Rainy Day Activities for Paddleboarders
It’s raining, it’s windy, there is no chance of heading out on an epic SUP adventure so what should we SUP-addicts do?
Here are a few ideas to keep you busy when the weather gods are insisting you take a break from paddling…
Give your board some TLC
‘Good SUP practice’ is to wash your board after every use, but sometimes, life (and desire to eat food after a long paddle) just gets in the way.
Therefore these rainy days (or weeks) are a great opportunity to give your paddle board a good freshwater scrub. Keeping your board clean and dry will increase the lifespan of your board, especially for those paddling in salt water.
Pay close attention to your fin box/fins, handles, D-rings or mounts as this is where salt and dirt can build up the most.
If you’ve got any hard to remove dirty patches on your deck pad, I find a gentle scrub with an old toothbrush normally does the trick - but keep it gentle!
2. Have a bath with your paddle
You think I’m joking? If you have an adjustable paddle (2 or 3 piece) you should be washing each individual part with fresh water after use. Once again, reality is, that that doesn’t always happen! However, if the paddle stays fixed together and you very rarely take it apart you will get salt build up in the joints and your adjustable paddle may soon become a fixed paddle.
So a quick bath (or shower) in warm water with your adjustable paddle broken into it’s two or three pieces, can help dissolve the salt build-up and keep your paddle functioning like new!
3. Go on a virtual SUP adventure
Got some time to daydream? Take to Google Maps and go exploring some of your bucket list SUP destinations. Whether it’s the lagoons of the Cook Islands, the fjords of Norway or paddling through the centre of New York City - wherever your bucket list destination is, you can explore it thanks to Google Maps.
This process also becomes a great way to learn about planning routes. If you’re looking at a lagoon for example - what does the sand, shapes of the land and colour of the water tell you about currents? How high is the land surrounding the waterway? Would it provide any shelter from the wind? etc etc.
Before long, you’ll have a clear idea of where you’d launch, what route you’d paddle and the desired wind direction for your location… the only thing left to do is to book the trip (when COVID allows)!! Is this what they call manifesting your dreams?? ;)
Here’s a nice lagoon I discovered today via Google Maps… and if the beauty of the lagoon wasn’t enough… there’s apparently A RAMEN RESTAURANT there?? SUP-perfect-lagoon and Ramen!? It’s like the universe was calling me to this place!!
4. Celebrate your SUP achievements!
I don’t know about you, but sometimes with things like SUP, running and other sports, you get so focused on what you haven’t done, that you forget to acknowledge what you have achieved. Especially thanks to ol’ mate social media who likes to distract our thought processes and convince us that we are ALWAYS missing out and MUST DO MORE (which is not true by the way…)
Therefore rainy days are a great opportunity to reflect on your recent achievements, adventures or conquests and be your own cheerleader! I find writing it down is the best way to truly visualise what you’ve achieved. For those who paddle regularly you may choose to list how many hours or kms you’ve spent on the water this month or even year!! I guarantee you’ll surprise yourself!
For some of you, who are new to SUP, you may just want to write yourself a letter about your learning to SUP experience or how you’re progressing towards your goal of standing on a paddleboard:
“Dear Me,
You bloody did it. You learnt to SUP this month AND you didn’t fall in!! Even though you had nightmares about a huge wave crashing over you, and falling off into shark-infested waters, you survived, and you loved it.
What a legend you are!”
I guarantee whatever your achievement, it’s something to be proud of so take these rainy days to become your own cheerleader, stick your achievements on the fridge or inside your wardrobe and smile every time you see them. You. Are. Awesome.
Stay safe ladies!
Vikki - Founder of She SUPs x