SUP Mag UK lo-res free to readers July 2014 lo-res - free to read | Page 8

In the

beginning…
Stand up paddle boarding is one of the easiest
watersports/boardsports/paddlesports to pick up –
fact! To excel though takes time, effort, dedication
and perseverance – those already initiated will
spend hours perfecting their art.
But what about starting?
How do you begin your
SUP journey?

Things to think about
Before you go tearing off into the sunset there are a few
considerations to have in mind before starting your stand
up adventures.
If you’re stepping to SUP from another watery discipline
then you’ll probably have some idea of how weather and
water conditions affect your time afloat. For the completely
green newbie it’s worth taking time to understand your
environment where you plan on taking those first strokes.
Diving in head first without being aware of dangers is a
recipe for disaster. There’s no harm in trying SUP by
yourself but fools rush in.

Coaching
If you want to learn quickly and progress rapidly the best
advice is to get some coaching. Being taught by a qualified
professional will see new paddlers up to speed quick as a
flash. Going it solo can take far longer and lead to increased
frustrations.
The adventurous may consider ‘back to school’ a load of
piffle and we hear all too often the phrase: ‘that looks easy,
what’s to teach?’ If nothing else, some initial coaching is
the most efficient way of developing technique from the off.
It’s a lot harder to undo bad habits and re-educate yourself
later down the line.

Words: Tez Plavenieks

In the UK we’re fortunate enough to have not one, but two
dedicated teaching programmes on offer – the BSUPA and
ASI respectively. Seek out an accredited school (there’s a list
on our website) with professionally qualified teaching staff.

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