If you are new to the paddle boarding scene, chances are you have been making some mistakes without realizing it.
No worries, everyone does. Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common errors that, if we are being completely honest, every paddle boarder usually commits at one point or another.
- Paddle blade is facing the wrong way
This is the most common mistake among paddle boarders, especially for beginners. When paddling, the correct way is to put the direction of the paddle blade bent away from you.
This will allow you to speed up your paddling as well as provide good traction on the water. This way, you won’t be wasting your energy !
- Holding the paddle the wrong way
Some paddlers hold the paddle in the middle, though what they don’t know is that their grip is unstable when the paddle is held this way.
Instead, the paddle should be held at the top. Bear in mind however, that it depends on which side you are paddling. If you paddle on the right side of the board, it should be your left hand that is holding the top corner of your paddle, and vice versa.
The reason you need to hold the paddle at the top is to give you a good grip, as well as to help you gain more traction on the water every time you stroke your paddle.
- Standing incorrectly on the board
One of the most common SUP mistakes that first-timers make is standing too far forward or backward on their board. The further you stand towards the nose of your board, the harder it will be to control your board. The further you stand backwards the more the nose of the board will go up and the easier you will lose your balance.
Most paddleboards have a carry handle exactly at the center of the board. This carry handle can act as a reference for where you should stand.
Another common mistake is standing the wrong way around, facing the back of the paddle board!
- Looking down at your board while paddling
This is one of the most common mistakes of many beginners; they stoop down while they paddle. This will cause you to lose your balance and fall off the board.
A good technique when you paddle is to focus your eyesight on the horizon in front of you. Another option is to focus on something on the shore or in the water as you paddle yourself towards that object.
- Not using a leash
A leash is one of the most important pieces of gear that you need to put on when you go out paddle boarding; you certainly do not want to loose your board in the middle of the water !
On top of that, in case you accidentally fall into the water, the leash is there to keep you attached to your paddle board. Ultimately this serves to keep you safe as it means you won’t be stranded out in deep waters without a vessel to travel on.
Your safety should be one of your primary concerns when you go out on the water so don’t forget to use a leash.
- Not monitoring the weather
This is a crucial step to do before going out for a SUP boarding adventure. As we mentioned earlier, your safety must always be your utmost priority, so be sure to always check the weather.
The last thing that you want to experience is arriving at the location and being surprised there is a storm waiting to ruin your day !
At kite N surf we consider the weather conditions one of the most important elements that can make the difference between a fun paddle boarding session and a paddle boarding swimming session! That’s why we always make sure to advise our clients about the weather conditions during the booking process for paddle board rentals in Dubai.
- Exposing your paddle board to direct sunlight extended periods of time
If you want your board to last longer, you should refrain from keeping it under direct sunlight on land for a long period of time.
Doing this will potentially damage the seams of your inflatable board or delaminate your hard paddle board. The colors will also fade easily and it will affect its sturdiness.
Many purchase a board bag or cover, to keep the sup cool and protected.
- Not bringing water
Some paddle boarders (especially beginners) forget to bring water when they go out for a paddleboarding adventure. After all, it is easy to assume that this water sport is just a simple leisure activity and that it doesn’t need proper preparation.
You see, paddle boarding is in fact very good exercise. It’s an amazing full body workout that every health buff should try, but in order for you to stay energized, you have to keep yourself hydrated. That means, drinking lots of water is a must when you go out. A good healthy snack after your session is as important as drinking water. You’ll definitely get hungry after a day’s workout with your paddle.
- Not inflating your board to the suggested PSI (In case of inflatable Paddle boards)
You want your board to perform at an optimum level. It won’t get to that point if you don’t follow the right PSI level – It will lose its toughness and performance.
It’s highly advised that you should inflate your board to 12 PSI. This way, you’ll be guaranteed that you’ll get maximum performance, and your paddleboarding experience will be a much safer one.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Paddle boarding takes time to master, especially if you learn it on your own. Reading some blog posts and watching videos may help you, but it may take some trial and error before you become confident at doing it yourself.
If you want to fast-track the learning curve, Kite N Surf is there to help you improve your paddle-boarding skills quicker. We have a team of professionals who will guide you from the very beginning until you become an expert paddler in case you would like to have paddle board lessons in Dubai ! You can reach out to us through email at aloha@kitensurf.ae or call us at +971 55 800 6363.
