Stand Up Paddling Trend 2024: Helpful tips from the experts

Recreational sports
Stand Up Paddling: Tips from the experts about boards, clothing and accessories

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is once again one of the hottest water sports this year. For beginners the question arises: Which board is right for me? The star asked an expert.

In recent years, stand up paddling has developed into a popular trend sport. “In the past, people didn’t know where to classify SUP: rowing or surfing,” remembers Peter von SUP LEGION goes back to the beginnings of water sports. “Today people are thinking about whether stand-up paddling should possibly become an Olympic sport.” The SUP trainer has been teaching the art of paddling for six years and knows what is important when buying a board – and what beginners should know before buying one.

Hardboards vs. Inflatables: This is what you should know

There are two different types of boards: hardboards and inflatables. The former were the pioneers of stand up paddling, which are characterized by a solid foam core and are very elaborately constructed. However, they are also more susceptible to holes: “If you drive against a bridge, for example, the board develops small cracks that draw in water. This makes it heavier, but it still floats. But if it lies outside in winter, what has penetrated it freezes Water – if it thaws again in the summer, the board breaks apart,” says Peter, explaining the disadvantages of a hardboard. In addition, you have to dig a little deeper into your pockets for high-quality models. For comparison: “Cheap models are between 600 and 800 euros, raceboards go up to 5,000 euros.”

The SUP rental shop where he works still offers both variants. The trend is clearly towards inflatables, i.e. inflatable boards. The advantages are obvious: “They are simply more practical because they are easier to transport. You let the air out, fold them up and put them in your backpack.” But here too there is an individual price range – for a good inflatable you pay between 800 and 2000 euros. However, there are also affordable ones Models from 170 euroswhich are particularly sufficient for “Sunday paddlers”, i.e. occasional trips.

“For cheap boards, I recommend brands like Aqua Marina. “The service life is not that long, which is why we don’t use such boards for rental – but you get a whole set including a backpack and pump,” says Peter. In his opinion, even a cheap board can last two to three years if You should take good care of it and not leave it in the sun for too long. “If you just want to paddle a little every now and then, these sets are well suited for professionals.” Starboard, Fanatic, mistral or JP Australia.

Tips from a professional: This is what you should keep in mind when purchasing

In Peter’s experience, the classic board sells the most because it is the most popular. But does this automatically make it suitable for beginners and professionals alike? The answer here is clearly: no! “I recommend that beginners first take a wide board with a lot of buoyancy so that they can feel confident on the water.” By having a lot of buoyancy it means that the boards are slightly thicker, wider and longer and therefore have more volume so that they can carry more weight. “In order to find the right board for the right weight, you can also get advice from your specialist retailer.” The SUP trainer also adds that it is possible to test a board before buying it – to find out whether it suits you. “There are special SUP events where various manufacturers are represented and where you can usually try out the boards for free. Or you can go to a SUP rental shop like ours and test drive some models there,” suggests Peter.

“Advanced riders should first think about what they want to do with the board. If they want to go faster, they need a narrow and long board, for example a racer. This is therefore very tippy. If I want to surf with it, which is also possible with a SUP “I need a wide but short model,” explains the trainer. And also at paddle You can choose between different sizes: from 120 sheets to 80 sheets. “For beginners, I recommend the middle. The wider the blade, the more strenuous the movement in the water.”

When it comes to accessories, prospective buyers often ask themselves whether they need special protective clothing on the lake. Because even if SUP seems harmless at first glance, the water is not without danger: Just last summer, a paddler drowned in Lake Constance, even though he was only 200 meters from the shore. That’s why the following applies here: Safety first! Even if it doesn’t look very stylish, one can Life jackets when in doubt, save lives. It’s not expensive either. And the purchase is definitely worth it.

In addition, a light one is recommended Wetsuit in summer. It protects against sun and wind if you do fly into the water and – unlike cotton hoodies or T-shirts – it doesn’t get soaked. It also dries much, much faster. However, if you don’t want to miss out on stand-up paddling in winter, you should always have a special one Drysuit carry. It prevents you from getting wet if you fall into ice-cold water. It’s best to wear underneath Ski underwear or Football winter clothesthat keep you warm on the board.

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