Maximum SUP fun on your own board

Boards and accessories are available in different models and designs. The best way to get your own board should therefore be either through a specialist retailer, watersports school or SUP provider. The latter two have the advantage that you can book a session to try out the sport without first having to invest in equipment. "We recommend first trying out stand-up paddling on the water at a watersports school or SUP provider. If you’re interested you can then seek purchasing advice from a specialist retailer," recommends Florian Brunner, member of the boot Düsseldorf trade fair advisory board and managing director of APM Marketing. "Employees in the business know what’s important when choosing a board and the necessary equipment." 

The board should be at least 10 feet, or three meters, long and 30 inches, or 75 cm, wide. "More width gives better float stability. The all-round shape – a rounder nose and a rectangular tail – also enhances stability," advises Florian Brunner.

The question then is: hard or inflatable? Currently more than 90 percent of all SUPs sold in Germany are inflatable boards. Hardboards have better gliding properties, but are initially less suitable for beginners. That's because all SUPers must first learn to balance. Falling and handling a soft board is much less critical. So it’s better to start with an inflatable model with a 12-15 cm thickness and 200 to 300 litre volume. This also has a decisive space advantage: you can easily pack it and take it anywhere.

The importance of a good bag and a suitable pump should not be underestimated. A high-quality bag with a combined backpack and roller system will protect your back with a board weight of 12-15 kg. A double-stroke pump is your best choice, as it presses air into the board shell when you pull it up and also when you push it down. This cuts your inflation time in half, as compared to a conventional pump.

In addition to the board, bag and pump the next important accessory is your paddle. Here again, you shouldn’t underestimate the wide selection and significant differences in quality. Cheaper models often have an aluminium shaft. But these are actually unsuitable for the use on the water. "Aluminiumpaddle aren't buoyant. If I fall off the board and the paddle slips away, it can easily sink," warns Flo Brunner. That's why it's better to invest in a paddle with a GRP or carbon shaft and a sturdy paddle blade. Paddles made of these materials won’t sink and are very stable. The paddle should be adjustable so that it can be adapted to the body size. Ideally, it is about 10 to 30 centimeters longer than the paddler himself.

Especially important for SUP beginners: the leash. "The safety leash is attached to the board with one end and to the body with the other. It can save lives and should always be worn by beginners," recommends Flo Brunner. Depending on how it is attached to the body, it is referred to as an ankle leash or a knee leash. With brand-name products, the ankle leash is always included in the delivery.

As there can be a considerable difference between air and water temperatures, great importance should be placed on wearing correct clothing when doing SUP sports. Especially in spring, the air heats up much faster than the water. T-shirt weather on the shore doesn’t mean it’s T-shirt weather out on the board. "In the first half of the year, the water in rivers and lakes and the North Sea and Baltic Sea is still very cold even if you have a double-digit air temperature. Anyone standing on a SUP board wearing only a swim suit a single topple in the water can quickly become a life-threatening situation", advises Flo Brunner. The body temperature sinks too rapidly. Therefore, it is vital to wear waterproof and breathable (functional) clothing in keeping with the water temperature. Special SUP suits or neoprene wetsuits are a worthwhile investment.

A luggage net on the board is very practical because it can be used to attach gear such as a drybag or a small water bottle for your tour. The most fun gadget for Florian Brunner is "a magnetic bottle holder that allows me to attach my water bottle securely to the board."

"All in all, you should invest about 500-600 euros in solid and reasonable equipment. That's definitely enough to get started," explains Florian Brunner. But SUP is no different than other sports: Once you have discovered your love for the sport, prices can easily go up to the four-digit range.