SUP Safety Essentials

Overall, the paddle-boarding is a safe sport that provides enjoyment for paddlers of all ages and skill levels. But SUP safety is a topic that is often overlooked or downplayed by overconfidence or new padder, the basic practices outlined in this article are habits that are vital to your long-term safety and enjoyment of the sport. And none of the safety points mentioned in this article are difficult to do-on the contrary, they are very simple things that everyone can and should do every time they paddle.

Here, we’re going to list several important safety tips of SUP that will highly reduce your risk of being injured (or worse) while out on your paddle board. Learning how to be a safe and responsible paddler is not only critical for your own personal well-being — you’ll also be setting a good example for others around you to follow.

1. Wear a PFD
When it comes to paddleboarding, wearing a personal flotation device is one of the easiest and most important safety habits you can practice. Commonly referred to as a “PFD”, this is a necessary SUP accessory that can and does save lives.

Paddlers typically use either a life jacket or inflatable belt pack when play on sup. Both have obvious advantages and disadvantages, and we'll introduce some of them to give you a general idea of what might be a better choice for your paddling activities and personal preferences.

The first style of PFD that we’ll cover is the life jacket. SUP life jackets typically offer a slimmer, more streamlined fit that offers minimal interference with your paddling stroke. A SUP life vest is obviously the bulkier option of the two PFD styles we’re discussing, so if you’re a minimalist and prefer something smaller, this may not be your ideal choice.

Although the comfort level is lower, compared with the inflatable waist pack PFD, the life jacket provides higher safety. The life jacket will provide you with full-time floatation-when you need help, you don't need to do anything to activate it. On the other hand, the inflatable bodypack PFD itself does not provide buoyancy. In order to activate the built-in life jacket, the oarsman needs to pull a rope, which will automatically inflate the airbag of the waist pack. In most cases, this is not a big deal, but if an oarsman is knocked down and loses consciousness, it will be a huge, life-threatening problem.

2. Use a SUP Leash
The second safety tip we will introduce is to wear a SUP belt. The belt is another simple and super affordable SUP accessory that should be worn every time you paddle.

Many padders underestimate the importance of wearing SUP straps and mistakenly believe that if they happen to fall off, their surfboard is always within reach. In a calm paddling environment, this may be correct, but in windy, choppy conditions, you can separate from your surfboard in a matter of seconds. In some cases, this can even be fatal.

The SUP leash will not interfere with your stroke, and you will never even know that you are wearing it, so you really have no reason to go into the water without a leash. This is another essential life-saving SUP accessory that every paddler should use, and it is included in all our paddle board packages.

3. Find a Paddle Pal
Stand up paddle boarding is a great way to spend time with friends and family, and a fun way to meet new people. When playing with other people, paddle board surfing is not only more fun, but also safer.

When you go to sea, you never know when an emergency may occur, and a paddle friend will ensure that you are always guarded behind you. In terms of SUP security, the partner system is the best system.

4. Don’t Ignore the Sun Protection
One aspect that is often overlooked is sun protection. The sun is very powerful. When you stand on the surface of the water and are exposed to the reflection of the sun, the sun exposure is obviously a bigger problem.

We strongly recommend that you wear SPF swimwear, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen. Spending hours on the water without adequate sun protection can cause severe sunburn, and it’s not worth the risk at all.

Whenever going out and dealing with sunlight, always take responsibility and take necessary precautions to protect yourself.

5. If Paddling in Cold Waters, Wear a Wetsuit
If you happen to be lucky enough to live in an area with a year-round warm climate, you can happily skip this part. However, if you spend time paddling in cold water, wearing a diving suit is a very smart approach and can actually save your life.

Even the most skilled padder will fall off from time to time, and if you are not prepared to come into contact with cold water, it will make you sick and even cause hypothermia. Wearing a high-quality diving suit designed for colder temperatures will not only make you feel comfortable when paddling, but also ensure your safety.

We hope that you enjoyed learning about these incredibly important SUP safety tips. If you have any questions about the above content, you can contact us at any time.

Finally
We hope that you enjoyed learning about these incredibly important SUP safety tips. Even if you were already aware of the information that we covered in this article, it is good to be periodically reminded about the importance of these practices. If you have any questions about the above content, you can contact us at any time.