Is Paddleboarding difficult?
Paddleboarding is one of the easiest and accessible water sports around and this is the reason for it being so popular. It does however have disciplines where you require training and experience such as racing, surfing and whitewater, but this is the beauty of SUP, it has a huge spectrum of different types of paddleboarding allowing all ages, shapes, sizes and experiences to join in!
What leash should I wear?
It depends on what body of water you are on and what discipline of SUPing you are doing. Check out our leash blog
Do I need a PFD (personal floatation device)?
YES. At no point should you not be wearing some form of PFD when paddleboarding, whatever experience you are or how good a swimmer you are. The weather can change in a heart beat and any body of water should never be underestimated. A PFD could save your life. Check out or blog for more infomation on PFDs
Where should I paddle if I am a beginner?
If you are a total beginner, you should go have lessons at your nearest certified SUP centre. They will teach you the right skills and knowledge to tackle the water on your own. Check out our store locator to see where your nearest Sea Lion demo centre!
If you are a beginner but have had some lessons, make sure you paddle with a buddy and have the right equipment. Check out our 12 paddleboarding safety tips to keep you safe blog!
What should I take with me?
The kit you take with you depends on what you are doing and how long you are going for. A day out with the family on the beach is very different to 2 day trips with camping gear. Check out this extensive list of gear you can take with you SUPing.
What should I wear to stand up Paddle boarding?
The kit you wear is paramount to keeping you warm (or cool) and safe. How hot is it? How cold is the water? Wearing more is better because you can always take off layers! Read more here
What kind of wind is dangerous?
Offshore winds (winds that blow outwards from the land), whatever the speed, should be avoided as it may blow you out into sea/ocean.
Experience and stamina are a huge factor when paddling in winds and you need to understand your own capabilities before venturing out onto the water
- If you are a beginner at SUPing, anything over 10mph (8.6 knots) will be a struggle and should be avoided until you gain more experience and stamina
- Intermediate paddlers can paddle upwards 15mph (13 knots).
- Experienced paddlers with high stamina can paddle upwards of 20mph (17knots), however this is to be avoided due to fatigue
For more on different winds and what to do, check out our wind blog
Which way should my paddle face?
This is a very common question and it is sometimes quite complexing because of the angle of the blade!
Instinctively you’d hold the paddle so the blade angle faces you, however your instincts lie to you! The reason the angle should face away from you is so your stroke is pushing the water down and not trying to scoop the water up, making your paddle stroke much more efficient.
Make sure you have lessons to make sure you are paddling correctly (efficiently) and safely!
How much weight can a Sea Lion SUP hold?
Our boards range from small to large, from 4.7" to 6" thick. It all comes down to the volume of the board! Check out this blog for more
10ft6 Otago - 100kg
11ft Rapoka - 150kg
12ft6 Tasman - 170kg
How much do Sea Lions weigh?
A Sea Lion can weigh up to 350kg! Oh you meant a Sea Lion paddleboard? Much lighter!
10ft6 Otago - 12.5kg
11ft Rapoka - 12.8kg
12ft6 Tasman - 13.5kg