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SUP basics for beginners

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is paddling while standing on a board. Most people stand within the first hour if they start on their knees, on calm water, with a properly inflated board. This is a short walkthrough for our inflatable boards; third-party videos are at the bottom.

1. What you get with the rental

• an inflatable SUP board,
• an adjustable-length paddle,
• a pump,
• a fin,
• a safety leash (subject to availability),
• a dry bag (subject to availability).

Put your phone and keys in the dry bag. Wear clothes you can get wet: shorts and a shirt in summer, otherwise neoprene or quick-dry layers. Apply sunscreen; sunlight reflects off the water.

2. Inflating the board

1. Surface

   Unroll the board on grass or a smooth surface, away from glass and sharp stones. Check that there are no twigs underneath.

2. Valve

   Unscrew the dust cap. The valve pin should be in the up (closed) position for inflating — if it is pushed in, air will escape. Insert the pump hose and twist to lock.

3. Pumping

   Stand on the pump feet and drive with your legs, not just your arms. Aim for about 15 PSI (a stiff board, not a soft mattress). Under-inflation makes the board flex and feel unstable. Do not use an unregulated compressor.

4. Closing

   Disconnect the hose (a little air may hiss out — that is normal) and screw the valve cap on firmly.

3. Fin, leash, paddle

• Fin: attach it just before you put the board in the water. Without a fin the board drifts sideways. Do not drag a board with the fin attached over sand or other hard ground.
• Leash: clip it to the D-ring at the tail and the cuff around your ankle (or just below the knee). If you fall, the board will not drift away.
• Paddle length: stand next to the board, arm up; the handle should reach about your wrist (or ~15–20 cm above your head). Too short and you stoop; too long and it is tiring.
• Grip: one hand on the T-handle, the other on the shaft. The blade should angle away from you — holding the paddle backwards is the most common beginner mistake.

4. Getting on

Push the board out until the fin clears the bottom. Climb on from the side, onto your knees, at the centre carry handle — the widest, most stable part. Lay the paddle across the board in front of you for a brace. Take a few kneeling strokes until the board settles.

5. Standing up

1. Look forward, not at your feet

   Staring at your toes wrecks your balance. Pick the horizon or a point on shore.

2. One foot, then the other

   From knees into a squat: feet shoulder-width, parallel, next to the centre handle. Then rise slowly. Keep knees soft and weight through the whole foot.

3. Paddle immediately

   A blade in the water is a third point of support. Standing still with the paddle in the air is harder than paddling.

If you wobble, drop back to your knees. That is not failure — you also paddle on your knees when it is windy or you are tired.

6. Going straight and turning

• Forward: plant the blade almost vertically in front of you beside the board, pull to your feet (not far behind you), then lift. The movement comes from the torso, not just the arms.
• Straight line: switch sides every few strokes. Paddling only on the right turns the nose slowly left.
• Turn: a wide sweep stroke on the opposite side from the way you want to go, or a few reverse strokes on the side you want the nose to come toward.
• Keep feet parallel; do not stand with one foot in front of the other.

7. Falling and getting back on

Falls are part of learning. Fall away from the board, not onto it. In the water, grab the centre handle, kick, and pull your chest on, then your knees. The paddle does not float: hold it if you can; otherwise get the board first (you have a leash), then the paddle before it sinks. Never swim under the board.

8. After the session

Rinse the board if it was in muddy water or on grass. To deflate, push the valve pin to the down position and roll from the nose toward the valve to squeeze the air out. Remove the fin so it does not snap in the bag. Return the kit clean, dry and packed at the agreed time.

Videos (other creators)

The clips below are not ours; they are established English introductions. Read the steps above first and use the videos as a visual check.