Paddleboarding is becoming more and more popular. Many are curious about this outdoor activity and may want to try it. Yet, many may hesitate to try it, wondering, “Is paddle boarding hard?” The short answer is no, basic paddle boarding is not hard. People of all ages and fitness levels can learn to paddleboard.

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The long answer is paddle boarding can be as hard as you want. With the right board, you can learn to stand up and balance on calm water pretty quickly. The easiest boards to balance on are long wide boards. You can find the best boards for families, leisure, and beginners here.

If you don’t feel comfortable standing on a paddleboard, you can sit and paddle. People who want a challenge can paddle on rougher waters, challenge themselves with speed and distance, and even try to do other things on paddleboards like yoga and workouts.

How to Stand Up on a Paddleboard

When you first get in the water, try paddling around while sitting. Once you feel comfortable sitting, next try paddling on your knees for a bit. After you feel comfortable on your knees, you can try standing. Make sure you are in deep enough water with no shallow rocks around. Before standing, paddle to get your paddle board moving. It is easier to stand on a moving paddleboard than it is to stand on one floating stagnant in the water.

Next, place your feet about shoulder-width apart at about the middle of your board. This is often near the center carrying handle on the board.

When you stand up, look straight out, not down at your feet. You can slightly tighten your core for better balance. Once standing, paddle with one hand at the top handle of the paddle and one on the arm of the paddle.

How to Steer a Paddleboard

If you are not familiar with steering a paddleboard, kayak, or canoe, work on steering while you are sitting on the paddleboard. To go left, paddle on the right side, and to go right paddle on the left side. Your board will turn more sharply if you paddle farther away from the board. The board will go a bit straighter if you paddle very close to your board.

How to Turn Your Paddleboard Around Quickly

One way to turn quickly is to simply paddle backward. Stong slow strokes work best. When you paddle backward on the left side, the paddleboard will turn quickly to the left and vice versa.

If you are comfortable standing on your paddleboard and comfortable stepping forward and back on your board, you can move to the back of the board to turn more quickly. When you step to the back of the board and paddle, your paddleboard will make a sharper turn. When we first started paddleboarding, we spent an afternoon just practicing walking/stepping forward and backward on the board.

How to Get Back On the Paddleboard After You Have Fallen Off

When we first got our boards, we were so worried we would fall off our boards in the middle of some big lake or river and not be able to get back on. We decided to intentionally get off our board when we were close to the shore. That way we could practice getting back on, but if we couldn’t do it, we would just swim to shore.

Getting back on was pretty simple. To get on, reach over to the side of the board farthest away from you, and pull yourself up. It may feel like you are going to flip your board, but your body weight is going to push the board down as you pull yourself onto the board. Once I get my upper body on the board, I just bring one leg up and kind of roll onto the board.

Are Paddle Boards Hard to Maintain and Store?

We live in a neighborhood with a strict HOA. We couldn’t store a boat even if we wanted one. Our paddleboards are actually inflatable. We can hang our paddleboards out of the way in the garage. They are so compact! It’s fantastic!

It’s not only easy to store, but also easy to maintain. You just rinse it off, wipe it down, and let it dry before you pack it away. That is it! Our inflatable boards also come with patches just in case you need to patch a hole. You do have to purchase paddleboard patch glue separately. However, these boards are made out of the material used by NASA and are rarely in need of patching.

Things to Do On a Paddleboard

As mentioned earlier, paddleboarding can be as adventurous or as relaxing as you want. The paddleboard is truly a versatile watercraft. I never thought I would love a paddleboard until the day I tried out my friend’s boards. I recently let another friend try out my board, and now she is completely in love. Nothing feels so empowering and peaceful at the same time quite like paddle boarding, and the more I paddleboard the more I love about it.

Thanks to the multitude of attachments, these boards are super versatile. You can add a seat and use them more like a kayak. You can lie on one like it’s a float. You can attach waterproof speakers, anchors, and fishing rods. You can store food and drinks in coolers, camping chairs, and picnic blankets in dry bags. All can be easily stored on a paddleboard. Check out some of the best paddleboard accessories and attachments here.

Below are my Top Things to Do on a Paddleboard (You will see the activities range from easy to hard)

Relax

Sure you can go full out, pushing yourself to paddle as fast as you can down the water, OR you can slowly float while holding a drink in your hand, paddling only occasionally to adjust and ever so gradually move forward. You can even lie down on the paddleboard and float. There is nothing like floating along while listening to the sounds of steel drums coming from your waterproof floatable speaker.

Workout

I mean where else can you workout while holding a beer? You can strengthen your core, feel the burn in both your arms and legs, and develop your balance all at the same time! Just paddling is a workout, but you can also do exercises like planks, squats, and push-ups. In fact, I made a paddleboard workout video for you. You can see it here. (You may want to leave the beer behind for this type of workout). I have even turned on the music and “danced” on the paddleboard!

You can actually find a Full-body Paddleboard Workout Routine here.

Socialize

I love my girl time on the water. We play music, eat snacks, and laugh until we have to jump in the water for a pee break. (You know you do it too). I also love having a paddleboard date with my husband. So much more fun than just going to dinner.

Discover Nature

Being in nature reminds me of how amazing our world is. God gave us such beauty, and I get to see it at every turn while floating down the water. Paddleboards can also take you where boats can’t go, and they are quieter, so we don’t scare off the wildlife as easily. We have discovered majestic waterfalls that were hidden deep in mysterious coves, and we have quietly passed by birds, turtles, and fish as we float along shorelines.

Build Strength and Confidence

I mentioned earlier that paddleboards bring a feeling of empowerment. This is one of those feelings you might just have to experience to understand. As you are standing so close to the water, you can feel the waves rocking. You are surrounded by water on all sides. No railing or seats; just nature as far as the eye can see. There is nothing between you and nature. It almost feels like you are standing on water.

Pray

If you are a person of faith, you may find that you feel closer to the creator while in nature. Looking at God’s world up close and personal can help us to appreciate how amazing the world is. When I am on the paddleboard, alone, I get a chance to slow down, let go of the business of my life, listen for God’s whisper, and be in God’s presence. I can’t deal with anything else while I’m on a paddleboard, out in the middle of some body of water. When you are alone on a paddleboard, you can’t really do anything BUT relax and be present.

Spend Time with Family

My 11-year-old and 7-year-old love paddle boarding. We get to connect as a family AND learn about nature AND get the family moving together! My kids’ favorite things to do are picnicking on an island, swimming on a sand bar, or snorkeling by a newly discovered beach. We can spend a whole day and still not be ready to go home.

So Is Paddle boarding easy? It is pretty simple to learn to stand on a paddleboard. You can take it slowly and stand when you feel ready. When you have mastered standing, you can work on speed and moving on the board to challenge yourself. Paddleboarding is a beautiful activity for people who like to chill and for people who like adventure.