Yes and no. I guess technically you could stand on a wooden plank and float down the river but it is not going to be as responsive as quality Paddle Board Equipment. Paddle Boards have been slowly refined for the last 60-70 years. The first person to create a paddle board was in the 1940’s and he was working from a design that the Hawaiian Royalty used so far back in history that no one really knows when they started. The main characteristic of a good Paddle Board is its low weight but high strength. The boards are a composite of fiberglass and epoxy that is used to coat an EFS core. A professional board can keep a 250 pound man afloat while still being light enough to carry under your arm. Well, light enough for the 250 pound man at least. The most important thing about choosing a Paddle Board is getting the right board for your height and weight. That is why it is recommended that you rent your equipment from a Paddle Board Equipment dealer. It would be difficult to manufacture a board from home made materials, that could take the same weight as a professional board. So, while it is possible to DIY a Paddle Board, it is not recommended. Rent your Paddle Board Equipment until you know what you want, then purchase a Quality Paddle Board.
The Paddle is another matter. It is essentially a standard paddle with an elbow in the middle. The elbow maximizes your strokes and puts more of the energy of your efforts, straight into moving the Paddle Board. It is not as complicated a process as duplicating a paddle board. I have seen plans on the internet for a DIY paddle project and have seen a few of the finished projects. It may be a fun challenge to try but I think that I would feel more comfortable with the real thing. If you use the wrong kind of wood then your paddle could swell and crack. If it doesn’t break altogether, it could develop splinters that would make paddling a nightmare. Or worst case, you could mess up the elbow joint and the paddle could snap in two, when you need it most. You wouldn’t want to be out in the middle of the ocean with no paddle. You could lie down and push you Paddle Board the old fashioned way but it would be a lot slower and you would probably exhaust yourself by the time you got to the beach. I am a big do it yourselfer but I have to say that this is a situation where I will let the professionals handle the finished project. For more information on Paddle Board Equipment, visit http://www.gusupaddlesports.com.
In this article we will look at how to get started in the fastest growing water sport around: Stand up Paddle Boarding. A paddle board looks just like a big surf board but it has developed differently over time. A Stand up Paddle board is lighter and often made of different material than a standard surf board. When you are ready to get started Paddle Boarding you will need to find your Local Paddle Board Equipment rental shop. The type of board that you will need is dependant on your height and weight. So, you would not want to buy equipment right off the bat because you could get the wrong fit. After you have tried out what the experts at the Paddle Board Equipment store recommend, then you can start to customize. For instance, if you are having trouble maintaining your balance on the standard model for your size, then you may want to get a longer board than is customary.
Take your board and paddle out to the nearest lake to start with. The nice thing about paddle boards is that you do not need rushing water to have fun. So, in the beginning it is easier to learn the movements on a stationary body of water. At first you will fall in repeatedly, don’t feel bad, it’s half the fun. You will eventually get your balance but stay near the shore at first. In the beginning many people will not even bring a paddle with them. Instead of standing they will lay on the board like a surfer would when waiting on a wave. Then you can essentially dog paddle the board around to get a feel for it and its specific quirks.
When you are ready to stand up on your board go into waist deep water. Lay the paddle horizontally across the board and pull your self up onto it from the rear, like a cowboy would mount his horse in an old western. Once you are straddling the board, slowly maneuver yourself until you are on your knees slightly back from the center of the board. Once you have your balance, grab your paddle and pop to your feet. Then place your feet exactly where your knees were except shoulder length apart. This will take practice so make sure that you do not hit the board when you keep falling off. Now, keep your eyes on the horizon and paddle around at a leisurely pace. It is a great way to see the sights and get a little exercise along the way. To find out more about GUSU click here: Paddle boarding
Paddle Boards are becoming the new trend in water sports. They resemble a surf board and in the beginning that is what was used to go paddle boarding. You would lie down on a surf board and paddle with your hands and feet out into the waves so you would be in position to pop up onto the board and ride the wave in. As paddle boards came into their own, races began to only include the paddling and not be concerned with the surfing. Then stand up paddle boards became more and more popular. On these boards you stand up straight and face the horizon. An extended paddle with an elbow like bend in the middle is used to propel the board. The elbow bend in the paddle allows you to generate much more force than a straight paddle. As you paddle, you keep your eyes up instead of looking at your feet or the water. This lets you see much more of your surrounding and many people find it a perfect way to do some outdoor sight seeing.
The first and most vital piece of equipment is the paddle boards themselves. Paddle board manufactures and paddle board retailers have a big selection of design types to choose from. Paddle Boards of fiberglass and epoxy are the most common type and they range from 12 to 19 feet in length. A new technology that is gaining traction in the market is an epoxy surf board that is lighter and stronger than the fiberglass variant. A custom made paddle board can cost from 1,500 dollars to 3,000 dollars. On the newer models, a traction pad is attached to the top of the board to provide traction. If a traction pad did not come with your Paddle Board then you will have to wax the board as you would a standard surfboard. Many surf shops will rent boards for beginners and that is a great way to find out which one is the right one for you. The length and width of the board is entirely dependant on the weight and height of the rider as well as the water conditions that you will ride in.
The paddle for a stand up Paddle Board is different than the paddles used for canoeing or kayaking. It has an angle in the shaft to allow for maximum stroke efficiency. The right paddle for you will be from 6 to 8 inches taller than you are but some amount of personal preference will enter into the length as well.
The only other required equipment is a personal flotation device. Since the US Coast Guard classifies the stand up Paddle Boards as vessels, they require you to have a PFD on you at all times. There is some optional equipment to have with you. If you are planning to go paddle boarding in cold climates you will want to wear a wet suit to prevent hypothermia. Also, the glare off the water can start to hurt your eyes, so a comfortable pair of sunglasses is also recommended.
Fun in the sun and surf is getting a little more competitive of late. Surfers are not too happy to be sharing their waves with the new influx of “Sweepers” that has been showing up in the water. A Sweeper is an insulting term that the surfers call Paddle Boarders because of the motion that a stand up paddle boarder makes as they move through the water. Many paddle boarders feel that the surfers that are cranky about sharing the waves have either never tried paddle boards or are jealous of how easy it is to catch waves with a paddle board.
The paddle board manufacturers make a special paddle for paddle boarding that has a elbow in it to maximize forward movement. It is so efficient that it can act as a motor and causes paddle boarders to be able to catch waves farther out and quicker than their surfing brethren. So, it is important to remember surfing etiquette when paddle boarding to ensure that everyone has a good time. Do not just zip in and steal a wave because your board is faster. Paddle out and join the line of people waiting on the next wave. It is the polite thing to do and if you do not get out and mingle with the others, you are missing out on a big benefit of the sport. Paddle Boarder is especially maddening to surfers when the waves are low because even on a dead calm day a paddle boarder can head out and get some exercise while the surfers are stuck on the beach.
It is essentially a battle between the old and the new. Places like Ventura coast is known for its waves and still has a large crowd of dedicated surfers but other beaches are seeing more and more paddle boards. Mainly because it was brought to California by one of the legends of surfing, if he had not introduced it, it probably wouldn’t have caught on like it did. Before Larid Hamilton popularized it in California it was mainly a Hawaiian past time. Now that it is here to stay, paddle board retailers are finding it difficult to keep up with demand.
It is also much easier for people of all ages to engage in than surfing. Surfing requires a pretty decent level of athleticism and balance to master. Paddle boarding is just as good of an exercise outlet but it is easier to maneuver using the paddle. People from 10 to 70 are able to get out on the ocean or even a quiet lake and putter around on a stand up paddle board to enjoy the day.
Paddle boarding is a growing trend in water sports and more people are trying it every day. If you are new to paddle boards then it is recommended to start by renting your equipment from a surf shop. A board sold from a paddle board retailer that’s made by a major paddle board manufacturer can sell for 2-3 thousand dollars. So renting the equipment in order to find out which is the best fit for you is the best choice.
Once you have your equipment and your personal flotation device, its time to get in the water. Don’t forget the flotation device because the coast guards rate a stand up paddle board as a vessel. Which means it’s the law. When you are just starting out, it is best to find a lake that is free of boat traffic and other obstructions. When carrying the paddle boards to the water, follow these steps:
- Stand the board onto its end with the top facing you
- lay the paddle on the ground at your feet in easy reach
- Walk your way to the middle of the board and then grip the rails in order to balance the board atop your head
- Once you have the board steadied, squat down and grab the paddle and carry it bedside the board
When you have reached the water and it is time to climb onto your paddle board. Go into waist deep water or shallower depending on what is comfortable. Put the paddle across the board and pull your self into a sitting position on the board. One hand should be holding the rail of the board and the other is holding the paddle grip. Now, move into a kneeling position on the board that is slightly behind the center point. Feel out the balance of the paddle board. You should be completely even in water with neither the tail nor the nose dipping into the water more deeply than the other. Once you are ready, stand up one foot at a time and place your feet where your knees were just positioned. Your first few times, you may want a buddy to come along in order to help get you started.
Now that you are standing on your paddle board you need to remember:
- Keep your feet parallel and have an upright posture
- Do not stand on the rails; keep your feet inside them at all times.
- When you fall, lean away from the board so you do not injure yourself on it
- Try to keep some forward momentum going as much as possible. It is much easier to balance on paddle boards while you have forward momentum.
That is it. Now get out there and have fun seeing the sights from your upright paddle board.
The article was written by Tom Johnson with CRM an Atlanta SEO Company
Is Paddle Boarding the new trend?
Yes and no. Paddle Boarding has definitely been growing in popularity over the last few years but it has been around far longer than that. Paddle Boards are essentially long modified surf boards. Paddle boards can be laid upon and paddled in the manner of a surf boarder but they are made to be stood up on. Then you use a long paddle with a bend in it to provide a more powerful thrust. To successfully use paddle boards you have to keep your eyes on the horizon instead of looking down and paddle like the gondoliers in Venice would. It is a great cardiovascular exercise and there are a lot of athletes that are using it for cross training purposes.
It started back with the kings of the Hawaiian Islands. They used paddle boards specifically for this purpose and in 1926 Tom Blake was restoring surf boards from that era to put in a museum. He modified an OLO surfboard by drilling holes in it to lighten it and covering it with material to stand on. Two years later Blake won the first ever, Mainland surfing contest. With the same board he broke virtually every record for paddling a board and many held until as late as 1956. Thus the first paddle board was born. Even though the boards have continued to evolve Paddleboard Manufacturers and Paddleboard Retailers sell boards that still use some of Blake’s original design principles.
Even with Blake’s notoriety Paddle Boards remained a subset of surfing in the eyes of many until resurgence in the 1980’s. Norm Shifren won a Watermans Race that consisted of a 22 mile race from Point Dume to Malibu. That win caught the attention of a surf journalist by the name of Craig Lockwood. Lockwood Began production of a professional quality Paddle Board called the Waterman in honor of the race. Paddle Boards with that design have won more races than any other and is still a popular type to this day. Soon after that Paddleboard Manufacturers in L.A began turning out 300 to 400 paddleboards, which is half of the total Paddle Boards product, per year in the United States. Many new races dedicated to Paddle Boards started to spring up across the country and it continues to grow in popularity.
Online message boards and meeting places for Paddle Board enthusiast are becoming more prevalent and it has never been easier to get started in the sport. Ebay and other online auction sites are great places to look for beginners gear but to get the best prices you may want to wait till winter. A new paddle board can run from 3 to 4 thousand dollars but you can sometimes find a good deal on a used board in the off season.
