Paddle Boarding

Thanks for the advice.

I tried a massive very stable board on the non Tidal Thames a few days ago, so today the hire place said try a shorter narrower board.

It was thinner too as in less thick.

It was actually an Itiwit, a Decathlon board. 10ft long and 30ins wide.

I was far more wobbly on it at first but then got more confident. I seemed to be permanently balancing and adjusting as it felt unstable yet fun. It was quicker too.

It tended to submerge on the side I was paddling when making progress. It was bloody light when I climbed back up the bank when I'd finished.

Since looking it up I see it's upper suggested rider weight is 80kg. I'm 80.5kg.

I always wear a PFD in a kayak and on these SUPs as I'm not the most confident swimmer without one.

Well that's 3 sessions in 5 days, think I'm hooked.

I’m fortunate enough to live a 30 second walk to Poole Harbour and during the summer months we sup 3 or 4 times a week.

I’ve got no balance at all, plus I’m very tall so I tend to watch my wife and kids from the harbour wall.

It’s such a great way to spend a few hours and relatively cheap, once you’ve got a board obvs.

I like watching noobs pumping up their boards without pulling the valve out

And the row between couples when the bloke has taken over.*




*Not that I've been there...

I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you on this point. It's all about technique. Get the technique right and you should be able to paddle and steer on one side. I always paddle on the right-hand side of my board and will only switch occasionally if I need to 'brake steer'. I can paddle straight and true, with no zig-zagging. It is possible to turn the board to the left or right from that one side but in a controlled way. Plus, if you're constantly switching sides, you're been less efficient with your paddling. Practice your technique and you should be fine

I also find that I can control the direction of the board (to a small degree) with my feet by shifting my weight from one foot to the other; something you do when windsurfing.

And because a shorter board is generally more maneuverable, it should be easy to track in a straight line when paddling on one side because you have more control over how the board turns. Longer boards are much slower to turn so the adjustments you make when you paddle have less effect on where the board goes. It's all about small but constant adjustments

There’s quite a few PH’ers that live this way, you’re not ‘arry are you?

I have this idea of making a ‘straddle board’, something much like a paddle board but with some large indents so that you don’t have to sit quite so wide legged. Kinda like a squashed figure of 8 sort of thing.

Feel free to patent and give me 10% of the profits

Cheers Charlie for more words of advice. Ta.

The big boards were 12ft and 34ins across, rode much higher. Looked about 6ins deep.

That's quite wide for a 12ft board which is probably why it felt so stable.

You said the shorter board you tried tended to submerge on one side when you were paddling. Assuming your standing position was correct, I wonder if the shorter board you tried was inflated correctly?

it’s not me!

I would but I’m busy on my special board wheels for rolling them down to the entry points. So if you see someone down by the harbour with paddleboards on top of a baby trailer you’ll know who it is

I'm sure my years of Windsurfing must help with me being used to the feel of a board under my feet (short boards and long race windsurf boards). I appreciate how every subtle movement can have an impact on direction. I'm far from being an expert on a SUP though. It is just for leisure. Having said that, from Spring until Autumn, I'm out on my SUP for 2, 3 or days every week and for between 4 to 8 hours each time. It all helps with perfecting techniques. I guess where you paddle will have some impact too and also the shape of the paddle blade. I have used a 'short' SUP and agree, it took more effort to keep it straight and true. Having a shorter board wouldn't suit me and the sort of paddling I do.

And my suggestion about practicing your paddle technique on land comes from windsurfing too. Back in the day, I used to help a friend of mine (a qualified instructor who ran a windsurfing school) with some basic instruction (I had my RYA Level 5 in windsurfing). As well as the extra long 'tandem' board (2 or 3 sails) I mentioned in an earlier post, we had a 'dry land' windsurf board. It was basically a stand that the board was mounted onto. The stand pivoted (360 degrees) so we'd rig a sail and get people to practice what we'd shown them on there first. Once they had a basic grasp on land, we'd let them loose on the water. Obviously, with a SUP it's a bit more difficult because you won't have any movement but if you visualise what the paddle will do (don't stand on the board, standing on the floor will do), I'm sure it will help. Make sure you know what to do with the paddle first by checking out the various YouTube SUP instruction videos. I can't recommend any because I honestly haven't looked.

Interestingly, I was out on my SUP this afternoon for approx 5 hours. I thought I'd analyse my paddling technique (not something I normally do). I've already posted some tips about how the paddle blade should enter the water so check back through this thread for that. When I'm paddling I have my hands approx 3ft apart (I'm just under 6ft tall). Paddling on the right side of my board so my left hand is at the top of the paddle holding the T bar shaped handle and my right hand down the shaft of the paddle. Imagine forming a triangle between the paddle shaft and your arms. I should probably mention the length of the paddle. Mines a 3 piece adjustable so on a level surface (not on the board), with the bottom of the paddle blade touching the floor, I have the handle extended so that the bend in my wrist is level with the T bar on the paddle. In other words, If I bend my wrist, my hand will rest on top of the T bar. This ensures that the blade enters the water correctly when I'm on the board. You don't want too much or too little of the blade in the water. I might make some very minor adjustments to the length of the shaft whilst out on the water, dependent upon conditions.

When I'm paddling, I'll bend my knees slightly and then reach out with the paddle (just a few feet in front) before putting the blade fully in the water. I keep my arms quite straight and try to have the handle as near verticle as possible. I pull the paddle down the side of the board and just behind me before 'slicing' the paddle out of the water (difficult to explain in words). I noticed that I have the paddle blade at approx 20 to 30 degrees to the side of the board but will adjust that angle constantly in order to track straight. Again, it's quite difficult to explain this in words. Try to use your core to paddle, not your arms.

If I need to make a sharp turn I'll do a number of things. I'll make a 'sweeping' arc with my paddle. In other words, stretching out in front, then pushing the paddle out before pulling the paddle back in towards the board in a sweeping semi-circular arc towards the tail of the board just behind me before 'slicing out' of the water; carving an arc. I might also use a 'brake' turn or reverse paddle as I think some people call it. I'll place the paddle into the water just behind me, near the tail of the board and then pull the paddle forwards towards the front of the board. This slows the board down and helps it to turn at the same time. I'm quite aggressive with this movement. I'll then switch sides and use the 'sweep' to make the turn. If I need to turn quite sharp, I might alternate between the two actions.

If I need to make a really sharp turn, I'll use the 'pivot turn' or 'step back' turn. This is a much more advanced technique. It reminds me a little of a 'fast tack' or 'non-planing gybe' on a windsurf board. I know it's not exactly the same before anyone points it out. I don't use this technique very often (hardly ever) because the conditions where I paddle don't really warrant it.

At the moment, I'm quite restricted to paddling on the right hand side because I'm still recovering from a sprained wrist (my Mountain Bike had an argument with a tree and I lost ). I will switch sides sometimes but will paddle for a long time on each side, rather than constantly switching.

I think this thread has changed from what I initially intended it to be. I thought I'd put up a couple of pictures to see if others are into the sport. Then the questions came which is why I tried to give a few hints and tips. I think your advice was great RobM77 because it appears a few people are still thinking about getting into it. It's a huge minefield and if you get it wrong at the beginning, there's a danger that you'll fall out of love for the sport before you even start. Being taught properly like you were, would be a wise move if you have no experience of 'boarding'.

Have fun everyone and share your pictures if you have any. I planned on taking my camera with me today but I'd forgotten to charge the battery

I think you have less flexibility with a Kayak. You can't take another person with you on a single seat Kayak and paddling a 3 person Kayak on your own is very difficult. You're also restricted to sitting 'in' a Kayak. On a SUP, you can stand, kneel, sit or even lie down. And you can carry stuff, especially with Long SUP's. I can take my partner out on mine sometimes. She sits whilst I stand and paddle. She can't swim but always feels quite cpmfortable when she's out with me. I guess you can paddle further with a Kayak. Someone here commented on a 5 day trip they made with their Kayak. It could be done on a SUP but I wouldn't fancy it much.

As WindyCommon said. You can get a seat (more of a backrest) to secure to your SUP if you want to.