There’s a couple of companies near us that offer regular SUP taster sessions. The OH and I are keen to give it a go. But just in case we really get in to it I have a few questions, if anyone can answer it’d be great. I know we can ask the people that offer the sessions, but I like to know in advance.

Boards – how big realistically should we go if we ended up enjoying it and buying them? Are inflatable ones any good or should we go rigid? (implications with storage and carrying to/from water).

How much of the year? I’ve seen people SUPing all year round, but how realistic is this? Would hate to fall in in the depths of winter.

Where can we do it? There are a number of lakes/pits nearby that you can get annual passes for. But there’s a lovely calm river nearby too which I guess is free to use. Any restrictions with using the river?

I’ve took the plunge and bought a couple of SUP’s myself, partly as a bit of variety for exercising and also for something to do on no wind days at the beach (when I’m on a kitesurfing holiday). In terms of size, unless you’re really small or light I’d be looking at around 10’6″ but bear in mind width is as much a factor when considering stability. Unless you’re happy to carry and store rigid boards then inflatable ones are very good; both mine are Red Paddle Co ones and for what I want they’re spot on.

In terms of where to paddle, it very much depends on where you live, hard to say as some bodies of water which you’d imagine are fair game aren’t. Generally any which are used for public water supply are off limits though. Canals are always allowed though and rivers generally ok though you can upset fishermen if you’re not careful. Basically it’s the same access rights to a river as if you were kayaking, so take a look on the BCU website as I think there’s some good guidance on there.

I reckon it looks like a most ungainly, impractical and idiotic way to spend your time.

Thankfully no one gives a monkeys what you think Torminalis.

Tuboflard – thanks. More interesting about the inflatable ones. I was worried they’d be similar to inflatable kayaks which I know lots say aren’t brilliant to use.

I’ve recently had a taster session, and done it a couple of times since – it’s good fun. I hired the boards – as you, I’m thinking of buying in the future, and they were inflatable ones. I was really impressed at them – you’d never know they were inflatable when in use. I didn’t get involved in the inflation and deflation, so can’t comment on that, but to use they were great.

We’ve done this subject millions of times, plenty of haters, plenty of SUPorters.

Get some lessons, learn the basics, if you like it buy a board (inflatable or hard, you decide) go enjoy life and ignore the idiots.

Have a search, there are a few threads. I am useless at it and therefore its the world’s daftest sport 😉 Friends have inflatable boards and they are great for exploring new areas. We see plenty of them in the river every day at weekends or early evening after work

I did a 2 hour beginner’s course yesterday. Weather helped, but it was great.

We were on 10’8″ Red inflatable SUPs – I’m a big fella and there would have been plenty of capacity to carry my 7 y/o son as well. The instructor explained that there are ‘niches’ such as racing, surf and touring, so there are boards for each discipline, but the ones we were on would have been fine for most things until you decide you want to specialise.

I couldn’t recommend doing a beginner’s course highly enough – we got straight on the water and were up and padding within 10 mins, with stops to learn the basic techniques as we went along.

Red board here too. Good quality and easily takes my 85kg (cough – plus 9kg) and the dog on the front.
Get a good paddle (i.e. not aluminium) that with break down and fit in the bag – our board has been with us to Sardinia once and Croatia 3 times so far.

Unless you’re a racer I wouldn’t entertain the idea of a hard board.

Torminalis gets the ‘dick of the day’ hat – wear it with pride fella 😉

Thankfully no one gives a monkeys what you think Torminalis.

Torminalis gets the ‘dick of the day’ hat – wear it with pride fella

Just the day?

😆

Like I care what you fools think! Have you seen yourselves? 😉

I did it on holiday, it was good fun for an hour and a very, very good core workout. I couldn’t move without wincing for 3 or 4 days afterwards.

Give it a go and see what you think.

Thanks all, very useful.

Before you buy, plenty of places do a rent a board scheme, then refund you the cost when you buy a board off them.

Worth renting a couple first and trying them out. I tried a few JPs and a Fanatic, ended up with the Fanatic Fly air premium. Well worth the money, and like others have said, go for the carbon paddle if you can.

Unless you are going to race, tour, downwind or surf, the all rounders are perfect and suit rivers, lakes and the sea.

Love mine, have 2 Red paddle inflatable ones (10’6 rides), v durable (oldest is 3yrs old) and really stiff (never guess it was inflatable), have taken it on a plane lots and no probs (oversize baggage). Fanatic boards ok, but basic pure one is a bit flex, premium much better. Cheap boards (some for £3-400) are crap – bendy and flexy, buy a 2nd hand ex rental if you’re on a budget. Get a carbon or glass fibre paddle as much better power delivery (!) and more comfortable. Join British canoeing as this gives you a water licence so can paddle on rivers & canals (don’t fall in!). I use mine on the sea (UK and med), lakes (Cotswold water park), canals (Kennet and Avon, sharpness) and rivers (Avon, Thames). Going to try white water in N Wales in the Autumn! Bit of a marmite sport, but I really enjoy it as upper body (great day off the bike), relaxing (once you’ve done it for a while) and you get to wear board shorts and not look like a 44yo nob

Following my post in this thread I bought a Quroc Qi crossover. Only used in the sea a few times so far but good fun and finding muscles I never knew I had.

The Dream:

The Reality:

We got an inflatable ITWIT from decathlon a few months ago (the blue one). We wanted to take advantage of living by the coast and getting on the water it’s a relatively cheap and accessible way to do that. It’s been great fun. We’ve taken it out on the sea and also on the river. All gentle stuff but a good core workout as mentioned and just a nice way to spend time. We’ve had the kids on the front too and they love it.

Red Paddle 10’6″ here too. Great board. Mine’s a few years old and a bit heavy. They’ve gone on a diet since then. The latest issue of SUP International has a test of about a dozen all rounder boards. I do find myself wishing mine would glide better than it does but then it’s also good for a bit of surfing too. If you’re in reach of Bristol I would recommend a taster session with Supbristol. Money well spent.

Don’t have any concerns about getting an inflatable. They are inflatable in the same way a pumped up car tyre is rather than like a dinghy.

Blitz

Thinking about one of those myself-how do they compare to more expensive boards??

No idea to be honest. I’ve only been on a friends Aqua Marine which is a similar budget option. Not compared to a ‘Red’ or other higher end board.

It floats and I can ride on it pretty easily with minimal skill, which is all I was really after. It’s 15cm deep which is deeper than most budget options I looked at and it does sit nice and high in the water and is pretty stable. It’s easy to inflate, nice backpack to carry it in, seems well put together. For what we want to do I can’t see something 3 times the cost being worth the extra but YMMV depending on your ambitions.

Cheers!!