Knowing how to launch a paddle board is one thing. Knowing how to stand up on a paddle board is the next challenge! Learning to stand up paddle board may take a bit of trial and error - In other words, don’t be afraid to make friends with the water! However, if you know the right technique you’ll soon be a pro.
This is the process for how to stand up on a paddle board in 5 simple steps:
Start By Kneeling On The Board
You want to be about knee-deep in the water when you mount your board. Standing next to whichever side of the SUP you feel most comfortable, hold the board on its sides halfway down, before lifting one knee onto the board and pulling the board gently towards you as you shift the rest of your weight onto the board.
Make sure you position yourself near the central carry handle with one knee either side to stay balanced.
Practice Paddling On Your Knees
Before standing up, it’s helpful to spend some time paddling on your knees. This will give you time to focus on perfecting your paddle stroke without needing to worry about balancing and not falling off! When paddling, one hand should be placed near the top of the handle, gripping the T-bar, whilst the other hand should grip the shaft. Your arms should be just wider than a shoulder width apart.
Place The Paddle Horizontally Across The Deck Of The Board
Once you’re comfortable with your paddle stroke, it’s time to start standing! The first challenge in how to stand up on a paddle board is getting from your knees to your feet. To begin with, from a kneeling position, you’ll need to lean forward and place the paddle horizontally across the deck of the board. You can grip the paddle on the shaft to help you remain stable.
Place Your Feet Where Your Knees Were
Next, stand up slowly, one foot at a time, placing your feet in the same place that your knees were. It helps to keep your head and eyes looking out to the horizon - this will help you to maintain a good body posture, and therefore good balance when standing up.
Adjust Your Position
Once you’ve mastered how to stand up on a paddle board and have made it onto your feet, you may just need to adjust your position slightly. Your feet should be hip-width apart, with your knees slightly bent, and your core centred over the board. Meanwhile, keep your chest up and your head looking out to the horizon. Now you’re in the correct position to start paddling!
What should I Do If I Fall Off?
We’ll all fall off our SUPs at some point, particularly when we’re just starting out, so don’t worry if you do take a tumble, in fact it’s all part of the fun and the learning process! You should always be wearing a leash which means that your SUP shouldn’t ever fall too far from your board. To get back on, position yourself to the side of the SUP and grab the carry handle with your least dominant hand, before leaning across and grabbing the rail with your more dominant hand. Once you have a firm grip and position, let your legs float up to the surface behind you and start kicking the water whilst using the handle and rail to slide yourself onto the board. Slide your stomach onto the board first before slowly pulling the rest of your body on. From there, you can get into a kneeling position, before getting back into a standing position again.
For more top tips on how to stand up on a paddle board, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Red.
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