Paddleboarding is a fun activity that doesn’t require a lot of knowledge or practice to enjoy the water sport. Here are a few key tips to get you started today!
What Type of Gear Do You Need to Paddleboard
- A Paddleboard
- The Right-Sized Paddle: To ensure your paddle is fitted to you, place the blade of the paddle on the ground vertically and raise your arm above your head. Your wrist should rest on the top of the handle.
- Proper Clothing: It is important to dress for the temperature of the water, not the outdoor temperature. When it is warm outside, most people can get away with wearing a swimsuit, dock shorts, and a hat, but if you are paddleboarding somewhere cold, it might be necessary to wear a wet suit to keep you warm. Sun protection is also important.
- Life Jacket: The Coast Guard requires everyone to wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) like a life jacket, carry a whistle, and if you are on the water when it is dark, you must also have a light so other water vessels can easily see you.
- Leash: This is helpful and highly recommended for any skill level. The leash helps you stay with your board if you fall in the water.
Getting Your Paddleboard into the Water Using the Docksider Storage Rack
Getting your paddleboard into the water can sound challenging, but using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack makes it easy if you store your paddleboard on your dock. Whether you have shallow water that you can walk into or if your dock is in deeper water, you can use the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack to easily lower your board into the water. Before lowering your paddleboard into the water, make sure you have all your gear with you. Simply lower the aluminum handle down towards the water and slide your board out. Once your board is out of the storage rack, push the lift assist lever back up towards the dock. To ensure your paddleboard stays with you while you are launching it, hold the leash in your hand. You can attach the leash to your ankle once you are on your paddleboard.
The Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack allows you to store your board conveniently where you need it when you aren’t using it. This means no more toting your board around when you want to use it. It also takes up minimal space on your dock!
How to Get on Your Paddleboard
Once your board is in the water, you are ready to get on and start paddleboarding! There are two ways you can get on your paddleboard and it depends on if you are standing on your dock or in shallow water.
- From Your Dock:
Sit on the dock with your legs hanging over the edge and place your feet on the board. Grab your paddle and place it in the middle of your board, the long way. Carefully lower your body onto the paddleboard so you are kneeling or sitting. Push away from the dock before attempting to stand up. Most people like to paddle out to deeper water before standing up.
- From the Water:
Make sure you are in knee-deep water so the fin of the paddleboard doesn’t touch the ground. Place your paddle in the middle of your board. Carefully place your knees on the board, about hip distance apart, and paddle out to deeper water before standing up.
How to Stand Up on Your Paddleboard
Once you are in deeper water, you are ready to stand up. Holding the paddle in both hands, place your hands and paddle down on the board and move your feet to where your knees are. Slowly raise your chest until you are standing up. Keep a slight bend in your knees and a straight back.
Holding a Paddle and Paddling Techniques
Place one hand on top of the handle and the other a few feet down on the shaft. The side that you are paddling on is the hand that is on the shaft. You will notice that one side of the blade is curved. Make sure when you place the blade into the water that the curved part is facing you. When paddling, your power should come from your core, not your arms. Keeping your arms straight will ensure you are twisting your torso to utilize your core muscles. While there are more paddling techniques available, these are great to get you started.
- Forward Stroke: The forward stroke is just what it sounds, it propels you forward in the water. Submerge the blade of the paddle into the water in front of you, towards the front of the paddleboard, and bring it back towards the back of the board. Make sure the curved side of the blade is facing you.
- Reverse Stroke: This stroke can help you slow down or stop and can also help you turn around. Similar to the forward stroke, place the blade in the water at the back of your board and bring it forward towards the front of your board. The curved side of the blade should be facing away from you with this stroke.
- Sweep Stroke: This stroke is useful to turn your board. Bend your knees more than you would to paddle forward or backward. Place the blade in the water at the front of the board. In a large rainbow motion, bring the blade to the back of your board. The curved side of the blade should be facing you.
How to Get Off Your Paddleboard
Similar to how we started, you will need to get back into a seated or kneeling position. Make sure you are still in an open space before doing so. Hold the paddle in both hands, bend your knees, and slowly lower your chest until your hands are on the board. Lower down to your knees and paddle towards the dock or knee-deep water.
- Getting Onto a Dock: Line up your board next to the dock. Stay low and keep the leash attached. Place your paddle on the dock. Put both hands on the dock and carefully push yourself onto the dock in a seated position with your legs hanging over the dock. You can remove the leash and hold it in your hand. Using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack, lower the handle down towards the water, slide your board in, and use the lift assist lever to pull the paddleboard upright.
- Shallow Water: On your hands and knees, carefully lower your legs into the knee-deep water until you are standing upright. Using the Docksider Paddleboard Storage Rack, lower the handle down towards the water, slide your board in, and use the lift assist lever to push the paddleboard upright.
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