Tips To Climb Back Onto Your SUP / SUPboarder How To

There's no wrong or right way to climb back onto your SUP after falling off. We have different body shapes and body strength which requires us to use the best technique to suit our ability. This video shows a few different ways to climb back up onto the board and touches on some of the things that may be hindering your ability to climb back on as well.

If you have any other ideas or techniques to help climb back up on the board, please comment below as we would love to hear your experiences. 

[stuartkasperski]

Great tutorial. Thank you. Being a heavier and older guy in deep very cold water with a wind and current made it impossible for me to get back on myself. Fortunately I was smart enough to be with my partner and she came over quickly to help steady my board. If it wasn't for her, I'm not sure. Seeing your multiple options really helped, especially showing people in deep water unlike many other shallow water videos. Thanks.

[seankearney]

Glad you mentioned the wind. In my albeit limited experience facing the wind is almost certain to end in failure with the wind getting under the board and it bashing me in the face.

[lawrencecrowe]

It's about time someone covered this. I didnt have a problem with getting back onto the board and then for some reason started to struggle. The stytup method may have just changed the game for me and the missus.
Can't wait to try it out.

Well done Supboarder.

[basedpatriotLT]

My tip: It is easy once you are parallel to the SUP, meaning when you kick your legs well to make your position fully horizontal.
I found out it is harder to do so when you are grabbing the SUP (it is hard to kick your legs and make yourself horizontal).
What I do - I make myself horizontal near to the SUP, but do not grab it at that point. My head is next to it, i may even dip my head underwater for 2-3 seconds to make myself horizontal faster by kicking the legs, and only once I am horizontal near the SUP, only then I garb it and very easily slide on it.
So to put it short - make yourself fully horizontal next to the SUP and only then grab it and slide on.
Do not grab first and then try to make yourself horizontal, as it is much harder when half your body is already on the SUP...

[fortheloveoffrance]

Thank you for this. I went on my first SUP today, fell in quite far out . I could not get back on the board because my boobs kept getting in the way. Eventually, after about 15 -20 minutes i managed to get on but it really knocked my confidence and I wouldn't stand up again. If I was smaller chested i would have done it no problem. We're going out again later, we live by the sea, and im going to practice getting on the board before we go out that far again . 😊

[katrinaallen]

I’m anxiously waiting for my 1st SUP to arrive! When I rented a SUP to see if it was for me I didn’t fall off but I know I will at some point. Thanks for the lesson about getting back on!

[garysapper]

I've taken newbies out on kayak and SUPs, and always have them practice falling off and re-boarding in chest-deep water before going into deep water. I've found rolling from belly to butt once up makes bringing legs on board much easier.

[fmtm]

Great video!thanks for all the camera angles and soooo good explanation you got here.

[just_delightful]

Thank you Gary, this will surely help me.

[juliemarriott]

A great video to show to newbies and it is vital people practice getting back on, until they have it perfected.

[ZaneDargaty]

When I was guiding we used stirrups with kayaks for heavy clients or clients with less upper body strength. Never thought of it for a SUP. Great application.

[jeanettelogie]

Great video, thank you - I have struggled to get back on the board since starting paddling, had lessons and even done the BSUPA Ready to ride course but they could not pass me as I was unable to get back on - I have upper body strength but at 5' 2", busty and a tad overweight with a pfd it was impossible. So I went to a class in a swimming pool and found the way that suited me was to have a snake safety sling (25mm nylon tape) 4m long and I attached this to the middle handle then got to the end of the board holding on to the sling i pulled myself up with ease, straddling the end like a frog :) I havent tried with a belt pfd as that may be fine but the course required a full one to be worn - I am hoping once I have lost a little weight I will be able to climb aboard from the side but for now if this way saves me then I will continue to use it.

[MARYOLIONHEART]

Great video as always, thanks for sharing with us and teaching us nice stuff...hello from Bucharest, Romania...i am Maryo, 52 years old, firefighter :) ...i am big fan of your channel :) .

[stevesimonds]

I do fast rivers and get back on using this method.
I use a 12 inch string attached from a D ring located behind the main carrying handle. The SUP in the video has handles which would also work, instead of a D ring.
I'm thin so my legs will not float which makes it impossible to get horizontal, so I have to get on from the back. My method to get back on the SUP is to use the leash to pull me toward the back, then push the paddle under the bungies at the front (although sometimes I just hold it on the board and get hold of the string with the paddle in my hands.) I grab the string, and pull myself toward the main carrying handle until I can make a lunge for it. Once the main handle is in my hand, getting back up is easy.

[markbenniman]

I tried for the first time yesterday, it was so difficult, I was as graceful as an elephant seal 🙂

[stephenfarthing]

Good point about wind! And that seems a very valid one. This will have to be explored a little bit more pronounced.

[hayleydavelle]

Started SUP a couple of weeks ago. Yesterday I deliberately fell off the board to practice getting back on and unfortunately, I wasn’t strong enough to pull myself on. I’m definitely going to try the rope stirrup! (And join a gym 😂) thank you! 🙏🏼

[mattabbfal]

thank you so much for this! when its a calm day i will definitely try some of these!

[warrenshattock]

I've tried a stirrup but my foot slipped right through it and it went half way up my calf and upended me. I was in quite a bad place luckily I managed to keep myself breathing until help got to me. Take care if you do that and make sure somebody is near by and the stirrup is loop is not too big!!

[nurseguardian]

Thank you For this topic. I fell off a rented, inflatable sup, flatable sup! Im large chested, I was struggling to get back up! Love the stirrup idea!