Paddle Boarding

[CharlieAlphaMike]

dirty boy said:

I'm a SUP surfer, just back from a very flat week in Pembrokeshire, although Fri/Sat were ridable (just).

I'm on a JP 10'2" when I surf and one comment....inflate it to the max of permissable range, if not and it's a cheapo one, it'll have too much flex and track the wave, I take the iSUP due to space, I had a 6'6" and 7' boards with me too (plus 5 bikes and 5 bodyboards all in a VW T4!)

It's doable and fun, but a rigid board will be so much more compliant in the surf, really noticeable.

That being said, if it's surf, then I tend to surf!

The first few days last week were absolutely flat and blazing sunshine, so paddling off around a rugged coastline is a truly wonderful experience (take the appropriate gear!)

I tend to SUP on the river mostly though, purely because there I can have a destination, stop, have a picnic or at the pub, then paddle back. Inflateables are really robust so in that respect, they win over.

I've sold my rigid, but only because it was an old Bic and i've got my eye on a Hypr Hawaii! That being said, the iSUPs will undoubtedly get more use, until next year where, weather permitting, I intend to paddle around Ramsay island.

Great to have the views of a 'surfer'. I agree with you. If you want to surf, buy a dedicated surfboard. Windsurfer? Buy a windsurfer board. Whilst SUP's might look similar, they are different in their use. They compliment the others but can't replace them in the same way that I wouldn't want to 'paddle' a surfboard/windsurfer. Your JP is a rigid board I assume?

iSUP technology has improved massively in recent years. I've highlighted the technical aspects of iSUP construction elsewhere in this thread. If you inflate them to the max, they are unbelievably rigid.

Good luck with the paddle around Ramsey

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Nemophilist said:

We have recently started looking into paddle-boarding.

So far our experience on water is only in kayaks and canoes.

Based on a usability and practicality point of view would it be worth total newbies looking at buying paddle boards? It would be for use on rivers only.

Yes but read through the advice and tips I've given in this thread first in order to make the right choice for your personal needs.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

guillemot said:

Would anyone have any advice for a better paddle please? I bought a couple of inflatable paddleboards a while back and would now like to change the paddles. One broke, and as I use mine often in kayak conversion (OH prefers to kneel/stand) the fixing points are exactly where I’d like to put my hands which isn’t mega comfortable.

Is this something that I’ll find with all foldable paddles or are there some that people would recommend particularly? I hunted around a bit but lots of different options with varying reviews. I don’t particularly want to go one piece as storage on board is an issue then as we use them off the back of the boat.

From a performance perspective, I think Full Carbon Fibre paddles are the best. They are light, stiff and strong. They are a little unforgiving though because of their stiffness; i.e. there's no flex in the blade which means you need good upper body strength to move the blade through the water in the most efficient way.

You can buy one piece, two piece or three piece paddles so you have a choice for your own convenience. With two or three piece paddles you'll have some very slight movement in the paddle shaft but you'll hardly notice it in everyday use.

There are downsides. They're expensive (compared to aluminium, plastic bladed paddles). They can be fragile if mistreated. Be especially careful not to stand on them when you store them on your boat. The blade edges can chip and crack but you can minimise the risk of that happening with a blade edge protector (think PPF). I have one on mine and would highly recommend you do the same.

Beware of carbon/fibre glass mix paddles. There's nothing wrong with them per-se. They're a good compromise but for a little extra money, you can get a full carbon paddle. Read the spec details carefully because it's not always obvious.

Blade shape is also a consideration. If you read back through this thread, you'll find some hints and tips from me about blade shapes.

If you haven't guessed already, I use a full carbon paddle (an NKX) and wouldn't use anything else now.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

cptsideways said:

A fellow windsurfer too, have now gone to the dark slow side. On a windless day it's a great way to keep yourself occupied if your already at the water.

Our red setter loves it too ??

I'm just about to head out from our campsite overlooking the sound of mull this morning ??

Edited by cptsideways on Saturday 27th August 09:30

Welcome to the more relaxed way of getting onto the water. I haven't windsurfed for a few years now. I got rid of all my gear when I left the UK. I miss it when the wind is blowing but I love being on my SUP, albeit for different reasons.

I've been out 4 times in the last 10 days and plan to be out a lot next week. Conditions have been flat calm, no wind and sunshine. I like it when the sea is rough but it's nice to relax on calm water too sometimes

Enjoy Mull. It looks idyllic.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Itsallicanafford said:

Afternoon all. I have my eye on a number of RED boards, any idea when end of season sale starts (if they have one?). I see they are giving away a free deck bag and bottle for orders upto 31.08.22, so maybe after that?

I honestly don't know but for the last couple of years, demand has far out stripped supply so you were very lucky to get a discount on anything. I'm sure that's changed now so you might find discounts appearing.

Now that autumn is just around the corner and depending upon where you are in the world, you've missed the summer season so I guess you're not in a rush to buy. If that's the case, I'd simply hang on until deals appear.

Also consider the fact that new equipment/designs will be on the horizon before the start of 2023 so if this year's stock is surplus, that's where you'll find the best deals.

Since posting this, I had a quick look at a few websites and some are already advertising end of season sales, with big discounts. Not much to you I'm afraid because I'm not in the UK but my advice is to get on the internet and see what's happening.

Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Tuesday 30th August 16:58

[CharlieAlphaMike]

towser44 said:

What do the regular boarders on here do about licences? We have a decent area of river by us which doesn't fall under CRT rules, but just past the bridge in the opposite direction it does. I see from the CRT website that most rivers and canals require a licence and I may be wrong, but I suspect a lot of people don't bother or are oblivious to the need to have one? I checked it out and it's around £100 for a family licence for a year, which isn't bad but interested in what others do? I know a lot of lakes etc in Wales and Lake District for example don't require licences, but we have a lot of rivers and canals near us that I'd like to do.

I can't help with this because all of my paddling is done on the sea. Hope someone else has some knowledge they can share.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

I hope everyone has been enjoying their Paddle Boarding this year. Unfortunately, I've only managed to get out on my SUP 4 or 5 times this year because I've been so busy with other things (all good). It's unlikely I'll get out again before the end f 2022 but I haven't packed my board away for winter yet and I have a shorty wetsuit so I might manage 1 or 2 'paddles' (never say never). Otherwise, I'll keep an eye on this thread and will continue to try and help anyone interested in Paddle Boarding.

If you've been thinking about buying a SUP or upgrading your gear, now might be the time to grab an end of season bargain so get 'Googling'

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Itsallicanafford said:

Well, that was great fun…plenty of room on the board for both of us, need more practice before we attempt to stand-up together, very nearly went in when I gave it a go…

Nice to hear that you enjoyed your time together on your SUP. I've never paddled that canal but I've been to Potten End many times and have crossed over the canal bridge at Bourne End in the car so I know it's a very picturesque area. Your pic confirms that. There's a pub near that bridge as I recall. I've never been into the pub but it looks like a nice place.

Having 2 or more people standing on a SUP is always going to be a balancing challenge. Try with both kneeling first and then progress to one standing and one kneeling. If you get some momentum going with one person standing before the other one tries to stand, that will help too. Good luck and have fun.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Itsallicanafford said:

I am working on a project in Portsmouth so have managed a few afternoon sessions off Hayling island, including a few hours in the water yesterday afternoon





It’s certainly a challenging location! With a full winter wetsuit, buoyancy aid and Personal locator beacon & mobile I ventured around a quarter of a mile out to a series of sandbars where you can ride in the surf. Incredibly hard going into the wind, no better than walking pace and if you stopped paddling the wind would quickly blow the board around 180 degrees. It was then comically fast going the other way with the wind behind. A Fun by exhausting way to spend a few hours - planning on keep coming back through the winter months.

Worked hard on technique in the chop, standing a little further back and a slightly staggered stance personally worked best for me. The shaped front to the red board I have (a voyager 13.4) cuts through waves well.

Looks like you had a great time. The staggered stance makes a huge difference when it comes to fore and aft balance. And you only need a slight 'stagger'. I've mentioned it earlier in this thread.

My SUP has been packed away for winter for quite a few weeks now. It's just too cold where I am, even with a winter wetsuit.

The year has been busy for me so unfortunately, I haven't been out on my SUP much at all. Hopefully I'll make up for it next year.

In the meantime, for those who are thinking about taking it up, now might be a good time to buy or upgrade your equipment. I'm sure there'll be some bargains out there.

Thanks to everyone for keeping this thread alive

[CharlieAlphaMike]

OutInTheShed said:

You make it sound like somebody should invent sails for these things!

Mmmm. There's an idea We could call it WindSUPing...or something like that

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Ayahuasca said:

Itsallicanafford said:

Wow, that’s a dramatic location, where about is it?

Switzerland.

Looks like a lovely place to be out on a SUP

[CharlieAlphaMike]

joropug said:

Phone case was wet so poor photos but there's a cool little cave you can paddle into at Old Harry's Rocks in Dorset.

That cave looks like a fantastic place to explore on a SUP Is that a small beach inside the cave?

[CharlieAlphaMike]

mcdjl said:

OutInTheShed said:

MAIB report for the Haverfordwest disaster is out:
https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/commerical-stand-u...

Not good reading. Remember just because it was nice yesterday it doesn't mean it will be tomorrow.

Such an awful tragedy and one that should never have happened. Common sense says you should avoid weirs at all costs. I don't know the area so I don't know what warning signs exist telling people about the weir. But even without signage, a simple reccy of the area would be the sensible thing to do. I only SUP on the sea but I always check where I'm going on various marine charts.

Safety is vitally important with every sport of course but I'd hate to see SUP'ing become too heavily regulated. If it's an 'organised' event or 'paid for' SUP lessons by a watersports school, then ok, H&S should be part of the teaching. I also think that some basic safety instructions should be provided at the POS (the importance of using a leash and the sort of leash to use relative to where you intend to SUP for example). The problem is that too many SUP's can be bought from retailers who have absolutely no knowledge about the sport which I would argue makes the sport too accessible for complete novices. I mentioned elsewhere in this thread that I witnessed a family (man, woman and two young kids) venturing out to sea on a SUP (all four of them on one SUP) without using a leash and in very difficult windy, choppy conditions. I spoke to them and gave them some advice but it was clear they had no clue about the dangers. They were asking for trouble.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

giveitfish said:

The report is worth a thorough read.

The river below the weir was tidal, they did a recce but the tide was in the weir was just a ripple.

On the tour the weir was in the most dangerous state it’s possible to be in, but the leaders experience was all sea and surf based and they had literally no clue about moving water and no idea of what was coming.

Thanks. I must admit to only reading the summary. It's true that conditions change so whatever reccy was done on the previous day, you should always reassess things on the day you go out and don't be afraid to cancel your trip. I've been at the waters edge, all ready to go but have changed my mind because of the prevailing conditions on the day.

All watersports are potentially dangerous but SUP'ing has become a little too accessible as I said in my previous post. That only adds to the danger.

It would be wrong to comment here on this forum about the circumstances that led to this tragedy but it seems like it could have been prevented.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

OutInTheShed said:

MAIB report for the Haverfordwest disaster is out:
https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/commerical-stand-u...

With regard to governance of the sport, the RYA must be the obvious choice I would have thought.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

monthou said:

CharlieAlphaMike said:

OutInTheShed said:

MAIB report for the Haverfordwest disaster is out:
https://www.gov.uk/maib-reports/commerical-stand-u...

With regard to governance of the sport, the RYA must be the obvious choice I would have thought.

As a paddle sport it's more likely to be the BCU.

That's interesting. I was coming from a Windsurfing perspective and the RYA are the governing body of that sport. SUP's are essentially Windsurf boards without a mast and sail. Which organisation covers Surfing? I guess SUP'ing is a cross between a Paddle sport and a Surfing sport.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

monthou said:

I can see how the surf federations are a good fit for beach-based sup use - which I would have thought is most of it. As you say it's a toss-up. I don't see where the RYA fit in though, or why they'd be interested.

I suggested the RYA because I come from a Windsurfing background and they're involved in that sport. My SUP closely resembles a Windsurf board and there are such things as Wind SUP's.

It's probably quite difficult to 'pigeonhole' SUP'ing because it crosses over so many other watersports. Anyone of a number of governing bodies could be a good fit for the sport. I just hope it doesn't get over regulated.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

Ayahuasca said:

I took part in an 18km paddling race at the weekend. We were in the outrigger canoe class, but there were loads of paddle boarders. We beat them all except for this one guy who pipped us. Outrageous effort.

That really was a great effort It looks like a rigid race/touring SUP but I can't be sure of the make.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

RammyMP said:

Has anyone been out on their boards yet this year?

The wife’s on about wanting to get into paddle boarding, we’re going to try and get a taster session done in the lakes at the end of the month but what do you professionals think of this board:

https://www.costco.co.uk/Sports-Spas-Leisure/Boati...

I haven't been out yet but I will be soon. The sea is still a little too cold for me and I've been busy Mountain Biking and some football work.

With regard to the SUP you mentioned. As always, I have to refer you to some of my earlier posts to ensure the board will be suitable for your needs. Triple fin, length fin box construction etc. An electric pump wouldn't excite me because you can buy an aftermarket one if you need to. Likewise with other accessories that come with the package. Spend your money on a good board first and foremost. Especially if you're going to have a few taster sessions before committing to buying anything. You'll soon know if it's a sport you're going to enjoy.

My one concern about this particular SUP is I couldn't see any details about how it's constructed. Again, refer to some of my earlier posts for help with that.

And I've no idea what they mean by the Connect System

This is a budget SUP though so I suppose you'll get what you pay for.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

bonerp said:

Has anyone got the aquaplanet Stinger explorer?

I've currently got an iRocker Blackfin XL and its awesome, but I'd like something a little faster. Being 6 1 and 15.5 stone, seems a good fit.

You need something longer and narrower if you want to go faster. Plus, invest in a good quality all carbon Paddle.

If you want to go as fast as possible, you'll need a long, narrow rigid SUP (and carbon paddle).