How to Choose the Right Stand Up Paddleboard

The selection of the ideal stand-up paddleboard is starting to resemble picking the perfect pair of socks from a 200-pair drawer for your 6 a.m. Bootcamp. There are too many choices, and they are all the same! If you go further, you'll discover several considerations while choosing the best course of action. Are you drawn to the sport for its fitness benefits? Would you like to spend time with your family cruising the local ports and exploring flat water? Are you a surfer prepared to advance your scraping abilities to catch smaller waves when the swell isn't up? Or are you prepared to engage in the fast-expanding racing scene that has swept the country and bring your competitive spirit from your professional, collegiate tennis days? When considering a significant purchase, like your first SUP board, these elements must be regarded as (or maybe you are adding a second or third SUP to your quiver). Thankfully, the stand-up Paddle Company team has done the necessary research and has developed some simple methods for choosing the ideal board and paddle. Here is some advice from the experts:

1. Stability equals volume. The three most important dimensions are width, length, and thickness. Your stand-up paddle instructor should be able to match your weight, height, ability level, and objectives with the appropriate size board. Longer boards tend to feel more solid while paddling straight, but they are more challenging to turn. Experienced paddlers will probably choose smaller, lower volume boards, whereas beginners who want to spend more time in flat-water conditions choose broader, longer boards with higher volume.

Surfing using a SUP. Consider a more high-performance board that is 10 feet or less if you want to spend most of your time riding waves. A trade-off exists between paddling out into the surf and riding waves in terms of length, breadth, and displacement. Don't go too tiny too quickly since you have to paddle out into the whitewater before you can catch the waves and cruise down the line. SUP businesses provide fantastic SUP surfboards from brands explicitly made for surfing, such as SUPCO, Kings, Naish, and Paddle Surf Hawaii!

3. Paddling/Touring on Flat Water. A flat-water or touring board is ideal if you wish to go on open ocean tours and adventures or live near a lake, calm river, port, or other body of water. Flat-water boards are a terrific option for all ages and skill levels if you have a large family and can only afford one SUP. A high volume and slight rocking are essential when stand-up paddling flat water. Flat water boards come in various sizes, from 10'6" for smaller people or kids to 14' touring boards, Tahoe boat rentals north shore.

4. Racetracks Rise The fastest-growing competitive water activity today is paddle racing. All ages and abilities are hopping on the competitive bandwagon, from the tranquil waters of Lake Tahoe to the trade wind downwinders in South Florida. SUP is a prospective Olympic Sport for 2016, with the WPA (World Paddle Association) serving as the thriving regulatory organization of SUP racing (and teaching). There are alternatives for raceboards as well. Race classifications often include the following: 14' or 18' and above Unlimited, 12'6" Stock. Due to their body weight, most ladies picked the 12'6" standard size; males over 185 like to ride 14' stand-up paddle raceboards; and those who are ready to paddle further or fly faster than lightning try their luck on the Unlimited Class boards. It essentially just comes down to personal choice with race boards. Several displacement hull and tail shapes include pintails for flat water and square tails for improved stability while racing in the surf. My recommendation is to "test before you purchase" because there are a ton of demonstrations available from several SUP suppliers if they can't find another person.