If I said that I wasn’t jealous of you got getting a SUP from Santa, I would be lying through my teeth. There are few things as thrilling as unwrapping your board for the first time and imagining all the adventures it might take you on. However, when the snow has finally melted and the first signs of spring appear, you’ll actually be considering your first trips on to the water. We want to make sure you have all the info so that you’re good to go!

1. Do Your Homework

Before you get that beautiful board out of its box, make sure you’ve done your homework. Read up on tides and their timing, as well as what to do if find yourself in some choppy conditions.

To save you hunting the web, we’ve had some help from the great people at RNLI, as well as some of our readers, to collate some of the most important information you’ll need to know. Click here to read!

2. Suited & Booted

Before heading out on your first SUP adventure, you’ll need to make sure you’re dressed properly for the occasion – particularly if the weather is still a little chilly.

Make sure you have an appropriate-sized buoyancy aid (you can read up on how to find your size here), as well as a swimsuit and a wetsuit for over the top. Your wetsuit should be nice and tight, but not so much so that you feel as though you can’t breathe once inside it. We suggest approximately three to six grunts are appropriate for a wetsuit – any more and it’s probably a little tight.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Fall

When you first get out on the water, have a few practices of falling in.

While this might seem counterintuitive, it is an important safety step in ensuring that you are able to self-rescue, even if you have the balance of Simone Biles and are certain that you won’t fall in.

Check out this video to see how self-rescues should look.

4. Look Up

While looking up from your board helps you stay balanced, it’s also important to enjoy your first SUP experiences. Look at the horizon, the shoreline, the seaweed beneath your board; it’s only a matter of time before you see something beautiful!

We hope you have an amazing 2022 on your new stand up paddleboard. Make sure to tag us in any photos so that we can see your wonderful paddles!

Merry Christmas,

James at WEO