Attributed to Un-Cruise Adventures, Stand-up paddle board – Safari Explorer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Paddle boards have various sizes and shapes. The most common factor between them is they consist of fibreglass bound around an EPS foam core. If you have been under the impression that paddle boards and surfboards are similar, you are more likely to be wrong. The paddle board should be more solid than a normal surfboard.
Where can you practise the boarding? If you are staying at one of the 5 star hotels, Abu Dhabi has to offer that problem is almost solved. If you have your equipment ready, it is simply a matter of settling down in one of the 5 star hotels such as Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. These 5 star hotels have a beach in the backyard, so paddle boarding is quite convenient.
A normal paddle board is around 12 feet long while 32 inches wide and five inches thick. If you are new to the game, then the best bet is to choose a more solid one that is longer, thicker and wider than the average. When you go for a more solid one, you will be at more advantage because you will feel stable on it. As you master the game gradually, you can then move onto a smaller board.
After board, comes the paddle. It comes in various forms such as aluminium, wood, carbon fibre and plastic. Before touching the paddle, you should remember this rule of thumb: the paddle should be at least six inches above your height. You need to size the paddle on its longer side when you are paddling on flat water. If you paddle over the surf, reach for the shorter side of the paddle. This is simply because the blade will be bent at the slightest angle to the shaft.
There is more to stand up paddle boarding, though you need to be familiar with the board and the paddle at the outset. Once you are familiar with them, the rest is much easier to follow.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.