Seeks Water

1. What kind of SUPing will you be doing? There are as many different types of SUP boards out there as there are people SUPing. You’ll want to ask yourself what type of paddle boarding do you enjoy most. It’s ok if you’re not 100% sure whether or not you plan on spending most of your time paddling on a lake or in the ocean. There are SUPs that are good for both types but you’ll want to narrow it down as best you can. Are you planning on using your SUP to do yoga? If so, it will be important to choose a wider more stable board. Do you  live in the mountains where there are lakes & rivers that you’ll want to paddle on? These are good questions to start asking yourself when identifying which type of SUPing you think you’ll be doing most of the time. Here is a list of the 5 most common types of SUP Boards on the market.

• All-Arounder: These boards are my personal favorite beginner. Why? They are more stable and less tippy due to their width and length. They are also one of the most versatile type of paddle boards, so much so that they are referred to as all around paddle boards. This is because they can just as easily be used paddling on lakes as outside the surf zone in the ocean. The typical length for this type of board is 11’-14’ feet.                                         
• Yoga: Yoga SUPs are particularly wide and long. These two features makes them extremely stable, especially important if you’re trying to do a downward dog or headstand! They also usually feature a soft grippy top, much like a traditional yoga mat. These boards have additional built in hooks for attaching SUP yoga accessories like anchors (which you’ll definitely want to keep your board from drifting all over the place), safety equipment and a place to leash your paddle. Typical length  is 10’-12’ feet.
• Inflatable: Inflatables, or iSUPS have come a long way in recent years, growing in popularity because of their ease of storage and transportation. One popular use of inflatable SUPs is on rivers because of their PCV construction which makes them nearly indestructible. These boards are designed to give against rocks just like a white water raft thus allowing them to bounce off obstacles you might encounter in a flowing river.
• Surf: As their name suggests surf SUPs are designed specifically for surfing on waves. They are much lighter and shorter than other SUPs. Because of their lighter weight and narrower profile they can easily turn and have quick maneuverability in the waves. They are also much tippier so I wouldn’t recommend a surf SUP for beginners unless you already know how to surf or plan on surfing on your paddle board the majority of the time. Length 7’-10.5’
• Racing: Racing boards are long and narrow with a sharp nose and long fin on the underside. They are by far the tippiest of all SUPs and so these wouldn’t be my go to recommendation for a beginner board. These boards are long with lengths from 12.6’-14’ feet.                                                

2. Price: If your like me, price is definitely a consideration when beginning a new sport I may not be 100% certain I will still be crazy about in 3 years. Having said that I think SUPing is here to stay. One of my favorite things about it is how easily accessible it is to people of all skill levels. In a way it’s kind of like bike riding, almost anyone can ride a bike. Though I risk sounding preachy I think part of the reason SUPIng is so popular is that it has democratized surfing. So SUP your heart out and now, back to price. In SUPing, as in all things, you get what you pay for. But that doesn’t mean necessarily breaking the bank. Here’s a few strategies I have used to find affordable quality boards in my area.

• End of Season Sales: Off season or close out sales, typically start in September or October depending on which part of the country you live in. These sales are a great way to pick up a new board at 30-50% off retail price. Additionally, many popular SUP companies extend their discounts to their websites with incentives like free shipping which, given the standard size of a paddle board, can save you loads of money! One of my favorite SUP boards are made by ISLE. These guys are based in San Diego and make great quality boards. Maybe I’m biased because it was on their Phantom Diamond Tail surf SUP that I had my life changing magical encounter with the wild dolphin, but I promise you ISLE hasn’t paid me a single sent to say good things about their company. 🙂
• Craigslist: We all know Craigslist. It’s a great resource so why not check it out to see if you can score a used board at an affordable price? Of course please be sure to do some research before hand so you know what size and type of board your looking for. Next, if you do find a board on Craigslist, be sure to Google any reviews of the brand and what it typically retails for before handing over your cash.
• Rentals: Often times local SUP rental companies are refreshing their inventory and retiring older SUPs. If’s you’re ok with a board that has a little more character (read wear & tear) but is still fully functional, this might be a good way to go. I’ve seen retired SUPs from quality national manufacturers go for as little as $400 at local rental companies.

3. Storage: This is important. Where are you going to store your board in the off season? Do you have a garage that’s big enough to accommodate a 12’-14’ paddle board? Don’t make the mistake of brining home a board with no place to store it. Trust me, a little planning and foresight can save you a lot of grief. If you don’t have a garage or storage unit you can use for storage, we don’t, consider these options.

• Ceiling Mount: There are some pretty cool ceiling mount solutions out there that allow you to suspend your paddle board close to the ceiling, neatly and out of the way. Here’s a couple of  links to get you started. DIY SUP Ceiling Storage How-To.  If you’re not a DIYer check out Store Your Board for a variety of pre made options.
• Wall Mount: I personally love this option because you can mount your SUP to a prominent wall in your home and suddenly you have wall art!
• Inflatable SUPs: None of these options work for you? That’s o.k., you can still get your own inflatable iSUP which collapses down into a very manageable size that can be easily stored in a hall closet in the off season. iSUP

I hope this post was useful to you and you feel confidant in the essentials of choosing your very own first SUP. Feel free to leave a comment below with any additional questions. Keep Seeking, keep SUPing!

Want to learn more? Check out these great posts below for even more in depth SUPing info.

http://www.soulrsurfboards.com/help/how-to-choose-a-stand-up-paddle-board

http://www.supboardermag.com/what-sup-board/

http://standupjournal.com/how-to-choose-a-standup-paddleboard/