Now that you are comfortable in standing up on a board and in the core paddling techniques, its time to challenge yourself, to go out on that big lake, to paddle down that river, or see whats around the next headland at the coast. A whole world of possibilities will now open up to you and the time spent mastering technique in calm, flat water will mean only some fine tuning and much, much more fun for you going forwards.

 

The Location.

 

In this module we are looking at stand up paddling in exposed waters, by this we are meaning that they may be affected by wind, waves, chop and possibly tide, they may involve some planning, some weather watching and be slightly more of an undertaking.

 

When it comes to planning the location of your SUP trip, always err on the side of caution, if in doubt, don’t go out. Consult the weather, make sure you have a plan B in case you need to get off the water earlier in a trip, make sure people know where you have gone and what time you will be back.

 

If its a slightly windy day, have you thought about tailoring the trip so the wind is behind you rather than against it?, ask yourselves lots of questions, and lots of ‘what if’s’ when you are deciding on an exposed water destination.

 

The Correct Equipment.

 

Going out into exposed water may mean some extra equipment. On a trip you may want to bring a first aid kit, mobile phone, water and food in a dry bag. A Buoyancy Aid may be a good idea. Connecting yourself to your board with a leash certainly will be. Clothing relevant to the conditions is a huge consideration, a good wetsuit is essential, and if you are wearing any fabric make sure its something man made, rather than cotton as this will make you colder when its wet.

 

Below is a good tick list on what to think about while planning your trip to exposed waters:

 

- stay within your skill level

- Tell others where you are going, and for how long

- Always paddle with a friend

- Check the weather forecast

- Dress for the temperature and conditions

- Wear a leash

- Be willing to cancel the trip or change the location if the weather dictates.