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Stand Up Paddleboarding….or SUP as it is known for short!

Posted by Libby Chivers.
First Published Aug 2014; updated May 2023.

Stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP) is another excellent way to get the entire family on the water. It's fun and keeps you fit too. Read this family guide to SUPs.


Ever wanted to learn about Paddleboarding? It's a great way to get the family on the water...

Why SUP?

This is an upcoming sport in the UK, and it is a little bit addictive!

It’s great if there are no waves to surf and is also handy if you don’t live near a beach but live near some flat water.

SUP is great fun for all, kids or just kids at heart! If you are not sure what it is all about, then check out this GOWTK video 😉

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So, what's the best age for SUP?

Small kids can sit on the front of an adult's SUP board

Small kids can sit on the front of an adult's SUP board

You can get kids' boards which are smaller and more manageable, so they can start young, around the age of 8.

At this age, they might get tired quickly as it is quite a whole body workout!

But what is great about SUPs is that you can get a large board and pop the kids on the front of the grown up’s boards if you need to!

So basically, it can be done from any age. A whole family fun activity!

The best time of year for Paddleboarding

SUPing can be done at any time of year.

The sea is at its warmest in August/September. However, if you are playing on lakes and inland waters, it doesn’t make too much difference!

So as long as you want to have a go and the weather is good, you can go and play whenever!

Weather, winds, waves and tides…

The one thing that affects SUP is the wind! It is hard work trying to paddle in strong winds, so best to check the wind forecast and know what is too strong for you personally to paddle against.

If you are not sure, get yourself involved in a SUP lesson or course where they will share top tips and knowledge.

The wind can be your friend if you are doing a journey and it is behind you it will assist you along the way, making it SUPer easy!

SUPing with swell can be a bit tricky but still fun once you are at the right level, for beginners you want flat calm waters, then you can progress to more lumpy waters!

You can surf SUPs too, which is really good fun!

Taking account of tide times can make it easier to get in and out of the water with your SUP board

Taking account of tide times can make it easier to get in and out of the water with your SUP board

Watch out for tides, if it is low tide you might have to carry your board a long way, which can be tiring, so take note and perhaps choose high tide if you can!

Where to go Paddleboarding

SUPing everywhere

As said above, you can SUP on the sea or on any calm inland waterways! There are sooooo many places to choose from it's hard to really make a list or pick!

Of course, we at Board Games love the Pembrokeshire coast for its beauty, views, wildlife and variation.

Inland there are great Lochs in Scotland, canal systems all over the country and lakes aplenty….the world is your SUP oyster 😉

Practical bits and bobs….

SUP Boards

Stand Up Paddleboards

There are so many types of boards to choose from.

Inflatables are great for popping in your car, pumping up and going…or even for commuting to school/work if you have a canal nearby!

They are pretty hard-wearing and take up not much room when storing.

Hard boards are good for those with lots of space and a roof rack or van!

They can be a bit more fragile than an inflatable but are lovely to paddle and you don’t have to pump them up every time you want to adventure!

Then there are some foam options out there, which are similar to the hard boards, but a bit more forgiving and bounce well!

Sizes of boards can be a whole world of confusion.

We at Board Games use 10’2 as an all-round board, you can surf them and journey on them.

It all depends on what you are going to be using yours for, the best thing to do is head to a hire shop or test centre and check out the range…ask the staff for some knowledge and get the right one for you!

Paddles

You can get adjustable paddles which are probably the best option if you are a family as then you can all use them!

If your kids are still young you will need to get some junior paddles too, which go down smaller for smaller arms!

If you really get into it you can buy a paddle that you have to cut to the right length which will just fit you, handy if you don’t want anyone else to steal it!

It is really important to make sure you use a paddle that is the right length for you as it can damage your shoulder if it’s too big. If you are not sure, seek some expert advice.

Clothing choices

Kit yourself out for paddleboarding in all weathers

Kit yourself out for paddleboarding in all weathers

We like to wear wetsuits as it means you can fall in and have fun without feeling too cold!

We choose winter wetsuits 5/4mm most of the year-round, although you can get away with a summer suit as SUPing tends to keep you quite warm!

If the weather is super hot (or you are lucky enough to live in tropical climates) you can wear shorts and a rash vest!

If you have little kids or are not a strong swimmer we suggest a buoyancy aid too if you fall in it will mean you bob about in the water!

Don’t forget if the sun is out to wear sunscreen and maybe a hat as water reflects sunlight.

Accessories

Other bits you might want to invest in are:

  • Wetsuit boots if you are going to be playing all year round, keep those toes warm!
  • A carry strap if you are going to be carrying your board a long way it can help!
  • A keypod for your keys while you are out on the water they are safe attached to your vehicle.

A final word….

We at Board Games do love to SUP but it will help if you get some knowledge first, so get yourself signed up to a lesson or join a SUP club.

A little bit of knowledge goes a long way and most of all get out there and have some serious fun! Enjoy the SUP adventure but watch out it can become SUPer addictive 🙂

Stay safe and paddle on!

See Also