Stand Up Paddle Boarding: 10 Spots to SUP in Ireland | Outsider Magazine (2023)

FAQs

Is a 10 paddle board good? ›

Medium boards (10' to 12') are ideal for all-around use and for SUP yoga. Most of these boards have planing hulls, but sometime you'll find a displacement-hull SUP at this length. Long boards (12'6” and above) are great for fast paddling and long-distance touring.

The most popular length range for a paddle board is between 10' to 11' long, and that range is a great choice for an all around SUP. Length recommendations aren't always directly related to your SUP skill level or your weight - instead, it's all about what you plan to do with your SUP.

Do I really need a license? Yes, the use of a paddleboard, or any other portable, unpowered craft on the majority of inland waterways, requires a license obtainable from the relevant authority. On Regent's Canal, there are two license options: Short term or 30-days explorers' license from the Canal and River Trust.

PROPER SUP FOOT PLACEMENT

The best spot to stand on your SUP is over the middle point. This is where you will feel most stable. Luckily, the middle point of your SUP is easy to determine because almost every stand up paddle board has a carry handle located there; inflatable paddle boards included.

Can seniors safely paddle board? Certainly, as long as they take precautions to make sure they're healthy enough to participate. It is a great way to remain active, preserve muscle strength, and maintain flexibility while providing a no-impact form of exercise often recommended for those over 50.

Because taking no breaks and canoeing straight through on calm, still water, the average canoeist can paddle around 2.6 knots or 3 mph. Of course weather, physical condition of the person, and a canoe's speed can increase or decrease that time. But 3.5 hours to paddle a canoe 10 miles is just a guideline.

In the winter, SUP shoes are a must, but in the summer, we suggest you go barefoot. In the cold months, you'll need to wear a neoprene shoe or bootie. That said, if you're launching your board in a shallow spot where there are rocks or sharp debris under the water, shoes are a good idea.

What should you not do when paddle boarding? ›

No matter how hard you try to stay balanced on your paddle board, you're going to fall into the water at some point. Even the most experienced paddlers take the plunge from time to time. So, if you're feeling wobbly, don't worry about it and remember, SUP is a watersport, so it's OK to get wet.

If stability is a high priority for you, you'll want to look for a board that is 33-34 inches wide. You can go wider, but you may end up with a board that is sluggish and less fun to paddle.

A SUP Needs a Paddle

Traditional surfers paddle out to the wave breaks lying on their boards with their hands pushing through the water in a swimming-like movement. Paddle boards, on the other hand, require a paddle that the rider uses to propel them through the water while standing on their board.

If you are stand-up paddleboarding, you should also wear a tether or leash too. River traffic is always required to stay to the right hand side of the channel (unless it is unsafe to do so) and paddle craft are no exceptions to this.

Like all water sports, there always risks involved when paddleboarding. If you fall off your paddleboard, you could pick up an injury or even damage the paddleboard itself. This is why it is so important that you have paddleboarding insurance in place before you head out onto the water.

Keeping warm on the water/ what to wear paddleboarding

In the lead up to summer, other seasons of the year or if you often feel the cold, a wetsuit is advisable. This will keep you warm whilst on the board as well as if you fall in the water! Being warm will enable you to paddle for longer too.

While you paddle, stay engaged through your core. Keep your knees slightly bent and your feet in a shoulder-width stance.

LEAVING THE BOARD INFLATED

The answer is yes you can BUT please store it away from the elements, in a cool area out of direct sunlight and ideally off the ground. All inflatable paddle boards will lose some air pressure over time if the board is left inflated day after day.

Wearing SUP Shoes or Wetsuit Booties when you are Stand Up Paddleboarding gives you the most comfort and flexibility. Not only do SUP shoes help keep your feet warm but they help keep your feet comfortable while maintaining control over your board.

Can 70 year olds paddle board? ›

Martin Barlow proves that age isn't a barrier for stand up paddling, whatever level you choose to participate. If you've got the will then there's definitely a way. Over to Martin for some inspiration.

Paddle boarding does burn belly fat. This is because you're recruiting large muscles such as your back and arms to paddle. The larger the muscle group you recruit, the more muscular strength you build and the more calories you burn, which can help burn body fat (including belly fat).

The USCG regulations state that each paddler over the age of 12 must have a “USCG-approved Type I, II, III, or appropriate Type V” life jacket. While riders over the age of 12 are not required to wear a life jacket on the water, wearing your PFD certainly the smart approach to staying safe on your paddle board.

As a general rule of thumb, if the wind is traveling under 10 knots, it is typically safe for you to paddle out at any skill level. However, when wind exceeds beyond 10 knots, you may want to think twice before you paddle out.

How many calories do you burn paddle boarding? On average, you'll burn 330 to 460 calories per hour while recreational paddle boarding. That's twice the calories you'd burn walking your neighborhood! The average, recreational (all around) paddle is done on calm water with light winds at a walking pace.

Most paddling safety experts recommend staying off the water in winds above 15 mph, or 10-12 mph if you're a beginner. Winds below 10 mph are more like breezes, and not much to worry about.

It's just SUP. Gently wiggle your toes if you have shaky legs. It's a perfectly normal fight or flight instinct kicking in. Getting up and down a few times may help.

Kayaking is typically easier to learn than paddleboarding. The double-bladed kayak paddle creates symmetry and allows you to move forward with less effort than a single-bladed SUP paddle.

You should avoid going out when there are offshore winds, as they can quickly blow you far out to sea, making for an exhausting paddle back to shore. If you are on a lifeguarded beach, keep an eye out for the orange windsock to see which way the wind is blowing.

Light clothing is advisable here as anything heavy or thick can become a danger in the water. Footwear-wise, if it's warm barefoot is fine. However, if the location is unsuitable for barefoot paddling, then wear wetsuit boots to avoid getting cuts on the feet.

Should you deflate after SUP? ›

Over Expansion in Paddle Boards

There is no rule saying you can't leave your paddle board inflated; however, we strongly recommend that if you're leaving your paddle board in storage for long periods of time, you should deflate it to keep it in its best possible condition.

Staying hydrated is key. If you do not have access to a Camelback, carry a water bottle in a dry bag or a small cooler that you can strap to the bow or stern of your paddleboard.

SUP is a full-body workout that can burn significant pounds for an hour's worth of activity. For example, if a man weighing 140 lbs does SUP for about 60 minutes, they can burn an average of 385 calories. A woman of the same weight can burn 436 calories, based on a study conducted by Arizona State University.

You might wonder: can I stand up paddle board when I'm overweight? The answer is yes! It might seem a bit daunting to do because you may struggle to climb back on the board without assistance because of poor upper body strength, fatigue, or wider shape of your belly, but that's the challenge you have to accept.

Increases core strength – Stand Up Paddle Boarding engages your core muscles and builds abdominal strength and lean muscle tone, while at the same time strengthening arms, legs, back, and shoulders.

But the typical muscle soreness that you feel after a workout becomes very real the next morning. When paddleboarding, you are using a lot of the smaller muscles that you don't typically use, causing them to be sore the next few days.

One way to keep your phone dry while paddleboarding is to put it in a waterproof case. This will ensure that if you happen to fall in the water, your phone will stay dry. There are a variety of waterproof cases, especially for popular phones like iPhones and Androids.

For the average stand up paddle board with one-to-two layers will have a lifespan of three years if you use it a considerable amount (8+ paddles in a year). If you don't use your board very much then you can expect it to last you a little over three years.

SUP Length

The length of a board plays a major role in determining how the board handles. In general, longer boards are faster than shorter boards, but shorter boards are more maneuverable. Keep in mind your intended use when deciding what length SUP to buy: Short boards (under 10') are great for surfing and/or kids.

Hard Paddle Board - Which is Best? Quick Answer: For all-around leisure paddling, inflatable SUPs are much better overall, due to advantages in durability, portability, weight, versatility, and injury prevention.

Are you allowed to paddle board anywhere? ›

Although weather conditions can influence your trip, you can stand up paddle board on any body of water. Rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans are the most common locations for paddle boarding. However, more people are using paddle boards at whitewater locations, icy ravines, and indoor pools.

Launching a paddle board might look easy, but unless you do it properly you'll either fall straight off or stand in the water while your board floats away from you. Once you have mastered the technique, you'll be able to launch your board anywhere to enjoy your paddle boarding wherever you want.

Ireland has the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Celtic Sea to the south, and the Irish Sea to the east. As well as this, there are over 12,000 lakes and rivers to be explored throughout the island. So, hop into your kayak, grab your paddle, and embark on a journey through the majestic Irish landscape.

You'll also find a lot of fellow SUPers at Grand Canal Dock or in Malahide Estuary as both are perfect places for beginners and to learn stand-up paddle boarding. Other popular SUP locations, with beginners and professionals alike, include Dollymount Beach, Skerries, and Rush south beach.