When purchasing a paddle board you often don’t consider the paddle, your main focus is on the board itself, however you soon become to realise the limitations that come with the paddle supplied.
Here at Wake2o we have a wide range of SUP paddles, so there is something for everyone. Majority of paddle board packages come with an aluminium or alloy paddle with a plastic/nylon blade. These paddles are placed in packages are they are affordable and get you out onto the water and help you develop your skills. It will only take borrowing your friends fibreglass or carbon paddle to discover what you’re missing out on.
There are a couple of different attributes to consider so let’s got through them.
This is the next SUP paddle up from an aluminium one. Fibreglass paddles are more lightweight and have a stiffer shaft, resulting in them being more direct compared to an aluminium paddle. Another thing you will notice buy switching to a fibreglass paddle from aluminium is that they aren’t cold to touch, this benefit of this is that you won’t suffer hand fatigue meaning you can stay out paddling for longer!
Upgrading your paddle to a carbon paddle is the real game changer. Top of the market material in paddles, therefore resulting in a much more direct and strong paddle. You may feel your paddle interacting with the water more with each stroke, feeling much more stable and less fluttery. A carbon paddle is even lighter than a fibreglass one as well as being stiffer, helping create more speed with each stroke.
The next thing you need to consider is the blade size of your paddle. Everyone is different so blade sizing is trial and error. Of course different size blades have different advantages, think of it like changing gear on your bike till you find what gear you’re more comfortable with, finding the right paddle blade is like that.
A smaller blade is great for speed. Typically the smaller and lighter the rider the better a smaller blade will suit. Smaller blades are also brilliant for long distances as you conserve energy more.
Larger blades provide the paddler with more power but you compensate with the speed. Larger blades are ideal for heavier and taller riders. They can be used for shorter distances as you don’t have to worry about fatigue.
One of the most common method to get the correct height on your paddle is by putting the blade on the floor and holding the paddle up straight, parallel to your body. Reach your arm up and adjust the handle to be at the same height as your hand, make sure that the handle feels comfortable to check the position. Once you have adjusted the height make sure to do the clasp back up and you're good to go
It's often that you see beginners holding their paddle the wrong way round. To make sure this isn't you, remember these tips:
- The curve of the paddle blade should face the nose of the board.
- When swapping sides you're paddling on, swap your hands around. So if you're paddling on the left, have your right hand at the top on the handle and your left on the shaft, about shoulder width apart. When paddling on your right, just switch the hands round.
