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Summers and the lift in restrictions due to the vaccine bring about a massive range of fun water-based activities that allow you to have fun in the sun. One of these activities takes shape in the form of paddleboarding. Like surfing, paddleboards combine the thrill of gliding on a water body and combines it with the relaxation of staying afloat with the tides of the water. 

A highly versatile, flexible, and accessible activity presents a safe platform for you and your family to share. This article will discuss all things that involve paddle boarding - everything from how to buy a paddleboard to riding it.  This article will also dive into some complications, insurance policies, and equipment that you need to get started.  

The differences between the two are very few, with both having almost the same performance and speed characteristics. However, inflatable paddle boards are more superior when it comes to portability, lightweight, and durability.   

Moreover, each board, whether inflatable or solid, comes in different shapes and sizes. The size and weight of each board determine the weight capacity that they carry. This means that you have to purchase a  board that will support your weight without any inconveniences, along with the weight of your children or dog together if you want to use it as a family board.

For all of these reasons, a paddleboard is clearly not a one-size-fits-all solution, and you have to consider many factors before you can select one.  In terms of the shape of the paddle board, you can invest either in the all-round boards, which are most famous for beginners, or in touring boards that have more of a pointy head. 

An all-rounded board provides more stability on unstable water bodies such as the ocean. On the other hand, touring boards can provide you with a better glide on flat-water bodies such as lakes. This is why people that paddleboard for long distances on lakes and rivers will often use touring boards with pointy edges. 

Therefore, before you invest in a paddle board, make sure that the particular board serves your purpose of the purchase and offers full functionality, whether you want to have fun at the beach with your family or go on long-distance adventures. 

Also keep in mind that a solid board can last you a much longer time, considering that you have a proper place to keep it, and that you can maintain it. Moreover, most people make the mistake of prioritizing the length of the board when looking at the dimensions.

When it comes to dimensions, the length of the board is not as important, instead, the width and the volume of the board is the more significant aspect to look at. For the board to comfortably support your weight, or the weight of the people that will use it, the volume should perfectly correspond with the maximum body weight. 

For example, if you are 200 pounds, then you should prefer getting a board that has roughly 170 to 200 liters of volume.  By getting the right volume board, the rails of the paddle board will be about half way in the water and the other half in air. 

This not only gives you stability but also allows you to plant your feet better.  If you purchase a board with too much volume, then the board will be slightly above the water, making for a very shaky and misbalanced ride. 

Therefore, when looking at dimensions, note that the increasing width gives you side-to-side stability. On the other hand, a narrower board will be faster because it encounters less drag against the water flow. 

Other small details also make a big difference in the performance and maneuverability of the paddleboard. However, beginners should not worry about that. It is always best to purchase a board that is not too short for someone starting out and has volume and size that corresponds to your weight and gives you maximum stability. 

A good advice when purchasing a paddleboard would be to invest in a second-hand beginner board. This will save you from making the high initial purchase on a beginner board that you will likely outgrow if you plan to use the board often.

 The more you use the board, the better you will get, and then, you will look for more demanding challenges. Thus, it is always better to make a heavy investment on a board when you are at an intermediate or advanced level of skill.

The first and most obvious equipment that comes with a board is a paddle. Without a paddle, you will not be able to row board further. Choosing the right size of the paddle is easy, just make sure that you can rest your hand comfortably on the handle when you size it next to you. Another indication of a good paddle size would be to make sure that it covers your height and adds ten percent more. 

After that, you have equipment that can help your paddle boarding experience, such as the PFD or the portable floatation device. This safety equipment that is crucial for beginners that are not the best swimmers.

You can find it in a belt form that goes all around your waist. It comes with a yellow lever attached to it, and when you pull on the lever, the belt automatically inflates all around you. This activation of the belt happens because there is a CO2 cartridge inside the PFD. It also comes with a mouthpiece that allows you to inflate it by blowing on it manually. 

Holding your paddle the right way can make a huge difference in how you leverage the paddle. Essentially, you want to make sure that you are grabbing the paddle from both your hands. The most common mistake that paddle boarders make is that they grab the paddle from the handle when they are on their knees. 

If you are in a kneeling position, you will not get the leverage that you want if your hands are on the handle of the paddle. The best hand positioning when you are on the kneeling position is to hold the paddle with both your hands partially close to each other, adjusted to get the best leverage. 

The best technique when paddling to go forward is to lead the paddle forward like your stabbing the water with a spear. Jam the spear right in front of you and make sure to paddle as close to the baord as possible. 

You want to make sure that you paddle about three to five times. It would help if you also were sure to keep your hands straight and switch sides. Another important step would be to submerge the head of the paddle completely inside the water when pulling back. 

The very reason why you must keep the paddle close to the board is that if you paddle too wide, you will likely start to zig zag and circle around in the same spot rather than moving straight forward.  Another beginner mistake that comes with paddling is that people will often not switch their hand positioning when switching paddling sides. 

Not switching your hands will make your job incredibly difficult since you will not be able to generate the thrust and leverage that you need to move the paddleboard forward. 

Again, to efficiently stop, or brake the paddle board from moving at a direction, you need to ensure that the whole head of the paddle submerges into the water. If you do not do so, then it will completely defeat the purpose of putting your paddle against the flow, so that an opposing force results in the board stopping. 

Switching from the kneeling position to the standing position may be the hardest step for a beginner. However, mastering it will surely kick-start your paddle boarding journey. The way you want to initiate this is by putting both your hands on the board while holding the paddle. 

Once you place your hands in line with your knees, you want to put your weight on your hands. Putting your weight on your hands is very important because it allows you to control the board with your hands. This is the first step of your stand-up motion. The maneuver requires you to plant your feet on the board and sit in a squatted position. 

Once you secure the squatted position on the board, carefully lift yourself up in the upright position. Once standing, make sure that you are looking over your shoulders and not slouching forward.  Maintaining posture is incredibly important when it comes to standup paddling. 

A slight shift in posture can result in you falling off the board. Furthermore, once you are on your feet, it now makes sense to hold the paddle with the handle when rowing. 

Even though it looks like a fun and close shore activity, paddle boarding can also be the result of many incidents if you do not give importance to the safety tips. The first safety check that you have to do before you paddle board is the weather.  

This mostly involves checking the wind direction. If you feel the wind is too strong, then you must wait until the weather settles. As a beginner, you will not have the technique to paddleboard in windy conditions. If the wind is blowing away from the shore, it can drag towards the deep end of the ocean, causing all sorts of problems to you. 

Furthermore, if you are at the beach, make sure that the entry surface is sandy and soft. It would also help if you ensured that the water beneath you is deep enough so that you do not get hurt if you fall. 

Another thing that you must have with you at all times, especially as a beginner, is a nylon string that attaches the paddle board to your ankle.  This keeps your board attached to your body at all times. So, in case you fall, the board does not sway away from you. 

You cannot just paddleboard anywhere. Everybody of water, beach, riverside, or lake, has specific regulations towards paddle boarding, and you must follow that. Before you start paddling somewhere new, you must do your research online to decrease your chances of running into a sanction.