Paddleboarding is a sport that is carried out in water requires one’s dedication to learning.
Perfecting one’s skill will take some time and constant practice. The most crucial stage in Sup is learning how to pop up on the paddleboard in the right way.
Hence, you can become an expert in paddling regardless of your fitness levels or age.
It is fun and healthy because you practice endurance and balance. This water sport is easy because of the different sizes, shapes for paddlers.
Moreover, some paddleboards can be used by people of different ages. The one thing that can make paddling hard is diving on a pro-level without the efficient experience and a rough sea.
What is needed to paddle in the correct way and its benefits
Before you start paddling in the water, one has to get the correct gear. You will need the right paddleboard and other essentials that are used during the sport.
Apart from the board, you will need the personal flotation device mostly used by beginners and children.
It can help if you also had a safety whistle and light, which are used when required.
The light is used when it is dark, and you are paddling. In most cases, the whistle is blown in case you need help. Proper clothing is essential for people in paddling.
The clothes include a rash guard, a swimsuit, and a wet suit. Finally, it helps it would be best if you had a leash used to tether the SUP as it is a flotation device.
What are the health benefits of paddleboarding?
Stand-up paddling sport is a way of relieving any stress and can connect you with nature. It also boosts your stamina and the ability to endure in any condition.
While paddling, you improve your body balance; hence you can carry out other sports without difficulties. Like any sport, paddle boarding is not hard when you follow a few steps correctly.
Before peddling, you should make sure that you are on the bigger paddleboard because they are easier to learn from and stable.
Secondly, make sure that you learn from calm, flat water like the lake. It would be best if you practiced on the lake, mostly in the morning or evening when the wind is favorable.
If learning for the first time, you should avoid the ocean due to the chop.
How to make paddle boarding easier
You can make paddleboarding easier by choosing the right size and type of board. This means that the boards are of different sizes and types, depending on the individual’s preferences.
This is because they are built differently according to people’s body type; hence their length can be customized to how tall you are and the paddleboard’s height when off the water.
It can also be tailored depending on your paddling reason, like racing and your strength in paddling.
The paddle sizing methods are many depending on your choice. You can choose from the hand’s up method, share it straight in the eyes, the shaka method, and the Laird Hamilton’s method.
It would be best if an individual has a life jacket for a beginner, preventing any danger or accidents while paddling.
After getting the correct board size, choose the waterway that will be easier to learn and practice. As a beginner, it is important to you use a calm water body as you will not fight the strong waves or winds.
The calm water can be in the lakes and rivers. In most cases, you need to check on your weather condition before paddling for you not to experience any difficulties while paddling.
The third step is getting comfortable by balancing on your board. You can do this by using the most comfortable way that you feel will be easier. You can start peddling by laying, sitting, kneeling, or just standing up. Most of the time, the kneeling position is the best way for a beginner.
As a beginner or advanced paddler, you can exercise to improve your balance. This will make paddling easier for anyone who is learning. Finally, pay attention to your posture and stance to help build an effective stroke; hence make a good paddler.
Beginners can use different types of strokes. That is the forward stroke, reverse stroke, and sweep stroke.
From these strokes, you can choose the most comfortable one. These steps will help you learn paddling faster than expected. After you choose these steps, you have to learn how to peddle.
The procedure involved when paddling
Learning how to paddle is exciting and needs different steps and procedures.
After choosing the correct board and water body to practice, the first step is clearing your fins.
This means that you should clear any sand or debris. After that, use one knee to push off to the water on your Sup to launch. You will need to efficiently launch your paddling by lowering the board nose in the water while you hold the leash.
After which, you can sit on the edge of the dock and place the feet towards the back of your crocodile textured pad.
Once you have done this, get yourself to the edge of the dock to reach the board easily with one hand. Wriggle the dock and settle your knees to the middle. This will make it easier while launching.
You can get the comfort that is required by balancing in the knee position. For you to balance, you have to find your stance and keep your eyes up. If you feel comfortable, you can stand up and paddle.
The peddle should be placed perpendicularly in front of you. For stability, place your hands on the board.
You are expected to place your feet and the shoulder apart in the center of your SUP. This procedure will help you to learn the correct way of peddling easier and exciting.
How to avoid making any mistakes when paddling
When learning how to stand on your board as a beginner, you should avoid making any mistakes that can interfere with your learning process.
The mistakes involve the posture and how you hold the board. To avoid these mistakes, you can;
- Ensure that you have the best stroke to get the correct posture while paddling and get comfortable.
- Avoid standing too far forward on the SUP.
- Avoid looking down while your peddling; hence you will not lose your balance.
- If standing, you should be upright with unlocked knees to avoid injuries
- Place the Sup paddle blade fully into the water.
- Submerge the paddle’s blade in the water and push it backward for you to turn the board.
- Ride waves that you can handle to avoid any accidents
- Always watch the wind before paddling to avoid any difficulties.
You can fall while peddling, but the most important thing is how to get back on the board. If this happens, you will need to aim to the side to fall into the water and not on your board to avoid any injuries.
It would be best if you also hung onto your board while falling to avoid losing your board.
If you want to get back on the board, position yourself in a way that you are next to the board and near its center and grab the handle in the middle of the board with one hand.
While doing that, allow the legs to float, then kick them while pulling the handle to slide onto the board.
In conclusion, stand-up paddling is not hard and versatile, making it easier for a beginner to choose from the vast options. To be a good paddler, you have to practice.
You can do the sport in lakes, rivers, and oceans. The sport only needs enough practice and dedication.
If you experience more difficulty, you can take paddling classes. Apart from that, there are floating tools that are used by beginners.
