Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) has become the world's fastest growing water sport, more and more people are planning to start their first time stand up paddle boarding in this summer. People of all ages, body types and skill levels can enjoy this fun water sport at any time and anywhere, the ocean, lakes, rivers, and even a swimming pool. For beginners, after learning how to choose the right stand up paddle board, the next thing might be learning how to paddle on their boards. Sunjoy Inflatables has organized some basic steps and techniques of SUP boarding for the first-time paddlers.

1. How to stand up on the paddle board?

1) Find a calm and flat water, put your SUP board into water and pay attention to the fin not hitting the bottom.
2) Sit on the board to gain your balance, then knee on the board and gain your balance again.
3) Slowly, stand up with one foot at a time and stay in the middle of the board with your feet parallel to the stringer – about shoulder width apart.
4) Keep a slight bend in the knees and your core centered over the board.

When you kneeling or standing on the paddle board, you should feel comfortable and easy to gain your balance. If not, then the board you choose may be not stable enough for you, try another longer, wider and thicker board. And keep in mind that you should always be ready to fall off when learning how to stand up.

2. How to hold your paddle?

1) Use two hands, one hand on the top of the paddle and another hand on the center of the shaft.
2) If you plan to paddle on your left side, your right hand should on the top and left hand on the center, switch the position of your hands when switching sides.
3) Hold your paddle in front of you with your elbows bent at 90 degrees, this should give you comfortable amount of space for paddling.

After standing up on the board and grip a paddle on your hands, you can try slowly paddle a few times on both sides to get the hang of paddling on your board. One thing you should know is that the paddle floats in the water, so if you fall off the board you should let the paddle go and try to get back onto your board first, then find your paddle on the water.

3. Go forward.

When you start to paddle on your board, use your paddle as a lever. Your top hand will be driving the lever and the bottom hand will act as the fulcrum point.

1) Keep your bottom arm straight and relatively still.
2) Pull your top arm toward your body to extend the paddle forward.
3) Rotate your top shoulder forward and extend your reach.
4) Insert the paddle into the water as far forward as possible and bury the paddle into the water.
5) Rather than pulling you paddle through the water, think about pulling past your paddle.
6) To stay in a straight line, take a few stokes on one side then switch to a few strokes on the other.

4. Make a turn.

1) If you want to turn right, place the paddle in the water on the left side and turn your body to the right side on the board.
2) Keep a low center of gravity and pull to the left, towards the tail with the paddle while twisting and leaning to the right with your body. Take a few paddles and you will feel the board shift to the right quickly.
3) Place you paddle on the right side and slightly paddle a few times, you will stop turning right and then try to go forward.
4) Same steps on the other side if you want to turn left.

5. Common mistakes should be recognized.

1) Many beginners want to hold the paddle like a broomstick, with two hands on the shaft, this is not right. Remember to hold the paddle with one hand on the top of the paddle and other hand on the shaft at all times.

2) Some people with surfing experience will use a surf stance on the paddle board unconsciously, this is not right and makes paddling on the flat water more harder. Paddlers should always keep the feet parallel and spread shoulder-width apart. This stance can help you maintain balance on the board and not fall easily.

3) Many people use their arms to take the strokes, you should let your big back muscles do the work. This will relieve your arm muscles and let your body's most muscles get exercised in long distance paddles. It's a great full body workout.

Stand up paddle boarding is a so much fun way to relax and exercise on the water, you can even take a child or dog on board with you. In the learning process, don't give up if you fail to gain your balance for a few times. Please try a larger paddle board and I'm sure you will get the hang of standing up on the board soon. Buy top quality and affordable inflatable stand up paddles boards from sunjoy today!