Page 35 - 2022-08-01 Paddling Magazine

PADDLEBOARD IS THERE A WEIGHT LIMIT FOR PADDLEBOARDS?
SIZE CHARTS No matter your size or weight, you can have fun on a paddleboard. There’s a board out there for every weight
Many SUP calculators are avail- range. The important thing is ensuring whatever board you choose has a weight capacity that exceeds your
able online to factor in a paddler’s weight and the weight of the gear, pets or kids you bring. You can’t be too light for a paddleboard, but you
weight and spit back a recommended can be too heavy for a specific board. Exceeding the weight capacity of your board will make for a poor
paddleboard size. However, they’re paddling experience.
generalizations at best. There’s no
secret formula to finding the perfect PRO
board. The best place to begin is to TIPS
identify which category of board suits
the paddling you’ll do most often, and
then identify the boards that suit your
weight, rather than prematurely get-
ting stuck on dimensions.
That said, Red Bull SUP athlete
Casper Steinfath offers this advice:
“If you are a beginner paddling on
mixed water without much experience,
I would suggest looking for a board PHOTO: COURTESY JENNIFER RUDSKI
at least 32 inches wide that carries PHOTO: ASHLEY VOYKIN
volume equivalent to at least 2.5 liters
times your weight in kilos.”
When sizing a paddleboard, a
paddler’s height is a far less impor-
tant consideration than the paddler’s JENIFER RUDSKI RETA BOYCHUK
weight and the combined weight of Soul SUPer, surfer, yogi, Whitewater SUP instructor,
the paddler and gear they expect to and owner of Oceah Oceah athlete and founder of
carry. However, height may be a con- STATS: 5’9”// 135 LBS CANRVRSUP Collective
sideration for very tall paddlers, who “I’ve designed my perfect board. It’s a bamboo hard- “River paddling requires a wider board for stability
have a higher center of gravity and board, 11.5 feet by 34 inches by 3.5 inches thick, in turbulent waters. The higher volume of a wide
therefore may be more comfortable on rounded nose and pulled in square tail, weighing 30 board allows it to be shorter—just 9.5 feet. This cre-
a slightly wider and more stable board. pounds. The length makes touring and exploring a ates better maneuverability to catch eddies with ease
Choosing a board size is just the breeze with enough width for flow yoga. The thick- or avoid hazards. The most important feature [in a
beginning of your SUP journey. Don’t ness makes it inclusive of all shapes and sizes because I whitewater SUP] is continual rocker; this allows you
buy a board without understanding love to share SUP with everyone. A lightweight board to engage your edges, crest waves and surf easily.
hull types, fin systems, differences is important for accessibility and transportation. And These components allow my SUP to feel playful and
between hard boards and inflatable two-tone bamboo is not only beautiful but also a smooth as I paddle in the current.”
SUPs, SUP construction, and other renewable resource and creates a lightweight board
unique details. See Paddling Maga- that performs beautifully on the water.”
zine’s article on how to find the perfect
paddleboard (paddlingmag.com/0111)
for even more info.

ARIEL AMARAL
International SUP racer, instructor, surfer
“Young kids want to start feeling confident and comfortable, so I
have learned that going with a big stable board with lots of volume
when they are small is the key. They don’t need a lot of width
with their small stance, but the extra length is nice as they tend
to topple to the front or back without necessarily falling off. Once
they build some strength and weight to their frame, going with a
PHOTO: COURTESY ARIEL AMARAL board like an eight-foot-long board or inflatable SUP gives you
faster sleeker board is exciting. Going with a kid-friendly soft-top
peace of mind and allows for easier maneuvering, especially if they
are launching from a dock.”

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