SUP Board Guide

Learning to Stand up paddle board involves patience and balance, you don't need to be really strong or fit, you just need to choose the right conditions and the best board for you!

There are a couple of questions you should ask yourself so that you can purchase the best and correct board for your needs.

• How much do you weigh? - bigger boards for heavier paddlers
• How tall are you?
• Where will you be doing most of your stand up paddling?
• Do you want to use it for long distance paddling or are you more interested in stand up surfing?
• Do you want a really stable board or would you prefer more maneuverability?

 We have tried to explain in the simplest format below the different elements of the Stand up paddle board, if you are a little confused don't worry you can call us to discuss anything SUP related! 

 BOARDS

All Stand up paddle boards have the same characteristic elements which make them a board such as ;  nose , tail, deck, bottom, rails and fins. Measurements for the length and width of boards is usually in Feet (ft) and inches ('') These elements can be different for each individual board and therefore some boards will be better in certain paddleboarding conditions than others.The volume of a board loosely determines a board’s flotation and this can be related to both the rider’s weight and skill-level helping determine the most suitable equipment for that rider and where he will use it. 

The board's width is also related to its shape , the wider the board the more stable it will paddle, as an example - a 28" inch wide board will be less stable than a 32" wide board for an average 12st beginner paddler.

 

 

There are 3 main categories where you can use a Stand up paddle board and these sometimes cross over into one another.

FLAT WATER SUP

If you live inland near a river, lake or in a protected coastal area the idea of flatwater paddling might appeal to you. Most Flat water SUP boards are designed to be very stable in a flat water environment and are usually between 30-34 " inches wide , 10ft+ in length and have plenty of volume.

Volume has a key role to play in choosing the type of paddling you aspire to do, the greater the volume of a board  = the easier and more comfortable it will be to stand on. The volume of a flat water SUP board will relate to the paddlers weight and skill level.

You can use this formula below to work out how much Volume you should be looking at in your board.

Beginners -  your weight in (kg) x 2 (ie 90kg x 2 = 180 litres

Intermediates - your weight in (kg) x 1.7

Advanced - your weight in (kg) x 1.3

Boards with a more streamlined and pointier outline shape will be faster but not necessarily as stable as they might have less width, so the board you choose for flat water paddling will depend on how heavy you are. The pointier shape boards may crossover into a Racing SUP  style board which are usually made with a lighter composite or carbon and enable you to compete in competition racing or touring if you wish.

Team Moana on the Matai River Nelson

 

Flat water SUP boards usually have single or 3  fin configurations so that you can choose depending on what paddling your taking part in. For example Imagine cruising down a stretch of coastline on your stable flatwater SUP and discovering a clean little wave breaking, a flatwater styled Stand up paddle board will catch waves with ease but it may not perform like a surf SUP would!

 

SURF SUP

Riding waves has to be the main pull for most who want to get into Stand up paddle surfing.There are however lots and lots of boards on the market which may confuse you and not meet your requirements or level.

As a common rule in SUP surfing the more Volume a stand up paddle board has, the easier and more stable it will be to paddle. Volume (usually in litres) accounts to the amount of water displaced by the boards buoyancy as discussed earlier. Boards with more volume sit higher on the water's surface and are easier to paddle than a board with less. SUP boards with lots of tail volume will be more stable than a board with less tail volume. The boards shape and volume can play an important role especially in Paddle surfing. 

Boards with less volume will be hard work to stand on for long periods but perform better on waves, volume has a key role to play in choosing the type of surfing you aspire to do. 

Longer boards with more volume and width will have better paddling glide, speed and also catch waves easier than shorter boards.

Longboard style SUP boards are geared towards catching waves early and enable the rider to cruise and perform classic longboard style maneuvers such as 'walking the nose' and noseriding 'Hang fives'. These boards will usually have a full and rounded nose to them and either have single , 3 or multiple fin configurations.

Young surfer catching a wave on the Tumeke 9'6

Shortboard style SUP boards look very similar to the classic pointier surfboard shape and will be better at more radical slashy and vertical style surfing. These boards are usually narrower in width making them  perform turns easier on waves than wider more stable boards. They too will have  3 / multiple fin configurations which will change the boards performance.

RACE SUP

If competition racing or paddling as fast as you can from point to point is your idea of fun then a dedicated racing paddle board is what you need. Racing SUP's can be split into flatwater and downwind style boards.The majority of Racing SUP's on the market today have some sort of displacement hull from the nose of the board, meaning that they slice through flat or choppy water like a boats hull and offer great glide to the user. Race or distance boards usually come with single fin configurations lessening drag and enabling the paddler to pick fins for racing or recreational tour paddling (usually bigger)

Racing SUP boards made for flat and glassy conditions can be narrow making them very fast but possibly too tippy and unstable for a beginner paddler. Therefore manufacturers usually have the same model in different widths making the board more stable for paddlers not too fussed about speed versus stability.

 

Trying out the Taniwha race board

 

What you will find with Racing stand up paddle boards is that their increased length will usually mean increased weight unless they are manufactured in carbon.

Boards made from carbon mean a lighter, stiffer construction making them more dynamic in racing.  

There is a element to racing called 'down winders' meaning you paddle with the wind blowing in your back taking you downwind of your starting point. This is usually done on longer boards of 14 foot plus length , these boards are long and fast,  and enough speed can be gained to catch ocean running swell with the wind behind you , and 'glides' of 50 -100metres are not uncommon in the best conditions, therefore another cross-over is created with surf SUP. 

 

We hope you found this guide useful and are now better informed to make a decision on the perfect stand up paddle board for your needs. 

Don't forget the most important part which is to get our there and have some fun.

If you're still confused - get in touch and we can talk you through it over the phone or by e mail.

10 Top Places to Paddle in New Zealand

Have board will travel!

 

Bay of Islands

The subtropical climate of Northland’s Bay of Island's, as well as the many sheltered coves, bays and inlets, make this place perfect to explore by paddleboard. Located towards the northern tip of the North Island and 3 hours' drive from Auckland, the water here is warm year-round. If you’re lucky, you might be joined by dolphins which are often seen in this area. Base yourself in the seaside towns of Paihia, Russell or Kerikeri.

Leigh

Combine paddleboarding with some of the best snorkelling in New Zealand when you paddle out to Goat Island, off the coast of Leigh - an hours' drive north of Auckland, and the perfect day trip from Auckland. You’ll glide over seaweed jungles and see a variety of fish species through the crystal-clear water. Goat Island is a marine reserve, so it is recommended that you strap snorkelling gear to your paddleboard so you have the option to jump in and experience what is below the water as well.

Auckland

Since New Zealand's largest city sits right on the water, Auckland's sheltered inlets around Auckland are a great place to explore by paddleboard. Easily accessible and centrally located, paddleboarding here is great to get a different perspective on the city. Lessons are offered from the beaches around Orakei, Point Chevalier and Takapuna – all within 20 minutes' drive of the CBD.

Raglan

This spectacular West Coast beach is a quintessential New Zealand 'surf town'. It offers something for everybody – Raglan is home to a calm harbour, the stunning pancake rocks as well as adrenaline-pumping surf for the experienced. Raglan is a 2-hour drive south from Auckland. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab fish and chips and eat it on the beach, kiwi-style!

Coromandel

Head out for a paddleboarding session from Whangamata, one of the Coromandel’s most beautiful beaches. The Coromandel is a peninsula 2 hours' south-east of Auckland, full of small beach towns and inland rainforest. Enjoy the calm estuary, or if you’re confident and after a challenge, paddle out to Donut Island and back – a 2km round-trip.

Tauranga

Mount Maunganui

 

The calm waters of the Tauranga Harbour are the perfect place for beginners to get the hang of paddleboarding, without swells or waves coming at you. For more of a challenge, head out off Mount Maunganui beach – a cool coastal town with lots of cafes, bars and surfers. Only 20 minutes from central Tauranga, the waves of 'The Mount' - as locals call it - will put your Paddleboarding skills to the test.

Rotorua

Rotorua, located in the central North Island, is perhaps the most unusual place in New Zealand to go paddleboarding. A town famous for its geothermal activity and Maori culture, Rotorua is only a 3-hour drive south of Auckland. Here you can explore lakes, narrow channels, freshwater springs and even hot springs on your Paddleboard. Crystal-clear water will makes you feel like you are floating on air. Head to Lake Rotoiti, Lake Tikitapu and Lake Tarawera.

Gisborne

There’s both sheltered estuaries and pumping surf in Gisborne, located on the East Coast of the North Island – so there’s something for everybody. This region is heartland New Zealand and a 6-hour drive from Auckland. Gisborne is the first place to see the sun in New Zealand, so an early-morning Paddleboarding session here is truly magic. After getting out on the water, make sure you get out and experience the culture and heritage that is abundant here.

Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman National Park

 

The Abel Tasman National Park, located at the tip of the South Island, is known for its high sunshine hours and settled weather conditions – as well as its translucent waters, white-sand beaches, rocky outcrops and fascinating wildlife. You’ll share the water with fur seals and dolphins, making paddleboarding here a truly unforgettable experience. Head to Marahau, the gateway to the national park as a starting point, and make sure you allow a few days - camping here is spectacular.

Christchurch

Lyttelton Harbour

During summer, the waterways around Christchurch are a great place to paddleboard. Explore Lyttelton Harbour, a 20-minute drive from central Christchurch, or take an hours' drive to Akaroa and paddle with penguins and the world's smallest (and cutest) dolphins, the Hector's dolphin.

Three Fundamental Standing Up Skills

 

#1. Standing Up

One of the beautiful things about standup paddling is that anyone can do it. And often, the hardest experience for new paddlers is simply standing up. Thankfully, it’s easy if you remember these two hints: First, make sure you’re on a stable SUP, at least 30 inches wide and 10 feet long for your first try. Second, just have fun. That’s what this sport is about. Here’s a couple more important pointers.

Keep it calm. Find a section of flat water protected from wind or chop. Or go out in the morning before the afternoon winds come up. Walk the board into knee-deep water, which will prevent the fin from hitting the bottom.

Climb on the horse. Get on the board, knees on the deckpad, paddle resting across the front of the board, perpendicular to your chest. Make sure you’re in the middle of the board, with your mid-section over the handle. Get your hands evenly spaced under your shoulders on the paddle as it rests on your board. Feel the board for a second. Take a couple of deep breaths. You’re on the water.

Get on up. Slowly put one foot on the board, then the other, keeping your knees bent in an athletic position with one foot on either side of the hand-hold. Your dogs should be shoulder-width apart. Breathe and relax. You’re up.

Get moving. As your standup board planes it becomes more stable. If you’re feeling wobbly, take a couple of strokes while on your knees to get some momentum and help the board plane. Then try standing. Or, as soon as you stand, get a few strokes in to get going and stabilize your ride. Again, if you feel wobbly, the best brace is the forward stroke (p. 54). Your knees are your shock absorbers so stay athletic and loose. Try a few flatwater paddling sessions before moving to water with current or exposure to wind or waves. Most importantly, just have fun. You’re life has just been changed. Go get it.

#2. The Stroke

The paddle stroke is an art form that you’ll work on for as long as you paddle. But for now, let’s not overthink it. The most important thing to remember is to be comfortable. Don’t overdo it. If you feel pain or off-balance, slow down. A great way to practice your stroke if you can’t get to the water is to use a pool or a friend’s hot tub. Stand next to the edge, feet shoulder-width apart and practice these tips.

Stance: Staying loose is really important. From your shoulders down, your whole body has got to be like a big spring: feet parallel, knees bent. Your legs are your shock absorbers, reacting to current and bump in the water. Be comfortable and remember to have fun.

Reach: Place the blade next to your board about four feet in front of your toes with your lower arm extended, using your top hand as a guide. Reach only as far as is comfortable during your stroke. Be sure and keep the elbow of your top arm close to your head to avoid shoulder stress.

Catch: After reaching as far as possible, place the blade smoothly (think no splash) next to your board.

Power: The power phase of your stroke starts where you plant your paddle. Pull smoothly through the water, bending at the waist with the stroke ending at your feet, and no farther. If you pull past your feet it’s wasted energy that will actually slow the board down.
The perfect stroke is 90 percent body and 10 percent arms. Your reach and power come from twisting your body at the hips, torso and shoulders, using your core to drive your stroke through the water. With your blade placed, uncoil your body using the big muscles of the core and again, bending at the waist. You’re pulling yourself through the water and the blade stays stationary. Keep the blade as close to the board as possible. And try to look where you’re going, not down at your feet.

Recovery: Once the blade gets to your feet, start your recovery. Try feathering the blade or dropping the shoulder of your top arm, twisting the power face away from the rail. That smoothes out the release and helps the paddle move aerodynamically back to the catch. Remember to extend your reach. There is no rush. You’re not racing so take your time and dial in your stroke. And we probably don’t need to remind you: have fun.

#3. The Tail Pivot (Sweep stroke)

 

Turning your board is key whether you’re in the ocean, river or lake. The pivot turn is the fastest way to change directions. Most of us have an open expanse of water near our homes where we can practice. And if you ever want to try a race, the pivot turn is fundamental when rounding buoys.

Watch your speed and position on the board. Standup boards are always more stable when they’re moving so it’s easier to work on your pivot after a couple of strokes. As soon as you step back to the tail, the board will slow to a near-stop. Once you step to the tail, you’ll be in a solid surfing stance. Get lower to the board, bending your knees so you have a lower center of gravity, which helps with balance.

Mind the tail. The back foot plays a huge part in how fast you can spin your board around. Relate it to a seesaw: it’s a balancing act. The farther your back foot is in relation to the tail, the easier you can sink the tail and spin the board; the downside is you lose stability and could end up in the water. If you can get low to the board, have your chest over the center of the board and your knees pointing toward the board’s center, you’ll have the best chance of staying dry.

Don’t forget the paddle. It’ll stop you from falling if you can react fast enough, and it can determine how fast you can turn the board. By simply doing your regular stroke, the board should pivot on its tail. You can also try turning the blade out and pulling it away from the board—often referred to as a sweep stroke. You should be able to completely turn the board with two or three (at the most) strokes.
Relax. Be relaxed while you’re working on a pivot turn. Remember to bend your knees. This is important with any aspect of paddling. Bending your knees helps to absorb any bump or chop and helps you maintain balance. You can also practice pivoting on your tail when going around a buoy. Concentrating on turning around a stationary object will take your mind off of worrying about balance. Relax and have fun.

Is Paddle Boarding a Good Workout?

Is Paddle Boarding a Good Workout?

Going by the way Stand Up Paddle Boarding has taken off all over the world, I think it's pretty safe to say people are definately using it as a training tool as well as a social and wellness tool.

Whether you're cruising in the bay or blasting through waves, it's the wobbly board surface, unstable nature of water and the occasional extra challenge of winds that adds to the difficulty of balancing on a SUP board. This offers a complete full body workout that activates your core as you have to depend on these muscles all the time to stabilize yourself and secure yourself onto the deck of the board.

It's almost as if your core and abdominal muscles are griping the board. In turn, you work on conditioning your back, arms, legs and even your toes and feet whilst paddling. A good half hour on a SUP board will make your quads and calves sore for sure. Once you get used to SUPing it's an excellent cardiovascular exercise as well as uplifting and relaxing in a way few other sports can match.

Core Training Makes Paddle Boarding a Good Workout

Traditional resistance training targets each muscle group separately but when you paddle board all the core muscles work together to keep you standing and dry on your board. As you balance yourself, you are actually moving your body weight around, shuffling it between your feet and at the same time using the paddle to propel yourself forward on the uneven water surface. Additionally, to propel the SUP forward, you have to rely on a controlled and coordinated rhythm of paddle strokes.

Even standing on the board without momentum is engaging your core

Stand Up Paddling is probably the only sport that appears difficult at first and yet manages to quickly develop amazing and rewarding abilities in beginners in under 10 minutes. Everyone, adults and children alike find SUPing tricky to start with but quickly learn to coordinate and utilize core muscles to have fun in the water while staying dry and feeling in complete control of the board.

Every specific genre of SUPing has its own set of health benefits. Surfing challenges and engages the leg muscles a lot as they cushion the landings, take the brunt of turbulence from crashing waves and keep you on the board. Adventure touring improves cardiovascular fitness with long drawn out cruises on rivers and lakes, while race SUPing competitively, improves muscle coordination and helps improve muscle response time (fast twitch muscle groups as well as other anaerobic benefits)

In the end it really does not matter what kind of SUPing you take part in or wish to try because you will still manage to work out your entire body while having plenty of fun doing it. It's all about fun, but if we can have fun while getting a great workout, in turn clearing our mind and improving our health, then that makes this amazing sport all the better.

Shall I shan't I?!

Two Life Saving Tips for the Female Stand up Paddle Boarder

       1.  Peeing on a Stand Up Paddle Board

Oh come on we all know you’ve thought about it ladies!!

Heading out for an early morning potential 2 hour paddle and she asks “What if I have to pee? Will I get out of the water?” The men have it made; they just stay on their board and can go off the side, us girls on the other hand have a bit of a predicament.

After my first incident, where I pulled over to the nearest beach nearly lost my board in the time it took me to find suitable cover, I thought maybe I was doing it wrong. After making polite enquiries as to what everyone else did a fellow boarder, mentioned that I should just pee on my board. The next day I had to go, so I just went. Unfortunately I didn’t realize that pee on your board didn’t mean pee in your pants. There I was, very uncomfortable as the warm became cold, a little gross, and my deck pad was also… pretty dam gross.  It wasn’t until the next day when I was paddling with said boarder and she stopped paddling, dropped her pants, and squatted on her board. She then rocked the rails to flush the board. I had a light bulb moment, and after a few trials I am a master of the art!

So I kindly passed this information on with an added tip  if you leave your bathing suit bottoms or underwear on while you squat down on your board, no one sees your booty, and you can move it to the side, your pants not your booty! You then replace all of the clothing, stand, and rock to flush the board. Easy as!   
 

      2.  Falling on your Board

There are times you’ll fall on your board and you may even take a rail to your undercarriage. Sometimes the board will smack you in the face. Sometimes when climbing back onto your board in turbulent seas you’ll take the board’s edge to that weird woman bone scientifically know as the mons pubus and be sore for 3 days. It’s bound to happen at some point, just be prepared. When you’re surfing, you can try learning more paddle braces to prevent falling altogether. After that, try to fall with your legs together. Good luck.

But seriously!

If your board comes up to smack you in the face, put your paddle out like Donatello in the Ninja Turtles (he was the one with a fighting stick!). When you’re under water, cover your head and keep your chin tucked into your chest and push up with your free arm until you’re sure the coast is clear. I’m sure you’ve heard all of these safety tips, but it doesn’t hurt to hear them again. However, eventually, you may still get smacked. It’s OK. Know when to use butterfly bandages and when to go get stitches. Paddle and surf with a buddy that knows when to tell you that you need stitches and won’t let you put a band-aid on something huge. Know the signs of concussion. Don’t forget, always surf with a buddy!

                 

NEW BOARDS ARRIVING SOON

We're getting pretty excited here at Moana HQ! We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our new range of boards. Retaining the sleek lines and construction quality but with the addition of some new very sexy graphics.

                                     

Wahine Range - New for 2014, lightweight and a great all rounder.
10'2, 10'4 and 10'6

Ka Pai Range - the same sleek lines and great handling, a seriously fun board.
10'2 and 10'6

Tumeke Range - Stability plus and the same reliable performance, an awesome board.
10'6, 11', 11'6 and 12'

Get in touch to arrange a free try before you buy demo, we all ready have a few of these boards secured for customers so we don't expect them to sit on the shelves for long. 

Tell you what! we're looking forward to more product testing!!

Roadie Begins

The North Island Roadie is well and truly underway. We  had a pretty rough crossing across the Cook Straight on the Straightsman, but the coffee was good and the movie was helpful in passing the time.  The weather cleared up on our arrival in Wellington, and we headed to Lyall bay to find a little wave left behind for a play.  I was joined y Jules from Paekakariki and Patrice from Karori who gave a few boards a go, we all had a lot of fun.  Jules loved it so much he walked away with a Ka Pai 9;6..  Had a great night at the Airport Motel, across the road from the beach and hooked up with Tony from Paraparaumu this morning who went home with the full package. Tumeke 11'6, bag paddle,paddle bag - the works.  His whole family came down, hope the board get shared around.

Left Wellington after lunch and headed for Napier, awesome drive through the Manawatu Gorge, through lamb country in to wine country and into the largest art deco city in the world.  Staying at the bay view holiday park in Bay View, just north of Napier and can hear the waves crashing as we head off to bed.  Away tomorrow to the Mahia Peninsular, cant wait for that - surf paradise and clearing weather something for everyone.