Marcus Richards
With staycations in the UK surging to a record high, there’s no shortage of places to explore. If you’re a fan of action and adventure, then why not try your hand at paddleboarding. As one of the fastest growing sports in the world – with plenty of celebrity fans – it’s not only a great workout but great fun too.
Whether you plan on heading to the River Wye in Herefordshire or prefer to splash around in the sea along the Cornish coast, there’s no shortage of places to give paddleboarding a go.
SUP surfing
If you’re new to surfing or paddleboarding you’ll want to start in small surf (knee to waist height) water and go on days where the wind is light. SUPs are great fun in small waves and are a perfect way to introduce yourself and children to surfing.
As ever, when you’re out in the sea you should be mindful of riptides and undercurrents. Heading to beaches with lifeguards and flags will also help to build up your confidence.
SUP polo
Take your polo playing out of the swimming pool and onto your SUP board. With a simple paddle polo attachment you can quickly transform your SUP. The net attaches onto that paddle and makes retrieving and throwing the ball fun.
If your new to the sport, give paddle polo racing a go. Throw the ball as far as you can and then race to retrieve it. Paddle polo is a great way to improve your paddling, and can help you get more confident in manoeuvring, as well as improving your balance.
SUP racing
SUP racing can be done by anyone and everyone who wants to get involved with the sport. Whether you do it for fun with friends and family or you enter into a competition. SUP racing has several categories, including age, experience and race type.
SUP kayaking
With the addition of a SUP board seat, you can transform your paddleboard into a kayak in minutes. The beauty of a kayak seat is it can be placed anywhere on the board. If you’re kayaking solo, you can place the seat slightly back from centre, however, if you’re carrying a passenger you can move the seat further up the board and a seat behind you.
Whether you want to meander down lazy rivers or give white water rafting a go – SUP kayaking is a great way to get your adrenaline pumping.
Also, make sure to properly store your boards. For storage racks, click here.
