Stand Up Paddle Board

[vanhoskier]

@va_deb, I have 3 boards: A 12.5' Boardworks Raven touring board, an Amundsson carbon fiber 14' racing/touring board, and a 10' inflatable (I forget the company, but it's a great board). Both my hard boards are very light and easy for me to carry and put on top of my Outback. The Amundsson is the lightest (even though it's the longest). It's also the fastest.

Choosing a board really depends on where you want to paddle and the type of paddling you want to do. For rivers, you definitely need an inflatable. They can handle impacts far better than a traditional board. They are not as fast, though. I do like some speed. I used to race them, which was GREAT fun, but I just don't have the time to travel to races (long drives). My Boardworks Raven is the most comfortable, practical, versatile, and stable of the 3. The inflatable often gets used by my husband's students while doing field work on the Colorado River.

 

[KatyPerrey]

Inflatable Slingshot Crossbreed for me! Love it! 11ft long, 6 inches thick and light. Looking forward to getting out really soon as the weather is finally getting nice in the high country!

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

I just tried SUP today together with my DH. I went to Lake Harmony on Pocono. I took a lesson which was really useful! The instructor was really good.
I had a lot of fun! SUP is harder than it looks, but I was getting the hang of it towards the end of the lesson I almost fell in but jut got squatted down and recovered that way. We even did a little bit of yoga on the board in the end, the poses are much harder on the board then on the mat. I definitely want to do it again!

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I just tried SUP today together with my DH. I went to Lake Harmony on Pocono. I took a lesson which was really useful! The instructor was really good.
I had a lot of fun! SUP is harder than it looks, but I was getting the hang of it towards the end of the lesson I almost fell in but jut got squatted down and recovered that way. We even did a little bit of yoga on the board in the end, the poses are much harder on the board then on the mat. I definitely want to do it again!

I can't wait to try. DH wanted to just do it but I told him that its something we've never done before so a lesson explaining all the nuances would be best. Looks like so much fun!

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

I can't wait to try. DH wanted to just do it but I told him that its something we've never done before so a lesson explaining all the nuances would be best. Looks like so much fun!

I think it's better to take a lesson first if possible.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

I think it's better to take a lesson first if possible.

We definitely will, likely in July when we come back from vacation.

 

[Jilly]

I love my SUP. It's called walking on water and it is. Last Friday night was the first time I did Yoga on the board. Got to say, I can't do it on land, so this was tricky. Two members of the group did do handstands. I was not impressed with the inflatable boards. Moved like a pig compared to mine.

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

I think SUP is officially my summer hobby - I am going tomorrow for the 3rd time and I am excited!

 

[Jilly]

I was out a few weeks ago with the local gym. We got a package with boards included. I will never purchase an inflatable board ever!! My old roto-mold board was faster than those things. Maybe it's right for yoga, but....That night was all about the company, but those boards and a really bad instructor....I won't be back to Go Active..Even the gal that organized it wasn't pleased.

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

I was out a few weeks ago with the local gym. We got a package with boards included. I will never purchase an inflatable board ever!! My old roto-mold board was faster than those things. Maybe it's right for yoga, but....That night was all about the company, but those boards and a really bad instructor....I won't be back to Go Active..Even the gal that organized it wasn't pleased.

Good to know about the inflatable boards!

 

[mustski]

I would love to try it, but everything in my neck of the woods is really pretty choppy - the harbor, the ocean, and Big Bear Lake. The Lake is only at dawn. After that, there is just too high a wind; it gets too blown out.

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

I would love to try it, but everything in my neck of the woods is really pretty choppy - the harbor, the ocean, and Big Bear Lake. The Lake is only at dawn. After that, there is just too high a wind; it gets too blown out.

I hear you. I don't think I would want to paddle in the ocean - I would be terrified to go under and get caught by a current or something. I can swim, but not a great swimmer. Calm water lakes in Poconos are my speed.

 

[WaterGirl]

I have resisted posting here as, well, I'm a SURFER, not a SUPer
however, I do SUP in the ocean when its flat b/c I'm board or on full moons in crazy high tide and surf - either solo or with a few crazy friends ;)

That being said, there is a vast difference in boards, and I just want to share that wide boards create issues.
Please see images below... if you are really paddling long distance, @vanhoskier longer narrow board is the best.
My SUP is an old soft top, its 23 inches wide and 10 foot long. Im 5'4" and its just right, even in the ocean w/ waves.
Boards that are 30+ may be great for yoga and for floating you your first time, but for serious paddling it can tweak your back. Do not be come this guy -- the reach and twist is no good



WRONG

This GIRL IS ALSO WRONG -






RIGHT


Hold your core in and stand up straight, if you lean and twist, thats a problem.
Just sharing

 

[Jilly]

Our instructor that night wasn't even holding the paddle correctly. And she couldn't paddle on side only to keep it straight. I can only paddle left occasionally as I don't want to irritate a shoulder issue. So I paddle right usually. One of the first strokes I learn years ago was the reverse J. I've canoed and did numerous trips in my teen years and now dragon boat. I took some lessons a few years ago from a Paddle Canada certified instructor for the SUP. Best thing I ever did. Did the same thing for Kayak too.

 

[altagirl]

Why assume all inflatable boards are the same?

I have a friend who rented an inflatable that was so under inflated that it nearly folded in half. But then she bought a good one, inflated it properly (duh) and is in love with it.

Don't get me wrong, if you want a racing board, get one. But for fun and touring around, inflatables can be great.

 

[heather matthews]

The first time I tried a SUP was last year in Rarotonga on a yoga lesson.We paddled out to the middle of the lagoon,lashed our boards loosely together facing our instructor,did some basic positions and then fell off.It was just lots of fun and really difficult.I thought that maybe having surfed quite a lot when I was younger would have helped with balance but from the number of involuntary immersions probably not.

 

[vanhoskier]

Just like with skis, paddle boards come in many shapes and sizes. And just like with skis, there is a general relationship between weight and board size/and or volume. Some inflatable boards are VERY nice, so don't discount an inflatable without trying one that's properly inflated!

@WaterGirl , there are more race boards over 23" wide than at or below 23" wide. That narrow width is approaching prone board territory. A lot of competitive race boards are about 25-27" wide. Stability is a factor. I had to sell my 25" wide board because it was hurting my knees to the point that they were swollen after a race. My boards are now 12.5', 30" and 14', 27" and no knee, shoulder or back issues at all.

FYI: SUP races have 2 general categories of board length: 12.5' (stock) and 14'. Longer distance races (Molokai to Ouahu, etc) also have classes over 14'. Some races have a rec category for 10' - 12' boards.

Several SUP race team coaches have told me that getting a stable board is key. You can't paddle hard and race well if you fall off. Been there, done that!

Not all of us have learned to surf or ever will! The way I see it, the more people who get on the water and learn the correct strokes to have fun and build fitness, the better!

Here's professional SUP racer Slater Trout showing how it's done. (And he's also a very nice guy).

 

[Jilly]

My Dragon Boat coach switched from DB to SUP racing. We lost a good coach, but he's having more fun.

 

[surfsnowgirl]

My surf buddies in California SUP when the surf is flat. It's a good water play alternative when the surf is small or non existent.

Here in the northeast surfing is no longer a priority for me so SUP'ing seems like a great alternative activity. We have lots of lakes or otherwise flat water ie the long Island sound. Hoping to get out there on the water one day this summer.

 

[WaterGirl]

@vanhoskier my SUP is a surfboard, and yes you won't find many under 23 inches, it works for me and it was in my family surfboard quiver already. DD can SUP a smaller version of the same board. My comments above are just a reflection of what I see on a daily basis -- a lot of people in really bad form on boards that may float, but yet they struggle to paddle correctly. The SUP market has grown tremendously, there are so many options now - Surf SUPs are much different than Racing, SUPs for Yoga etc.

I have a lot of "opinions" about SUP ing which is why I hesitate to post- yes its great that anyone can get in the water and get a work out -- as long as you are not endangering yourself or anyone else in the line up.