How to Stay Safe on a Paddle Board

Like anything that involves water, there is an element of risk. While much of the time, you might be stood upright without falling over, there are many hazards to consider. Not that we are trying to put you off – we just want to ensure that you stay safe and enjoy your experience. We take a look at paddle board safety and what you need to think about before you get on the water.

Take a Lesson

While you may just want to get out on the board on a local lake or waterway and feel that you don’t need to take a lesson, you will be glad you did. You will learn so much from a lesson or two including:

• Paddling backwards and forward
• Turning
• Getting back on after falling in
• Moving from kneeling to standing
• General paddle board safety

These elements will make you a more confident paddle boarder and you will look like you know what you are doing when you get on the board amongst other paddlers.

Tides/Currents

How many times have we seen the coastguard called out to our home town of Weston-super-Mare because people ignore the warnings and get swept out to sea. They think they can walk from the shore across to Brean and ignore the rip tide warnings. It’s a false sense of security – it doesn’t look far. The thing is with any body of water, unless you know the area really well, you rarely know where the currents are strong. That is why you should always take heed of any warnings and follow the advice.

If you know the time that you are going out, familiarise yourself with the tide times. Also, do your research on local rivers and waterways. If you are using canals, what times do locks open/close. Are there bridge swings etc.

Watch Out for Others

You are often not alone on rivers and surf. Often there are lots of hazards out there to be mindful of. Swimmers, canoes, kayaks, fishermen. If fishermen are casting from the banks, it wouldn’t be unheard of to get speared by a flying hook! Be careful when passing fishermen and make sure they can see you. Also, watch out for boats and other obstacles. If you are getting onto a busy body of water, be confident that you can manoeuvre your board out of the way. It’s to lose your balance and get knocked off when standing when something bumps into you.

From personal experience, we can tell you that you should always be careful when paddling under bridges. Not only can the river get narrower or more shallow but you often will see kids jumping off them into the water of worse, people fishing off them. Be mindful of all of the things going on around you, especially on busy summer days.

Wear a Flotation/Life Jacket

You should not entertain going out on the water without some sort of buoyancy aid or life jacket. A PFD is a popular option. Choose an inflatable belt pack PFD that is triggered when you pull a tab that can either be secured around your waist or tethered to your paddle board. Where children are concerned, a buoyancy aid is critical. Even the best swimmers should not get on the water without one.

Use a Leash

Most inflatable SUPs come with a leash that tethers you to the board – usually by your ankle. This means that you are attached to the board at all times and if you fall off, you have something to hold onto. If you lose your board, you lose your flotation device. You need to be aware of how to use it properly to prevent becoming tangled in it.

Be Mindful of Hazards

There are so many potential hazards, other than people, to watch out for when paddling:

• Rocks when close to the shore
• Pebbles and rocks in shallow water that can scrape the bottom of your board
• Running aground and damaging your board in shallow water
• Getting tangled up in reeds

Do a quick recce of the area, stick to the middle of the river and don’t start paddling until you are out of the shallow waters.

Take Your Phone

So… this one could be considered as questionable. No-one wants to lose their phone to the river or the surf but if you get lost, get into trouble and need assistance, you will be glad you have it. Invest in a waterproof case and keep it around your neck or in a tow bag to keep it doubly dry. If it is stored in a case, we always pop some money in the back to buy a spot of lunch or a coffee if we see somewhere nice along the river.

Try to Avoid Going Alone

While paddle boarding may be your sanctuary and how you enjoy some peace and alone time, you are more at risk if you go out on the board on your own. If you do, ensure you have your phone with you, tell someone where you are going and share your location with others. If you can go out with friends or family, this will be less of a risk should get into difficulty. You may want to take a whistle with you in your dry bag / tow bag for emergencies.

Use an Anchor

This will only be appropriate in certain situations where you want to keep your paddle board still. Perhaps you are into paddle board yoga or you want to fish from your board. An anchor will allow you to stabilise the board. Choose something like a Mushroom anchor which weighs 8-10lb and has a reasonable length of rope to allow it to reach the bottom.

Don’t Buy Cheap Equipment

We aren’t saying that you need to spend an absolute fortune on a paddle board but you should avoid cheap as chips equipment that looks too good to be true. It often is! there are plenty of cheap deals around but they are often sub standard, unreliable equipment that will not only fail after a short time but that could put you in danger. To ensure paddle board safety, ensure you invest in a paddle board made by a reputable company.

Now that we have finished the safety briefing, be sure to enjoy your time on the water.