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Starting out in Stand-up Paddleboarding is extremely exciting. There's so many benefits to this sport including physical and mental wellness, the ability to explore new places, and gaining access to the wonderful paddling community. However, figuring out how to stand up on a paddleboard for the first time can sometimes be a challenge for SUP newbies.
Have no fear, we're here to help! In this video, Bill, a seasoned SUP instructor of over 15 years and valued SUPBoardGuide contributor, will give an in depth lesson on how to stand up on a paddleboard for the first time. He'll also cover the basics of paddling technique, and share a few tips on paddleboarding safety and the necessary equipment.
So, how exactly do you get a successful start in stand-up paddleboarding?
First and foremost, you'll need to be safe by wearing your leash and a PFD. Then, you can focus on the basics: paddle orientation, paddling in the safety position, foot placement, successfully standing up, and turning and stopping.
Before even getting out onto the water, it's important to understand which way your paddle should be facing. Generally, you'll want your paddle blade to be angled towards the nose of your board to be working effectively.
Once you're familiar with your paddle, it's time to understand the safety position. Paddling on your knees (aka the safety position) is extremely useful when you encounter any sort of rough conditions, shallow/rocky water, or even in cases of fatigue. The most important thing to remember about the safety position is that it's best to hold the paddle down on the shaft, rather than keeping one hand on the top handle and potentially hurting your shoulder.
From the safety position, you can transfer into standing and paddling. This is made exponentially easier by knowing where and how to place your feet. For most boards, you'll want to place your feet on either side of the center handle, about hip width apart. You'll also want to make sure that your feet are parallel to each other (imagine your standing on a set of rail road tracks), rather than being splayed out like duck feet.
With correct foot placement, you can then begin to stand up by driving through your legs, rather than pulling up from your back. it should feel similar to doing a squat, not a straight legged deadlift. As you're standing, you'll also want to make sure to keep your head up and looking at a still point in the distance. This helps center weight over your feet, and ensures a more stable base as you move into the standing position.
As soon as you stand up, you'll want to immediately put your paddle in the water to improve your stability even further. Then, you can get on your way! When paddling, you'll want to make sure to place your paddle blade in the water up by the nose of the SUP and draw it back towards your toes, making sure to fully submerge the blade in the water.
The last thing you need learn before becoming a full on paddler is how to turn and stop your paddleboard. Turning your SUP can be done with either forward or backward sweep strokes. You'll place your paddle in the water by the nose or the tail and push outwards to turn your board around. Stopping is as easy as placing your paddle in the water behind you and pushing it forwards towards the nose of your board.
Once you've mastered these steps, you're well on your way to becoming a seasoned paddleboarder. For an even more detailed explanation, stick with us through our video. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
0:00 How to Stand Up Paddleboard
1:01 Proper Stance and Paddle techniques
8:04 How to Paddle in a Safe Position
10:29 Tricks for Standing Up on a Paddleboard
#howtostanduppaddleboard #howtosup #standuppaddle