Are you looking to get your first paddle board and want to have some fun on the water? Hydro Force® SUPs are the perfect choice as they include everything you need to get out on the water and are designed with beginners in mind, even our more advanced SUPs.
Whether you have a little experience (maybe you hired a SUP or tried a friend's) or you're completely new to paddleboarding, we have top 3 tips for getting started:
- Choose the right SUP
- Don’t rush – get comfortable with some simple paddling
- Don’t go out on the water alone
Are inflatable paddle boards best for beginners?
Inflatable paddle boards are perfect for beginners, and more advanced paddleboarders too. They offer an extremely convenient way of getting out on the water as they are easy to transport, store, carry and inflate. Hydro Force® paddle boards have also been designed for maximum practicality, manoeuvrability and ease of use.
- Easy to store & easy to carry: Everything you need fits into a convenient backpack that you easily store at home, put in the car and walk around with.
- Lightweight: From carrying them to your destination to actually using them on the water, inflatable paddleboards are more lightweight.
- Strong & durable: A hard board can get dinks, scratches even paint scuffs just from moving it around. Inflatable SUPs, like the Hydro-Force™ range, won’t have this happen. They are designed for strength and durability.
- Comfortable: Due to the nature of the construction, inflatable SUPs are more comfortable to stand or kneel on. They also won’t hurt as much should you fall on them compared to a hard board.
- Stability: Our Inflatable SUPs have an all-round thickness/depth that makes them much more stable for beginners as well as an extra-wide grippy surface.
- Versatile: We have a range of boards available including all-round SUPs that can be used in a range of different environments.
- Cost-effective: Inflatable paddle boards are great for beginners from a cost perspective. They are an affordable and very accessible introduction to paddleboarding.
Choosing the right paddle board for beginners
For paddleboard beginners, we would recommend simplicity and versatility so an all round SUP is a great place to get started. Hydro Force® all around SUPs offer the versatility of different uses and different water types making them ideal for anyone wanting to get into paddleboarding.
For young or smaller riders, the Aqua Journey offers great stability and is a great introduction to the world of paddleboarding. For more comfortable rides, the 2 in 1 Oceana can be converted into a sit down paddleboard with double bladed oar.
Getting Started with your inflatable paddle board
Inflating your SUP
Our paddle boards include all the required equipment and have been designed to be simple to set up in no time.
Simply remove your SUP from its carry bag, roll it flat on the ground, insert the pump into the valve and begin inflating your board until it is around 15 PSI. The higher the PSI number, the harder the board. Remove the pump, seal the valve, attach your fin and leash, grab your paddle and your SUP is ready!
Technique
Like any sport, practice makes perfect. Mastering the SUP technique is mostly about having confidence in your balance and form.
Paddling: Place one hand at the top of the paddle on the handle and the other further down. The blade should be angled and when paddling, keep the blade angle facing away from you. Place the blade into the water as far forward as you can, without leaning uncomfortably, then pull it through the water to your side to move forwards. To keep in a straight line, take a couple of strokes on one side then switch to a couple of strokes on the other. You'll need to alternate hand positioning when switching sides.
Standing up: Take it slowly and don’t rush this. Begin by kneeling on your board in a comfortable position, keep your back straight, tummy tight and eyes forward in order to help make strong pushes with your paddle.
When you are feeling confident enough to stand, hold your paddle flat out in front of you, keep your eyes facing forward and carefully stand up, one foot at a time, positioning your feet shoulder-width apart near the middle of the board and keeping your knees bent, tummy tight and eyes forward looking at the horizon for balance.
Perfecting this stance on your board will help you become a pro paddler in no time.
Falling in: As a beginner, it is important to be okay with the idea of falling in the water. Make sure you have your leash connected and a PFD. We would suggest wearing a wetsuit to reduce the shock of the cold, especially in UK waters!
Staying safe on the water
You can take various measures to stay safe when paddle boarding and these safety measures begin before you step on your board:
- Check the weather, tides and wind
- Plan your route
- Share this plan with someone and tell them when you expect to return
- Wear your leash correctly and the correct leash for the water type
- Wear your Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
- Carry your phone in a waterproof pouch so you can call for help if needed
- Remember to bring the essentials like water, snacks and sun cream.
Check out our water safety advice to learn more about how to stay safe while paddleboarding!
