1. Choose the right gear.
Use a leash.
This will help you stay connected to the paddle board in the event that you fall off of the paddle board. This is a very important piece of equipment because if you fall off, the paddle board can distance itself from you very quickly. Having the leash on prevents that and is a key item to have.
There are two types of leashes for paddle boards: coiled or straight. Straight leashes are easier to use and better for the beginner. More advanced riders prefer coiled leashes as they don’t drag in the water which can reduce speed.
Which leg to put the leash on: The leash should always go on whichever leg is your dominant leg. This is the foot that you have near the tail of your board when you’re paddling on the board.
Dress for the temperatures.
Winter: In colder temperatures, make sure to wear some thermal base layers with waterproof covering. If you are planning to spend anytime in the water, a wet suit is a great option. Packing a thermos of hot soup along for the journey can go a long way in helping stay warm.
Summer: Generally for first time paddle boarders, you don’t need to worry too much about what to wear. Wearing breathable, waterproof clothing that is easy to move around in and isn’t too hot will do the trick. It is important to make sure to wear sunscreen in the instance that any of your body is exposed to the sun. For that reason, having a hat and sunglasses can prove valuable.
Wear your personal flotation device (“PFD”).
This is the single most important piece of gear that you need to wear when paddle boarding. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 86% of those who drowned from boating deaths in 2019 were from not wearing life jackets. For more information and tip sheets about life jackets, visit the US Coast Guard web site.
In addition to your PFD, it is helpful to bring a whistle with you in the event of emergency. Some life jackets will have whistles built into them already.
2. Prepare.
Check the weather forecast before hitting the water.
Additionally, make sure to check the direction of wind before heading out. This will be beneficial in helping you determine the route of your paddle board trip.
Prepare for wind and waves.
It is important to be prepared for this from a mental standpoint as well as having the right gear on hand. If it is windy with higher waves, it is extra important to have the right attire on were you to fall off your paddle board into the water.
Practice on solid ground before you hit the water.
It is helpful to have a feel for standing on a paddle board on solid ground before being in the water. It’ll help you gain a better sense of balance and higher confidence that you’ll be able to do it. When doing this, be sure to remove your fin from your board.
Know how to swim.
This is key. You should be prepared to fall in the water when learning how to paddle board. Knowing that you can handle it if you were to fall in the water is crucial.
Only ride waves you can handle.
As a beginner, don’t look to ride waves until you feel ready for it. Once you do, only approach the smaller waves to start. Gradually ease yourself into it one step at a time.
Find a good spot to launch.
Calm, flat water is the perfect condition to launch your paddle board. Ideally there are few individuals around where you will launch, so you have space as you prepare to take off. Good spots for this by the beach will be where the waves aren’t breaking as much and a spot where the sand gradually gets deeper. This goes for launching in a lake too. However, if there isn’t an area to walk, there are other options. For instance at a lake with no other options, one can launch off of a dock.
Practice climbing back on your board.
This will be a helpful exercise to repeat as learning how to get back on the board, you’ll also be gaining a greater ability to balance yourself on the paddle board.
Learn how to fall before going on a ride.
When falling off your board, it is best to fall away from the board. Don’t reach for the paddle board when you’re falling. The paddle board is a hard object that could cause harm if you were to hit it while falling. A good rule of thumb is to intentionally make yourself fall further to the side than you would had you simply let gravity carry you. For instance, if you’re falling to the left, aim to fall further left than you normally would.
3. Learn the correct paddling technique.
Know where to stand on the board.
You want to stand in the middle of the paddle board. As a general rule of thumb, the further you stand from the middle of the paddle board, the harder it will be to balance. This should be easy to identify as most paddle boards will have a carry handle located in the middle.
Know how to hold the paddle.
If paddling on the left of you, your left arm should hold the shaft, while the right arm holds the top of the paddle. If paddling on the right side, use the opposite grip form.
The blade of the paddle should always be bent away from you when paddling. This will provide the most efficient way for the paddle to propel you forward.
Adjust the paddle height.
The exact height will vary depending on your activity. For general cruising and paddling, a paddle length around 6 – 8 inches above your head when standing next to it on the ground is recommended. Those looking to surf on the paddle board will want to adjust it to be smaller, around 2 – 4 inches above your head. The reason for this is a shorter paddle will allow more flexibility for the surfer to do a variety of maneuvers. However, a longer paddle is beneficial for general paddling as it’ll give more power to each stroke.
Engage your core.
By engaging your core when you paddle, you are able to exert greater force through the board and taking all of the burden off of exclusively relying on your arms to do the work. For those interested in a breakdown for how to do this, read this.
Keep your head up, look ahead, not down.
It can be helpful to pick a stationary object in the distance to look at to help you stay balanced. Focus on the horizon.
Give yourself enough space.
It’s important to have space from others so you don’t collide with another and so you have space to fall away from the board.
4. Practice standing up on the paddle board.
Start by getting on the board.
It’ll be easiest to start on your stomach.
Work your way to a kneeling position.
Make sure to move each foot individually while using your hands on the side of the board to stabilize it.
Once you’re in a kneeling position, the next step is standing.
Focus on raising your chest while using your knees to stabilize yourself. Once your chest is upright, straighten your legs to stand up.
5. Keep a wide stance when standing on a paddle board.
For a proper stance, you should aim to have your feet shoulder-width apart with your feet slightly turned outward. When paddling, always aim to distribute your weight evenly through both feet and make sure to avoid gripping your toes to the board when paddling as this will cause you to lose your balance.
6. Relax.
Approach this as a learning experience, you will make mistakes. But at the same time, you will learn quickly. Having the right mindset going into this will make a difference. Ironically, once you get the hang of it, the act of paddle boarding will actually be relaxing!
7. Learn and practice bracing techniques.
What is bracing? Bracing is the act of using your paddle to keep yourself on your board. If you’ve managed to stand on the paddle board, you’re actually using that paddle as a brace to keep you upright. Aside from using your paddle as a natural brace, there are other forms of bracing that you can learn, such as a low brace or a high brace.
An example of bracing with a paddle: if you begin to lose balance, slap the back face of the paddle against the water surface. This will give you a few moments of support that you can use to push yourself back upright to regain balance.
8. Take a lesson.
You can learn paddle boarding through reading online materials like this and go and practicing it yourself. Through trial and error, you’ll be able to accomplish it. However, it never hurts to take a lesson or two. That’ll help expedite the process. Having someone personally there to train you can make a difference.
9. Practice.
Like with all things in life, practice makes perfect. With enough practice, you’ll get the hang of paddle boarding in no time!
10. Have fun!
Paddle boarding is an exciting activity to learn and get the hang of. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere that can come with paddle boarding and being outdoors. Once you feel comfortable paddle boarding, you can then encourage your friends to join in the fun alongside you.
