with nature and be on the water. Many She SUPs paddlers start on their knees or bottom for their first SUP Socials, so if you feel more comfortable that way, go for it. It is not a race, and you’ll still have a heap of fun!
EMBRACE the shaky legs… trust me, it happens to EVERYONE. When standing up for the first time, you will shake. Congratulations - this means you’re engaging lots of new muscles in your body and I promise, the next time, things will be easier. During this first lesson, calm the shakes by breathing, smiling and having a chat to the person next to you. Your body and muscles will start to calm down and before you know it you will have paddled your first km!
Surround yourself with supportive women to help you practice. SUP is a very social sport, so after your first lesson, surround yourself with a community of supportive women who can laugh with you when things go wrong, cheer loudly when things go right, and offer support and advice when you’re in a tricky spot.
So there you have it. Six easy steps on how to start stand-up paddle boarding. Let me know what you think via the comments box below!
If you’re ready to book into your first lesson, She SUPs is an ASI qualified SUP School in Sydney, so make sure you check out our SUP Confidence Lessons! Or if you’ve had your first lesson and you’re looking to practice, make sure you’ve joined the She SUPs Community on Facebook to join our tribe of supportive, wonderfully-adventurous women!
Happy paddling!
Vikki - She SUPs Founder & Level 2 ASI Qualified SUP Instructor
