You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
We bought our girls an SUP recently (they will receive it for their birthday in June). We have done a bit of surfing (using hire equipment and having lessons) and occasional SUPing in the past (ie, nice day at the beach, using friends' stuff), but this is the first time they have had one of their own. Naturally, I will be getting buoyancy aids for us to use but should I really be looking at getting wet suits too (it's all well and good using one at the beach in the middle of summer but I was hoping we could use it a bit more than the very occasional time when the weather is perfect – this could either be at the beach, on a river or on a lake – although we probably wouldn't use it all year around so would just get lightweight wetsuits to keep chill off) and I also assume some decent neoprene shoes would be useful?
So basically, the question is – what else do I need to buy to make the best use of the SUP?
Thank you
For river use, you firstly want a good knowledge of the dangers of moving water and also a waist belt with quick release system
Ankle leashes are dangerous on moving water due to entrapment potential.
Depends on the paddler, but for me, falling off is actually very, very rare if I'm just going for a chilled and scenic paddle.
Because of this, during the colder months I wear wetsuit boots with a good tread for muddy banks, neoprene leggings(thinner than most wetsuits) under baggy shorts or trousers, layers up top with a windproof/waterproof coat.
Importantly, I use a sealed deck bag with a change of clothes (lightweight but warm clothes) just in case I should take a dip.
Never have yet though but it's good to have stuff there in case
I've found a full wetsuit is OTT and use a rash vest. Keeps me warm and UV blocked. I started using neoprene shoes but have swapped to crocs as standing in neoprene shoes with no arch support became painful after a while. Use mainly in the lakes.
So basically, the question is – what else do I need to buy to make the best use of the SUP
Another one so they can paddle together?
Not necessarily, my girls love using one between them. We have offered them another but they just love climbing on and jumping off. They have very little interest in actually travelling anywhere on it.
Another one so they can paddle together?
Not necessarily, my girls love using one between them. We have offered them another but they just love climbing on and jumping off. They have very little interest in actually travelling anywhere on it.
From our experience so far, they just like playing on them as Bigsurfer says - it isn't really intended for much more than that but I want to ensure they start out with the right safety and practical equipment. And they are lightweight enough to use it together (one sitting with the other paddling). It's our expectation really that the majority of its use will be on trips to the seaside with friends (several of them have SUPs already).
If using a leash then get one that attaches at the waist.
Bouyancy aid - always
Wetsuit - a toss up between practicality, and risk of falling in and cold water shock. I don't wear one unless it's actually cold when paddling.
The only other accessories I take out paddling are beer, some cord or bungee rope incase I find something I want to tow or lash to the deck, spare pair of sunglases.
It’s our expectation really that the majority of its use will be on trips to the seaside with friends
In all seriousness I'd be very wary of letting kids SUP off a beach. Any breeze, current or rip and they'll be gone.
In all seriousness I’d be very wary of letting kids SUP off a beach. Any breeze, current or rip and they’ll be gone
This. Just be very aware of what the wind is doing especially. If its any kind of blowing offshore then don't let them out. Light people stood on inflatable sups act like a dinghy with a sail. An acquaintance of mine who despite living by the sea for 40 years thought trying to learn to sup on a strong offshore day at a beach in a shortie wetsuit in april was a good idea. The lifeboat picked her up with hypothermia & severely panicked about 3/4 of a mile out to sea 45 mins later......
She was with other people as well, some in the sea and some on the beach who raised the alarm.
It was all caught on camera for "saving lives at sea too!"
In all seriousness I’d be very wary of letting kids SUP off a beach. Any breeze, current or rip and they’ll be gone.
We do play things safe (won't let them out when there's an offshore breeze and there has to be green flags). They have also had training (several times) about what to do in the event of a riptide. At the end of the day, there has to be a balance between taking sensible safety precautions and stopping them from enjoying their (quickly passing) childhood.
An acquaintance of mine who despite living by the sea for 40 years thought trying to learn to sup on a strong offshore day at a beach in a shortie wetsuit in april was a good idea.
Well they were just bloody stupid.
A coaching lesson - and you have to go too. You will learn more in half a day about making them go and do what you ask, as well as some grounding in safety.
If you are anywhere near Sheffield, tell Dan I sent you.
https://www.dcoutdoors.co.uk/sup
Johndoh you seem to have all the bases covered. My kids lost there paddle (it sank) in the summer. As there main form of entertainment is jumping in and trying menouvers that end in falling in the paddle spends quite a bit of time in the water. A height adjustable paddle will float for a good while but eventually water can get in and it can sink. This is both expensive and could leave you stranded. I have now attached a roofbar surfboard protector with a fabric cover to the paddle and it does an admirable job of keeping the paddle a float, can be slid into different positions to suit different height paddlers and very easy to remove if I was going for a seriouse paddle.
Well they were just bloody stupid.
well yes but you would be surprised how oblivious lots of people are to the seemingly obvious dangerous things about the sea.
i posted partly to flag up how quickly things can go wrong even if people are being "kept an eye on"
Don't even get me started on parents shouting abuse when you politely suggest its a bad idea letting their small children play on bodyboards in a rip on a beach with no lifeguards!
well yes but you would be surprised how oblivious lots of people are to the seemingly obvious dangerous things about the sea.
One of the local lobster fishermen went to a popular spot for jumping off rocks into the sea, he was a few hours after his mates had been there - at the now low tide. I think his broken ankle made it onto saving lives at sea too.
We do play things safe (won’t let them out when there’s an offshore breeze and there has to be green flags). They have also had training (several times) about what to do in the event of a riptide. At the end of the day, there has to be a balance between taking sensible safety precautions and stopping them from enjoying their (quickly passing) childhood.
I'm all for this, and I've got vivid memories of being pulled from the water with rope wrapped rightly round my neck after a dinghy capsize (the other end being attached to the boat now several feet under the water). Having accidents like that is how we learn to deal with things going wrong. Which then gives you the confidence to go and do more adventurous stuff.
well yes but you would be surprised how oblivious lots of people are to the seemingly obvious dangerous things about the sea.
+1
Unknown unknowns, things you don't know you don't know. That's what gets you into trouble, not riptides and offshore winds. Well, unless you don't know you don't know about those, etc.
At least on a lake or gravel pit the number of variables is lower.