Discovering the Joy of Stand Up Paddle Boarding: A Beginner’s Guide and Review
This year, my husband and I made what has easily become our favorite lakehouse purchase to date: a pair of stand-up paddle boards (SUPs). What started as an unexpected turn of events quickly transformed into countless hours of serene exploration and invigorating exercise on the shimmering waters of Lake Superior. Today, I’m excited to share the amusing story behind our decision to embrace SUP life, recount our initial adventures, and offer practical advice for beginners looking to choose the perfect stand-up paddle board and essential equipment.
From Sailboats to SUPs: Our Unconventional Path to Paddle Boarding
Our journey to becoming proud SUP owners was, to say the least, unplanned. For a mix of reasons, both delightful and decidedly less so, we opted not to launch our sailboat this year. While I harbored a degree of disappointment – there’s truly nothing like being out on the open lake – a small part of me secretly welcomed the prospect of a more laid-back summer. After realizing the significant effort involved in sailboat ownership last year, I was looking forward to leisurely days, relaxing and exploring our bay with our trusty canoe.
However, fate had other plans. As we prepared for our very first paddle of the season, a surprising discovery awaited us: a thriving bee colony had taken up residence in one end of our canoe, nestled securely behind riveted panels that were impossible to remove. Faced with this unexpected predicament, a simple question arose: how does one deal with bees in a canoe?
The answer, we quickly realized, was quite clear: drive into town and buy two stand-up paddle boards! This humorous incident provided the perfect impetus. Our interest in SUPs had already been piqued by friends who owned them and often suggested paddling our picturesque bay on Lake Superior. The bee invasion merely provided the final, decisive push we needed to invest in our own boards. We spent an enjoyable afternoon browsing local sporting goods stores and, to our delight, discovered the ideal stand-up paddle boards, conveniently manufactured right here in Ontario.
Mastering the Waves: A Beginner’s Journey to Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Learning to stand-up paddle board was an experience filled with equal parts exhilaration and mild embarrassment. Eschewing instructional videos, we simply launched our new boards and hopped on. My husband, a natural, seemed to find his balance much quicker than I did. We were both, however, sufficiently wobbly for a neighbor to offer a knowing chuckle and comment the next day, “Not as easy as it looks, eh?” I suspect this was a polite way of saying our initial attempts were rather comical, perhaps even providing entertainment for the entire bay. In my defense, I never actually fell off – not once – but I did spend a considerable amount of time shrieking, “I’m going to fall!” in those early days.
One of the initial challenges for me was the surprising sensation of height. On most days, the water in our bay is incredibly clear, allowing me to see straight down to the bottom. This visual clarity, combined with being elevated on the board, created a disorienting, almost “trippy” feeling at first. Furthermore, every minor ripple on the water’s surface felt like it would send me tumbling head over heels. Yet, with persistence, I gradually grew accustomed to the unique dynamics of paddle boarding.
With both of us off work for the entirety of August, we committed to daily paddle boarding sessions. This consistent practice dramatically boosted my confidence. I started by kneeling, and once I gained a rudimentary feel for the board’s stability, I would only attempt to stand when the wind was perfectly calm. Eventually, I found it less nerve-wracking to stand in deeper water, driven by an irrational fear of cracking my head open in shallower areas. Ironically, this decision to paddle in deeper sections ultimately helped me feel more at ease, despite the initial apprehension.
While we still prefer tranquil days, we’ve ventured out on surprisingly wavy conditions and I’m slowly growing to love the sensation of being tossed around by the swells. Even on moderately choppy days within our extremely sheltered bay, I feel like an extreme sports enthusiast – I still can’t quite grasp how people manage to surf on these things!
An Unforgettable Eclipse Paddle on Lake Superior
One particularly memorable adventure occurred on the day of the solar eclipse. The bay was incredibly still, allowing us to paddle right out into the open waters of Lake Superior. It was an absolutely mesmerizing experience. We had never ventured so far from the protection of our bay before, as it’s usually too choppy, making this excursion exhilarating and unique. Despite feeling quite exposed on our tiny boards in the vast open water, there was a profound sense of peace. That is, until I became utterly distracted by the underwater landscape.
I hadn’t realized that beneath the surface, beyond our bay, lay massive boulders – some the size of cars – polished smooth into giant, egg-like forms by millennia of water erosion. Having expected a sandy bottom, similar to the middle of our bay, this discovery utterly fascinated me. It also highlighted how much random, interesting stuff lies hidden beneath the water, a constant distraction that keeps me half-hoping to stumble upon a sunken chest of gold. So far, no gold – just a notable collection of tires!
Navigating the Market: Choosing the Right Stand Up Paddle Board for Beginners
Selecting the perfect stand up paddle board proved to be a stressful endeavor, primarily due to the significant price tag associated with quality boards and the consistent push from salespeople towards inflatable models. While inflatable boards offer undeniable advantages in portability and compact storage – and I admit, I almost ordered this turquoise one from Amazon due to its irresistible color, stellar reviews, and competitive price (it even came with an adjustable paddle and coil leash!) – they weren’t the ideal fit for us.
Living directly on the lake, we have no need to transport our SUPs regularly, making the convenience of a rigid board far more appealing. Crucially, rigid boards eliminate any possibility of leaks. Having spent countless frustrating hours playing “where is the air leaking from?” with our old inflatable Zodiac tender, neither of us was particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of inflatable paddle boards. However, as we delved deeper into our shopping, the prices of rigid fiberglass boards were initially quite shocking.
Rigid vs. Inflatable: Making the Right Choice
Our budget certainly hadn’t accounted for spending thousands of dollars per board. It seemed we were faced with a dilemma: either invest in a premium, high-performance fiberglass board or settle for a $500 plastic option from Canadian Tire that received rather lukewarm online reviews. A candid salesperson’s comment about the delicate nature of fiberglass boards – emphasizing that they couldn’t be dragged over rocks or rough surfaces – nearly deterred us entirely. Given our rocky shoreline, such a board would quickly suffer damage.
Fortunately, our search led us to the perfect solution at a local outdoor retailer (Chaltrek, for my Thunder Bay friends, who also offer rentals). We discovered the Inukshuk by Clear Water Designs. This particular model is constructed from linear polyethylene with molded fins, rendering it incredibly durable – an absolute necessity for our rugged shore. Beyond its robust build, the Inukshuk also features a convenient deck bungee system and a paddle holder, which proved to be incredibly useful.
At $799, the Inukshuk was a bit more expensive than the Pelican stand-up paddle board from Canadian Tire. However, a friend of ours purchased a Pelican board, and after a direct comparison, we found our Inukshuk to be significantly more stable. Additionally, the Pelican board’s weight rating seemed inaccurate, as it appeared to sink noticeably more under pressure. And, of course, the fact that I could get the Inukshuk in a beautiful shade of blue was a major selling point for me!
You might be wondering about my paddle boarding attire. While the “SUP lifestyle” often conjures images of slender blondes in skimpy bikinis, my reality involves this fantastic t-shirt adorned with sharks! It’s perfectly practical for a day on the water.
My husband opted for a sleek black and white board. And yes, I absolutely picked out his turquoise swim trunks to match my new favorite sport.
Essential Stand Up Paddle Board Accessories for a Seamless Experience
Like many new hobbies, the cost of stand-up paddle boarding can accumulate rather quickly beyond just the board itself. To ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience, certain accessories are indispensable for any beginner.
In addition to our two stand-up paddle boards, we each purchased a coil leash – an absolute must-have for safety, as it keeps your board tethered to you if you fall. We also invested in adjustable paddles. While I’d absolutely splurge on a turquoise one if money were no object, the adjustable style has proven incredibly practical. When I was first learning, I often knelt for stability on choppier days, and the adjustable paddle allowed me to easily shorten it for comfortable kneeling. It’s also perfect for sharing my SUP with friends and family who visit the lake.
Although I predominantly paddle standing up now, a friend of ours exclusively kneels and uses a kayak paddle. This option can be remarkably beneficial on wavy days, offering increased stability and propulsion, leading me to currently shop for a small one (this one’s cute!) to keep clipped to my board for versatile use.
Safety First: Life Jackets and Footwear
We both already owned life jackets, but I’m considering upgrading to a newer style specifically designed for SUP, which offers a much better range of motion. While we keep self-inflatable PFDs on the boat, I’ve been using an older, bulkier style from our early sailing days for paddle boarding. For footwear, while not the most stylish, cheap water shoes from Walmart have proven to be the comfiest and most practical option (though I wish I’d seen these aqua ones earlier!). They can get wet and still provide excellent traction – flip-flops are terrible for paddle boarding, and bare feet feel strange to me, especially when getting on and off our pebbly shore.
The Unrivaled Joy of Paddle Boarding: A New Perspective on Lake Life
Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful for those bees making a home in our canoe. Their unexpected residency led us to discover the immense fun and tranquility that stand-up paddle boarding offers. Now that we’ve found our balance and gained confidence, it’s truly an enjoyable activity, offering both a fantastic workout and a unique, beautiful perspective of the lake. The simplicity is a major draw: there’s virtually no setup required. We simply grab our boards, head down to the water, and hop on, ready for adventure.
My only lament is that summer is rapidly drawing to a close, and with it, I find myself with one more compelling reason to miss the warmer weather and endless days on the water. Nobody talk about fall!
Instead, tell me: Have you tried stand-up paddle boarding? What were your experiences, and do you have any tips for fellow enthusiasts or beginners?