How to Properly Launch A SUP in Waves

Launch A SUP

With an inflatable stand up paddleboard, there are a lot of things you can do. SUP surfing is one of the most popular entertainment choices for SUP owners. Unlike a casual paddleboarding session on flat water, SUP surfing requires certain skills if you want to do it well. It’s both challenging and fun. If you want to try SUP surfing, there are a lot of skills you need to learn. It might sound difficult, but with more practice, most people are able to master the craft. Here in this post we will show you one of the most basic part of SUP surfing: how to launch your SUP board in waves.

 sup surfing

This may seem like an easy thing to do, but it’s really not. It contains more details than you’d think. The waves would become a problem for you when you try to launch your board and it’s much harder than you’d expect. So for your own safety, it’s important to know what you are doing. Or else you could get hammered in the shore break, run over by your board, have your paddle smack you in the face or tangled in your leash.

If you want to make it to the open water without any hassle, there are a few things you should know when getting out past the waves.

Things to Note

First thing first, there’s no need to have the leash attached to your leg in advance. Put it on when you are close enough to the water. If you put it on too early, it could bring some unnecessary troubles when you carry the board to the beach like tripping you over on the way. Be careful with the leash because it could easily snap. Make a plan first before heading out to the ocean. Find the right spot to set off and directly head to it.

Carry your board on the right side

Don’t waste time and energy wading along the shoreline. Directly walk to the spot where you want to paddle out. When walking to the ocean, remember to hold the board on the side. It’ll make carrying the board easier. After carrying it for a while, you will soon find out which side is more convenient for you. If you hold it on the wrong side, you will have to reposition yourself and risk being run over by the board when you put the board down. So holding it on the right side will help save time and energy.

sup carrying

How far away from the shoreline should you go?

Well, you should at least make sure you are deep enough so that your fins won’t touch the bottom of the ocean. When walking out to the ocean, make sure you are holding your paddle right so that it won’t hurt you when a wave hits. The right way to hold it when walking is to hold it with the handle out to the sea and the blade facing the beach. If you are not holding the paddle right, it could get your wrist and even your nose hurt when a wave hits you. When you are holding the paddle right with the blade pointing towards the beach, it won’t be lifted up by the wave which could lead to terrible results like the paddle hitting you in the face or being ripped out of your hands. By putting the paddle on top of the board down the center line, you will be able to control the board with two hands easily. Use your front hand to hold the top of the paddle in the center line and your back hand to hold the paddle on the tail of the SUP board.

Carry your board at the right angle

When walking towards the ocean, always keep your board pointing directly into the waves at 90 degrees to allow the board to cut through the waves, or else you could be pushed back to the beach by the waves. When the wave is coming, lift up the nose by pushing down the tail of the board with your back hand so the nose won’t be hit by whitewater. You could take time to practice holding the board at the right angle in shallow water to prevent being moaned down by the waves. Practice until you are comfortable and able to control the board completely and start to head out to deeper water. Chances are you might lose control of your board. When that happens, just reposition yourself and start over, don’t try to battle with whitewater when holding the board wrong, the waves will always win.

And be careful where your fingers are when a wave is coming because they could get hurt when you are holding the handle with them. It could cause sprain on your fingers or even break your fingers.

Choose a board in a suitable size

Another piece of advice to take is to use a board in a proper size. A SUP board that’s unnecessarily big will only make it more difficult for you to carry it out to the water. So the board you use should be in a proper size, there’s no point in using a board that’s bigger than you actually need, especially when you are just beginning to learn how to paddle board or surf.

Start paddling/surfing

There are a number of factors to consider when trying to find the best time to climb onto your paddleboard. The most ideal depth to get on your board would be around your waist. It’s never a good idea to set off from the beach when waves are coming in groups. The right thing to do is stay in your depth and be ready for the right time. Save your energy and wait till a bit of a lull which is a gap between the waves before you climb onto your board and start paddling. When walking out, if there are a few waves passing, you will have fewer waves to paddle over when you make it to the start point. So once you get on your board, paddle as hard as you can to make it through the surf as fast as possible. Open water with lots of space would be perfect for launching your board as it gives you more room to position yourself and your board.

Whether you are on a SUP surfboard or a regular inflatable paddle board, the same basic principles apply. So take your time to practice until you are able to have everything under control.


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