10 Tips For Starting Out In Stand Up Paddleboarding

If you’re planning to try out stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and need some advice then there’s no one out there better equipped to help you than dryrobe ambassador and environmental campaigner Cal Major. Last year Cal became the first person to SUP the length of Great Britain and has been on paddleboard adventures across the world - from paddling under the Northern Lights in Norway to SUPing 100km across the Maldives to raise awareness of the need to protect marine life.

Here are Cal’s tips for anyone getting started with SUP...

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP), is the fastest-growing watersport in the world, and for good reason - it’s super accessible, anyone of any age, size and ability can give it a go, and you can use it to explore some pretty cool, otherwise inaccessible places.

There are many sub-disciplines within SUP, including racing, surfing and my favorite, exploring - officially known as touring. I’ll be focussing here on exploring, giving you some top tips to get you started.

1. It’s just like riding a bike… but it takes time!
Persevere. Stand up paddleboarding, like anything, takes time to get used to. However, I do genuinely think it’s like riding a bike! At first it’s a bit tricky to get your balance, but once you’ve cracked it, it becomes second nature. I am quite honestly now more stable on the board than on dry land, but it wasn't always that way! To start with it’s helpful to paddle on your knees, until you get a feel of the board and are ready to get up onto your feet.

2. Look at the horizon and bend your knees 
If you think you’ll fall off, you’ll fall off. However, if you bend your knees, focus on the horizon and believe, you’re much more likely to stay on! SO many times this has proved true to me - if I think I’ll fall I invariably do. Get low, stare at the horizon and firmly tell yourself you’re staying on your board. And if it’s really getting wobbly, drop down to your knees for a bit of extra stability.

3. Find a club 
There are loads of SUP clubs all around the country. Finding a club near you will give you people to paddle with, to ask questions of, loan you a board and help you to find one of your own once you’re ready.

4. Buying your first board
There are SO many different styles, lengths, brands and qualities of board available, it can be a little bit intimidating choosing your first board. Generally speaking, the longer and narrower the board, the more glide it has. Narrowness and a pointy nose, however, make it generally less stable. It’s worthwhile trying out a few boards first, which is where paddling with a club can be absolutely invaluable. SUPboarder has loads of reviews of boards. I’d recommend looking on the second-hand boards pages on Facebook too for your first board, to keep costs down.

5. Clothing choice 
What to wear when paddling?! Everyone has their own preference! When you first start out, it’s worth wearing a wetsuit for the inevitable inadvertent immersion. However once you get your sea legs you can choose to wear anything from shorts and a t-shirt in summer, to full waterproof kit in the winter. Check out the Palm Equipment website for Sup-Specific kit. My favorite paddling kit is a windproof jacket, with either neoprene leggings or fully waterproof trousers, depending on the time of year and the weather. For short paddles it’s really nice to be barefoot in the summer; however, I almost always wear booties for long-distance paddles, and always in the winter and would recommend booties to start with to protect the tops of your feet if you’re kneeling a lot.

6. Safety 
It’s really important to respect the water at all times, even if you consider yourself a competent water user. I would always recommend paddling with a buddy when starting out, and letting someone know where you’re going and how long you’re likely to be out. Safety equipment you should always carry includes a life vest or personal flotation device, always wear a leash to attach yourself to the board, and carry a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch. It’s also worthwhile considering taking a warm layer, food and water if you’re going out for a longer paddle. 

7. Where to paddle 
This comes down to both personal preference and experience. Generally, canals and lakes require the least planning to paddle on, as there are no tides to consider, and they’re usually quite sheltered from the wind. Rivers need very careful consideration, as there are often strong currents, hazards in the water, and sometimes tides to think about. I would recommend that your first trip onto a river be with an instructor or experienced paddler who knows the local area well, and can talk you through planning future excursions. The ocean can be an absolutely wonderful place to paddle, my favorite for sure, but conditions here can change at the drop of a hat, even if it looks flat calm. Always make sure to check the tide times, local rips, surf forecast and wind forecast. A good rule of thumb is not to paddle in an offshore wind unless you want to end up out to sea! It’s really worth getting some local knowledge at the beach you intend to paddle at - I’ve always found talking to the lifeguards at the beach to be really valuable for this, or an experienced local paddler or paddle club. Respect the water!

8. Doing good while you paddle 
Exploring the local environment can bring enormous benefits. Stand up paddleboarders for years have been leading the way in picking up plastic from waterways, and highlighting the damage it does. When a place you love, essentially your playground, is being damaged by human activity, it naturally follows for you to want to do something to protect it. So when you’re out on a paddle, don’t be afraid of picking up a few bits of litter. The positive effects of this are far-reaching - highlighting it to people who see you, inspiring others to do the same, and helping connect the dots between the litter that’s damaging our environment and that we’re using in our everyday life. Check out my video on ‘Why bother with a beach clean?’ - the ideas can be extrapolated to rivers and canals too!

9. Being a responsible paddler 
It’s important not to cause any damage to the environment you’re paddling in, and to make sure you have the appropriate permission to paddle there if required. It’s also important to be mindful of any wildlife that may call the place you paddle home - particularly nesting birds! 

10. Green tips 
As a stand up paddleboarder, consider yourself a waterways advocate. You will have choices, and where you can, it feels awesome to make the one that benefits the planet best. Firstly you vote with your wallet every time you buy a bit of kit - check out brands like Starboard who have partnered with Parley and Sustainable Surf to make boards with bio-resin, and organise worldwide paddle clean ups. Share lifts where you can to reduce your carbon footprint of exploring - or even better, 10 eco points if you can get there on the train with an inflatable SUP! And finally, always, always choose reef friendly sunscreen. Even a drop of oxybenzone in the ocean or down the drain can kill vast amounts of corals. 

Follow Cal:

Facebook: Cal Major - Paddle Against Plastic
Instagram: @cal_major
Twitter: @PaddleVsPlastic
Website: calmajor.com

Photos and films by James Appleton

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