Paddleboarding’s caught your interest, huh? Well, join the crowd because stand up paddleboarding

has really taken off. Why? Because it’s just plain fun. There is something different about standing on water versus sitting in a boat. Maybe it’s the better view or the challenge of maintaining one’s balance. Maybe it’s that itty bitty surfer in us jumping at the chance to get out. If you ask a bunch of SUPers why they like it, you’ll get answers such as: “I find it invigorating;” or, “I like the core workout;” or, “It has strengthened my legs and improved my balance;” or, “It’s lighter, smaller and easier to store and carry than my canoe or kayak.” Whatever their thoughts are now, they all took it up because they found it to be FUN. Our bet is you will too.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Just about everyone can SUP. Here at BayCreek, the kids in our camp program love the boards

and they amaze us with the things they do: cartwheels, head stands, pivot turns, nose shove-its. (A guilty confession - it’s made our day easier as they’ll entertain themselves for hours). At the other extreme, we’ve sold boards to folks in their seventies who want to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. The only requirement is that you are fit enough to rise steadily from a kneeling position and don’t have any issues that preclude standing comfortably for a reasonable period of time.

Who Can Do It?

We are seeing folks from all walks of life and all demographics: singles and families, college students and seniors, folks living on waterfront and folks living in

apartments. And, ladies in particular are joining the sport. 78% of our lesson attendees and 54% of our board buyers in 2014 were female.

Who’s Attracted To The Sport?

Yes, definitely, if you can. It can be very helpful, particularly if you are new to stand up paddleboarding. Here at BayCreek we teach the basic things you need to know

about boards, paddles and leashes plus how to get on, how to fall and how to remount. But the highest value we add is paddling technique. We teach the Hawaiian forward stroke, forward and reverse sweeps and the hook stroke. Learning these things, plus spending time on a board will help you firm up your thoughts on the type of board you are looking for. At BayCreek, the lessons are inexpensive and the cost can be applied towards your board purchase.

Should I Take A Class?

You might find a deal on-line and if any board will satisfy your limited requirements then by all means take advantage of it. But, if you want to make sure that you pick

a board that is well suited to you (your size, your coordination, your plans and your personality) and you don’t want to worry about the hassles of potential shipping damage (it’s more common then you might think) or you want to have someone to turn to if quality problems occur, then shop at your local SUP dealer, where you can try different models and get knowledgeable advice.

Should I Get A Board On-line?

Selecting Your Stand Up Paddleboard

Most folks looking at boards have just a vague notion of what they would like to do. We have to warn you, SUPing is fun and somewhat addictive, so let’s take a close

look at some of the many things you can do on your SUP. Here’s a list of uses common in western New York.

• Relaxing paddles on the lakes and canals on calm days. Paddling with friends is a great way to spend time together.

• Paddling for exercise. Because you must transmit force through your body to the board brings specific benefits to your core, back, feet and legs. And, over time your sense of balance naturally improves, a plus for all of us. You can do this on your own, connect with fellow paddlers through BayCreek or join our SUP Fitness classes.

• Yoga. Yes, yoga can be done on boards. This adds additional core and balance challenges.

• Cottage board. Something for the family and friends to have fun with when visiting the summer cottage.

• Cruising around a lake (bay, channel, pond) burning some calories and taking in the sights. We have lots of water in our area with generally good public access.

• Camping – using the SUP to transport you and gear on trips in the Adirondacks, Algonquin, Maine, etc.

• Surfing at the beach on vacation or even here on Lake Ontario. Yes, four foot waves are pretty common on Lake Ontario, especially in the Fall and Winter, but now and then in the summer too.

• Downwinding on Lake Ontario or even the larger Finger Lakes – paddling roughly parallel to shore with the wind at your back and the waves traveling in your direction. Under good conditions you can catch some nice rides. (Note: BayCreek provides supported downwind runs mid-August through October on Lake Ontario using our 19 passenger shuttle bus. These are open to our customers who have completed our intermediate SUP class and/or obtained instructor approval).

• Racing – it’s big in certain parts of the country with as many as 800 participants at major races. Here at BayCreek, you can test your stamina and technique against other SUPers at our Wednesday Nite Fun Races or enter some of the canoe and kayak races throughout the area that are now offering SUP divisions.

Thinking about which of these activities immediately appeals to you and what might appeal to you in the future, will be very helpful in selecting your first board.

Step One - What do you want to do with your board

Step Two - Try Out Some Boards

Now that you have a better idea of the ways you can enjoy your board, check theseagainst the table below to see which type of hull is generally preferred.

Design Type Cottage/Relaxation Exercise Yoga Touring Camping Surfing Downwinding Racing

Planing 4 4 4 u u 4 4 ODisplacement u 4 u 4 4 O 4 4

Board Type vs Primary Use Chart

4 - GENERALLY PREFERRED u - ACCEPTABLE O - NOT RECCOMENDED

The next discriminator will be board size. You’ll need a board that can easily supportyour weight and feels stable enough for your intended uses. If this is going to be a

shared board, you’ll need to keep in mind the largest paddler. Heavier people will need a bigger board. People who carry a high center of gravity, or have any balance issues will benefit from a wider board. Picking a board that is too tippy can be frustrating and actually inhibit your progress and your enjoyment. Picking a board that is too stable is the lesser of the evils, but sometimes leads to a desire to upgrade. We advise when in question go for the stability. You’ll be able to focus on perfecting your strokes, learning to move on your board and tackling rougher conditions.

PaddlerWeight Planing Board Displacement Board

<180 lbs. 10 1/2’ x 32” 11 1/2 ’ - 121/2 ’ x 29” - 32”180 - 200 lbs. 11 1/2’ x 31” - 33” 12 1/2 ’ - 14 ’ x 29” - 32”210 - 240 lbs. 12’ x 33” - 36” 14’ x 30” - 33”

Board Size Guideline

*Planing Boards are flat like surf boards *Displacement Boards have sharp noses

* Remember these are only guidelines, it is always best to DEMO and choose the board

that feels best to you

Let’s start here with a typical board:

• Planing hull• 11 feet long• 30 inches wide• 5 inches thick• 30 pounds in weight• This theoretical board supports a novice paddler up to 190 pounds.

If you go longer, you add capacity, stability, speed and board weight. As you decreaselength you decrease those attributes.

If you increase width, you gain in stability and capacity but lose speed. And visa versa.

If you need speed, lean towards a displacement hull.

For the categories of use we identified in the above table, here is a description of the most common boards for that use.

• Relaxation – a planing (or displacement) hull board that is light and stable.• Exercise – for general exercise: any board. Longer is faster and for more aerobic

workouts seek a fast displacement board.• Yoga – most common is a 10’6” or larger planing board, but most will work fine if

stable enough.• Cottage – typically a planing hull built of durable construction, sized for the largest

individual like to use it. Soft boards and soft top board make good choices.• Touring - displacement hull, 11’6”or longer.• Camping - same as touring, but with an abundance of gear tie downs• Surfing – 11’ or shorter planing hull board.• Downwinding – 12’6”or longer, designed for coastal waters or downwinding.• Racing – Classes vary by organization, but generally there are classes for boards

12’ and under, 12.5’, 14’ and unlimited. Almost all racing boards will be of the displacement type for flatwater racing and for openwater, either displacement or a hybrid (planing/displacement) hull.

Armed with this information, you’ll have a much better idea of what you are looking for when you try out some boards. Find a shop that has on-water demos, like

BayCreek, and pay them a visit. If the shop has a knowledgeable sales staff, they can help guide you. If not, use your current knowledge to select the boards to demo. At BayCreek, we carry over 20 different models, so obviously you don’t want to try them all. But trying three or four or five is certainly prudent. Each model board has its own personality and hopefully one will perfectly suit your needs.

As you demo the boards, pay attention to these things:

• Aesthetics. If you aren’t happy with the appearance, you’ll never really love the board. Look for one that appeals to you.

• Weight. Is it well balanced at the carry handle? Can you carry the board easily for the distances you may have to walk? Can you lift it onto your vehicle?

• Stability. Keep in mind the kind of water you will be paddling. If it’s a large lake with wind chop and boat wakes make sure your board will be stable enough for your skill level and that of others who will be using the board.

• Effort. Does the board move through the water easily at the speed you want to paddle? A board’s shape and weight can significantly affect its speed. For example, two boards of equal length and width, but different shapes can feel much different at say 2 mph and different again at 4 mph.

• Tracking / maneuverability. Given your skill level, does the board track straight enough for you? Does it turn easily. Keep in mind, that instruction and some practice may improve your technique. Also, tracking and maneuverability are strongly affected by the design and size of the fin. Aftermarket fins of all sizes and shapes are interchangeable on most boards today.

• Windage. Does the board catch a lot of wind from the front or sides that makes handling the board in windy conditions difficult?

• Overall feel. Lastly, but most important, do you like the way the board feels overall. This is probably the summation of all of the above, but often your gut is the best indicator of satisfaction.

Step Three - Consider the Price

A stand up paddleboard isn’t cheap, but, as recreational dollars go, it’s not terribly expensive either. You don’t need a lot of extra gear – just a paddle, a life jacket and

perhaps a leash and you are good to go. Then of course you may need those new cool board shorts or that cute bikini.

Construction is a big factor in board cost. Generally with higher price comes better construction. Be sure to check out Appendix C, Construction Methods, for more

details.

As you find you want to SUP more and more, you can begin to add a few items such as a hydration system, wetsuit, booties, gloves and other accessories that will allow

you to go for longer sessions and to extend your paddling season.

For this investment, you get the mental and physical benefits of enjoying the fresh air and beautiful waters of our area. You get the memories of good times spent either

alone or with loved ones and friends. You get a new set of skills to learn and master, keeping you young in mind and body. And if there are kids in the family, you’ll get hours and hours of quiet time while they entertain themselves on your board.

• US Coast Guard and NY State regulations. The Coast Guard considers SUPs to be surfboards when they are being used in the surf zone and to be vessels when they are on flatwater or outside the surf zone. When being used on flatwater or outside surf zones, boarders need to have a USCG approved life jacket on board for every person on board. In New York the boarder must wear the life jacket during the colder months (Nov 1 – Apr 30). Regulations vary state to state and country to country. Remember, regardless of your location, a PFD doesn’t work unless you’re wearing it!

• Transporting your board. If you already have a roof rack with cross bars then all you need are some rack pads and a pair of straps. If you do not have a roof rack, rigid, semi-permanent after market solutions can usually be added, or you can use a temporary soft rack that straps to your vehicle. Generally we recommend a rigid rack if you will be transporting the board often or over long distances. It’s more secure and worry-free. Otherwise, for occasional transportation or short hauls, a soft rack will work fine. BayCreek carries Thule products and a number of soft racks and we are happy to help you pick the right solution for you and happy to install it. Also, metal-reinforced, lockable straps are available if you need to make sure your board is secure against theft.

• Other popular accessories. Here’s a list of some things you may want to increase your safety and enjoyment of the sport:

• PFD or Life Jacket. Common jackets designed for canoeing, kayaking and sailing work well, but inflatable belt floatation devices have become very popular too. Belt devices allow the paddler to be fully compliant with regulations while wearing a small light waist pack.

• Leash. A leash connecting you to the board will minimize the distance you will have to swim to retrieve a board and also minimize the potential of a loose board striking someone or something. We find fully coiled leashes are best in our area as they lie on top of the board and don’t drag in the water picking up weeds. Choose a length approximately equal to that of the board.

• Hydration system. Waist belt and backpack products are available and work well.

• Clothing. On warm days, bathing suits and board shorts are very popular. For sun protection, loose fitting lycra rash guards are nice, along with wide brimmed hats.

What else you should know:

• Cold water apparel. There are two different uses that exist. If you are flatwater paddling on cool, calm days and don’t expect to get wet, then a light weight neoprene farmer john or farmer jane will do fine to keep your core warm should you take an unexpected tumble. But for surfing and downwinding when immersion in the water is frequent you’ll need a full wetsuit whenever water temperatures dip much below 60 degrees. 3mm neoprene suits usually will keep the paddler warm enough when water temperatures are in the mid-50’s, below that thicker suits (4mm, 5mm, 6mm) will be required.

We hope you’ve benefited from our little guide. We love stand up paddleboarding here at BayCreek and we would love to help you find just the right board and

paddle. And as further benefits, your board purchase entitles you to free lessons and lifetime discounts. Please ask for details.

So, if we can help, drop in to see us, or better yet, call for an appointment so we can be sure to dedicate our time to you.

It’s time to get down to specifics. Here are some terms you’ll run across and what they mean.

• Deck – top of the board.• Nose – front of the board.• Tail – back of the board.• Rail – edges of the board.• Length, width, volume – common specs provided.• Traction Pad – cushioned surface for standing.• Leash plug – molded in pin to which you attach a leash.• Leash – cord connecting you and the board.• Fin(s) – one or more fins attached to the bottom of the tail.• Fin box – apparatus to hold the fin.• Vent or vent plug – allows internal pressure due to heat or altitude to escape the

board.• Planing hull – surf board like, i.e. designed to ride on top of the water.• Displacement hull – kayak-like nose, designed to cut thru the water.• Nose Rocker – the upward curvature of the nose. Keeps nose up when surfing.• Tail Rocker – the upward curvature of the tail.• Stringer – support member running lengthwise down the board. Helps stiffen the

board against bending (or breaking).• Stability – the ease of standing on the board. Width adds stability and, to a lesser

extent, so do thickness and length.• Tracking – the degree to which the board naturally goes straight. Note, this can be

strongly influenced by the fin.

Appendix A : Glossary of Board Terms

• General Purpose – planing hulls good for flatwater and mild surf.

• Touring – typically displacement hulls with higher speeds designed for cruising flatwater and usually having means to carry gear.

• Racing – usually displacement hulls for flatwater or openwater speed. Often tippier than boards in other categories

• Downwinding – specifically designed for surfing traveling waves in openwater. Usually 12-14 ft or longer with good speed and significant nose rocker.

• Surfing – planing hulls designed primarily for surf.

• Whitewater – designed for technical rivers and creeks (and the brave souls that paddle them).

• Fishing – specifically designed for extra stability and means to carry rods, tackle boxes, etc.

Appendix B : Stand Up Paddleboard Categories

• Plastic molded boards – most economical product. Very durable, but very heavy.

• Thermoformed boards – also a less expensive production method. Molded foam covered with sheet plastic.

• Soft board – foam board considered good for families with children.

• Soft top – fiberglass hull with a foam top. Usually stiffer (higher performance) than a soft board, but with a user-friendly top.

• Hard board – higher performance boards shaped in foam and wrapped with fiberglass or other composite materials to create a hard exterior.

• Bamboo – a popular, sustainable, hard board construction material employed for its strength, low weight and appearance.

• Carbon – a hardboard employing carbon fiber versus glass fiber for lighter weight and appearance.

• Hollow boards – composite boards prized for their light weight (often lighter by 10 pounds or more).

• Inflatable – inflatable boards good for whitewater usage or individuals with special transportation or storage needs.

Appendix C : Construction Methods

1099 Empire Blvd.Rochester, NY 14609

(585)288-2830www.baycreek.com

©2015, BayCreek Paddling Center, Inc.