Considering trying stand-up paddleboarding during a family activity holiday? Here are some excellent tips for the beginner.
Stand-up paddleboarding is a rapidly growing sport, and the ability to go at your own pace and paddle in shallow, calm waters makes this an excellent sport to try out on a family activity holiday. The fact that there are no high speeds involved also means that, assuming everybody taking part is a strong swimmer and pays attention to water safety, paddleboarding makes for a safer watersport than, for example, surfing, windsurfing, motor boating, or jet-skiing. Here are some tips for anyone looking to take up the sport.
Water Safety
First things first: the following applies to any and all activities in, near or around water.
• Never leave children unsupervised.
• Never go out in bad weather.
• Avoid going out alone, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer.
• Only engage in water activities in water that has been declared safe by a qualified person familiar with local currents.
• Don’t go out too far – often the safe areas will be marked out with buoy.
• Watch out for water traffic.
• If you see somebody in trouble, don’t swim out to help them unless you have the appropriate training, because it’s likely that there are dangerous currents. Instead, inform a lifeguard, or assist them by trying to throw something to help them float, or extend them a device to pull them ashore (without leaving safety yourself).
• Familiarise yourself with the signs of drowning (available from various water safety and rescue associations online) before going on any family activity holiday that might possibly involve water. It doesn’t look anything like aquatic distress (shouting, waving and splashing about), and is very easy to miss, even in somebody right next to you. That said, aquatic distress can precede drowning and is something that also requires assistance.
• If an adult falls into the water, check if they are able to verbally respond. If a child in the water is not making any noise, that is a huge warning sign.
• This guide is not an exhaustive resource on safety for your family activity holiday and should not be treated as such. Please research safety for any activities you intend to undertake (more information on water safety can be found at a number of resources, including but not limited to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents).
• Accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of how strong a swimmer or how well trained/experienced they are. Always keep safety in mind.
Equipment
You’ll need to pick the right equipment to get the best experience. Most family activity holidays take place near appropriate equipment rental shops or activity schools, both of which should have somebody on hand to give you more detailed advice. With paddleboarding specifically, pick a wider board if you’re a first timer, as it will be more stable in the water. Narrower boards are designed for increased speed and manoeuvrability, but for now you should focus on staying upright. Your board should be at least 75cm wide, and you should always wear the attached leash. If a board does not have a leash, alert the owner of said board and find a board that does have one.
Make sure you use a good, newer model paddle, as the older ones tend to be heavy and dramatically increase fatigue. It should be around 10-20cm taller than you, and a good shop assistant or instructor will help you choose a good paddle. Never be afraid to ask for help.
Dress accordingly: wear a lifejacket if you feel you need one (see water safety, above), and bear in mind that in some places a lifejacket is a legal requirement. In colder waters, you will need a wetsuit (cold is not just uncomfortable; it can lead to hypothermia and is potentially fatal). You should always ensure that you and all your family members take the correct clothing when packing for a family activity holiday. For stand-up paddleboarding, this means clothes that provide some protection from the sun (this differs according to your skin and your holiday destination), but which won’t impair your ability to swim.
Common Misconceptions
Don’t paddle from the arms: you won’t get much power and you’ll tire very quickly. In stand-up paddleboarding, your core is everything; not only does it balance you, but the power for every stroke comes from your core.
Don’t try to go quickly or catch any waves to start with: just learn to stay on your board. You can begin by paddling on your knees to get used to being on a board in the water.
Falling off a lot is not unexpected. In fact, for an inexperienced paddleboarder, spending a lot of time in the water is inevitable. Any family activity holiday will include a learning curve, so ensure that your whole family is prepared for this, or frustration will surely ensue.
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