Paddle Boarding for Beginners

What is Paddle Boarding | How to pick the right size board | Types of Paddle Boards | Where to Paddle Board | Health Benefits of Paddle Boarding

What is Paddle Boarding?

Imagine taking a surf board like board into the water and standing on it and propelling the board using a long handle paddle. When you put it like that, paddle boarding sounds like a piece of cake. Everyone knows how amazing surfers are to manage waves taller than a house so paddle boarding must be easy right?

Yes and No.  Paddle boarding is a great activity for all ages and fitness levels but it does require balance. Not the kind of balance required to walk a tightrope, but enough balance to stay upright on a floating board and manage water ripples from boaters nearby. That being said, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it even if you’re the type of person that can trip over your own feet. It really just takes practice. Expect to fall off and get wet. But you know that already because paddle boarding is a water sport – right?!

What size paddle board is right for you?

There are tons of beautiful and amazing paddle boards for all ages, heights, weight and fitness levels. If you’re short like me (I’m 5’4”), you’ll need to consider a smaller board than someone that is over 6ft tall. Paddle boards are generally 4-6” in thickness regardless of the length of the board you select. Refer to the table below for a guide on what size to pick.

How to get on a paddle board

My first time paddle boarding, I was thinking “how the heck do I get on and stand up without falling off and looking like an idiot?”  Turns out it’s easier to get on belly first like you would a pool raft. Swing your legs up on the board, lying prone and now you’re on it. That was the easy part. Now for standing up. I wasn’t too sure about this but with directions from the instructor, we were able to first get into a quadruped position (on hands and knees).  Then you bring your feet underneath you and attempt to stand up. We all had slightly different variations. Having had a recent knee surgery several months ago. I decided to start with my good leg. I was shaky but I did it!  I was able to stand up with my paddle. It felt like a major source of accomplishment. Until a small ripple of a wave from boaters in the distance slowly creeped toward me. I’m thinking “Oh sh$t!”. And you guessed it. I fell off. Well, I figured I got my first fall off the paddle board out of the way. 

Types of Paddle boards: Inflatable vs Hard board

Traditionally there used to be only hard epoxy boards. But in recent years the technology for inflatable paddle boards has improved greatly making it a popular choice for folks who don’t have the extra money or space needed to buy and store a hard paddle board. Not to mention it’s not easy to travel with a paddle board on the roof of your car.

When I travel, sometimes I rent a board with a local club or at a state park so I don’t have to drag my inflatable board. Hard boards are exactly that, a hard epoxy board. They are heavy, durable and you feel good standing on one. After my first paddle board excursion, I did a lot of research on inflatable paddleboards. Living in Florida means, I can take advantage of the weather year-round. Although I have an SUV with a roof rack, I did not relish the idea of trying to lift a heavy hard paddle board onto my SUV while being 5’4”. Not to mention where was I going to store a hard board.

So, an inflatable board was a better choice for me. It’s easy to carry (about 15lbs), can be stored in the house or the garage, easy to inflate especially if you have an electric pump and of course it fits inside my SUV including paddles and life vest.

Inflatable paddle boards have come a long way and are incredibly durable and feel hard once pumped up to the recommended inflation. I feel good standing on my paddle board but still need practice to improve my sea legs aka balance. It’s like when you first get on the ice rink with your ice skates and you feel wobbly. 

Where to paddle board?

One of the best things about paddle boarding is you can paddle on almost any body of water including lakes, rivers and oceans. There are tons of places to paddle board here in Florida. If you plan to come to Florida for a visit, consider time at any one of our beautiful locations around the state that are perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking.   Check out Blue Springs State Park and paddle with the manatees. There are also plenty of locations in the US and around the world that you would enjoy.

I still need a lot of practice and I’m lucky to live in a location that I can do it. I look forward to traveling outside of Florida to explore other amazing locations.

(Sidenote: Florida manatees are a protected species and are not allowed to be bothered or harassed by people. They are allowed to approach people outside the protected barrier in the picture. The paddle boarder in the picture was very respectful and had the pleasure of a close encounter with a Mama Manatee and her baby)

Health Benefits of Paddle Boarding

Paddle boarding is a wonderful challenging activity that not only gives you the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors by yourself or with your family and friends, it also can give you a good workout. Carrying my paddle board bag from the car to the dock was a longer walk than I expected in some of the areas we traveled. However, before I got on the paddle board, I had to pump it up. Let me tell you, it was a workout!  I recommend an electric pump which I promptly bought after my first trip with my inflatable.

Once on the paddle board, it’s so peaceful you forget the workout you just had setting everything up. I admit after about 20 to 30 minutes of standing, I needed a break. Some people kneel or sit and paddle. I eventually bought a seat for the paddle board from SereneLife.  Best purchase ever!

Paddle boarding can get your heart pumping, increase strength all over including core strength, great for balance and so many more benefits. Check out 10 Health Benefits of Paddle Boarding in this article.

I hope you enjoyed this article and get excited about paddle boarding whether it’s in your home state or while you’re on vacation. I guarantee you will have a great time. My advice is to pick a day and time that the winds are calm with tranquil waters. It’s so much easier to stay on the paddle board under these conditions especially far away from boaters and the waves they produce!

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