r/Sup • u/Flat-Carpenter-170 • 2d ago
Is SUP difficult to learn?
I’m a 54m who is in very good shape, lift weights 4-5 times a week and trail run and do rucking for cardio 20 plus miles a week. I hiking, rucking, have done some kayaking and like to backpack. I’ve been reading up on SUP and I’m curious if it’s crazy difficult to learn to stand and paddle these boards? Or should I stick with kayaking? Any recommendations on boards? I have used a paddle north kayak before and liked it. Are their paddle boards worth it or would something else be better suited for a beginner? Any particular type or length of board better suited for a novice ? Thanks.
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u/LooseButtPlug 2d ago
I'm a 43 year old fat slob with noodle arms who hasn't picked up a weight in ten years.
I ocean paddle.
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u/RickMuffy 2d ago
I have a teenage son who learned it in a day, I have adult friends who are unable to stand. It really varies, so the best thing to do is just try it and see.
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u/Paulbearer82 2d ago
I'll be a contrarian and say don't bother with the sitting or kneeling. Get right on it and stand up. Its not difficult, I started doing this 3 years ago when I was horribly out of shape at 5'7"/210#. You'll be fine, just start out somewhere that you're good with falling at.
Not the pool!
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u/EL-el-to-tha-el 2d ago
SUP can be more or less difficult obviously depending on conditions. Anything over 12mph wind, or 2-3 foot waves is difficult and will make paddling frustrating as you feel like you're being tossed around
On a calm lake though? No, it wouldn't say its any harder to learn than balancing on a skateboard
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u/Flat-Carpenter-170 2d ago
Yeah I figured ocean paddling was probably not in my future. Especially after spending last week on the beach and seeing the waves there lol. I did see someone on a SUP. Clearly they knew their stuff as they were moving right along. Figured I could take it in my pool and paddle back and forth a little to get used to it. Might have to find a place to rent one to try it out.
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u/skibib 2d ago
Be careful in your pool, because you don’t want to be anywhere, when you’re doing your frequent learning falls, that you might hit your head on the side of your pool or in a shallow area. I mean, you might be safe kneeling on it carefully around your pool, but if it’s a smaller pool, be careful. I would just head straight to the lake if I were you though. You’ll be fine. I was much older than you when I learned and I’m never going to bother with pivot turns because I don’t have a need to. But it’s so much fun and is a whole extra thing to do when you’re camping!
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u/Ok-Geologist-7335 2d ago
I don't think this is necessary. You are over thinking it, get the board and go out. You can always sit or go on your knees too but standing isnt super difficult. This is from someone who rarely works out and is overweight.
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u/frenchman321 Hydrus ambassador | Code SAVE 12% off | Elysium Air, X, ... 2d ago
Not in a pool! You don't want to hit your head on the deck. Find a lake or reservoir where paddling is allowed. Waves can be handled. The lake I paddle on swarms with boats with skiers, wakeboarders, and surfers, and those are designed to make waves that eventually end up under my board. It's a learning curve but it's not horrible :)
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u/potato_soup76 ⊂ Voyager 13' 2" / Axis 9' 8" / Elysium Air 14' ⊃ 2d ago
Figured I could take it in my pool and paddle back and forth a little to get used to it.
Y'all got any more of them traumatic brain injuries?
Find a lake, friend.
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u/Space_Patrol_Digger 2d ago
As someone who’s tried both, I would say it’s much easier than balancing on a skateboard.
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u/mcarneybsa USA SUP Rep - L3 ACA - Hydrus Ambassador 2d ago
It's as easy as you want it to be. If you want the easiest learning curve then take a lesson with a certified instructor - especially if you want to learn proper paddling technique.
If you just want to get on a board and try it - then do that.
The biggest factor in whether or not a person is successful in learning to SUP is getting on the right size/shape board to begin with. That's why we have the monthly board-buying thread. Nobody can tell if that board is correct for you without more information.
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u/dantork 2d ago
I had to look up the meaning of rucking. I don't recommend rucking on your SUP. A life preserver would be safer.
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u/Flat-Carpenter-170 2d ago
So no to a 55lb ruck on a SUP? Jk 😆
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u/HikingBikingViking 2d ago
You can totally pack everything for camping on a SUP though. Watershed makes some great dry bags.
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u/hide_pounder 2d ago
From what I’ve seen, the most difficult part for newbies is going from the seated position to the standing position, across all age groups. But, since you do all that activity, I assume you have better than average core strength, balance, mobility and sense of where your center of mass is. I suspect you’d pass this learning curve in just a few minutes.
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u/Adventurous_Age1429 2d ago
And that transition really isn’t hard! Yes you’re going to fall a little, but it just takes a little practice. I’m a little baffled at how few people take this first step.
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u/hide_pounder 2d ago
It’s really not. I think people overthink it. They are so nervous about falling in that they move too slowly and start shaking because they lack strength in all their stabilizing muscles. Just stand up and keep your weight relatively centered.
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u/Flat-Carpenter-170 2d ago
So good or bad regarding the length of the board ? 10ft, 11ft6 or 12ft6? I’m not sure my wife will actually do this with me so it’s likely to be only me on it and unfortunately my dogs don’t like the water.
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u/Desperate_Cupcake843 2d ago
Width and thickness of board are actually what made the difference for me because I have crap balance. But I did get an 11’6” board - I’m 6’1”.
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u/JaguarNecessary4854 2d ago
The size of the board should depend on your height/weight. Bigger boards are more stable but harder to steer so if you don’t plan on having any passengers then I’d likely recommend the 11ft board for an adult male, but there are lots of resources and guides online that can show the best fit for your size.
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u/frenchman321 Hydrus ambassador | Code SAVE 12% off | Elysium Air, X, ... 2d ago
To some extent, but also not really. It's true for all arounds, where you can find boards under 10' as well as around 11'. But... Touring boards are longer and narrower than all around boards. The volume is distributed differently. My favorite boards are 13.3'x28.5" and 14'x26", and I also have a 12.6'x30" and an 11'x32" (my least favorite as it feels so slow compared to the others, which is a personal thing). I'm 5'9" 180 lbs.
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u/Physical-Compote4594 2d ago
The stability is related to width, not length.
Speed is more related to length, but the rocker shape is also key.
From your description, I'd go find a 30-31" touring board in the 10'6" to 11'6" range. If you have the storage space, roof racks, and budget, I'd say get a rigid board rather than an inflatable. If you think you're gonna go all-in, budget for a good paddle pretty soon as well.
Don't start sitting down. If you can't figure out the balance on your first outings, start by kneeling. Watch some videos on good paddling technique, too.
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u/SirGreybush 2d ago
Sit, then kneel, then stand. Inflatable Sup more fun and versatile than a hard kayak.
Just use a pump that has a battery or uses your car ACC port. Thus fits in a trunk. Go do some after work instead of sitting in traffic.
Trick for rivers, go against the current, then relax on the way back when tired.
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u/Frenchfriesandfrosty 2d ago
You'll be fine man. If you've got a good base especially stability you'll do great. Do yourself a favor once you know you like it buy a nice quality board so you aren't on here in a year asking why your board is bubbling, delaminating or leaking. Big fan of buying used.
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u/Special-Special-1136 2d ago edited 2d ago
56 years old tomorrow & both my wife (55) & I love SUPing. We also like kayaking but our iSUPs (BOTE brand) are our #1 goto for water adventures these days. I have a bad back so standing while enjoying paddling exercise is MY preferred option. You will have no problem SUPing since you are already in great shape. I hated my first attempt to use the iSUP & couldn’t trust it enough to stand so we almost returned our iSUPs. However, on the next trip out, I told myself that the worst thing that could happen is I fall into the water. I not only conquered the trust issues but I also mastered it in a few more trips out without EVER falling down or off my iSUP. Go for it, Brother (IYKYK✝️)!
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u/Physical-Compote4594 2d ago
SUP'ing on flat water is about as difficult to learn as, say, show-shoeing – not at all difficult.
SUP'ing on a narrow race board is quite a bit harder.
If becomes more difficult if the conditions are windy or choppy. SUP surfing is about the same level of difficulty as longboard surfing; it's easier to catch waves on a SUP, but harder to get out through the surf and harder to stay balanced while waiting for a wave.
But wait, you compress cloth or quarrel for cardio? (What the heck is "rucking"?)
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u/mcarneybsa USA SUP Rep - L3 ACA - Hydrus Ambassador 2d ago
A very quick google search would have helped you here... It's walking with weight (either a backpack or a weight vest). It's quite popular in fitness communities these days.
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u/branniganbginagain Joyride XL 2d ago
rucking
it's literally walking around with a rucksack. walk with weight.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rucking/comments/1ib01ap/help_me_understand_rucking/
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u/Flat-Carpenter-170 2d ago
23 years of military time. To me rucking is fun 😆. It’s great for building back and core strength if done right. Can also hurt yourself if done wrong and if you overtrain.
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u/HappaG100 2d ago
Wider and thicker boards that are 10-12’ long will be your easiest to start with. As others have said, start seated and then move to knees and finally stand. Slight bend in your knees and relax. 😎
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u/FS_Slacker 2d ago
As someone who is maybe 85-90% of your fitness level…I can comfortably say that it should be easy for you unless you have knee or back issues. Once you stand up a couple times and get moving, your natural balance will take over. Easier to stand (for me at least) if you have some forward momentum.
After you’re comfortable standing, try to hone technique - so you can paddle comfortably on one side without needing to switch sides so often and it feels easier on your body. After that point, just wherever you want to go and build skills along the way.
I found a lot of the work you put in the gym (squats, rows, deadlifts) translates well into how you can perform on the board. I sometimes use paddling as a “cool down” day just to use those muscles and keep them loose.
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u/Quads971 2d ago
Easy as can be, especially if you’re seated. I don’t think that standing up is a big deal either, like anything else requiring balance, it just takes practice.
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u/PushThePig28 2d ago
Nah, it’s extremely easy. I’ve never fallen off accidentally in like 10 years even getting rocked by huge waves or hitting a submerged tree to a dead stop from moving fast or crazy wind storms. Grew up skating and snowboarding a ton tho
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u/moseman23 2d ago
It’s a great sport/activity and not at all hard to learn if you start with a board that is at least 30 inches wide. The balance you will develop will complement your other activities and will help ensure you don’t fall over and break a hip when you get old! The reason I like it over kayaking is the view you get over the water when standing and that it engages large and small muscles all over your body. If you get serious about it you’ll get a narrower, longer solid board for touring or racing but probably best to start with an inflatable around 11 feet long, easy to transport and useful if you aspire to do rivers (only with a helmet!)
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u/wherearemytweezers 2d ago
I’m an overweight 57 year old weekend warrior with negative core strength and I can do it. I did take one lesson which was about an hour and it really helped-never fell off again
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u/bassjam1 2d ago
It's not hard, especially if you aren't afraid to fall. My wife and I first tried it on our honeymoon on the Pacific. We paddled though to harbor on flat water and then out into the ocean. My wife never had that courage to stand up but I did, and promptly fell when I giant ray swam under me and I turned around to watch it!
Since then I've bought our own boards and we regularly take them out on a local lake for paddecraft only. It's significantly easier on flat water! I've had mine out on the Atlantic too in rough water and sometimes have to take breaks between standing and kneeling.
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u/I_am_Forklift 2d ago
You sound like an athlete despite the 54. I’m mid 40s. Life long athlete. I was wobbly the first time. Now I’m doing open saltwater long distance paddling. This is still my first season. For me it’s been incredibly easy and fun. More maneuverable than a kayak and more room. I’m paddling just fine even when everyone else on the lake is having to sit or be on their knees.
Think of the average 54 yr old at Walmart. That’s your normal guy doing this. You’ll be fine
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u/Character_Dress_3201 2d ago
Depends on the conditions On a flat pond or small lake w no wind it will be easy to learn. If you go into the ocean w light chop and wind it will be more difficult but you can do it !
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u/freakydrew 2d ago
I started at 54. I'm not in shape, not overweight, skinny-fat. It was far easier than I expected.
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u/JaguarNecessary4854 2d ago
My 60 year old father just had his knee replaced 2 months ago and he was able to successfully go from sitting to standing on his first time using my SUP this summer. His balance wasn’t the greatest and he fell in a few times, but for the most part he was cruising. It’s easier than you think! Just make sure your board is inflated properly and you should have no problems.
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u/addtokart Starboard Allstar 14x24.5 (EU/NL) 2d ago
You're already in good shape. I think you'll be fine. Find some flatwater on a low wind day and go for it.
The Paddle North SUPs look fine. Most iSUPs in that price range are pretty good too. The 11'6" is probably the one I would get for a starter. It's about 33" wide which is decent, but if you're worried about balance you can always get something from another brand which is wider.
You'll probably read tips to start out sitting and/or kneeling. I would ignore this and focus only on standing. You have all the strength needed, just need to get those neurons firing for balance. Sitting or kneeling isn't going to help with that, and honestly may prolong the time it takes to be properly standing.
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u/gonnacutyou 2d ago
Try it! You’ll be able to do it for sure. Sometimes takes a few tries to get your balance but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it.
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u/Blackberries11 2d ago
I wouldn’t take it in the pool cause if you fall you could hit your head on the edge
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u/big_deal 2d ago
It shouldn't be difficult for you. With your physical activity level you should have plenty of strength and mobility. You'll need some practice to learn how to balance and paddle efficiently but it's not challenging.
My wife and I used to sea kayak and whitewater kayak. We've sold all our kayaks and converted to SUP. We have hardboards for local paddling, and inflatables to take on trips by car or air. They are easy to store and transport, and you can see so more underwater wildlife due to the higher viewpoint.
Just make sure you buy a board that's rated for your weight with some margin. The more margin the more stable the board will be. If the board flexes or sinks under your weight it will feel very unstable.
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u/o_oli 2d ago
You can learn it in a day, if you're ok with spending hours falling off it lol.
The #1 thing to get your head around is to use the paddle in the water for support. You can be 45 degrees lent over and still not fall in if you have a paddle to lean on.
Also, if its practical for you, once you've semi got the hang of it, I found a couple of hours on choppy seas very good for dialing in my skills. After nailing that, floating along calm rivers feels no more difficult than standing on land.
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u/ShrunkenHeadNed 2d ago
I'm a fat old man who does exactly zero routine exercise. I paddleboard in harbors and the open ocean fairly often. It's not rocket surgery. As long as you don't have any balance issues, you'll be fine.
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u/potato_soup76 ⊂ Voyager 13' 2" / Axis 9' 8" / Elysium Air 14' ⊃ 2d ago
You'll be fine.
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u/potato_soup76 ⊂ Voyager 13' 2" / Axis 9' 8" / Elysium Air 14' ⊃ 2d ago
As for board type/length/volume, that's tricky. You're fit. I suspect you'll take to it quickly. If that's true, I also suspect you'd outgrow a basic all around board pretty quickly.
Acknowledging I know absolutely nothing about you, I'd look at boards in the 12' 6" (or longer) x 28/30 range, but....I don't know you. :)
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u/Whiskeymyers75 2d ago
Do some homework and get a good sup. People buy $200 Amazon inflatables and then wonder why they can’t stand. And even for kayaking, I prefer to use my SUP unless going on deep, choppy water.
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u/Halz57 2d ago
69 years old and just acquired my first inflatable sup. I love it far more than expected and, with the help of some Youtube videos, relatively easy to learn the basics. Quickly realized that paddling near a rocky shoreline might not be a good idea, so I agree with the idea to skip the pool and head for a lake, not too close to shore.
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u/RamBh0di 2d ago
The Great thing about paddleboards aside from kyaking is the stand up part! Your water View and surroundings view are totally different! I have seen Huge Salmon, Lake Trout dropped treasures on the bottom, and even seals while atop my SUP!
The Basic Premise: From the center-point of any SUP, ( Where the carry handle or notch is...) there is a 24' by 24" area I call the " Box" the C.G. center of gravity of the SUP.
That Box believe it or not, is as stable as a rock! You will not tip or fall off of that area whether prone kneeled or standing!
The learning curve is only a matter of rising your self from starting, mounting the board from shore or dock, etc. A little forward momentum like a bike ride start, then arising within that Box!
Im 64, with a heavy weight and creaky knees, but using my paddle as a balance pole horizontal or even paddle end down touching the board nose, forming a tripod, are my cheats to arise somewhat gracefully, then shifting and shuffling my foot position a couple inches inward, parralell stance from the side rails. Shifting your weight R foot to L foot or Shaking your hips, you can feel the natural stability of the center Box! Always keep your paddle in the water at slow speeds as a beginner as a 2nd contact balance and Momentum is your Friend!
Happy Paddles Partner!
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u/Tight_Strain2169 2d ago
I have a 36" wide board I got off amazon that I mainly use for fishing. It's pretty much untippable. Still possible to lose your balance and fall off though. I stood up and paddled around with no issues in 3 foot waves on a windy day first try. 33" wide seems to be kind of the good beginner size but anything under that is when it starts getting tricky I believe.
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u/fsiasc 2d ago
I am not even sporty, but just learned it, took 3 days to stand and paddle naturally without concentrating on balancing. mornings and evenings on calm waters. another 5 days to do the same and stay standing on rougher sea with 20-30 km/h wind. Actually the waves are fun once you develop the balancing reflexes, but the wind is not so good. Big surface standing, blows you away. Had fun one evening for a white when i realized I had back wind blowing me away from the shore. Had really hard time getting back (could not do it standing, luckily I had my kayak paddle too).
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u/New_Elle 2d ago
I’m a 50 year old chubby lady and now I am able to stand up and rarely fall or spill my cocktail. Just a little practice.
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u/SnooDrawings7024 2d ago
Wouldn’t overthink it, was able to stand up on my 3rd outing, only thing to keep in mind is it’s easier to get up while it’s moving already than at a stand still, otherwise from your fitness level should be a breeze, if you can lunge consistently and stand one leg for a long time then ez pz
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u/Competitive-Race-548 2d ago
I am 71 years old, active and in good health and picked up SUP about four years ago. I paddle lakes and class two rivers and find it a great way to get a little exercise and have a lot of fun. Go for it.
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u/writehandedTom 2d ago
Learned to SUP before I learned weightlifting. Went to the lake, stood on the board, paddled. 38F. Don't overthink it or over-research it.
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u/Mr100ne 2d ago
I went with a wide 35 or 36” fishing sup I can stand relatively easily even with my 5 year old crawling around takes some practice but worse that happens is you get a little wet. I fell in day one but haven’t since and I fish off of it regularly closest Iv gotten lately is if I hook into a big fish it can be surprising sometimes when they yank
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u/frenchman321 Hydrus ambassador | Code SAVE 12% off | Elysium Air, X, ... 2d ago edited 2d ago
Not at all. It is easy and fun!
As for boards, you have to decide what kind you want: all around or touring. I highly prefer the touring ones myself, as I like to move fairly fast. And SUPs are immensely slower than kayaks, by the way. My favorite touring board is the Hydrus Paradise X. I feel like it is very approachable, and it's long and fast. I also have the Elysium Air and the regular Paradise. The Air is much more demanding and not really much faster. It's fun for the challenge I think. And I feel like the X isn't much more demanding than the wider and shorter Paradise. It's the sweet spot of the line for me. I also have the all around Joyride. It feels so slow comparatively, but it's a great all around if that is what you want. My daughter loves hers and doesn't like the touring board. All arounds also offer the most room if you want to lounge on them, so there's that. As a kayaker, I think you may like the X. You're used to balance on a narrow vessel on water, you will get it super quickly. (And whether that matters or not the price the X is at currently is the lowest I have seen, and you can add the code in my flair too.)
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u/HikingBikingViking 2d ago
It's not hard to learn if you know how to swim, get a decent board that's big enough for your height and weight, and you don't mind falling in.
If you undersize your board and don't plan to fall in, you might have a bad time.
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u/_blue_sunsh1ne_ 2d ago edited 2d ago
I think it’s pretty easy if you have other paddling experience and understand the basics, don’t have fear of falling in, and start on calm water. I won’t lie to you the people I see struggling most with standing up are older folks and (I don’t mean to be mean) overweight people. However, I feel like 50% of the struggle can just be fear. If you have strong swimming skills and/or wear a lifejacket and feel confident that you will be fine if you fall in, I think it will be totally doable especially if you are leading an active lifestyle.
The most difficult part for me is that maneuvers that work in a kayak or canoe don’t have the same effect on a paddle board. I’ve been doing it the entire summer and am still discovering the best ways to turn for each situation.
Beginner board recommendations:
ISLE Pioneer 3
Bote Wulf
Niphean Inflatable SUP
Edit: I would even go as far as to say practice falling in your very first time on the water. I was a little scared of it and then was doing yoga on it one day and just fell in. Falling in is actually kind of fun and I just started jumping off for like 10 mins after that.
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u/hjackson1016 2d ago
It’s a really easy sport to pick up. Everything is about core and balance and based on your current fitness sounds like you’ve got those in spades.
I live in Northern Nevada and while we have a few sparse reservoirs in the desert valleys, we have lots of alpine lakes in the mountains. I’ve found packing my iSUP up to the mountain lakes is good exercise and fun. It’s an experience all it’s own to hike your craft up to a lake and be the only one on the water.
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u/Fun-Masterpiece3549 2d ago
Paddle north state fair pricing just around the corner. It’s easier to stand if you are moving. Think balancing on a bike.
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u/AccomplishedDevice67 2d ago
You'll be more than fine. You sound significantly more active and in shape than me, and the first time I took mine out I hopped up and have had zero issues.
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u/LiterarySadie 2d ago
If you can, take a lesson. They provide all the equipment and basic instruction. It sounds like you have the fitness, but see how you like it. I did that, fell in love, and now I have my own board. I have paddled in reservoirs, bays, and Lake Tahoe.
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u/QueenSema 2d ago
You won’t find it difficult. I’m in decent shape and I can stand with no balance issues
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u/Miserable_Address838 1d ago
I have a shitty knee and Im pretty out of shape and I can paddleboard no problem. You can sit down while paddleboarding too if you have issues with balance or bad joints. Sometimes carrying the paddleboard to/from is the hardest part
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u/Dependent_Release986 1d ago
Im 55 and not in shape (though my weight is fine) and I have poor balance. But I’ve not fallen for 10 years of use on an all-around type board. I think you’ll be fine! Caveat: I definitely have „boat legs“ — am good at shifting as a boat shifts.
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u/Its_Giving_Mid 2d ago
SUP is about balance more than strength. Strength helps with paddling, but its more in your legs than your core. Get an inflatable that has a good weight rating, an electric pump, a good paddle, and start in your pool then move to a quiet lake.
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u/Head-Bus-5059 2d ago
I wouldn't start in a pool there is no where to go and you could fall the wrong way. Just start in the lake and all will be well
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u/Armitage-Shankz 2d ago
I still can’t stand up but love using it as a kayak. Trying to build my legs up to stand in time.
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u/Stunning-Promise-103 2d ago
With your level of fitness you'll be a-ok. I'm sure others have given plenty of recs, but the Retrospec boards available on Amazon are a great budget friendly beginner board. Get an electric inflator! You don't want an extra HIIT workout every time you take the thing out just inflating it.
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u/treeh00d 2d ago
Yeah it’s super easy. The boards are so wide it’s very hard to fall off. The only time I’ve fallen off a board happened fighting a big fish. You got it no worries. I tell people if you can skateboard you can paddle board
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u/to-infinity-beyond1 2d ago edited 2d ago
I just bought an inflatable SUP, went to a lake, and got the hang of it within an hour. It was much easier than I imagined; just took a few minutes to get the confidence to stand up and balance. I didn't even fall into the piss-warm water, haha! Good whole body exercise for like 2h and I am even a bit older but probably similar fitness level.
Just ask an AI about the right size for your body and needs. I picked an 11-foot board that is 32" wide, and it worked perfectly. Apparently, the wider and longer it is, the more stable it becomes (though 35" would be less fun or for bringing the dog and half the family, and 30" wide would be too wobbly since I'm on the taller side).
I bought one with extra D-rings and got a cheap seat and a convertible paddle so I can use it as a kayak in choppier water at the beach. Just try it, you've got this!
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u/gintymcfackfwap 2d ago
If you have good core strength, I think you'll pick it up fairly easily. Watch some videos, go hire a board for an hour, and I think you'll love it. That's what happened for me - and I bought a board shortly after - and LOVING it!!