Your first day out with your new SUP.

We will skip over the issue with transporting the board to the water and get on with putting the board in the water and getting on the board the first time.

Most SUP boards have a built in handle in the middle of the board.  Sometimes the handle pops-up and most often it is simply a cutout that allows you to insert your fingers and get a grip.  Put the board on its edge (aka Rail) and grab the handle and tuck it under your arm.  You can carry the paddle with the other hand.

You might find some beginner boards to be a bit heavy so just put the board down if you get tired and change hands.  For a longer distance you might find it easier to carry over your head or on your head -- does not work too well if you are bald.  Getting the board up over your head will be discussed later.

Remember to choose a location with calm water and wind and with no nearby powered watercraft.

Place the board in the water. Do not be afraid to get your feet wet.  For most people SUP is not far from swimming.  Plan to get wet.  Place the tail of the board away from the shore to protect the fin.  

You can stand alongside the board in shallow water and get on or you can mount the board at the nose from the beach.  In either case you should be kneeling on the board at this point.  To get the feel of the board it is a good idea to paddle a bit while kneeling before standing up.  The upper hand on the paddle will be about 3/4 of the way up the paddle -- do not try to put your hand on the paddle grip when kneeling.   You should check to see that you are in the middle of the board.  The handle marks the mid point.  Work with the paddle to get a feel for it.  Do a few forward strokes and some sweep strokes to turn the board.  To prepare for standing up you should be a bit behind the board's center in a kneeling stance and you should be in water deep enough to fall safely and well away from any objects that you might fall on if you lose your balance.

The next episode will show how to stand up...

Here is what you need to start with SUP

The absolute minimum gear is a paddleboard and paddle.

 However, there are some important pieces to add to your kit.  

The first is a life jacket also known as a Personal Floatation Device (PFD).   The US Coast Guard considers a SUP to be a vessel, and the law requires a PFD in navigable waters.   A PFD is not required while you are paddling in the surf zone.   

Sunblock and sunglasses are also recommended.

In choosing a board you will need to consider that you are a beginner and choose a board recommended for your skills.  A beginner board will be wider than for general use.  If you are already a surfer, you can probably deal with a more advanced board from the beginning. 

Another consideration is having a board with sufficient volume for your weight.  A board with insufficient volume will ride too low in the water and will be unstable.  You should carefully consider your first board purchase, because it will be the largest expense.   Renting boards or attending demo days provided by your local SUP retailer is a good way to see what suits best.

The paddle is next item of concern.  A high quality paddle can be a real joy to use, but you do not need to spend a lot in the beginning.  A moderately priced adjustable length paddle is a good first choice.   You might want to experiment with the length, and you might have friends or family that will want to see what SUP is all about.  Most manufacturers recommend a paddle length that is about 10” more than your height -- consider this as a starting point.

A leash is can be a useful accessory, but you could delay this for a while.  Once you begin to venture out with wind or in moving water the leash becomes important.  The leash is a line that attaches to the tail of the board and to your ankle.  If you fall off of the board, and you have a leash the board will not get away from you.  A moderate wind can carry the board away very quickly and faster than you can swim.

Why you should consider Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP).  

SUP is a great way to enjoy the water, and can give you a good physical workout.  

SUP requires little equipment to get going.  You can paddle on lakes, rivers, ocean or on the beach.  While the sport of SUP started with waves, it is not necessary to have waves.  Actually, you would not want to start on moving water or with any wave action when learning.

SUP gives a full body workout.  You exercise from your toes to shoulders, and it is a good core workout when done properly.  SUP has become a popular sport for cross-training for other sports.  

Another advantage is that you are standing tall and your view is much better than the usual paddle craft.  You will see further away than when your eyes are near the water level as in a kayak or canoe.  You will also see much more clearly what is directly below your feet.