Blog Layout
Technique - Getting up for the First Time
Matt Gambles • 23 April 2020
How to Stand Up on your Paddleboard
For your first time on a SUP, go out in calm, flat, enclosed water. Going out in windy, choppy or surfy conditions for your first experience will be very counter productive and a potentially demoralising experience. An hour in calm conditions on your board, will help your skills (and enjoyment) much more than going straight in at the deep end in waves (believe us, we did it the waves way first and we wish we had done it the other way round!).
We highly reccommend getting instruction for your first time on a board, not only will you learn lots of great habits but you will get a great idea of where a SUP can take you, and how to get there.
The Location
For your first time on a Stand Up Paddleboard, look for a flat water location that has easy access and little, if any, wind affecting. By not going to a choppy, or wavey location, you can just concentrate on being comfortable with standing up on a board and on enjoying paddling around. You will find progression will come much quicker this way, and moving into the surf or exposed water will be much more satisfying.
Getting on the board and standing up
The board will have a handle, or a place to carry it. This is the perfect marker to get in your head as to where your knees need to be as you get on the board. Get your knees nice and wide apart on the board. Hold your paddle across the deck with your knuckles pointing down on the deck. Look straight ahead and stand up. The key to this, and being stable on the board is to keep looking ahead, keeping the legs slightly bent and the back straight.
When first trying to stand up, EVERYONE makes the same mistakes, they all look down at their board and they all stick their bum out!! Its really important to get rid of these two bits of the stance. Looking ahead means your centre of gravity is over your body, so you are more stable. By having your bum in, legs bent and back straight, you will keep your balance much easier, have a good stable centre of gravity and be able to adapt to changes in the water conditions.
A good tip is to get your paddle in the water and paddling as soon as you stand up on your board. PadThe Location
For your first time on a Stand Up Paddleboard, look for a flat water location that has easy access and little, if any, wind affecting. By not going to a choppy, or wavey location, you can just concentrate on being comfortable with standing up on a board and on enjoying paddling around. You will find progression will come much quicker this way, and moving into the surf or exposed water will be much more satisfying.
Paddling will help your stability, acting as a brace in the water. This is a great tip to remember moving forward in your stand up paddling, paddling gives you stability.
The Paddle Surf Scotland year in Review
Amsterdam - Bucket List Paddleboarding
The Road Trip Video 2024
Fuerteventura - A SUP and Surf Guide
Cross Country Skiing + SUP = Perfect training siblings
SUP Surfing in Gran Canaria
A look at the new video 'Life on the Water'
The 2023 SUP Review
The Many and Varied Disciplines of Stand Up Paddleboarding
Leeds - Liverpool Canal Paddleboarding