A GOOSE HUMMOCK KAYAK AND SUP BOARD RENTAL CENTER HOW TO GUIDE
Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a great way to enjoy the Cape's beautiful waterways while getting a light, all over workout... The ability to stand up on the board will allow you to enjoy a much more expansive view than you would get sitting down low in a kayak.
At the Goose Hummock Kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard rental center, we get alot of first timers- we created this guide to give you a basic idea of how to actually paddleboard and what gear you can bring with you to make your day on the water more enjoyable. Here's what you need to learn:
What gear you will need for your first SUP adventure; First, you'll need to rent your paddle board. Second, a couple items of basic gear you will want to bring with you.
Paddling techniques- it seems self evident how to paddle ,but knowing how to really execute the different paddle strokes will make your day more fun and save your energy.
Tips and Tricks for various things you might encounter (negotiating winds and tide).
SUP Gear Essentials
Unlike alot of other sports or outdoor activities, you will need very little in the way of extra gear, to have a great day stand up paddle boarding.
Stand up paddle board: When you rent with Goose Hummock, the water sports pro staffers manning the shop will take all the guess work out and choose the most appropriate board for you .
Paddle: A SUP paddle is like a longer canoe paddle with an angled blade designed to make you more efficient when making a paddle stroke. Again, our expert staffers will select the right length paddle for you. For most folks, the correct length paddle will reach up to just below your hand when you stand the paddle up in front of you and raise your arm up to the sky.
PFD (Personal Flotation Device): stand up paddle boards as vessels, so if you're paddling outside a surf or swimming area, you have to have a PFD on board. Adults don't have to wear the PFD, but children must. Check your state's regulations for age requirements.
Proper clothing: During the summer months on our home body of water , Town Cove in Orleans, most people choose to wear some combination of a swimming suit, shorts, and a short- or long-sleeved sun protection type shirt. Remember, you are totally exposed using a stand up paddle board, sunscreen and uv blocking clothing is a really good idea.
Due to insurance regulations and concern for our customers comfort and safety, we do not rent when the water temps go below 50 degrees, so cold water paddlesports clothing is not applicable here.
Check our Kayak/ SUP Board Rental Paddling Report Page to see if we are renting outside the traditional Memorial Day- Labor Day summer rental season.
Leash: Typically sold separately, a leash tethers your SUP to you, keeping it close by if you fall off. Your SUP is a large flotation device, so being attached to it can be important for your safety. There are leashes designed specifically for surf, flatwater and rivers; be sure to purchase the correct one for your intended use.
Sun protection: Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and sun-protective clothing.
Basic SUP Paddling Techniques
With only some basic how to advice, most folks trying a SUP board for the first time are able to stand up and start paddling pretty quickly. Here are some basic tips on the fundamentals:
Standing
Balance
Falling off and getting back aboard
Stand Up on Your SUP
There are many ways to teach this technique for standing up, but this is one that most people renting for the first time get quickly:
Step right up against the board in very shallow water- but, not so shallow that the board is grinding against the bottom
Stabilize the board with your hands, and shimmy your way onto the board on your knees as close to the center balance point as you can.
While keeping your hands on the board to keep it steady , slowly and carefully move your feet towards your hands and adopt a stable crouch position.
Don't try to jump right up into a stand- , start bringing your head and chest up as one unit while still crouching. Once your chest and head are getting close to the 90 degree position, you can slowly come out of the crouch and bring yourself into a full stand.
You're standing... now what?
Now you're standing- awesome!. How should you maintain your balance?
Position your feet so they are just outside your hip width, and in the middle of the board.
Keep your toes pointed forward, knees slightly bent and your back straight.
Use your hips to move around and not head and shoulders.
Look straight ahead. If you look down at your feet to orient your position in space, you will likely throw off your balance point.
SUP Paddle Grip
It's fairly common to see beginner paddlers holding their SUP paddles the wrong way. To avoid making the same mistake, here are two things to know when grabbing your paddle:
The blade should angle forward from the shaft, toward the nose of the board.
When you're paddling on the right side of your board, your left hand will be on the T-grip and your right hand a few feet down on the shaft. When you switch sides, reverse your hand positions.
Falling Off and Getting Back On
No matter how good you are, almost everyone falls off their board at on time or another. You don;t want to hurt yourself falling off and you need to know how to get back on in deeper water.
Fall off "well":
If you start to fall,let it happen, but fall away from you board- falling on it smarts.
If you fall one way and your paddle falls the other,get back on your board first, then doggy paddle with your hands retrieve the paddle.
Gettting back on your SUP if the water is deeper than your waist:
Center yourself on the board.
Grab the handle at the center of the board with one hand.
Let your legs float up to the surface behind you, then kick your legs while pulling on the handle to slide yourself onto the board.
Basic SUP Paddle Strokes
If you learn these three, you're in good shape:
Forward Stroke
This basic stroke propels your board forward through the water.
Plant the paddle in the water by reaching about two feet forward, then push the blade all the way under the surface. Move the paddle back through the water to your ankle, then out of the water.
Keep your arms straight and twist from your torso as you paddle. Push down on the paddle grip with your top hand rather than pulling the paddle back with your lower arm. It's helpful for some people to think of pulling the board past the paddle rather than pulling the paddle through the water.
To go in a reasonably straight line, you'll need to alternate strokes on either side of the board. There's no set number of strokes per side; try about three or four strokes on one side, then switch to the other.
The more vertical you keep the paddle, the straighter you will go.
Reverse Stroke
The reverse stroke is simple to perform and can be used for slowing down, stopping and turning. It is essentially the opposite of the forward stroke.
If you're paddling on the right, reach back behind you and plant the paddle in the water near the tail of your board. Make sure the blade is all the way under the surface of the water.
Like with the forward stroke, keep your arms straight and twist from your torso rather than pulling the blade forward with your arms.
Doing the reverse stroke on the right side of your board will cause the nose of your board to turn to the right and vice versa.
Sweep Stroke
The sweep stroke is useful for turning your board while standing still or moving.
If you're paddling on the right, rotate your shoulders so that your right shoulder comes forward.
Reach forward and plant your paddle in the water, submerging the entire blade.
Sweep the paddle away from the board in a big arcing motion from the nose of the board to the tail by rotating your torso and using the leverage of your legs and hips.
Doing the sweep stroke on the right side of your board will turn the board to the left and vice versa.
Handy Tips & Tricks
Start on a body of water that is generally clam and doesn't experience a ton of boat traffic.
Choose a spot to launch that has comfortable bottom- you don't want to tear up your feet getting on.
Pick a sunny warm day with no Gale winds.
If your intended trip requires that you paddle into the wind or the teeth of the tide, make sure that will happen on the way out and not the way back. After a full paddling session, when you are tired, is not a great time to challenge wind and tide
Buddy up with someone that has paddled before on your first few trips.
Keep the first few attempts short until your skills and conditioning are ready to be challenged.
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