Inflatable Paddle Board

Stand Up Paddle, origin and evolution

The Stand up paddle was born from the fusion between surfing and canoe. It was in the 90s that Laird Amilton and Dave Kalama revived this form of water sport on the coasts of Maui, which was already practiced well before the 50s and the oblivion of this activity with the advent of short boards, which somewhat slowed down the development of its popularity.

However, this activity really became popular in 2004 during a competition in Hawaii. When, Lord Amilton had a stroke of genius when he decided to use a classic surfboard and a paddle. Today the SUP is used for different needs and depending on the need the board differs.

3 ways to use your paddle:

Surfing: SUP boards for surfing have reduced thicknesses and lengths
Running: SUP boards are longer, a little narrower and more aerodynamic, like kayaks sea
Walking around: SUP boards are quite wide and long and offer great stability.

SUP: the different models

There are 2 types of SUP boards:

rigid SUP: they are made like surfboards (material, shape, etc.)
Inflatable SUPs: are constantly evolving over the years to provide better sensations for practitioners and also better performances for competitors. The inflatable stands are made of a material called "dropstitch".

Equipment and essential sup accessories

To practice Stand up Paddle, you absolutely need the sup accessories below:

Leash paddle = the small rope attached to the ankle that connects the surfer to his board)
Paddle Life Vest = to keep you safe
Inflatable Paddle = inflatable or rigid
Paddle Paddle = for you to navigate

Inflatable or rigid paddle?

This is the question that many people ask themselves when they decide to start their first stand up paddle (SUP) because they cannot choose or know what would suit them best. Generally they hesitate between rigid stand and stand inflatable.

Why choose an inflatable paddle board?

You can move anywhere very easily with an inflatable paddle board
The inflatable paddle board does not weigh not heavy and is very resistant to shocks
The inflatable paddle helps prevent accidents that could damage it
Plastimo Inflatable Gateway is more accessible in terms of price and can remain inflated so to ensure immediate availability for regular use

Rigid stand up paddle, good to know

It is important to know that if you choose a rigid stand up paddle, you will need to make sure you have a suitable place to store it (like in a garage, for example). The rigid SUP has the following advantages:

Provides better performance to the surfer
Its rigidity offers stability
More inertia in the water

In conclusion, there is no exact science to choosing your paddle. This will mainly depend on your needs (leisure or competition) and the degree of use.