Paddleboarding is an extremely safe sport – if you have the right safety equipment and know the right information.
So, what safety equipment and information do you need? This very much depends on what level you’re at, and what you’re wanting to do. Have a look down the list below, and click on the appropriate header that matches where you’re at.
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
- How to choose the right gear
- Getting lessons vs teaching yourself
- Where to go paddling
- What conditions to go paddling in
- The basics of paddling
- How to check the weather
- What to do if things go wrong
Check our New to SUP section for all this information, and more.
.So you’ve been paddling a few times, you’ve got the hang of the basics, and you’re wondering what to do and where to go next?
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
Need to Know:
- What are my options in terms of progressing?
- Equipment for better paddling
- Safety equipment considerations
- Technique for better paddling
- Dealing with rougher conditions
- Greater knowledge of the environment
- What to do if things go wrong
- The SUP SAFE code
Paddling at the coast brings many new challenges, and a bunch of pretty important information that you need to understand and appreciate.
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
Need to Know:
- Understanding tides
- Safety equipment considerations
- Understanding offshore winds
- Understanding sea breezes
- Understanding surf and rips
- What to do if things go wrong
- The SUP SAFE code
If you started out paddling on the ocean, then taking your board to an inland location may seem like a very safe and easy thing to do, but inland paddling can bring its own challenges, with very different safety equipment and knowledge requirements.
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
Need to Know:
- Paddling in fresh
- Understanding lakes and rivers
- Cold water issues
- The SUP SAFE code
So you’re heading off on holiday to a new location and you’re thinking of taking your board, because there look to be some cool waterways nearby to explore. Here’s what you need to know…
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
- Planning
- Safety equipment considerations
- What to do if things go wrong
- The SUP SAFE code
Surfing your SUP board is a whole heap of fun, but there’s a bunch of stuff you really need to know before you go anywhere near that first wave.
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
- Location considerations
- Fitness considerations
- Technique considerations
- Equipment considerations
- Understanding surf
- Safety issues
So you’re thinking of getting into SUP racing? Here’s what you need to know…
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
Need to Know:
- Technique considerations
- Equipment considerations
- Safety issues
SUP downwinding is a whole lot of fun but has some very specific safety considerations and things you definitely need to know and understand before you set off out there for your first downwinder.
Recommended Safety Equipment
| Leash | PFD | Comms |
| Any style | Recommended: permanent buoyancy | Whistle (attached to PFD) |
Need to Know:
- Location considerations
- Fitness considerations
- Technique considerations
- Equipment considerations
- Safety issues
- The SUP SAFE code
