Stand up paddle boarding
Discussion
Is anyone here into Paddle boarding. I used to surf but don't really get the time these days but I think a sup would be useable in more situations and places.
I'm wondering what board I need to get started. I notice a lot are inflatable? Hard to imagine they're much good or am I out of touch.
Hopefully looking for a second hand board and kit. Just after a few pointers really.
I'm wondering what board I need to get started. I notice a lot are inflatable? Hard to imagine they're much good or am I out of touch.
Hopefully looking for a second hand board and kit. Just after a few pointers really.
I wouldn't use an inflatable for surf sup, but for downwinding/racing they're as quick (as a mate of mine regularly demonstrates!) as a foamie...
Big advantage is the pack size - a decent sized rucksack holds everything you need, and pumping the board up is a great warmup.
I warn you - once you've surfed on a sup, you won't go back. Warmer, five times as many rides per session, easier to get onto big waves... Then when it's flat you've got a great swell rider or flat water cruise too.
Love it.
Big advantage is the pack size - a decent sized rucksack holds everything you need, and pumping the board up is a great warmup.
I warn you - once you've surfed on a sup, you won't go back. Warmer, five times as many rides per session, easier to get onto big waves... Then when it's flat you've got a great swell rider or flat water cruise too.
Love it.
LosingGrip said:
Bit of a bump...
A friend has got into this, and it looks rather fun to spend a evening after work.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I like the idea of a inflatable one, purely as it will be easier to store.
There are a load of cheap, but decent, inflatable boards out now to get started with. A friend has got into this, and it looks rather fun to spend a evening after work.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I like the idea of a inflatable one, purely as it will be easier to store.
I'd personally go for something like a Two Bare Feet, 6" thickness for stiffness and buoyancy.
LosingGrip said:
Bit of a bump...
A friend has got into this, and it looks rather fun to spend a evening after work.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I like the idea of a inflatable one, purely as it will be easier to store.
Aqua Marina Vapor - About £250 for the full kit on Amazon or eBay. My friends have got 2 of them.A friend has got into this, and it looks rather fun to spend a evening after work.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I like the idea of a inflatable one, purely as it will be easier to store.
Thinking of getting one for boat pub transport, instead of a dinghy, have had a few rentals to try them out. I'm a windsurfer used to going quickly & covering a few miles in mins not hours on a board so it just seems all rather slow to me 
However I can see the appeal for a non windy day, however the single paddle thing is just daft whoever thought that was a good idea. Get a backrest & a canoe paddle & your sour sorted or an electric motor
However I can see the appeal for a non windy day, however the single paddle thing is just daft whoever thought that was a good idea. Get a backrest & a canoe paddle & your sour sorted or an electric motor
LosingGrip said:
The single paddle thing annoyed me. I was like nemo for a good 10 minutes!
But I loved it. I spent more time falling off, could just about manage it on my knees towards the end (my balance is shockingly bad).
Might have just paid for one that's being delivered next weekend...
Don't have your feet too far apart, about shoulders width. When you are learning it's easier to stand up with the board moving and don't forget that you can use the paddle as a third point to balance from when you are mid stroke! But I loved it. I spent more time falling off, could just about manage it on my knees towards the end (my balance is shockingly bad).
Might have just paid for one that's being delivered next weekend...
It turned up today...
Already planned to go out with a mate and borrow his wives, however as mine turned up (I was expecting it tomorrow) bit of a result.
Got on so much better! The extra length really helps and it being wider is fantastic. Spent three hours around Sandbanks watching the sun set.
Got a feeling I'm going to ache in the morning!
Already planned to go out with a mate and borrow his wives, however as mine turned up (I was expecting it tomorrow) bit of a result.
Got on so much better! The extra length really helps and it being wider is fantastic. Spent three hours around Sandbanks watching the sun set.
Got a feeling I'm going to ache in the morning!
I've been out on a couple this year, got on ok with them, found them a nice gentle way to potter about on the water, and finally ordered one a week or so ago.
I ordered the one with the longest/widest dimensions online on Sportspursuit so I can go out with my young kids, plus making it easier to balance. I'm not too worried about speed or maneuverability, or using it in rough surf as it's mainly for a bit of fun when I go to the beach, and taking onto the river nearer home when the weather's nice.
It's a 10'8" 33" wide inflatable board with pump, bag and paddle for just over £300. Problem with SportsPursuit's buying/selling model, my hasty late night purchase won't turn up for at least 3 weeks. Hopefully I'll get some use this summer before the rain and bad weather returns!
One thing I'm not too sure about is whether I need to get a license to use one on the Thames. The regulations are a bit confusing: Inflatable boats (unpowered rubber dinghys) seem. Paddle craft (rowing boats, kayaks etc) do need one. These inflatable standup boards are both!
I'll update when it arrives and I get out on it!
I ordered the one with the longest/widest dimensions online on Sportspursuit so I can go out with my young kids, plus making it easier to balance. I'm not too worried about speed or maneuverability, or using it in rough surf as it's mainly for a bit of fun when I go to the beach, and taking onto the river nearer home when the weather's nice.
It's a 10'8" 33" wide inflatable board with pump, bag and paddle for just over £300. Problem with SportsPursuit's buying/selling model, my hasty late night purchase won't turn up for at least 3 weeks. Hopefully I'll get some use this summer before the rain and bad weather returns!
One thing I'm not too sure about is whether I need to get a license to use one on the Thames. The regulations are a bit confusing: Inflatable boats (unpowered rubber dinghys) seem. Paddle craft (rowing boats, kayaks etc) do need one. These inflatable standup boards are both!
I'll update when it arrives and I get out on it!
prand said:
I've been out on a couple this year, got on ok with them, found them a nice gentle way to potter about on the water, and finally ordered one a week or so ago.
I ordered the one with the longest/widest dimensions online on Sportspursuit so I can go out with my young kids, plus making it easier to balance. I'm not too worried about speed or maneuverability, or using it in rough surf as it's mainly for a bit of fun when I go to the beach, and taking onto the river nearer home when the weather's nice.
It's a 10'8" 33" wide inflatable board with pump, bag and paddle for just over £300. Problem with SportsPursuit's buying/selling model, my hasty late night purchase won't turn up for at least 3 weeks. Hopefully I'll get some use this summer before the rain and bad weather returns!
One thing I'm not too sure about is whether I need to get a license to use one on the Thames. The regulations are a bit confusing: Inflatable boats (unpowered rubber dinghys) seem. Paddle craft (rowing boats, kayaks etc) do need one. These inflatable standup boards are both!
I'll update when it arrives and I get out on it!
Thats a pain it will take three weeks to get to you!I ordered the one with the longest/widest dimensions online on Sportspursuit so I can go out with my young kids, plus making it easier to balance. I'm not too worried about speed or maneuverability, or using it in rough surf as it's mainly for a bit of fun when I go to the beach, and taking onto the river nearer home when the weather's nice.
It's a 10'8" 33" wide inflatable board with pump, bag and paddle for just over £300. Problem with SportsPursuit's buying/selling model, my hasty late night purchase won't turn up for at least 3 weeks. Hopefully I'll get some use this summer before the rain and bad weather returns!
One thing I'm not too sure about is whether I need to get a license to use one on the Thames. The regulations are a bit confusing: Inflatable boats (unpowered rubber dinghys) seem. Paddle craft (rowing boats, kayaks etc) do need one. These inflatable standup boards are both!
I'll update when it arrives and I get out on it!
tuffer said:
I had a go last weekend, great fun and certainly a workout for the core.
I ache like hell today! My stomach and legs hurt all the time ha.Cheated and brought a electric pump for it today...sod pumping it by hand!
Well, Sportpursuit outdid themselves and delivered my board in just 4 days, though I wasn't able to get out on the water till the weekend.
I was pleasantly surprised that a 10'6" and 33" wide board rolls up into a smaller back pack than I was expecting (say 100cmx20cmx20cm)- including paddle and pump, so easy to get into the boot of the car even with other luggage- about the size of a large holdall.
I went out on the Thames near where I live, there's a riverside park with a landing stage to get the board into the water easily. It's also got a a car park close by so I could stash the gear I didn't want to take out with me. Conditions were warm and sunny, although quite windy on Saturday morning which made going upwind a bit of a challenge. It took no more than 7-10 mins to pump up to 15psi, which was a nice warmup and all I had to do was fit the middle fin to the base and I was ready to go.
After my last experience in the sea, I was expecting a bit of a shaky ride, but on the river the board was as solid as a rock. I was out for over 2 hours and was pleased to say I didn't fall in, with narely a wobble!
All in all I went up and down the river for around 5km pootling about, finding all sorts of interesting backwaters I had no idea were there. My wife turned up after a while and i took each of my kids out for a ride sat on the front of the board too. We got a few waves from people on the bank and cruisers going by, though I don't think the rowers were too impressed with my big slow, undynamic craft
Really great fun and easy to use. Although I have to say for me it doesn't feel like too much of a workout, I can still see myself using it a lot though, ideally on warm mornings or evenings.
I was pleasantly surprised that a 10'6" and 33" wide board rolls up into a smaller back pack than I was expecting (say 100cmx20cmx20cm)- including paddle and pump, so easy to get into the boot of the car even with other luggage- about the size of a large holdall.
I went out on the Thames near where I live, there's a riverside park with a landing stage to get the board into the water easily. It's also got a a car park close by so I could stash the gear I didn't want to take out with me. Conditions were warm and sunny, although quite windy on Saturday morning which made going upwind a bit of a challenge. It took no more than 7-10 mins to pump up to 15psi, which was a nice warmup and all I had to do was fit the middle fin to the base and I was ready to go.
After my last experience in the sea, I was expecting a bit of a shaky ride, but on the river the board was as solid as a rock. I was out for over 2 hours and was pleased to say I didn't fall in, with narely a wobble!
All in all I went up and down the river for around 5km pootling about, finding all sorts of interesting backwaters I had no idea were there. My wife turned up after a while and i took each of my kids out for a ride sat on the front of the board too. We got a few waves from people on the bank and cruisers going by, though I don't think the rowers were too impressed with my big slow, undynamic craft
Really great fun and easy to use. Although I have to say for me it doesn't feel like too much of a workout, I can still see myself using it a lot though, ideally on warm mornings or evenings.Mines broken 
.
Went out on Thursday and it was fine. Washed it at home and put it away.
Got it out today, bit of a crappy day from the start. Loads of traffic towards Sandbanks, so decided to go to Lake Pier. Got there and forgot my sodding paddle...friend stayed with it pumping up and I popped home.
Get in the water, paddling away and hear hissing. Its coming from the seal around the part you pump it up (no idea what its called!).
Email sent to Two Bare Feet, so hoping they'll be able to sort it out.
. Went out on Thursday and it was fine. Washed it at home and put it away.
Got it out today, bit of a crappy day from the start. Loads of traffic towards Sandbanks, so decided to go to Lake Pier. Got there and forgot my sodding paddle...friend stayed with it pumping up and I popped home.
Get in the water, paddling away and hear hissing. Its coming from the seal around the part you pump it up (no idea what its called!).
Email sent to Two Bare Feet, so hoping they'll be able to sort it out.
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