Paddleboarding is the world’s fastest-growing sport for a good reason – it doesn’t take too long to pick up the basics.  Here are few tips to help make that first session the absolute best.

1 Wear the right kit

Don’t worry, Paddleboarding London has got you covered for this.  We’ll give you a buoyancy aid and if you’ve got specs or sunglasses a strap to stop them from slipping into the water.  Dress in what you’d wear for a yoga class or gym session.  Most people keep their feet dry when they paddleboard, but so you don’t stress about your footwear please wear old trainers, beach shoes or neoprene booties on your feet.  We also lock up your valuables, so you don’t need to take your phone out on the water.

2 Will I fall off?

We’ll give you an intro to paddleboarding skills off the water, and then we start paddling on our knees which is very stable.  When you feel ready, we’ll help you stand up on your board, from your knees.  We think about 1:20 of our newbie paddlers get wet, so you’re probably not going to fall off. But it’s a good plan to have some dry clothes to change into, just in case!  We’ll also give you a demo about how to get back on to your board.  Really there’s no need to panic as you can swim and you’ll be wearing a nice, floaty buoyancy aid.

3 Remember the Film Don’t Look Up? 

Joking… but like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in the film Don’t Look Up made clear, you need to look up.  Staring at the water, or your paddle, makes paddleboarding difficult.  Worse, it may mean you may bump into the person in front of you and knock them into the water.  Looking up has the bonus that you’ll see all the amazing people and wildlife along the Regent’s Canal or at St Katharine Docks.

4 Keep your feet still

To stand-up paddleboard, keep your knees gently bent and your feet stationary on either side of the paddleboard’s central point (usually a handle). For anyone who has ridden a horse or tried skiing, then it’s going to feel a very natural stance.  It’s a comfy position.

5 Stay chatty

Paddleboarding is a great way to chat.  But speaking up is also a good idea to make sure the person in front of you knows if you are getting a bit close to them.  A word of warning will give them time so they can drop to their knees instead of being given a surprise bump into the water.

6 What if I’m a lefty?

There’s no need to worry as paddleboarding paddles are identical for left-handers and right-handers.  That’s because you swap sides every few strokes to keep the board moving forward on a smooth straight course.

7 Follow the waterway rules

On the canal paddleboarders stay on the right so that the bigger narrowboats and other craft can safely pass.  It’s a good idea to avoid being under a bridge when any boats are passing – we’ll just stop and watch. And don’t worry we won’t be going through a tunnel.  Finally, don’t rock the boats where people are living.  You may think grabbing a big boat is going to stop you wobbling, but it’s a top reason for learners plopping into the water. Basically, you turn into a cartoon character gripping on to the big boat as your legs and paddleboard drift away – which is funny for everyone, but you.

BONUS – Any final tips?

Yes: paddleboarding really is as easy as 1,2,3 – so good luck and have fun. We’ll take loads of photos during your intro and tour so that you’ll be able to share with friends and family how quickly you picked up the paddleboarding vibe. Our paddleboard coaches are obsessed with paddling on Regent’s Canal, so we hope you’ll fall in love with this wonderful new sport too. See you on the water soon.

Ready to test your paddle prowess?  We’ve got three ways for beginners to get on board: 

Lesson & Tours are suitable for total beginners and take place daily in Camden and Hackney.  With a max guest/instructor ratio of 5:1 you’ll have plenty of personalised attention from the team. 

Learn 2 SUP sessions are for those who want a bit more time to take things at a slower pace.  These sessions are held weekly in Hackney and St Katharine Docks and have a max ratio of 6:1, but take place at quieter times and locations. 

Private Lessons are available at any of our locations on a date and time of your choice.  You’ll have a coach all to yourself (or bring a friend along too) and can tailor the session to your needs.  

See the full schedule of sessions here or email us with any questions. 

Hope to see you on the water soon!

– The Paddleboarding London Team

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It’s a jungle out there. Instead of going online to to browse boards from different brands, our approach would be to first establish what you mostly want to do with the board. Your requirements determine the board specs and narrow down the search.

Length

Boards under 10ft are for kids or surfing, sorry, we can’t help you there. Generally speaking, boards between 10-12ft, are for all-around use and SUP yoga. If you have any intention of wanting to do longer-distance flat water touring in the future or simply glide better, go for a minimum of 11′ 6, preferably 12′ 6, board. The 10ft all-around boards tend to have a round nose, whereas the longer boards have a pointy nose. They’re often faster than shorter ones and tend to track straighter. An all-around board is a safe choice, but it will be a compromise and you may outgrow it sooner than you think. We recommend choosing an iSUP you can grow into.

Width

Width is another important factor that affects how the board handles. Width usually ranges between 25 to 34 inches. A wider board will feel more stable than a skinny board, but at the same time slower. Wide boards are awkward to paddle unless you have very wide shoulders, as you have to reach out to the side to get your paddle in the water, resulting in a very inefficient stroke. A narrower board can feel tippy at the beginning, but with a bit of practice, you adjust very quickly.

Volume

A board’s volume, expressed in litres, gives an indication of the board’s ability to float. The higher the volume, the more weight the board can support. Most boards also provide maximum weight capacity, but especially if you are a heavier or taller paddler, plan to share a board, take a dog on-board or carry lots of gear, make sure to compare volumes of the boards on your shortlist. It never hurts to have a little extra volume.

Other points to consider when buying your iSUP:

Air pressure – A quality iSUP is designed to be inflated to at least 15 psi when fully inflated. Basically, the higher the PSI level, the smoother the paddle because it won’t bend. The more rigid the board, the better it performs. Don’t go for anything that cannot be inflated to 15 psi. Those are the banana boards you often see at beaches.

Thickness – Unless you are very light, go with a board with a thickness of 6 inches. The 4-inch thick boards tend to perform poorly and are usually cheaply constructed.

Standard fin box – Check that the board has a US standard centre fin box so that you can easily replace or upgrade the fin should you want to. For example, for shallow rivers or very weedy summer canals, you may want to switch to a smaller river fin. Steer clear of boards with fixed 3-piece rubber fins attached to the board, unless you do surfing.

Paddle – If you buy a package that includes a board and 3-piece paddle, there may be a chance to upgrade the paddle to a lighter one at the point of purchase. Aluminium paddles are very heavy. Alternatively, paddle with that paddle for a while and upgrade at a later point. It’s always handy to have an extra paddle around.

Leash – Make sure you have a leash and wear it. Your SUP is a large flotation device, so being attached to it can be important for safety. For flat water paddling, get a coiled leash, so that it does not drag in the water. For moving water, use a quick-release belt with the leash. We also recommend wearing a buoyancy aid, especially if paddling alone, on the river or during the colder months.

Pump – Don’t bother with electric pumps – they are generally very slow and noisy. Inflating your board is a good warm-up and there’s definitely a technique to it. With the better boards, you get dual-barrel or double-action pumps anyways.

Congratulations – you’ve now found your perfect iSUP.  We hope it’s the start of a very long love for our favourite water sport.  Don’t forget to wave hello if you see us out on the canal sometime. 

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