Paddle Boarding

[anonymous-user]

I find the SUP, from the little I’ve done more like long distance swimming. You get into a flow state and it’s about mindfulness and seeing things.

Not really high octane cardio more spiritual like yoga or meditation.

I suppose the racing and surfing on them is much more physical but touring around on a quiet lake, just you and your mate, or you and nature is pretty awesome.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

markymarkthree said:

Having hopefully taken some of the helpful advice here, i had a beginners session and also hired one in the summer.
This arrived today, 11' x 33" Mrs Marky will be well impressed when she comes home to see it in the front room.
Need to get a suit now as i lost my man card ages ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Funwater-Inflatable-SUP...

Congratulations. Looks like good value and appears to be of good construction (drop stitched). I noticed a lack of tie-down points and carrying handles but apart from that, I think it's a nice looking board.

I'd be interested to know why you chose a 3 fin set-up. Was that for stability? You'll have to let me know how you get on with it. Have fun.

If it helps, I've always used O'Neill wetsuits. Not the cheapest but great quality IMHO. The sizing is quite complicated though so try one on first if you can.

[CharlieAlphaMike]

El stovey said:

I find the SUP, from the little I’ve done more like long distance swimming. You get into a flow state and it’s about mindfulness and seeing things.

Not really high octane cardio more spiritual like yoga or meditation.

I suppose the racing and surfing on them is much more physical but touring around on a quiet lake, just you and your mate, or you and nature is pretty awesome.

Exactly

[CharlieAlphaMike]

bulldong said:

I am a windsurfer, whitewater kayaker, sailor, powerboat instructor and can honestly say (as a paddle board owner) that it’s the most boring activity that it’s possible to do on water. We have a lake house where the paddle board is and I’d rather swim than use the paddle board. Absolutely nothing about it is fun, and I’m good at it.

You're obviously completely missing the point of Paddle Boarding but thanks for your constructive comments

[markymarkthree]

CharlieAlphaMike said:

markymarkthree said:

Having hopefully taken some of the helpful advice here, i had a beginners session and also hired one in the summer.
This arrived today, 11' x 33" Mrs Marky will be well impressed when she comes home to see it in the front room.
Need to get a suit now as i lost my man card ages ago.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Funwater-Inflatable-SUP...

Congratulations. Looks like good value and appears to be of good construction (drop stitched). I noticed a lack of tie-down points and carrying handles but apart from that, I think it's a nice looking board.

I'd be interested to know why you chose a 3 fin set-up. Was that for stability? You'll have to let me know how you get on with it. Have fun.

If it helps, I've always used O'Neill wetsuits. Not the cheapest but great quality IMHO. The sizing is quite complicated though so try one on first if you can.

Thanks.
Cant say i really thought about 3 fin or single fin, what difference will it make ? It does have a single carrying handle but i suppose the price reflects the lack of a few things.
Re wetsuit, i am looking at the oneill reactor but they seem to be sold out everywhere for my size 6' 2" & 16st. I feel a trip to Newquay to find an end of season bargain coming.

[The Mad Monk]

CoupeKid said:

The Mad Monk said:

Where is a good place to learn/practice in Walton on Thames area?

Liquid Leisure in Shepperton isn’t that far away and is where we went over the summer.

The instruction was a bit hit and miss but it’ll give you an idea.

Thanks.

I have had a rummage and found three lessons/sessions for £156 somewhere locally. Not sure if it was Liquid Leisure, or not. Sounds a bit pricey. What with that and winter just round the corner, I will probably leave it until next year.

[markymarkthree]

The Mad Monk said:

CoupeKid said:

The Mad Monk said:

Where is a good place to learn/practice in Walton on Thames area?

Liquid Leisure in Shepperton isn’t that far away and is where we went over the summer.

The instruction was a bit hit and miss but it’ll give you an idea.

Thanks.

I have had a rummage and found three lessons/sessions for £156 somewhere locally. Not sure if it was Liquid Leisure, or not. Sounds a bit pricey. What with that and winter just round the corner, I will probably leave it until next year.

Sounds a bit pricey.
Probably of no help to you but i went with Bath paddleboard centre, £20 for a 1 1/2 h tuition/taster session and then £10 per hour to hire. Lucky for me they come to Clevedon marine lake every Thursday, which is a 1min stroll for me.

[croyde]

CoupeKid said:

The Mad Monk said:

Where is a good place to learn/practice in Walton on Thames area?

Liquid Leisure in Shepperton isn’t that far away and is where we went over the summer.

The instruction was a bit hit and miss but it’ll give you an idea.

There's a canoe club and car park around the end of that dead straight cut on the south side.

Desborough island is where the cut and the Thames divide.

Easy access to the water and free parking.

[The Mad Monk]

croyde said:

There's a canoe club and car park around the end of that dead straight cut on the south side.

Desborough island is where the cut and the Thames divide.

Easy access to the water and free parking.

This one, you mean?

https://elmbridgecanoeclub.com/

I will have a look.

Do you think they are looking for geriatric members?

Edit
Google Maps shows a "padel club" nearby?

[CharlieAlphaMike]

markymarkthree said:

Thanks.
Cant say i really thought about 3 fin or single fin, what difference will it make ? It does have a single carrying handle but i suppose the price reflects the lack of a few things.
Re wetsuit, i am looking at the oneill reactor but they seem to be sold out everywhere for my size 6' 2" & 16st. I feel a trip to Newquay to find an end of season bargain coming.

I don't use a multi-fin set up but I know they're favoured by those who paddle in surf because I believe they offer more stability and better manoeuverability. Mutti-fin setups do create more drag so if you're paddling on flat water, they might not be ideal. On some SUP's, you can remove the 2 outer fins. I don't know if you can do this on yours but take a look and try it if you can.

My board has 4 carrying handles (it is slightly longer at 14 ft though) which I find invaluable. If you struggle with just 1 handle, you know you can buy carrying straps. You might even think about getting a trolley. I live within just a couple of minutes walk of the sea so use a trolley as it's much easier to transport the board, saves on using the bag and inflate it every time I go out and saves on having to use the car. I just got a 2 wheel kayak trolley from my local sports shop. I think it cost around £40.00.

Have you tried Amazon for O'Neill wetsuits? If you're looking for a Summer suit, you might just find an out of season sale. Good luck.

[croyde]

The Mad Monk said:

This one, you mean?

https://elmbridgecanoeclub.com/

I will have a look.

Do you think they are looking for geriatric members?

Edit
Google Maps shows a "padel club" nearby?

Paddle Up, I think they are called. Nice young couple working out of a Volvo estate in said car park. I've rented a board off them a few times at the end of summer after I had some lessons up at Kew Bridge.

I'm not a member of the canoe club but if I ever buy my own board, it's an easy place to park, set up and get in the river.

I kayak round there too but rent the kayak from Shepperton Marina.

I just find it relaxing and a nice time to spend a few hours especially when hot.

Once all the board's bought in a frenzy during our staycation summer make their way on to eBay I may buy one and hopefully save enough money to buy the winter clothing.

[The Mad Monk]

croyde said:

The Mad Monk said:

This one, you mean?

https://elmbridgecanoeclub.com/

I will have a look.

Do you think they are looking for geriatric members?

Edit
Google Maps shows a "padel club" nearby?

Paddle Up, I think they are called. Nice young couple working out of a Volvo estate in said car park. I've rented a board off them a few times at the end of summer after I had some lessons up at Kew Bridge.

I'm not a member of the canoe club but if I ever buy my own board, it's an easy place to park, set up and get in the river.

I kayak round there too but rent the kayak from Shepperton Marina.

I just find it relaxing and a nice time to spend a few hours especially when hot.

Once all the board's bought in a frenzy during our staycation summer make their way on to eBay I may buy one and hopefully save enough money to buy the winter clothing.

This one?

http://paddleup.co.uk/v2/#

[croyde]

That's the one. I'd be interested to know if they are still doing it with winter setting in.

[The Mad Monk]

croyde said:

That's the one. I'd be interested to know if they are still doing it with winter setting in.

It's not far from me. I may have a look along there. Although I think the weather is going the wrong way, perhaps next April?

[anonymous-user]

Wouldn’t surprise me if more of these places stay open through the winter.

Lockdown and restrictions got a lot more people into things like SUP and open water swimming this year and numerous swimming venues are staying open this winter for the first time. Swimmers are all buying wetsuits, gloves, boots and dry robes etc and it’s really taking off.

Where I swim I’m still seeing people SUP. Like most outdoor sports and hobbies in the U.K., once you’ve got some suitable winter gear and clothes, you’re good to go.

[croyde]

And a quick look on Paddle Up website shows them still taking bookings for Fri to Sun.

[markymarkthree]

Wetsuit finally arrived so i went "a wobbling" yesterday in Clevedon marine lake.
Had a great couple of hours and only fell in once, Granddaughter (10) joined me and as per usual she nailed it and didn't fall in.
Weather looks ok so i shall be out there again today.
Well happy with the board and had a few chats with folk who do it or are planning to have a go.

[croyde]

Nice one.

Do you find the wetsuit too warm? That's before you fell in of course.

[markymarkthree]

croyde said:

Nice one.

Do you find the wetsuit too warm? That's before you fell in of course.

Wet suit was fine not too warm or restrictive. Hopefully come spring/summer i will be proficient enough not to need it, although i may get a shorty as i plan to use it in the sea.
This is the suit i got.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/surf-500-men-s-wetsu...

[RobM77]

markymarkthree said:

Hopefully come spring/summer i will be proficient enough not to need it, although i may get a shorty as i plan to use it in the sea.

Do be careful. There's a PHer whose son very sadly died a few years ago. He was a professional windsurfer, and a very good one at that (I windsurf, so knew of him). He was young, fit, and used to the water, but he went out on a jetski one June in shorts and a t-shirt, fell into the sea and had a heart attack immediately.

In terms of sea/lake, you probably know this, but the main difference is their size, and therefore how they resist keeping up with air temperature. A lake will follow air temperature quite quickly, so in January when it's 1deg, a lake will probably be 1-2C; in July lakes can get up to 25/26C. The sea lags behind because it's so big, and it never gets a chance to fully cool down before the air gets warmer again. Minimum sea temperature here on the south coast is about 6C in March, 2-3 months behind the air, and then it starts to go back up. However, this principle also works in reverse so it barely gets beyond 17C in September before winter cools it down again. For me at least, this means the sea in the UK is always too cold without a wetsuit. Even with a wetsuit, at about 10 degrees I've had all my muscles freeze and been unable to swim. So be careful!