1.holding your sup paddle with wrong direction
Most newbies ask the question, "how do you know if your paddle is backwards?" Your chiseled abs and new Volcom board shorts will not even be noticed when everyone on the beach starts screaming
at you to turn your paddle around. When paddle boarding, your paddle’s blade should be bent away from you. An easy way to remember this when using paddle board paddle is that the logo/patterns should always be facing forward,
just as the glass side of a smartphone should be positioned towards its owner's face. Properly hold the paddle that can improve the power of the paddle.
2.Paddling at an angle
A good paddle stroke separates beginners from the experts. A poor stroke is not only embarrassing but will slow you down. Your paddle should always be perpendicular to your board when it enters the water,
never at an angle. This technique will allow you to get considerably more power and action out of each SUP stroke.
3.Not inflating your board to the recommended PSI
In order to enjoy a wonderful day on the water while not sinking, please inflate your board to a minimum of 12 PSI. Additionally, do not attempt to inflate a non-inflatable SUP board. Keeping your iSUP properly inflated
will assure board rigidity and increase performance. You want your iSUP paddle board to be inflated to its suggested PSI so it floats and paddles to its full capabilities.
In order to save energy, it is recommended to use an SUP electric pump to automatically inflate and detect air pressure.
4.Forgetting to use a SUP safety leash
Always use a SUP safety leash on a paddle board. Forgetting to do this is all too easy so we’ve come up with a catchphrase to help remind you: “Pet a pup, leash a SUPâ€. A leash will keep your paddle board close to you so that when you inevitably fall in you won’t have to wear yourself out swimming after your SUP.
If you fall in and there is the wind, a current, or even a breeze on a lake, river, or in the ocean, your board will catch the wind and literally sail away from you. Also, if you're SUP surfing a leash will protect your heavy SUP board from inadvertently killing other surfers in the lineup.
5.Not checking the weather before you paddleboarding
Always be sure to check the weather forecast of the destination you plan to paddle, especially if this destination is over an hour away. The last thing you want is to be SUPing in the midst of a typhoon. If the forecast calls for triple-digit temperatures you will not require ear muffs. If meteorologists issue a blizzard warning you should consider rescheduling your SUP outing.
6.Standing too far forward on the board
A common mistake that most new paddle boarders will make is standing or kneeling too far forward on the SUP. The fin or fins at the tail of the board, act as a rudder and allow the board to either paddle straight or turn. If you are standing or kneeling too far forward on the paddle board, the fins will be out of the water and make it difficult to control. Most paddle boards will have a carry handle in the middle of the board.
This handle should be used to judge how far forward or back you are on the board. If you can not see the handle, then most likely you are too far forward and you should move back.
7.Look down
Almost everything you do that requires balance shares one thing in common; wherever you look, that's where you go. If you look down while paddle paddleboard boarding, you will fall. Beginner stand up paddle boarders will most likely have a hard time balancing on the board at first. However, the most important thing for balance is to not look down. A good trick to maintain stability while standing on a paddleboard is to pick something on the shoreline and focus on it. Once you have found your balance, then begin to paddle towards that object on shore.
If you begin to feel unstable, stop paddling and place your paddle blade out in front of you. This will act like a third leg that will allow you to adjust your feet and find your balance without falling. By the way , we just write an article about how to stand up and keep balance on a sup , and you might interesting it.