Tips for Getting the Most Benefit Out of Stand Up Paddle Boarding, the super popular outdoor activities.
If you’re looking for the perfect activity this summer that combines your love for the water with a great workout, look no further than stand up paddle boarding (SUP). In this article, we’re going to cover the benefits of SUP, tips for having a great first experience, and options when selecting the right board.
Benefits of Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Few aquatic sports can boast the benefits that come from stand up paddleboarding including:
- Great Cardio - Even at a leisurely pace, SUP can burn 300-400 calories in an hour. This only increases with more vigorous paddling.
- Works the Entire Body - Stand up paddle boarding benefits your entire body. Your leg muscles are constantly engaged, your core keeps you balanced, and your arms and shoulders provide motion as you paddle.
- Low Impact - While SUP does provide a strenuous workout, it doesn’t put your body through the same stresses of other sporting activities. Not only is the activity gentle on your body but taking a fall into the water has little risk.
- Improved Balance and Posture - SUP requires you to be mindful of your body positioning and work to stay on your board. In a short amount of time, you’ll notice significant improvements to both your balance and posture.
- Mental Wellbeing - Being near water is known to have positive effects on your health and happiness. In addition, SUP provides the opportunity to slow down and take in the scenery. Whether you are spotting local wildlife or checking out the coastline, you’ll have the opportunity to take your mind off stressful situations that could be impacting you.
Tips to Getting the Most of Your SUP Experience
If you have never been on a SUP before, you’ll want to start out on a calm body of water like a lake or protected bay. This will help you practice without resistance from mother nature.
1. Standing Up
The most important thing that you need to learn how to do is stand up. It’s easiest to start in a kneeling position. Place your hands on the sides of the board to stabilize yourself. Once you feel comfortable in this position, move one foot at a time to where your knees were (just behind the center of the board). From there, slowly stand up. This may take several tries at first.
2. Keeping Your Balance
You’ve made it to your feet! Congratulations! Now the challenge is keeping yourself upright and out of the water. First, be mindful of where you are in relation to the center of the board (Look for the carry handle). Keep your toes facing forward, knees slightly bent, with your legs hip-width apart.
Tip - Try to keep your eyes on the horizon. You’ll be tempted at first to look down at your feet, but this can result in losing your balance.
3. Holding the SUP Paddle Correctly
Each SUP paddle comes with a T-shaped grip at the top of the handle. Depending on which side of the board you are paddling, you’ll need to adjust how you are holding the paddle. When paddling on the right side of the board, your left hand should grip the T-shaped handle with your opposite hand on the shaft of the paddle. Reverse your hands when paddling on the left side of the board. The blade of your paddle should be perpendicular to the direction of your SUP.
4. Falling Off Your SUP
No matter what you try, you will fall off your SUP. It’s inevitable, so it’s important to know how to fall properly and get back on. First, always make sure your leash is attached to your ankle. This will prevent the board from floating away. Next, it may be tempting to try and stay on your board when you fall. It is much gentler on your body to fall into the water than onto the surface of your SUP. When you fall, try to fall to either side of the board and keep a hold of your paddle (don’t worry, your paddle will float if you drop it).
5. Getting Back on Your SUP
It’s much easier to get back on your SUP when you are in shallow water. However, if you are in water where you can’t touch the bottom, you’ll need to know how to get back on. First, swim to the side of the board, near the center. Place your paddle back onto the board, so your hands are free. With your hands free, use one hand to grab the carry handle with the other hand on the opposite edge of the board. Kick with your feet while pulling with your arms until your belly slides back onto the SUP. Stay safe.
Go with an Inflatable SUP for a Great Experience
There are lots of different types of SUP on the market. One of the most popular options is an inflatable paddle boards. These boards are easy to transport, don’t require a lot of storage space, and perform just as well as their traditional counterparts.
If you are in the market for a paddleboard in Ontario, look no further than Arkersport. Our Arker SUP was carefully designed to provide superior performance and comes with all the accessories you need to get started on your first (or one-hundredth) SUP adventure. Check out our website today for more information about our industry-leading SUP, we have day rental service for local as well, easy to grab and have fun while you have tours in Ontario.