A week before our Hawaii trip, Jason from Jason’s Travels, a travel blogger I met at TBEX ’12, tweeted about stand up paddle boarding in Oahu.  Then a few days before we left, there was a Living Social Deal for a half-price 2 hour paddle board lesson in Honolulu.  Needless to say I got the hint and decided to give paddle boarding a try during our vacation.

How to Stand Up Paddle Board – Do’s And Don’ts For The Beginner

Since we were staying in the North Shore, the Living Social Deal in Honolulu was not going to happen as there was no way I was going to drive into congested Honolulu to paddle board.  Instead, we planned to paddle board in Lanikai, away from the crowd and congestion of Waikiki.

Hawaii Beach Time, the company we used to rent snorkel gear (read my post about why you should rent snorkel gear in Oahu vs bringing it), also rented SUPs (stand up paddle boards).  And even better, they had a Lanikai Beach Value Package which we modified to include a SUP instead of the double kayak.

Read: 5 reasons you should rent snorkel gear in Oahu

How to Stand Up Paddle Board – Do’s And Don’ts For The Beginner

1.  Grab your SUP by the handle and walk into the ocean with confidence

Grab your SUP by the handle even if the wind is howling and blowing the paddle board away from your body at a 45-degree angle.

If your paddle board doesn’t have a handle in the middle (bummer for you, you either chose the wrong board or wrong rental company…) carry it on your head – longboard style.

Pro-tip: Don’t drag your paddleboard by the fin, nose, or leash into the water.

2.  Sit criss-cross apple sauce Indian style, on your knees, or kneel while paddling out.

Pro-tip: Don’t straddle the board like a surfboard.

A SUP is a lot wider than a longboard and with your legs dangling off the sides it will take you longer to paddle out.

Do make sure the tag on your bikini bottoms is not sticking up.  Dork alert!

3. Getting up on the board

From a kneeling position:

• Lay the oar lengthwise on the board so that it’s between your legs
• Place your hands shoulder width apart in front of you and push yourself up to a standing position, as you’re rising, grab the oar with one hand
• Add a little forward hop while pushing yourself up

From a seated position:

• Lay the oar lengthwise on the board so that it’s between your legs
• Place your hands next to your legs and push up, grab the oar with one hand while rising

From a supine position aka if you were on your belly (if you rode the board out like a surfboard):

• Lay the oar lengthwise on the board so that it’s between your legs
• Place your hands shoulder width apart in front of you
• Push up with your hands and lift chest off the paddle board
• Get into a downward dog position (head down, belly down but off the board, butt in the air)
• Frog hop your legs to your hands shoulder-width apart and quickly push up, grabbing the oar with one hand while rising

Riding it out like a surfboard worked best for me and I was always able to quickly get up on the board. Granted I used to surf but that was so long ago my longboard is older than both my children’s ages combined.

4. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, one on each side of the board

Pro-tip: Don’t stand on the paddleboard like a surfboard.

The balance is wrong and you’ll end up in the water.  Trust me on this.

Book a paddle board lesson

Read: 5 things you didn’t know about Oahu

And while you’re in Honolulu, hike Koko Head Crater.

Read: I hiked Koko Head Crater and lived

Pin to your travel, vacation, or Hawaii board:

Disclaimer: Hawaii Beach Time provided us with a Lanikai Beach Value Package in exchange for a review.  Since I was compensated with the use of free equipment, in the interest of full and complete disclosure, I’m disclosing.

Comment, tweet, or share this post.

Get the best credit card signup bonuses.

Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Got a question? Or want help, suggestions, travel tips, learn how to travel for free, find out about travel deals, and maximize your miles and points? Use the subscription box below to sign-up and get post updates by email.

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

---

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.  

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining , $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about this card and how to apply

---

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of 3% cash back = an extra 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 in purchases your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 6.5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal , 4.5% cash back at drugstores and restaurants, unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about this card and how to apply