Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: horsey44 on August 22, 2019, 11:33:26 AM
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Hi everyone. I'm new here.
Without giving a long sob story, I've been through a complete and utter rubbish couple of years, put on weight due to some of that and have not felt great in general.
Thought it was about time to stop feeling sorry for myself, lose some weight, get a better level of fitness again and challenge myself socially and do new things and try to get back to the person I once was! Positive attitude and all that.
A friend of mine started paddleboarding last summer and I've thought it looked fun for a long time but being self-conscious and worrying about making a fool of myself put me off.
I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a four week course.
I had my first lesson yesterday and it did not go well. I knew I'd be a bit rubbish but I exceeded my already low expectations and was without a doubt, the worst in a class of 15 others.
I'm a size 16(UK) so knew I'd probably be one of the bigger people but was assured they cater for all sizes.
I have completely reinforced the 'fat lass struggling in the corner' stereotype. I was embarrassingly bad.
I had zero balance (found it difficult to so much as move slightly on the board i.e. changing leg position, leaning back to tighten leash, going from kneeling to sitting).
I had read that it was a fairly easy sport to get to grips with the basics and that bigger people can do it fine so went in thinking I'd be ok.
I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.
Is it just a case of practicing? I feel so low and disheartened and kinda hate myself for how it went.
Anyone else either overweight or a bigger or muscled/heavier person that has mastered it eventually?
Went into it so positive and now feel like it's never going to happen.
I'm ashamed to show my face for next week's lesson!
Sorry for the length of this. I'm not looking for sympathy, just an answer as to whether it's doable for someone like me or whether I should put it down to experience and move on?
Thanks.
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Hi everyone. I'm new here.
Without giving a long sob story, I've been through a complete and utter rubbish couple of years, put on weight due to some of that and have not felt great in general.
Thought it was about time to stop feeling sorry for myself, lose some weight, get a better level of fitness again and challenge myself socially and do new things and try to get back to the person I once was! Positive attitude and all that.
A friend of mine started paddleboarding last summer and I've thought it looked fun for a long time but being self-conscious and worrying about making a fool of myself put me off.
I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a four week course.
I had my first lesson yesterday and it did not go well. I knew I'd be a bit rubbish but I exceeded my already low expectations and was without a doubt, the worst in a class of 15 others.
I'm a size 16(UK) so knew I'd probably be one of the bigger people but was assured they cater for all sizes.
I have completely reinforced the 'fat lass struggling in the corner' stereotype. I was embarrassingly bad.
I had zero balance (found it difficult to so much as move slightly on the board i.e. changing leg position, leaning back to tighten leash, going from kneeling to sitting).
I had read that it was a fairly easy sport to get to grips with the basics and that bigger people can do it fine so went in thinking I'd be ok.
I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.
Is it just a case of practicing? I feel so low and disheartened and kinda hate myself for how it went.
Anyone else either overweight or a bigger or muscled/heavier person that has mastered it eventually?
Went into it so positive and now feel like it's never going to happen.
I'm ashamed to show my face for next week's lesson!
Sorry for the length of this. I'm not looking for sympathy, just an answer as to whether it's doable for someone like me or whether I should put it down to experience and move on?
Thanks.
I know the feeling of frustrations!!!! Best suggestion I can make is start off on your knees until you get your sea legs under you know. While on your knees, keep them at least shoulder width apart too. Eventually you'll come to a point where you're going to want to try again on standing up. Don't let it get to you, it's a learning curve that will subside. Pretty safe to say, all of us have gone through it.
Just keep going out. You'll get it.
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Don’t be disheartened. There is definitely a learning curve. My own first experience was on s big 11’6 x 32 high volume battleship of a board. And I remember my first outings as really awkward feeling.
You will progress both physical skill-wise, and mentally (not freaking out as a boat wake approaches).
It sounds like in part you’re upset with being awkward in front of others in the class setting. Can you rent a big board and go off and spend some hours by yourself, getting your sea legs?
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I always tell people the first time they go out...you lean to a side, and the board tips that way. Your instinct is to push more on the same side to straighten up, but that tilts it further....You have to (re)teach your brain to control all those micro-muscles and get used to it.
The SUP community reminds me of the MTB community in that everyone genuinely wants everyone to do well, have fun and progress. Please don't stop because you feel like you don't belong. You do. You will come a long way fast.
I want to stop there because the last point is the most important, but you can grab something like this to stand on in at home.
https://www.amazon.com/Training-Exercise-rotation-Balance-Stability/dp/B06XD2R6QF
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Keep going! Don't quit!
Not sure what a size 16 UK is, but I was just a few doughnuts shy of 250lbs when I decided to try SUP. Bought a big board of Craigslist and headed for the ocean. First time out was extremely frustrating. I don't think I managed more than 30 seconds upright. Got to where I could hear people laughing at me on shore (that's actually rare--no ones really looking at you). Came home exhausted, sore and feeling like I just blew $500. After a few days, I took the board down to the harbor where the water is calm. It was a bit easier. Ended up going there several times a week for 3 months. Much more improvement. Started venturing further into the open water with each outing. Fell less and less. Finally went back to my original spot (very close to home) and it was a very different experience. Paddle there almost every day now and can't imagine what my physical and mental state would be without SUP.
We were all there. No shame in it. Don't rate yourself by any individual outing. You having a bad first time isn't unique. My goddaughter is the most amazing athlete I know (Olympic swimming medalist) and her first outing with me bordered on comical. I tell people to go out 5 times before they draw any conclusions. It's all about TOW (time on water). You'll get there. Keep us posted!
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Is it just a case of practicing?
Without question, that is all it is. As Bulky said, its all about TOW (time on water).
An important thing to remember is to have fun - start your next session with a simple smile. :)
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get or ask for a bigger board then start on your knees and just paddle and then work your way up the center balance of the board. Falling is the start of learning and don't be afraid or embarrass by falling is just water. Don't worry about what others think and instead focus on yourself learning to stand up paddle ;)
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Shit, Horse! 16, as in stone, is only 220'ish US certified pounds. There's plenty of guys your size.
I spend more time falling off/getting back on a board than the amount of time on all the waves during a given session in the ocean, and I have been paddling out a few years. My first go in flat water —on a bay I kited for a decade— was a total embarrassment. ...5-10sec. I was in-the-water. The trick for me is not giving a flying fuc how perfectly others may do it.
You just gotta decide... it's 70% (?) mental.
Jim
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Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged. As Bulky said above, it really is about time on the water. Just start off on your knees and stay there until you feel comfortable enough to try and stand.
I’m not sure how they are teaching you to stand, but when I teach, I tell people to “brace, replace and go”. To break this down, while you are still kneeling, and with your hands about shoulder width apart on your paddle, lean forward with the paddle across the board. So you are “bracing” your upper body with the paddle across the board. Don’t lean so far forward you will be off balance when you go to stand. Again, your hands should be about shoulder width apart on your paddle, and while bracing, your hands are approximately under your shoulders. The “replace” part is where it gets a little tricky, as you are now going to "replace" your knees with your feet, one at a time. So while in the bracing position (with your hands still holding your paddle and your paddle still across your board), you replace your knees with your feet. The next step is to fully stand and go. And by "go" it pretty obviously means to start paddling. Generally speaking you will be more stable when you are moving than when you are standing still. I hope this helps. It is really difficult to describe without demonstrating, but I hope this gives you some kind of idea.
Good luck to you and again, be patient and spend lots of time on the water. It really is a great sport and a very supportive community.
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As you might be able to tell from the ridiculous number of posts I've made, I've been here a while. I started SUP paddling in 2007 and I weighed about 250 pounds then. I've always been active to some degree, but running my business meant a lot of 14 hour days and I was soft. I bought a SUP and fell off it every way possible, including bouncing off the board on my ass. I decided this probably wasn't my sport, but I was too stubborn to just give up. It took a lot longer than it will for you because stable boards didn't start showing up until about 2008.
Finally, I was able to actually stand on a board and start surfing. And I fell off every way humanly possible, was a complete kook. but I persisted. And I got reasonably competent. I got to the point where people on the beach say "you make that look so easy." Of course they are a bit surprised at that since I'm fat and old.
So I started downwinding. By now you know the drill--horrible. I've done probably a thousand downwind runs, including hundreds of the infamous Maliko runs. People say I'm an inspiration, but I translate that as "hell, if he can do it, I can do it." And that's just fine.
Two years ago I started foil surfing--I was a danger to everyone around me. I got good enough at it so people don't freak out if I'm momentarily pointed in their direction. Now I'm wing foiling. Two months in I'm at the point where I think I might actually be able to do this.
I'm a reasonably fit 72 year old now, though at 235 I'm no lightweight.
My point in all this discourse about ME, is simply that if I can do it, you can do it. And if you let it, it will change your life. Don't worry about what other people are thinking--you can't change that so why care about it? You WILL get it if you keep at it, and you'll get better at it. It's a lifelong sport and a great escape.
One of my heroes is a lady I don't know. Perhaps ten years ago I saw her struggling with a paddleboard in the lagoon at Kanaha, a surf break on a reef in Maui. She was there for hours every day. Pale white, fat, and covered in sunblock. Probably early seventies and very weak looking. She'd paddle a few strokes, then rest her paddle on her board to lean on it and catch her breath. She fell in every few minutes. But every day she went a little further out, and finally made her way out to the reef--not only a considerable distance but also in serious surf. She was bobbing off to the side, watching.
I paddled over and said--"I've been watching you progress over the last few weeks. It's impressive, but I have to tell you that this is pretty big surf, and you shouldn't paddle into these waves. There are better places to learn, and you should take some lessons before you try to SUP surf anyway (not that I did, but I'm better at giving advice than taking it).
She said "I know, I just want to watch the surfing from up close. I'm going to do this someday, but I know I'm not ready for that." She told me she was widowed a few years previously, was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and had come to Maui with three girlfriends. She saw people SUP paddling from the tour bus, went to a shop and bought a board and paddle, and ditched her friends. She extended her stay to keep paddling, but she was headed back in a few days. "I'm bringing this back to Milwaukee to paddle the lakes. Next time I come here I'm going to be surfing." I'm sure she did. If she could do it, and I could do it, you can do it.
Incidentally, 10'6 X 32" is a pretty big board, but it's a long way from the biggest and most stable. You can most likely rent something even more stable. You can also practice getting up in your living room. Get on your knees with a broomstick to act as paddle. Lean forward and put the stick down as you would place your paddle across a board. Keep your head up, looking at the wall, not the floor. Bring up one foot, then see if you can stand from that position. If you can, then just keep practicing that until the movements are easy. If you can't, you can bring the other foot completely forward so you are braced on feet and hands, and just stand up.
There are no rules about how you get to your feet, I have all kinds of balance and joint compromises. I'm sure I look very strange lurching to my feet, but all that matters is that you get there. Once you are there on a board, don't look down at the water, look out--either to the horizon or at least a good distance ahead of you.
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........but was assured they cater for all sizes.
Tell us what size board they put you on. I’m suggesting possible BS on them giving you the right size board for your weight. They wouldn’t be the first rental place to take someone’s money anyway, even though they know they don’t have a right board for you.
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........but was assured they cater for all sizes.
Tell us what size board they put you on. I’m suggesting possible BS on them giving you the right size board for your weight. They wouldn’t be the first rental place to take someone’s money anyway, even though they know they don’t have a right board for you.
She said 10'6" X 32". I'm not sure how size 16 translates to weight, but anyone struggling could start on something bigger. In the US, women who are size 16 range from 140 to 200 pounds. If you are under 200 that board would be OK but not necessarily ideal. Every inch of width adds a lot of stability. At 10 feet in length, 33" would feel better, 35" would feel like you were standing on a dock.
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I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.
Is this the board? https://www.sup-internationalmag.com/shaping-bay/oshea-10-6-hd-test-review/
If it is, it says 106x34x260L which should be ok for someone larger than you. If not, there are larger and more stable boards. I have had quite a bit of luck starting friends off paddling on similar sized or slightly smaller boards. It takes a little while to get your sea legs. Quickbeam's guidance sounds pretty sound. Also these boards tend to be more stable when they are moving so oftentimes it helps to take a few strokes kneeling and then when the board has forward motion, you can try to stand up. Hopefully you stay the course as SUP can give you years of health and happiness!
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I've taught people bigger than you, male and female. You're not that big for paddleboarding, trust me. What I use in my classes are 35 inch wide boards that are really easy to stand on. I tend to agree with the others that you need something wide to start on. You'll still fall, but so what? We all fall. That's a necessary part of learning.
Get on something really wide and work out your balance. If you need to stay on your knees, then that's fine. learn how to work your paddle, then when you're ready to stand, do so. Then you will probably fall, so just go over the whole process again. Soon you'll be getting up so quickly that the fall won't matter.
Also, put that leash on before you're on the board. That will solve that problem.
You can see me teaching a lesson on the pic I've included. (I'm in yellow.) The guy on the left (on the green board) weighs about as much as you do and he was trying SUP out for the first time. He stood and fell. He was on his knees and fell. By the end of the class could paddle okay, and he was stable on his knees. That's progress. Again, we were using my huge Imagine Surfers, but I actually got them because they're so stable. They give confidence to the beginner,
When you get on the water, think out your progression like that. Don't compare yourself with anyone else. And keep at it. Ask for a board extra wide to start on, like 34–35". Anything smaller might not be right for you. Once you get some skills down you'll progress to something smaller, but not yet. Go for wide and keep trying.
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Hmm, the board 805 found is 34" wide, which should be sufficiently stable, but it's an inflatable, which in my experience, feel less stable than hard boards and will be particularly challenging if they are not inflated to the maximum pressure allowed.
Anyway, we're all rooting for you. Keep at it, and keep us posted on your progress. It will come.
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I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.
Is this the board? https://www.sup-internationalmag.com/shaping-bay/oshea-10-6-hd-test-review/
If it is, it says 106x34x260L which should be ok for someone larger than you. If not, there are larger and more stable boards. I have had quite a bit of luck starting friends off paddling on similar sized or slightly smaller boards. It takes a little while to get your sea legs. Quickbeam's guidance sounds pretty sound. Also these boards tend to be more stable when they are moving so oftentimes it helps to take a few strokes kneeling and then when the board has forward motion, you can try to stand up. Hopefully you stay the course as SUP can give you years of health and happiness!
805, that board seems like it's the right width, but inflatables can be twitchy. A good hard board is easier. I use these. The plastic makes them a little easier to fall on.
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Don't give up, especially based on what you imagine other people are thinking. You have every right to learn at your own pace, and do not need to compare your pace to anyone else's. Where I live I get to watch beginners on rental boards almost every day, with no lessons. At first, they all fall off within a second or two of trying to stand up. The smart ones then paddle around on their knees for a few minutes so that their brain can start feeling and adjusting to the tippiness of the board on the water. After a while, some of the lighter ones are managing to stay on their feet for brief periods. Unless they are given appropriate boards for their size (which almost never happens), the bigger people will always be more challenged at first and will take a little longer, but they will progress. if they come back the next day, the progress is very noticeable. The only ones that don't progress are the ones that give up.
Here are a few tips that might help:
1. 'Board size' to 'person size' ratio is a big deal for all of us, beginner to expert. The size board you describe would be a good size for the average person to learn on. However, if it is perfect for them, it may be too small for you if you are bigger than them. I have an older friend who weighs about 220 lbs, and is very out of shape. He wants to learn, and asked me what size board to start on. I suggested a 10'8" X 36" if he wants a little challenge, or 11'2" X 40" if he wants life to be easy while he builds his confidence.
2. Forward momentum is your friend. Imagine trying to balance on a bicycle standing still; nearly impossible. Get that bike moving forward, and balance gets a lot easier. The same is true on a SUP. Whether you are on your knees, or on your feet, try to keep paddling to keep the board moving forward. The moment you stop paddling, balancing will become more challenging.
3. Someone earlier described the classic way to get to your feet. For myself, I have too many years and too many old injuries to get up that way most of the time. Here is a trick that works for some of us: Start on your knees, and paddle until the board has some forward momentum. When you are ready to stand up, first bring your feet up underneath one foot at a time you so that you are on the balls of your feet and sitting on your heels. Then hold the paddle in one hand, and stand it up vertically with the blade resting on the deck in front of you. Use this as a crutch to help you up, and to stabilize yourself on the way up. The moment you are upright, get the blade in the water and start paddling forward. If you are more flexible than some of us old injured types, the standard way may work better for you, but try both and see what happens.
4. Never try to balance with the blade out of the water. Having the paddle in the water is your third leg for stability. This is true whether you are on your feet or on your knees. Have you ever seen a two-legged stool? Nope, stools need at least three legs to be stable; same on a SUP, and the paddle either on the deck or in the water is that third leg. If your paddle is waving in the air trying to balance, you will fall.
5. Find totally calm water to practice on. Even one inch of chop on the water will make life ten times harder.
In answer to your question, there are a lot of paddlers on this forum who are big people (many are well over 200 lbs), and many of them are great paddlers. In most cases, they use boards that are bigger than the average-sized person. When they were learning, many started on boards that were much larger than the average beginner boards (or at least they wished they had). If you do not mind the challenge, you can stick with the same board and you will succeed as long as you do not quit. If you need some confidence building success, insist on something wider; at least 35" or 36" until you build your confidence.
Lastly, don't measure your success based on other people's progress. Base your success on your own progress. If you can do something a tiny bit better than you did the day before, that is progress, and progress is all that matters. When I recently had my second hip replaced, I was ecstatic when I could take two steps without crutches. It did not matter how many steps the patient down the hall was doing, all that mattered was that the next day I could take three steps. If you don't quit, you will progress.
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Horsey, my 1st board was 11'2 x 36" at 230 liters
Me: 285 lbs (130 kg)
Surfed all my life
1st day, I fell 100 times.
Now I am a certified Instructor.
My favorite student was a large 35 year old woman.
She wanted to paddle so much that she lost weight and came for a lesson.... down to a svelt 135 kg
I put her on the biggest board I had. She trembled... didn't have the strength to stand up and wanted to quit.
I said..... "You will be paddling before you leave here today!" :)
We went to a shallow spot, where I was in chest deep water, holding the tail of the board in a death grip.
"Go from kneeling with hands on the board and push yourself up quickly. Don't worry about falling, you are in deep enough water that you won't hit the bottom"
She fell
We went in to shallow water and got her back on.
"We keep trying till you are up!"
Soon, she was up and wobbling... but I held the board till she had her paddle in the water.
I got on my board and got her taking timid paddle strokes... but she wasn't falling.
Bottom line...... she paddled stronger and stronger for 45 minutes before she fell again.
This time, she wasn't afraid to fall..... getting up was much easier.
She went home a decent paddler... with a massive smile, and a new passion.
I think your board was too small..... find an 11' board that is at least 34" wide... preferably 36".
When you are on a big enough board... things will be so much easier!
I started at 130 kg.... paddling got me down to 95 kg in a year, and I have been SUP surfing around the world ever since.
I turned 70 surfing in Thailand and 71 surfing in Portugal.
SUP life and all it's people are awesome. Welcome to the addiction.... you will get there!!! :)
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@Ponobill & Ichibad: You are right... I forgot that the inflatable that I had was a Red Paddleboard which inflates to 25psi and was a lot closer to my hardboards than others I have used.
@Creek: Great pics... you are an inspiration!
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Hi everyone. I'm new here.
Without giving a long sob story, I've been through a complete and utter rubbish couple of years, put on weight due to some of that and have not felt great in general.
Thought it was about time to stop feeling sorry for myself, lose some weight, get a better level of fitness again and challenge myself socially and do new things and try to get back to the person I once was! Positive attitude and all that.
A friend of mine started paddleboarding last summer and I've thought it looked fun for a long time but being self-conscious and worrying about making a fool of myself put me off.
I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a four week course.
I had my first lesson yesterday and it did not go well. I knew I'd be a bit rubbish but I exceeded my already low expectations and was without a doubt, the worst in a class of 15 others.
I'm a size 16(UK) so knew I'd probably be one of the bigger people but was assured they cater for all sizes.
I have completely reinforced the 'fat lass struggling in the corner' stereotype. I was embarrassingly bad.
I had zero balance (found it difficult to so much as move slightly on the board i.e. changing leg position, leaning back to tighten leash, going from kneeling to sitting).
I had read that it was a fairly easy sport to get to grips with the basics and that bigger people can do it fine so went in thinking I'd be ok.
I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.
Is it just a case of practicing? I feel so low and disheartened and kinda hate myself for how it went.
Anyone else either overweight or a bigger or muscled/heavier person that has mastered it eventually?
Went into it so positive and now feel like it's never going to happen.
I'm ashamed to show my face for next week's lesson!
Sorry for the length of this. I'm not looking for sympathy, just an answer as to whether it's doable for someone like me or whether I should put it down to experience and move on?
Thanks.
Keep going.....
you know that already.
Inflatable? (..805 showed it...)
Don't matter the inflatable.....
They're twitchy...like Ichy said......
I can imagine trying to learn on a 32 x 10'6 inflatable never doing this before.
Did you get wet?
Some place giving lessons had the board?
I'll bet it was under inflated as well.....
Does not sound like the board I would choose to try and get someone out on the water with.....
But you'll get it,
even on that...…
but do check the air......12 lbs. vs. 15 and especially to 18 is huge...…..
if not.....go rent a hard board somewhere...…..same or bigger dimensions if possible...
Night and day....
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Size 16 is the most common size for a woman in the UK. So it’s definitely not your weight that is the problem. Although a bigger board would help, if the one you tried was only 32” wide.
SUP is not easy when you start. In fact it can often seem almost impossible, if you have been leading a pretty sedentary life. But it is amazing how quickly you improve if you stick with it. Your brain and body just needs to be given time to adjust to being on a wobbly surface. After all, that’s really unnatural - we are land-based creatures and the land doesn’t wobble. So there’s a lot of reconfiguration of your brain and body that has to happen.
It’s a lot like riding a bike: when you first learnt to ride a bike it probably seemed totally impossible at first, right? But once your brain and body have adapted to it, it seems perfectly natural.
There’s no doubt that carrying extra weight makes things harder for SUP. In my first year of SUP I lost 35lbs (just through doing SUP, nothing else), and it made a huge difference to my ability to balance. It was really hard at first, and I had to find a place to practice that was well away from prying eyes, to save my dignity. I think our musculature and balance systems are designed for a certain weight, and if you aren’t the weight that your body naturally wants to be then you feel a bit unbalanced.
So, keep at it. Accept that you may be behind everyone else now, but that in a year’s time you might be the best of the bunch. If you were watching an adult learning to ride a bike for the first time, and struggling, what advice would you give them? Give that advice to yourself. And most importantly of all, try to have fun, and persevere: people will respect you much more for that than the speed with which you learn.
Good luck!
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Horsey,
First off, welcome to the forum!
Second, after periods of inactivity our bodies take a while to adjust to what we are demanding of them. Seemingly basic stuff may even be painful. This is going to change but it does take patience.
Third, two practical tips:
As an exercise stand up with your feet at shoulder width and toes forward. Shift your weight from one foot to another. Now check what you just did. Did your shoulders and head move above the foot that you were weighting? If so that would likely be a fall on the water. Try again and weight one foot only by shifting your hips (leave your head and shoulders centered between your feet). Now weigh the other foot. Now back and forth. This weight shift is how you counter an unstable board. Like anything else it is a learned motion. Once you have it you have it:)
How you rise to standing is the foundation. You will want to know what you want to do there before you start. Make a mental program of your motions and practice them on dry land. It is best to hold your paddle shaft square across the board in front of you. The paddle blade should be flat on the water. This adds stability. Hand position is shoulder width. Your hands will be fists around the shaft with the heels of your palms and knuckles on the deck of the board. You want to be kneeling facing the nose and you will want to skootch (that is a technical term :) ) your knees toward your hands so that you are in a tight but comfortable kneel. In that position you can rock your body fore and aft to feel for the balance line on the board. Your goal here is to set your feet on that balance line. Take your time here. A lot of falls are determined before you ever stand. Being in the right spot will solve this. Take a little stroke to get some forward motion as soon as you are on your feet even if your are not entirely balanced yet. Forward motion adds a lot of stability and you will find that your minor adjustments go easier with this motion.
You can do this. As always, the hardest part is not allowing the perceptions of others to determine what you will do. In a year you will look back on this and you will be the one watching beginners struggle with the same things. Accomplishment through persistence carries an amazing reward...and you are on your way.
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horsey,
First of all you are not that BIG by this forum's standards and there were alot of good points made.
First learn at your own rate stay on your knees till you are comfortable.
Definitely, get a hard board and go to at least 34" but 36" would be better
Last but NOT least folks with compromised balance remember this..."If you look down you fall down!" Look out to the horizon not down at your feet/water
The Zone is a great resource of knowledge tap it when you need it.
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing & Resident BIG GUY!
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Creek that’s a very impressive before/after...
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Another Big Guy Supster here. Lots of great info here particularly that size is your friend. If there was a mistake to be made learning, I made it. My two biggest mistakes was not understanding the conditions I was learning in. Wind, current, crowds etc. and how they impact learning. Know the conditions you are in. My second biggest mistake was trying to learn too many things at one time be patient with each step and it will come. Being on a stand up is counter intuitive. Whether on your knees, standing, or surfing it is a learning curve and time on the water is a must. This will include plenty of falling. Learn how to fall. I have had seasoned surfers get on my boards and they couldn't stand on it either.
Once I learned to paddle correctly and that my paddle in the water and moving gave stability it got easier. Instead of putting your arms up for balance- paddle, paddle, paddle. It stands you back up.
Additionally, there are some really good quality instructional videos out there. I found watching them over and over transferred really well to the water. In my opinion Rob Stehlik from Blue Planet Surf has the best and most reliable beginner videos out there. They are zone sponsors and usually pop up in a banner. Just click it and search how to on his site.
Lastly, stay at it. The fun factor so out weighs the learning curve.
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Hi guys.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the replies. The support and friendliness is much appreciated.
I've had a hectic few days so haven't been online much but I'll read through everything fully over the next day and reply properly.
Didn't want anyone to think I'd gone quiet and didn't appreciate people taking the time to reply - just been super busy.
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Horsey, not much I can add here other than echo what others had previously said...that yes, in the beginning it looks/feels like you're trying to balance a unicycle on a basketball atop a skateboard. But also yes, it does get easier, and you start staying drier the more time you give it, and soon what at one time seemed impossible...is a blast, and sooner your encouraging and showing others how to do it.
My only real piece of advice to you is what I was given my 1st time out when wet, cold, and discouraged I prone paddled over to an older fella I'd never seen before, who looked like he could dance a jig while on his little SUP, that when I finally made it over to him inquired, "Excuse me, but what's the secret to these things?"...his one-word reply that was priceless, and spot on was, "Practice". :o ;D
The sport is also so cool and welcoming....the two of us became, and remain best of friends after my brief initial desperation encounter with him some eight years ago now already. He's been battling cancer the past year and a half (and kicking its ass) so I haven't surfed or paddled with him in quite a while, but we text or talk daily, and I can't wait to get back out there with him soon...because if it wasn't for him, I might have just handed back the borrowed board and paddle, and never found the great sport, and all of the great folks you meet, and community you get swallowed up in because of it.
So my three words of advice - Don't. Give. Up. :)
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Whole cow creek, that's amazing...that hair cut makes you look like a completely different person! ;) ;D
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Hi guys.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the replies. The support and friendliness is much appreciated.
I've had a hectic few days so haven't been online much but I'll read through everything fully over the next day and reply properly.
Didn't want anyone to think I'd gone quiet and didn't appreciate people taking the time to reply - just been super busy.
Glad to see you back, I thought we might have been talking to ourselves. Please know that we are all pulling for you, we've all been there. It's a great ride from there to wherever you wind up.
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Horsey, you got this!
I want to assume that when you say size 16 you're 16 stone and not some dress size I have no frame of reference for. My mass runs from 18 to 17 stone (113Kg to 109Kg), so like my bigger forum friends Pono, Creek, JimK and real friend Bulky, I know it can be done.
First thing is, your board can't be too big or too wide to start out. Creek started on a Starboard Avanti, 11-6 x 36. I call that perfect. When I started, some shop near the beach rented me some 29-inch toothpick and said that's the biggest they had. 10 years later and I'd still struggle to stay upright on that board. I switched out to a 12-2 x 33-inch board and started making progress. The first board that I purchased was 10 foot x34 inch and it was great to learn on. Find a huge board and get the next size bigger. :D
I'd agree with pretty much everything else said here. Don't give up, time on the water is super valuable.
Side note: my bigger little brother is recovering from a motorcycle accident, and I'm tempted to get him a board in that range. It just makes learning so much easier.
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Inflatable not the best to learn on.
I am small and had to go to a 10'6" x 32" x 180 to figure it out.
Rent a Battlestar Galactica. You cannot go too wide or too big to start!
Have fun in your quest. It will come to you once you have a board that works for you!
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Horse... I re-read a bit so I did not duplicate, but I would print a water-proof copy of Nalu's instructions. My balance is actually degrading rather than improving, so I keep looking for things I can do easily to challenge it during a regular day. Taking forward steps where your heel plunks into your toe is no easy thing for me. I got cocky a number of years ago after seeing acrobats on Venice Beach doing Slack Line - I got up to 5-10sec. ...and kept snapping my crotch.
I re-discovered Slack Line in the form of a 16' 4x4 from Home Depot. I propped it up on another 4x4 and about busted my ass a few times as it rolled. I made a cradle to prevent the roll and jump it every time I am near it at work. I got 3-4 steps ...4-6... 'on a good day', I can walk it.
Some are simply 'naturals' — those of us who are not have to work at it. Press on... show them little F'ers.
Jim
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go big early!
like biggie says: go big, dont buy other than cheap used, or rent
and just start paddling--if you feel solid on the starter barge, push your limits til you fall in--see how far you can push
get barge-solid, and only then shd you consider a serious purchase of board and paddle---come here for best advice then
inflatable? simply...NO
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Hi everyone, I'm back!
I'll try and reply to everyone's replies. Be forewarned, this will probably be super long.
Thought I'd give a brief update on the situation.
I went out on Monday with my experienced friend. She hired a board from her friend who instructs and has his own business, selling equipment.
We had a 9'6 Jobe windsurfing board which I believe was 35" or 36" wide and I felt so much happier.
We went out to a little bay/small beach. I mostly stayed in water that was only *just* too deep for me to put my feet down but I fell off a few times and didn't panic so much and all in all, had a nice time. I managed to stand up and paddle for maybe 5 minutes at a time, before losing my nerve and kneeling again.
I had my second lesson on Wednesday night, back on one of the centre's boards. I took their most stable one which was 11'6 (I think!) by 32" (that's the widest they have) and I totally panicked again. We started off in the small pool again for about 10 minutes, before moving out onto the river.
I stood up for all of about 1 minute and my legs were shaking like jelly!
I've come to the conclusion that it's being in a large group and also the fear of falling off in very deep water. 😳 Think I clearly have some social anxiety going on!
Totally typical of my logic: terrified in an enclosed, safe class environment but completely fine in shallower water in the sea(!), with a friend. 😆 I make no sense.
I've booked a private one to one session before the third week of class. I'm hoping once I get over the fear of standing up and staying up, I won't be so worried about it in a large group lesson come week 3.
Windwarrior: Thank you. I've taken on a lot of advice from yourself and others. I admit I did 97% of the last session on my knees!
Dusk Patrol: I'm definitely planning on this being the way forward for a while. I'd like to rent the wide board again - I just hope I can get over the issue in big groups. All the follow-up/social club paddles (after the end of the 4 week course) will be on a Wed evening in a group, with a trained instructor at the front and back. Realistically that's the only way I'm going to get out safely, longterm.
Ststesting:
I was repeating your mantra of reteaching my brain when I went out on the sea - it helped me try to stop over correcting. :)
Bulky: Thanks for the encouragement. Impressed at your goddaughter. Wow!
Well done for pushing through, having had people laugh at you (that's awful - shame on them!). Bet if you could see the same people now, you'd have the last laugh.
Thank you, Bean. I had a brief smile through the panic, last lesson. 😆
JEG: That's my plan for the one to one. I'm going to put on my brave pants and just try to concentrate on getting up and down repeatedly, while it's just me and the instructor so hopefully I won't freak about falling so much.
Wetstuff: I'm about 15 stone😳 UK dress size 16.
Thank you, you are completely right. I've realised it's totally a mental thing with me and getting over the worry.
Quickbeam:
Thank you, it did make sense and I've remembered as a technique to try as my confidence hopefully gets better.
PonoBill: Thank you for sharing both your own story and the lady's. It's really helped and given me some inspiration.
Dwight: Tried the biggest one they had last week 11'2 x 32" - still felt unstable but felt a lot more comfortable on the 35" (maybe 36") one my friend rented Monday. Sadly that's not available for use during the lessons. The biggest one they have is the 11'2, I was on.
805Standup: Thank you. I think I ultimately have to get used to a 32" wide board if I want to continue paddling through the organised groups/from the white water centre. I'm hoping I can stick with it! We will see.
Ichabod: As mentioned above, sadly I'm stuck at 32" if I want to continue doing it safely, setting off from the centre. I'm hoping to get out more with my friend, on a casual "playing around/practicing" basis, in which case we can rent the 35" again. Totally agree with you though, my confidence was miles higher on the wider board.
I should also mention, I'm limited to inflatable only, from
a local resource POV. No one has hardboards to use or hire.
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Nalu-sup: Thank you for the kind words and advice. I did use the paddle vertically to stand up, this time round and it worked for me. :)
Supthecreek: You look amazing! Please can you be my 'thinspiration'?!
One of the reasons I'm wanting to keep going is to get fit and lose weight. You look absolutely awesome!
Your 35yo student sounds like me! I'm trying to use the lessons as something to push myself out if my comfort zone and a reason to eat healthy!
Lucabrasi: Yes, on the 10'6 x 32", I got very wet. Spent more time drinking water than I had hoped. Haha!
I'm limited to what the centre has, unfortunately. There only seems to be the small community of paddleboarders and instructors that work around or from the centre, in my area.
Area 10: Thank you for the kind words. I would tell the adult riding a bike that they were doing well and to keep going and I respected them for trying. Perhaps I do need to take my own advice after all, oops!
Admin: I checked my position on solid ground and yes, I did sort of 'roll' forward subconsciously when shifting weight into my right foot.
I'm hopefully going to practice your method of the paddle straight across in front of me, during my one to one on Tues. Fingers crossed!
JimK: Thank you. I'm hoping to rent the 35" inflatable again, as said above but that's the best I have access to.
Ospreysup: Thank you for the advice and the video recommendations. I'm definitely going to watch them when I get a chance.
SanoSlatch: Thanks. :) I loved the way you described balancing. It did make me laugh. I'm feeling happier that the replies are pretty much telling me it's all practice. It's making me feel like it may be doable, after all.
Glad to hear your friend is kicking cancer in the butt! :)
SlatchJim: I'm 15 stone. Maybe one day I can buy myself a decent board i feel comfortable on, if I stick at it. It's frustrating that the size choice to rent round here is limited.
Best wishes to your brother in his recovery.
I have to pop out but I'll reply to everyone else once I'm home.
Thanks again to everyone for the encouragement.
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Very cool of you to respond to everyone. People are generally kind and polite here, but we sometimes forget to acknowledge the help we get from others--I know that I do.
The used board market is often full of large, wide beginner boards, because that's the first thing people buy and outgrow. You might be able to pick something up locally for about the cost of a few rentals. The big advantage of committing to your own board is that it IS a commitment, and you'll get used to the board quickly.