It’s important that you have the paddle fitted for your height. Most paddles are adjustable, too. Smith suggests placing the paddle blade in front of your toes, with the paddle handle up, and reaching one arm up so that your palm and fingertips can curl over the top of the T-grip. “You want your second hand to be halfway down the shaft of the paddle.” Racing boards are long and narrow - designed for speed, they’re less stable, but glide through the water faster, with less drag. They’re great once you’ve gained confidence and experience. A 10ft 6in or 10ft 8in length board with a width of 30 to 34 inches is generally the most popular size for beginners, and for the whole family to enjoy. Is it OK to leave an inflatable paddle board inflated?

This smaller paddle board weighs just 9kg and designed for younger paddlers, children and teens weighing up to 60kg. Two of my nieces, who are eight and eleven, and my nephew, who is thirteen, had much more fun with it than when trying to control a 10ft or larger board, especially when the sea was choppier and when paddling in surf.Due to the size, weight and handling difficulties associated with kayaks, we are unable to provide free delivery (or included in the cost of the item). It’s best to rinse your board with fresh water and store it deflated in its bag in a cool place out of sunlight. However, it’s also fine to leave it inflated between uses - with a few caveats. Position your feet hip width apart either side of the handle in the centre of the board, look ahead (not down) and keep your knees soft and your core engaged. The sooner you start paddling, the more stable you will be, although that might feel scary at first.” Ready to get on the water? Smith recommends having these essentials with you to make for a safe and enjoyable experience: Super Reinforced dropstitch core increases yarn density resulting in high tensile strength which can withstand pressures up to 20PSI

Finding the right inflatable paddle board can seem like a daunting task,” says qualified coach Jo Taylor, co-founder of Paddle Cabin on the River Medway. “But an all-rounder board is a great way to get started. They’re wide (generally around 30 to 34 inches), stable and easy to turn. We teach beginners on Red Paddle Co ‘Ride’ boards which are 10ft 6in long and 32 inches wide. They’re super stable and sturdy for paddlers of all weights, abilities, and balance.” Large, super stable and available for a good price, the Two Bare Feet Entradia 10’ 10” is one of the best SUP boards for beginners and bigger paddlers on the market, but it’s more than just that. It’s tons of fun even for more experienced paddlers, especially if conditions are lumpy or if you have small family members that want to get on board. The kit is really nicely put together too. There are many different types of blow-up paddle boards, so as well as your ability-level it’s worth considering whether you’ll be paddling on flat water like lakes, touring long distances with lots of kit, racing or trying SUP yoga. Because paddle boarding is a low-impact activity, it’s also great for individuals who deal with arthritis or are recovering from an injury, Smith says. However, there are plenty of all-rounder boards that'll see you comfortable taking on the challenges and enjoying the pleasures of SUP life without compromising on much at all.One of the draws of paddle boarding is that you can enjoy it in any body of water, from big oceans to small lakes. And it’s a great workout you can do outdoors. What are the benefits of paddle boarding for runners? If you’re interested in stretching sore muscles, you can also consider trying yoga on a stand up paddle board. “All yoga poses are much more challenging on the paddle board. If you’re an avid yogi you might be surprised at how so many of your most familiar poses become even more dynamic and brand new by the addition of the unstable surface of the paddle board,” Smith says.

Gul wanted to be able to upgrade the single layer board, by removing the base glue process from the second (double) layer. This additional glue process has always been messy and very time consuming. So instead of gluing GUL coats the thread structure with a layer of adhesive that has been specially formulated to create both a seal and bond once laminated to high density PVC- completely removing the human factor involved in traditional double layer application. Remember that all our estimated delivery times are quoted in "working days". Weekends and bank holidays are not included in estimated timescales.

The next big outing was with a friend on the east coast where the water is more murky, the waves are short chop and the bottom is more mud and grave than Cornish sand. Similarly I had a wobble and style judges would have awarded me 2 out of 10 max. Tandem boards for two are a fun option on which you can take the whole family and a picnic on one board, but they’re too heavy to paddle on your own.” Please remember it is your responsibility to inspect and confirm that the goods are in perfect condition before signing. If the goods are damaged and not signed for as such, we are afraid that we cannot accept any liability and the item will not be replaced or reimbursed. This new process is done at the raw material stage which speeds up the process. The result being a more consistent and high-level cosmetic finish that has all of benefits of durability and strength found previously only on traditional double layer construction.

While the nose of the board is rounded for stability, the tail is narrow, which makes it easy to manoeuvre. It has a good glide on flat water but is also very stable. There’s no reason why you couldn’t use this Jobe board in gentle surf and choppier water.

Gul Watersports

Touring boards are longer, at upwards of 12 feet in length, and have a larger volume,” says paddle board coach Jo Taylor. “They’re intended for exploring and adventures where you can put lots of equipment on your board and take it with you on your journeys.