Is Stand Up Paddling hard?
With improper gear, a bad attitude, and on a less then ideal weather day, yes, yes it can be hard. However, with the proper gear for the situation, blue skies, glassy water, and a big smile, Stand Up Paddling can be just about the most silly fun you can have on the water! Below we’ll share a bit of an overview of a few of the most popular ways and locations to SUP; flat water, open ocean, in the surf and down a river. Remember, all good times will start with the right equipment. See a Hobie SUP retailer for the gear you need to make it an epic time every time!
Is Stand Up Paddling on Flat Water Hard?
Flat water paddling is not even a little bit hard! This is where your first SUP experience should take place. A lake, harbor, bay, or pond are your day one friends. Think of a place that stays nice and calm with very little to no chop/wake, this is your spot. We have watched, through on water demos at Baby Beach in the Dana Point Harbor, people anywhere from 4 years old to 94 years old learn how to Stand Up Paddle in a matter of moments after a quick 10 minute on the sand lesson! By the end of an hour, they were gliding along the shiny surface like a pro. You could be those people! Just make sure your first go is with a certified SUP instructor, professional outfitter, or a friend who can set you off straight on your adventure.
Is Stand Up Paddling in the Open Ocean Hard?
You’ve mastered the flat water SUP game and now you are ready to hit the open seas! Stand Up Paddling in the open ocean, or in any large open body of water can get a little tricky. Before you head out, you are going to want to be very aware of tide changes, swell direction, wind, expected weather, where your shore is, and how to self-rescue. Wearing a leash is also an excellent idea! Open ocean paddling is an incredible way to explore long stretches of the coast while building up solid cardio and abs of steel! Remember to save energy for the paddle back, if you go more than a mile or two. That nice wind at your back that was making you feel as fast as April Zilg, can be a bear on the way back!
Is Stand Up Paddle Surfing Hard?
If you already know how to surf in the intermediate to good level, then SUP surfing could be right up your alley! Since you know how to take a surfboard down the line, you also know all the unwritten rules of surfing, which apply even more so to SUP surfing. i.e., don’t paddle out through the sets, don’t be a wave hog, if you are unsure of your skill level stay out of the way, and only SUP surf where it’s allowed or be prepared to be awash in a sea of stink eyes from the regular surfers. Being a surfer already, my advice is to find a spot away from the group on a mellow day, paddle your SUP out and stay out in the water till you get at least three successful waves under your belt!
If you have no surfing experience, your first days of SUP surfing will prove to be a… um… challenge to say the least. First, you’ll need to get your SUP out into the lineup. This skill alone can take you more than a few sessions to master. Next you have to hone your wave selection skills. Chose the wrong wave and you can be swallowed by a closeout before you can blink. Chose the right wave, and you can be feeling that sweet glide that only surfing can give you. Your best bet to learn to SUP surf is to take a regular surf lesson first so you can get a feeling for the water moving around you, learn where the lineup is, surf etiquette, and how to catch a wave. Once you feel comfortable on a regular board, take a SUP surf lesson with a reputable outfitter. They will be able to set you up with properly sized gear, take you to a great learning spot, and teach you the basic skills you need to start on your road to ripper!
Is Stand Up Paddling Down a River Hard?
If you even have to ASK if SUPing a river is hard, then SUPing a river is not for you yet. This part of Stand Up Paddling should only be tried by people with heaps of SUP experience, river experience, and a set of brass ones! Unless the river you are going to SUP barely moves and has no rocks or falls in it, then, you will need to have total confidence in your ability to stay upright on a board in quickly moving water through an obstacle course of rocks, boulders, drop offs and debris before you even think about SUPing a river. If you are truly feeling the call of the rio, GO WITH AN EXPERIENCED GUIDED GROUP! They’ll hook you up with an inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard, a helmet, knee and shin pads, a waist leash w quick release, and guide you through the rough stuff. Don’t just mob it on your fresh out of the backpack inflatable SUP unless it is the aforementioned lazy river of barely moving water!
Now that we have given you a answer to the question, “Is Stand Up Paddling hard?”, get out there, get your paddle on and have a Hobie day!!
