If you are new to paddleboarding, it can take a bit of practise gaining confidence on the board and feeling stable.

We would always recommend building your confidence on the water by starting off paddling on your knees instead of trying to stand up straight away. You’ll get used to the motion of paddling and the movement of the board on the water.

The following advice will help you to be more stable on your Hydro-Force™ paddle board and you will soon become much more confident.

Make sure the paddle board is properly inflated

To make sure that your inflatable paddle board gives you the best buoyancy on the water, you need to make sure that it is correctly pumped up. Check the recommended PSI and keep inflating your paddle board until the gauge on the pump has reached the right PSI. With the hand pump it can feel like a workout, especially the closer you get to the recommended PSI. But, you can see this is a good way to warm up before heading out on the water.

Start on calm water

If you are a paddle board beginner you will naturally feel wobbly on your SUP, so you don’t want to be paddling over waves or along a fast moving river as these will inevitably cause you to loose balance and fall in. Choose a location with calm water, such as a lake, canal or a bay, so that you can become confident with standing and staying stable on the paddle board.

Stand correctly on the paddle board

Stand in the centre of the SUP, face your feet forward with your knees slightly bent and back straight. Space your feet evenly apart, about the same distance as your hips. The carry handle on a Hydro-Force™ is your marker for the centre of the board. If you are not stood in the right place, it can make the board off balance.

Keep paddling

The key to remaining stable at all time is to keep paddling. Just like riding a bike or a scooter, you have to keep motion going. When you stop paddling the board will be governed by the movement of the water whether that be a wave or a current. This can then cause some erratic movement of the board from any direction.

Top tips

  • Don’t go alone or at least tell someone where you are going
  • Wear a PFD
  • Wear a leash
  • Don’t try too much – regular practise makes perfect.
  • Read our Water Safety Advice