Is Paddle Boarding Hard? Experts Weigh In

Generally speaking, paddle boarding isn’t hard work. Some would argue that the hardest part about paddle boarding is pumping it up (if you have an inflatable board, of course). 

Paddle boarding is the perfect water sport for all ages and fitness levels because anyone can become a stand-up paddle board pro in just a few hours or after a lesson.

There’s a general misconception that you have to be in good shape to excel at paddle boarding, but this isn’t the case. Since stand-up paddle boarding requires a degree of balance and stability, people assume that it’s difficult but the rigid nature of the board (both inflatable and solid) offers a solid foundation for anyone to paddle with ease. 

Unless you plan on paddling some ocean waves or engaging in some whitewater paddling , you’re in for an easy and relaxing time on the water. 

• Faster transition time from car to water

• Better for SUP Racing

• Excellent for surfing

• Increased glide and speed

Non-inflatable paddle boards have some distinct advantages over an inflatable SUP. First of all, when you take your hard paddle board to the water, the transition time between arriving and getting paddling on the water is very quick. Within 3-5 minutes you can have your leash and life jacket on and be out paddling quickly, without having to unfold your inflatable SUP board and get it pumped up.

Hard SUPs are super rigid and are excellent for high-performance activities such as SUP racing, long-distance paddle boarding,  surfing and generally attaining higher planning speeds than boards inflated with air. Epoxy SUPs have better overall performance due to hardboard design and their displacement hulls, which means they have better glide through the water and create less drag, which equals more speed.

While paddle boarding is a very easy water sport, there are several factors that impact its difficulty level.

• Board size: The size and dimensions of a SUP board will impact how easy or difficult it is to paddle on. The easiest paddle boards to learn on have dimensions that are between 10 and 11 feet in length and 32 to 34 inches wide. Both inflatable and solid paddle boards are great options for beginners, it’s the dimensions of the boards that you have to consider.
  
  

• PSI: PSI is the amount of air you put into an inflatable paddle board. It’s short for pounds per square inch. It’s important to inflate your board to at least 15 PSI. Anything under that can cause your board to sage and compromise your balance and stability. The wrong PSI can also compromise your safety on the water and the integrity of the board.
  
  

• Paddle: In order to make stand-up paddle boarding easier, you need to make sure your paddle is at the right length. If your SUP paddle is too long or too short, you’ll have to put in more effort to move yourself and your board. To get it to the right length, stand beside your paddle and lift your arm straight up to the sky, bend your wrist to a 90-degree angle. Your paddle should measure from the ground to the bend in your wrist.
  
  

• Stance: Standing incorrectly on your paddle board will make it a lot more difficult. When SUP’ing, you want to have both feet facing forward, hip-width apart at the center of your board (e.g. on either side of the handle) with your knees slightly bent. You’ll also want to make sure you’re looking ahead into the distance and not directly in front of you or beside you. This will encourage proper posture in your upper body as well.
  
  

• Paddling technique: Using the right paddle stroke will make stand-up paddle boarding much easier. To hold the paddle, place one hand on top of the paddle and wrap the other hand around the center of the paddle shaft. As you begin to paddle and place the paddle blade into the water, try to stack your hands vertically so the paddle is in a straight line pointing downward as you pull it back and out of the water. Look forward and keep your back straight as you hinge slightly at the hips to help with your strokes. First practice paddling on your knees before you move on to your feet.
  
  

• Weather and water conditions: Different bodies of water and varying conditions will change the difficulty of your stand-up paddle boarding experience. Calm conditions with glassy, flat water make for an easy and relaxing experience, while big waves, whitewater, and strong winds make for a bit of a journey. It’s best to go paddle boarding when the conditions are calm and the water is still—especially for beginners. Small lakes are often your best bet for calm waters but you can also get the right conditions  on big lakes and oceans too. 

All things considered, paddle boarding is an incredibly easy water sport with a low barrier to entry. If you follow all the best practices and wear your life jacket,  you should be set up for a fun day on the water.

It isn’t hard to balance on a paddle board. Because of the wide base and the natural stance, people of all ages and fitness levels are able to balance on a paddle board with ease. It’ll take some practice and we always recommend to start paddle boarding on your knees before trying to stand up, but balancing on a paddle board is relatively easy for most beginners.  

It’s not that easy to fall off a paddle board. In fact, it’s very uncommon for someone to simply fall off a paddle board for no reason. The biggest reasons people fall off a paddle board include:

• Not paying attention (e.g. looking around or behind them and losing their balance).
  
  

• Choppy water conditions (e.g. from the wind or from motorized watercrafts causing waves).
  
  

• Bumping into another object (e.g. another paddle board, a rock, a dock, a boat, etc.).
  
  

• Attempting SUP yoga and falling out of a pose.