Stand Up Paddle Boarding Part 1 - The Basics

Nearly every time I am out on my stand up paddle board I chat with some one on the shore or a boat or a bridge who comments "you make that look so easy!" My answer? "It is pretty easy!" And it's true. Stand up paddling is something that I think nearly everyone can do if they want to.

If you are new to the sport of stand up paddle boarding there are a few basic concepts that will help you to be better right from the start and decrease your chances of getting wet when you don't want to.

When getting on the board you want to start on your knees in a wide stance in about the center of your board. Usually the center is right where the handle on the board is so you can use that for guidance.

The most immediate and important concept with this sport is balance. When standing from your kneeling position you want to take note of where your knees are on the board, that is where your feet will go. You want a wide stance and your weight distributed evenly on "all four corners" of your feet. It helps to lift your toes once in awhile to help improve your balance and keep you from trying to grip the board with your toes and it helps keep your feet more relaxed.

Keep your knees bent and your body in an upright position not bent over or leaning forward from the waist. If you lean forward your center of gravity will be forward and you will have a far greater likelihood of losing your balance and falling.

It is nice to remember that if you encounter a large wave coming toward you that looks like it will knock you off your board, such as a wake from a boat going by, you can always drop to your knees and ride out the wave that way. It is very easy to stay on the board when you are down low and close to the water. If the wave is not too big you may want to try to stay upright and practice keeping your balance in this rougher water. It's not as hard as it might seem.

Remember that the forward momentum you get from paddling makes it far easier to keep your balance than when your board is stationary. So don't be afraid to move. Movement is your friend. The hardest way to balance is when your board is not moving.

If you don't have much experience paddling, please read part 2 of this article which has some basic instructions on how to paddle.