ActiveWater SportsHow to enjoy stand-up paddleboarding safelySUPing is a fantastic outdoor activity, as long as you do it safely. Here are 10 tips to help you get home in one pieceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveWater SportsHow to enjoy stand-up paddleboarding safelySUPing is a fantastic outdoor activity, as long as you do it safely. Here are 10 tips to help you get home in one pieceWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
SUPing is a fantastic outdoor activity, as long as you do it safely. Here are 10 tips to help you get home in one piece
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jump to category:1. Wear a life jacket2. Stay on-leash3. Always remain with your board4. Get suited and booted5. Do a stand-up paddling course6. Always check the weather7. Communication8. Listen to local knowledge9. Paddle in a posse10. Paddle within your limits
Jump to category:1. Wear a life jacket2. Stay on-leash3. Always remain with your board4. Get suited and booted5. Do a stand-up paddling course6. Always check the weather7. Communication8. Listen to local knowledge9. Paddle in a posse10. Paddle within your limits
Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP as it’s often abbreviated, is a hugely enjoyable outdoor pursuit that has completely overtaken kayaking and canoeing in popularity and participation numbers.
There are all kinds of stand-up paddleboards out there, including some excellentinflatable boards, which are very easy to transport and even take on holiday, and many larger models, which make excellentSUPs for beginners. Most are fairly affordable (especially in comparison to a kayak or a canoe), and they’re a really versatile craft that can be used for pure fun but also sport, fitness and even yoga.
For all these reasons, stand-up paddleboarding has picked up massive momentum miraculously fast over the last decade. These days, if you visit the beach or stroll around any stretch of coastline on a reasonably calm day, there will inevitably be a fleet of SUPs out on the water. Walk along a riverbank or canal towpath, or wander around a lakeshore where paddling is permitted, and again you’ll almost certainly see paddleboarders.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Whenever you see SUPers out on the water, especially when water conditions are anything other than complete, you’ll notice that some of them (often most of them) are kneeling or sitting on their boards rather than actually standing. And lots of the ones who do attempt to stand regularly fall in the water. This is because stand-up paddleboarding isn’t quite as beginner friendly as many people think.
With the ever-rising popularity of the activity, the RNLI and Coastguard are called upon to rescue an increasing number of SUPers every year – RNLI lifeboats were called out 144 times to rescue paddleboarders in 2021 and 175 times in 2022. The situation is so serious that in July, theyissued some safety advice to paddlers(external link) to highlight what happens during a typical rescue.
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1. Wear a life jacket
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Along with the board and the paddle, it’s important to invest in thebest life jacket– also known as a personal flotation device (PFD) – you can find before you start stand-up paddleboarding. Obviously, this needs to be the right size for your body weight. And then, no matter how benign you think the conditions are, always wear it when you’re out on the water. And if you’re paddling with children, make sure they are wearing one too.
2. Stay on-leash
Most good paddleboards come with a leash (if yours doesn’t, invest in one) that you can attach to your ankle. Always use this leash to connect yourself to the board. Not only will this make you a more efficient paddler (a loose leash dangling in the water can create a surprising amount of drag), but it means your board won’t get blown away from you if you fall off. Getting separated from your board can turn a dangerous situation into a deadly one.
3. Always remain with your board
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
4. Get suited and booted
Conditions on the water can get very chilly, especially if you fall in and get wet. It’s also important to protect yourself from sunburn, which can be particularly severe on the water. While a rash vest and board shorts might feel adequate in the height of summer, it’s well worth investing in agood wetsuitto ensure you can comfortably paddle for most of the year. If you get seriously cold, you can start making bad decisions that will increase the level of risk you are exposed to.
Many put-in and take-out points necessitate walking across pebbles, sharp shells and rocks, and/or mud that might have anything in it – plus, if you fall off your board, you could step down on something sharp – so protect your feet with somegood watershoes.
5. Do a stand-up paddling course
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Knowing a few basicSUP tips and trickswill help you get started on your stand-up paddleboarding journey, but the best way to learn how to SUP safely and efficiently is to do a course. There are hundreds of instructors out there, but make sure you’re going out with someone who is properly qualified and accredited. Andy Gratwick, the Head Coach of theBritish Standup Paddle Boarding Association(external link), tells us they have 105 recognised schools nationwide in Britain, and he estimates that around 30,000 paddlers get a structured lesson through their school network each year.
6. Always check the weather, and be prepared to cancel your paddle
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
7. Communication
Take a phone or other communication device out on the water with you in a waterproof case orgood dry bag, so you can call for help if things go wrong. Serious SUPers, and anyone taking on stretches of open water or paddling around remote coastlines, should carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
8. Listen to local knowledge
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Do some research about where you intend paddling and, especially when paddling in unfamiliar locations, be very mindful of submerged objects and rip tides.
9. Paddle in a posse
It is safer, and generally more fun, to go paddleboarding with other people, be that a guide or your friends and family. If you are intending to go paddling alone, at least let someone know your plans and expected return time.
10. Paddle within your limits
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Whenever you’re SUPing independently, it’s essential you paddle within the limits of the weakest member of your group. Undertaken with care and the right gear, stand-up paddleboarding is very safe – but it’s no fun if you or someone else in your group is terrified.
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