Why Can't I Stand Up On My SUP / SUPboarder How To

If you are struggling to stay standing up on your SUP, this How To video gives you the best advice to keep on your feet.

If you have just purchased a new board or are still struggling to stay standing up for an extended period of time when paddling, you may find one or more of the following reasons are holding you back.

• Size of your SUP; length, width, thickness and volume all play a part in how stable you will be on your board. Check to see if you are on the correct board.
• Conditions and paddling location; wind, weather and tides can affect your chances of staying standing when paddling. Checking the forecast and identifying a calm water location will increase your chances.
• Technique; You may just need to adjust your technique to help you with balance.
Watch our video on Why Can't I Stand Up On My SUP to learn how to stand and stay standing.

[SeadartVSG]

When I started surf SUP paddling a few things really helped. Surf SUPs are much less stable than the boards in the video. The point about keeping your eyes on the horizon and not your feet helps you stay upright. I also discovered that keeping my feet much closer to the center line of the board is much better for stability than a wide separation. Also keeping your feet slightly staggered with your strong foot slightly ( maybe 4 to 8 inches) ahead of the rear foot helps. Finally learn to brace with the paddle and get the paddle in the water paddling or bracing while you are in the motions of standing.

[googlecontrolled]

Get a lesson is key. My wife and I had our first ever go on paddleboards yesterday and in the sea as well. The instructor had us standing up within 30 minutes of the lesson starting after teaching us the basics. He gave us the confidence to relax those leg muscles and go further away and from the shore where the swell was less of an issue (even though it felt wrong as novices to venture too far out). We fell in a lot (myself a lot more) but my wife was surprised how well she picked it up despite having arthritis throughout most of her joints and having a major back operation leaving her with nerve and tendon damage, proof that a good instructor is priceless. Self teaching just compounds the mistakes you are making till you make a habit of doing things wrong the norm. We can't wait to get going on our tandem isup.🤔

[karenmack]

Great video! Thank you for such clear, direct instructions! 😃

[adamfox]

When I first tried this year, I got on my knees and rocked hard from side to side to see how stable the board was. That gave me more confidence to then try standing up.

[georgivelev]

I’ve seen a lot of people who don’t even try to stand up on a SUP because of a bad instructor. What I advise first-time paddlers is to train on land. I’ve found out that it is important to step on the whole foot (not just on toes) when trying to stand up. Standing up on toes is an advanced technique. Thumbs up for the video!

[rudy]

Je commence le paddle et c'est toujours bien d'avoir de bons conseils, merci, Belgique 🙂

[TiagoWolf]

Great video.
I also tell noobs if they fall back they're too far back and if fall to the front then too ahead from the center point.
This can be sometimes felt when on the knees too when getting up there's a slight balance shift of the body trying to compensate

[stevethomas]

Excellent video. If I may, getting away from shore before you stand. It's better to fall in the water than it is on something solid. Good point on keeping momentum, paddling can keep you on the board. Started paddling a SUP to help with my balance, 72. One of the best all round exercises that I've found that are fun. Thanks for the tips

[stephenfarthing]

Indeed! Hmm. I did pursue speed and I also tried to approach it by turning into the wind and trying to stay downwind. Ah! I may have missed the paddle. An outrigger canoe has a stabilizing beam and shaped secondary keel. That keeps it very static. Using the paddle the same way by continuing forward momentum is also key. It could lead me to staying standing up on the paddle board longer than 9 seconds.

I've also been practicing reboarding. And perhaps being already wet I found a greater understanding of determination to do so.

And yes. I broke the barefoot rule on practice of getting back onto the paddle board. I had surf shoes on my feet. But for the next time. I will be barefoot for that on the 27th of this month.

[mikeb]

Nicely done. One other tip is that planting the paddle like a flagpole in front of you and pulling down on that as you stand makes it much less shaky for those with creaky knees.

[SvenBollue]

Many thanks for this excellent video and tips!

[maxievo]

All great tips, one thing I would say is missing from the video is suggesting to get a lesson from a decent instructor. I had my first lesson back in July last year and he got my up on my feet within 2 or 3 minutes and I stood up for almost the rest of the 2 hour session till I fell in while trying to explain what I do for a job.

I’ve seen a few people trying to teach themselves to SUP and they take weeks to learn what you’ll get in two hours with an instructor and they never quite paddle as well as people who’ve had lessons.

[applemanuk]

I think the last point made in the video, about not having a fear of falling in the water is key. I would recommend any beginner wear a good fitting wetsuit and immerse themselves in the water a few times. Then once on the board all the anxiety about falling off the board into the water simply disappears. You gain new found confidence and stability, as a result of knowing that there is nothing to fear.

[stephenfarthing]

I'm actually going to do paddle boarding in Saltford this Sunday - the 16th of this month from The Jolly Sailor. Hopefully with the hills and riverbank. And if you do end up in the water. You do. Last year I tried it in Weston Super Mare and Clevedon and the offshore breeze was difficult to judge. And that I believe, stopped me standing up on the paddle board longer than 9 seconds. Trying to do it and building up speed was tricky. I'm reviewing the information contained in these You Tube sites on the subject. Now! Perhaps with a calmer stretch of water I might just stand up on a paddle board longer than 9 seconds.

[simonmariotenzer]

Thnk you very much for your clear explanation.

[stephenfarthing]

I think I have the paddling down pat. Standing up is still a bit of a difficulty. But I did get both feet flat on the board and I tried to keep the knees slightly bent and the paddle was in the water on attempt 1 of four. 8 seconds is slightly worse than one of my previous attempts. But I did get up on my feet - four times - it was only the offshore breeze that scuppered me. Otherwise 8 seconds could have been 24 seconds. That was on the 27th August.

[monsterthemink]

I would advise against buying a super wide board as a beginner as you will "outgrow it" quite quickly. Maybe rent one just for starting out and then get something narrower for your first own board as you will improve quite fast. If you are under 80kg and mostly want to go flatwater paddling, you should even think about starting on a narrower board like a 30" or even a 28". This should be absolutely no problem if you already have good core stability and balancing ability or know how to ride a skateboard f.e.. A narrower board will greatly improve paddling technique as you can keep the paddle much closer to the centre of the board through the stroke.

[tomh]

I wish I'd seen this video before I decided to rent a paddle board yesterday for an hour. With no tuition I was trying to stand with the board stationary, in rolling waves (the beach hire center didn't allow people too close to the swimmers nearer the calmer shore),
The board was inflatable so it was also rocking around the long axis and flexing along the short axis. ...and I was trying to use the paddle like a crutch.
my legs were shaking like a shitting dog. All stand attempts failed. :)

[rosannazerafa]

Does having only 2 fins make a difference?

[tomf]

No one explains how to get back onto the board after a spil 🙄
Thanks so much, the vid helped...