Safety - Just Paddle Board

Paddleboarding is a fun and exciting water sport! As a beginner, it’s important to be aware of some common paddleboarding mistakes to avoid! In this article, we’ll discuss a few of the mistakes beginners often make and provide tips on how to prevent them.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Poor Paddle Handling

As a beginner, it’s essential to learn proper paddle handling to make your experience enjoyable and efficient.

One common mistake is holding the paddle backwards, leading to inefficient strokes.

Make sure the angle of the blade faces away from you, and hold your paddle with your arms at 90-degree angles for correct hand placement. Check out this post on paddleboarding basics for more help!

Another issue is paddling with bent arms. It’s important to keep your arms straight to generate power and maintain balance.

Also, ensure you’re using the whole paddle blade to get the most out of each stroke.

Incorrect Stance

Maintaining the correct stance on your board is crucial for stability and balance. Make sure you’re standing in the centre of your board, with your feet parallel and shoulder-width apart. Avoid looking down, as this can affect your balance – instead, focus on the horizon and maintain a slight bend in your knees.

Not Understanding Weather Conditions

Lack of Safety Awareness

Lastly, safety awareness is paramount when paddleboarding.

Wearing a leash – it helps prevent your board from drifting away in case you fall off.

Wear a personal flotation device (PFD) – especially if you’re paddling in open water or rough conditions.

Tell Someone – Always inform someone onshore about your planned route and expected return time

Know Local Regs – check local regulations regarding paddleboarding to ensure you’re in compliance.

Local Hazards – Familiarise yourself with local weather conditions, tides, and potential hazards such as submerged rocks or strong currents.

Weather conditions play a significant role in your paddleboarding experience. Beginners often underestimate the impact of wind, currents, and tides on their ability to stay upright and navigate. Before heading out, take the time to understand local conditions, and avoid going out in adverse weather or strong currents to stay safe.

Improper Board Care

Taking care of your board is essential to ensure it lasts and performs well. Avoid leaving your board exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, as this can cause damage to the materials. Additionally, always rinse your board with fresh water after use, especially if you’ve been paddling in saltwater. This helps prevent the buildup of salt and other debris that can degrade the board over time.

Paddleboarding Lessons and Tips

Taking lessons from experienced instructors or seeking guidance from seasoned paddleboarders can help you in developing your skills and avoiding common mistakes. They can provide valuable insight into proper techniques and help you with any specific difficulties you may encounter. Remember, practice makes perfect, and learning from others can accelerate your progress.

What are the most common paddleboarding mistakes beginners make?

Some common mistakes include poor paddle handling, incorrect stance, not understanding weather conditions, improper board care, and lack of safety awareness.

How can I improve my paddle handling skills?

Ensure the angle of the blade faces away from you, hold the paddle with your arms at 90-degree angles, keep your arms straight, and use the whole paddle blade to maximize each stroke.

What is the correct stance for paddleboarding?

Stand in the center of your board with your feet parallel and shoulder-width apart, look at the horizon, and maintain a slight bend in your knees.

How can I ensure my safety while paddleboarding?

Wear a leash, consider using a personal flotation device (PFD), inform someone onshore about your plans, and check local regulations to ensure compliance.

What precautions should I take with my paddleboard?

Avoid leaving your board exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods and rinse it with fresh water after use, especially when paddling in saltwater.

How can I learn proper paddleboarding techniques?

Take lessons from experienced instructors or seek guidance from seasoned paddleboarders, as they can provide valuable insight into correct techniques and help with any difficulties.

Why is understanding weather conditions important for paddleboarding?

Weather conditions, such as wind, currents, and tides, can impact your ability to stay upright and navigate, so understanding them helps ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience.

Conclusion

By being aware of the most common paddleboarding mistakes, you can enhance your experience on the water and progress more rapidly in your technique. Start by ensuring you have the right equipment and follow crucial tips for hand placement and maintaining straight arms during paddling. Avoid inefficient strokes by having the angle of the blade pointing forward.

Be mindful of your balance and resist the temptation to focus solely on avoiding falling in. Instead, embrace the learning process and know that with practice, your balance and confidence will improve. Above all, always prioritise safety by familiarising yourself with local water conditions, having necessary safety gear, and paddling within your skill level.

With dedication and continued practice, you’ll soon overcome these common beginner pitfalls and begin reaping the numerous health benefits of paddleboarding, while enjoying the serenity and adventure this sport offers.

Paddle boarding is a fantastic way to explore the outdoors and get some exercise. However, it’s crucial not to underestimate the risks involved in this water sport – paddle boarding safety should always be your top priority when out on the open waters.

This blog post will cover essential safety tips to ensure an enjoyable experience while keeping yourself safe.

Personal Flotation Devices

In my mind the biggest safety tip for paddle boarding is to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). I personally like to wear a Buoyancy Aid because that’s what I use when I’m sailing and now it feels weird if I don’t wear one.

Options include buoyancy aids, which many find comfortable, or flotation belts that require pulling an inflation cord and using a CO2 bottle. Have a look at this post if you’d like to see our latest review of buoyancy aids for paddle boarding.

Clothing and Spare Gear

Consider the weather and your location when choosing your clothing. In summer, shorts and a t-shirt may be suitable…

I do most of my paddling in the UK. In summer, if I’m on the sea I like to wear a shorty longjohn wetsuit like this one from Gul.

It provides some warmth and protection from the wind, but isn’t as restrictive as a full wetsuit and allows free movement of shoulders and arms.

Here’s a link to the Wetsuit Outlet, which usually has some good deals on and has a great selection of SUP kit.

Check Price

If you’re on a day trip then you may want to have a waterproof top and possibly a change of clothes. In colder conditions, consider wearing a wetsuit, drysuit, or wetsuit boots. Always pack a dry bag with spare warm gear, like a fleece or dry robe, and secure your hat with a string so it doesn’t float away of you fall in.

I like to paddleboard with a throwing line which I can use as a towrope, and if someone I’m paddling with gets into trouble, I can throw them on the line and help them out.

Fleeces are great for paddle boarding because you can wring out most of the water when they get wet and then put them back on!

Communication Devices

Having a reliable means of communication is essential. Mobile phones in waterproof cases are a popular choice, but also consider carrying a whistle and, if you’re at sea, a VHF radio.

Don’t rely solely on one method of communication for raising the alarm in an emergency. You might have issues with mobile phone signal, or your phone might get damaged or wet. A cheap waterproof case like this one will help keep your phone secure and dry.

I recently watched the BBC documentary called Saving Lives at Sea which shows real footage of RNLI rescues. It showed what happened when a very well prepared Kayaker fell into the sea.

She was able to call the Coast Guard by dialling 999 on her mobile phone, but she wasn’t able to hear them talking to her. She then used a VHF radio that she had with her to make a distress call on Ch16, but couldn’t make out replies. So she used a whistle to attract the attention of people on the shore.

This is a great example of why you shouldn’t rely on just 1 method of raising the alarm if you are in trouble! The kayaker was rescued because she used all 3 methods of communication!

If you’re travelling with a group make sure the other members also have methods of communicating in an emergency.

Research Before You Paddle

If you are planning to go on a longer paddle then you’ll need to consider a few more things to keep yourself and others safe.

Route, Starting Point, End Point, Stopping Points

Plan your route, including where to park, launch, and exit the water. Google Maps can be helpful, but be aware that access might differ when you arrive at your location. Look for safe places to stop along the way and where to exit the water in an emergency.

I once checked a starting location for a canal on Google Maps, it looked great, but when I went to launch I realised that there was a 5 foot drop to the water!

Potential Hazards

Make sure you identify as many hazards as possible. These include branches in the water of a river or canal, other water users, such as motor boats, speed boats, people fishing, fishing boats, jet skis, waterfalls, rocks, weirs, the list is endless!

Collision Regulations (COLREGs)

Don’t assume the other water users will be as careful as you and don’t assume that they have seen you. Be aware of the COLREGs (rules that apply to users of waterways and the sea). The basic rules dictate that any vessel under power, using a motor, will give way to a vessel under sail or being paddled. However, this is not the case if the motor vessel is in a narrow or shallow channel, you will then need to keep out of their way.

Another rule is that the vessels should pass ‘port to port‘, this means that the left side of your board should pass down the left side of the boat coming towards you. In other words, if someone is coming towards you steer to the right.

The safest thing to do is to stay away from motor boats, ships and channels. If you are on a river or canal then stay to the right hand side, close to the bank. Leave a comment below if you have any questions. If in doubt, stay well away from other water users!

Tides (if paddling at sea)

Check tide times and understand the tide’s flow and changes. Tides are predictable, but make sure to check them for each trip. You don’t want to end up paddling forwards at 2 knots whilst being pushed backwards by a 3 knot tide! Much better to plan your trip so that you are going with the tide and taking advantage of it.

Weather Forecast

Check the weather forecast for your paddling day and recheck just before setting out. If paddling at sea, use the Met Office inshore forecast for better accuracy.

Supplies, Food, and Water

You can burn a lot of calories paddle boarding, this post will tell you how many calories!. So make sure you either have food with you in a dry bag, or ashore for when you’re packing up.

Also make sure that you take plenty of water so that you don’t risk becoming dehydrated.

On the Day of Your Trip

Check your kit, recheck the weather, and assess your location for any unexpected hazards. If something doesn’t feel right, think about doing something else and coming back another time!

Don’t forget to tell someone the details of your plans, including departure time, expected arrival time, and when to alert authorities if they don’t hear from you. Call them to confirm your safety once you’ve completed your trip.

Paddle boarding safety is vital for an enjoyable experience on the water. By using common sense and following these tips, you can minimise risks and maximise fun. If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch below – I’d would love to hear from you.

5 Top Paddleboarding Mistakes to Avoid

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