How to Stand Up Paddle Board - 5 Tips for Beginners

You’ve watched people on the beach do it, and maybe you’ve even watched a few YouTube videos about how to stand up paddle board. However, watching something and doing it are two different things.  For those of you who would enjoy a little text to assist with your learning curve, here are five tips I’ve used to teach hundreds of beginning paddle boarding students over the years.
 
BE LIKE SUPERMAN
When you’re getting onto a paddle board in shallow water, create forward momentum for the paddle board by launching yourself onto it like you’re Superman.

Here’s how you do it

• Enter the water with your SUP until you are in knee deep water.
• Stand beside your board, place your paddle lengthwise along the far side of the board.
• Standing just past the middle of the board, place both hands onto the board and push yourself onto the board so that you are laying down in a “Superman” position.

By doing the Superman launch, you've created forward momentum while getting yourself comfortably onto the board. The next step is standing up and paddling.

MOMENTUM EQUALS BALANCE
Never try to stand on the paddle board if it’s just floating in the water. The key to standing easily on a paddle board is forward momentum. As soon as your paddle board begins to move forward, it becomes more stable. That’s why I like the Superman launch so much. It gives your board enough speed, that you’re able to stand before the board slows down and becomes less stable.

When you fall in deep water, you won’t be able to use the Superman launch technique to create forward momentum. Instead, take several strokes while positioned upright on your knees to create the speed and balance you need.


STANDING
Moving from laying prone on your paddle board in the Superman position to standing and paddling can often be the most challenging part of the sport for many beginners. However, with the proper technique, it becomes easy.

1. Create forward momentum of the board.
2. Move into a kneeling position by drawing your legs upwards closer to your arms.  This will position most of your weight near the center of the board.
3. Take your paddle, and lift your torso tall so that you are “sitting up” while still on your knees.
4. Take several paddle stokes to increase forward momentum. Your board will have slowed down while you are getting ready to stand.
5. Once you’ve built up some speed, place your hands in front of you while holding the paddle in one hand. You will now be on your hands and knees in a “doggy style” position.
6. Push yourself vertical with your hands, bend your knees and immediately take several paddle strokes to regain momentum and balance the board.
7. Start paddling and have fun!
   

MAINTAINING BALANCE
You’re up on the board and you’ve taken a few strokes. Your feet are getting sore because your toes are clenched trying to grab the SUP for balance. How do other people make it look so easy? Here’s How:

• Keep the forward momentum going. It helps keep you stable.
• Don’t look down at your feet. Keep your head up and looking forward.
• Keep your knees bent
• Stand in a neutral comfortable stand with your feet apart.
• Make sure you’re standing in the middle of the board. Standing behind the handhold is a good guide.
• Keep your hips loose and your body relaxed.

 
 
PADDLE EFFICIENTLY
Even on your first day of paddle boarding, you will take dozens if not hundreds of strokes. As you become more proficient in the sport, you may take thousands of strokes in a day. As a result, it’s important to learn a few proper techniques in the beginning. These ideas will set you down the right path for your stroke development.

• Set Up
  • Standing in a neutral position, twist and rotate your torso.
  • Forward arm projects outwards and your top hand should be about shoulder level.
• Entry
  • Place the blade into the water with minimal splash.  
  • The further forward you can begin the power phase, the better.
• Catch
  • Catch is the precise moment the paddle is buried.
  • The blade can be slid into the water from the side or by projecting it straight down into the water, usually a little of both.  
  • Once the blade is fully submerged and "planted" it's time to apply the power.
• Power
  • Paddler applies load to the paddle through a combination of compression, pulling and rotation.
  • If you don’t rotate your torso, you’ll be pulling with your arms only.
• Exit
  • Removal of the paddle at the end of the stroke up into the air.
  • The blade should exit around your feet.
• Recovery
  • The swing through to set up for the next stroke.
  • Relax, let go of tension and remember to breathe.

 
These five tips will certainly get you going and will provide some good fundamentals on how to stand up paddle board. However, there are several things left out in this article due to space. Topics such as water safety, turning, stopping have not been covered. If you’ve had success with the techniques in this article and want to do more, I suggest that you take a lesson with a qualified paddle board instructor.

Are inflatable paddle boards any good for beginners? As a hard board brand, our gut reaction is to say that inflatable paddle boards are terrible. However, that would be dishonest. A better answer would be “it depends”.

Like every product, inflatable paddle boards can be of poor or high quality. Inflatable boards have a wide price range.  You can purchase an inflatable for as little as $250 or as much as $2500.  The boards at the lower end of the price spectrum should be avoided.
 
STIFFNESS IS IMPORTANT
When inflatable paddle boards are designed, a key objective of the builder is to make the inflatable as stiff and rigid as a hard board.

A paddle board’s rigidity is its key to success. A hard, rigid board glides through the water with ease, and is easy to paddle. For beginners, stability is more important than glide, and rigid paddle boards offer better stability than a soft paddle board.
As a beginner, you should look for a paddle board that is very rigid and stiff. You will be able to stand easier, and you will be able to move forward and gain speed more efficiently.

DO INFLATABLES PROVIDE GOOD RIGIDITY?
All inflatables try to be as rigid as a hard board like a Wappa. Unfortunately, unless you are spending more than $1500, it’s unlikely that you will experience stiffness similar to a hard board. Cheaper inflatables are less expensive because they don’t have the same number of channels and baffles that give the board the stiffness it needs to be beneficial for a beginner paddler.

Inexpensive inflatables can lead to a frustrating afternoon on the water.  Without stiffness, the board may start to bend a little under the paddler.  This creates board instability and all but eliminates glide. A beginner on such a board, can quickly become frustrated. Balance is difficult to obtain, and the paddling experience is suboptimal.

If you are learning to paddle board, try to learn on a hard paddle board. Hard paddle boards have the rigidity required for excellent beginner stability, and they glide easier through the water. Better stability and better glide equate to a better experience, and more fun on the water.

So, to answer the original question, “Are inflatable paddle boards any good for beginners?” Yes, they can be. Just make sure you spend the money and get the stiffest inflatable available. If you cheapen out and get an inexpensive brand, you’ll likely experience much more frustration than you would on a better-quality inflatable or hard board.  If you can’t afford the best inflatables, it’s best to stay away, and purchase a hard paddle board instead.  It’s just a better experience.