Is paddle boarding easy to learn? Quite frankly, paddleboarding is one of the easiest water sports out there, as most beginners can take it up.
Anyone with a decent level of fitness and ordinary athletic skills can begin paddle boarding due to the ease of it. We will be back to the ease of paddle boarding later in this post. For now, let’s focus on the right paddling technique, especially for beginners who’re interesting in stand-up paddleboarding.
Even if you don’t have any experience with water sports whatsoever, don’t worry! You can learn how to become a paddle boarder with the right paddling techniques and a little bit of paddling practice. All you require is proper instruction to become an expert at paddle boarding regardless of your age, fitness level, and athletic skills.
How to Use a Paddle Board
So, is paddleboarding easy? Let’s find out by going over the right paddling techniques below.
Remember, taking several tips into account might help you start off on the right foot. Here’s what to know to paddle board like a pro:
- Make sure you have the right type of paddle board and you hold the paddle side to side when in the correct position.
- When thinking about riding waves, try to catch a wave that’s relatively smaller and gentle. In the morning or evening, the wind has almost died down, so that’s the best time to practice in calm water for a beginner.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t hold the paddle side to side or fail to pop-up once ready. It takes several tries for most beginners to get the right pop-up paddling technique.
How to Use a Paddle Board:
- Before an individual enters the water, they must hold their stand-up paddle correctly.
- Clear the fins for debris or sand that may accumulate in shallow water.
- Keep one knee on the paddle board and push off to launch in the water.
- Before you try to “pop up” on the board, make sure to place your knees comfortably.
- Keep the head elbow high and make sure that your knees are steady. Then, try to stand up on both of your feet on your stand-up paddle board.
- Keep the hands placed perfectly on the paddle board for higher stability. It will help reduce your chances of falling off due to balance loss.
- When trying to stand up, make sure the board is perpendicular right in front of you.
- A word of the wise: don’t try to pop up (i.e., stand up) on the board with an explosive push to place both feet on the board at the same time.
- Try to place one foot on the board at a time. This will help create optimal balance for higher paddle stroke efficiency later.
- Practice standing as much as needed to efficiently master the pop-up technique.
How to Paddle On a Surfboard
Paddle boarding in Miami with a surfboard isn’t that different from using a typical stand-up paddle board. All you have to worry about is the paddling technique, pop-up, balance, and the right body positioning on the board.
Firstly, you must enter the water with an elbow-high entry. Secondly, you must place your body in the center of the surfboard. You can do that by keeping your chin up (imagine a soccer ball under your chin) and your back arched.
Keep legs fairly apart but not over the edge of the surfboard. Thirdly, don’t let the nose of your surfboard dive into the water as you’re trying to gain propulsion. The idea is to increase propulsion while minimizing resistance (i.e., water drag).
Every paddle stroke must be as powerful as the previous one. Increase the surface area of your hand/arm that pushes water underneath you.
Don’t go for short-range motions. Immerse your hand in the water fully and extend as much as possible to push more water for propulsion. Long-range motions will grant you more propulsion. As the hand penetrates the water, keep your elbows high.
What Equipment Do You Need for Paddle Boarding
Obviously, you won’t need an inflatable kayak for stand up paddle boarding. However, it is possible! You will require a list of the most obvious surfing equipment that’s the same for paddle boarding as well. Here goes:
- Stand-up paddle board
- Paddle
- Safety light and whistle
- Leash
- Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
- Proper water sports clothing
Make sure you have all the equipment in optimal condition, and don’t forget to check for any damages. Damage occurs as a result of inexperience in ssspaddling techniques or practice. Other than that, inadequate storage of stand-up paddle boarding equipment can also cause damages.
How Hard is Paddle Boarding to Learn It
Is paddle boarding hard? It isn’t as difficult as most water sports lovers and professionals suggest. Any type of water sports beginner can get a start at paddle boarding. However, the presence of the right instructions or even a teacher is quite important. That can help prevent accidents and improve paddling skills by a ton.
Paddle boarding and jet skiing are versatile sports that are open to nearly anyone with decent fitness and ordinary athletic skills, as we mentioned earlier. You can even launch yourself in the water with one additional personal on the board for greater support and learning experience.
We also recommend that you read the article “What is a Jet Ski“.
Some professionals claim that with the right instructions, learning to paddle board merely takes a few hours. Hence, you can’t deny that it’s a great sporting activity for water sports lovers.
Is Paddle Boarding Harder To Learn Than Kayaking
In simple words, beginners will find kayaking quite rough, but paddle boarding will come easy. Usually, people utilize the same kayak paddle for a stand-up paddle board.
Typically, sitting in a kayak and paddling is very different than lying down on a stand-up paddle board and making powerful paddle strokes with your hand. Kayaking involves a lot of technique and movement, while paddle boarding is all about the perfect balance and propulsion.
Stand-up paddle boards don’t offer the same comfort as a kayak seat which means that you will have to exert more energy when paddle-boarding than when you’re kayaking across long distances. Carrying both kayaks and paddleboards is also different.
Storing, dragging, and launching a kayak into the water is quite difficult due to the build, size, and weight. On the other hand, paddle boards are quite easy to lift, carry, and move across long distances before getting tired.
So – Is It Easy to Learn Paddle Boarding?
In a nutshell, yes! Paddle boarding has been reviewed as one of the most active and easy-to-get-used-to water sport activities.
Any beginner can get into paddle boarding if they have the right set of instructions and professional tips, helping them gain experience. If you’re interested in kayaking in Miami or paddle boarding, make sure you stick to professional advice as a beginner.