An independent guide to active leisure by the water. We sell and rent nothing and run no tours or races; not affiliated with the former website on this domain. If you are in danger on the water or on the ice, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
Technique
Most trouble on the water happens in simple situations: getting into a boat, falling awkwardly off a board, or when the wind picks up and you are already far from shore. A few basic skills make those moments calm.
Falling off a SUP is normal. What matters is not avoiding the fall but knowing how to fall clear of the board and climb back on without fuss.
How this section works: it gathers skills that are useful on a leisurely outing, not on a race course. Practise them near the shore first, in shallow, calm water, with another person nearby. Rules for boating and going on the ice differ by country and place, so check local rules.
A kayak feels unstable while you are getting in. Once you are seated properly, you will feel how much steadier it is.
Place the boat in the water parallel to the shore. Lay the paddle across the hull behind the seat so that one blade rests on the shore, hold on to it, step into the centre of the boat and sit down, lowering your weight straight away.
Tip: Do not step over the side from a height: the lower your centre of gravity, the steadier the boat.
The blade enters the water near your feet and comes out by your hip. It is not just your arm working: your torso rotates slightly and the power comes from your trunk. Strokes alternate from side to side, evenly and without rushing.
Tip: If the boat drifts to one side, make a slightly longer stroke on the other side rather than two short ones in a row.
To turn, make a wide sweeping stroke from bow to stern on one side. To stop, put the blade in the water and push it back and forth against the boat's movement.
Tip: Practise stopping in advance on open water, not right in front of a rock.
Approach the shore slowly and side-on. Lay the paddle across the boat, lean on it like a bridge, draw your legs in and stand up, keeping your weight low.
Tip: Choose a gently sloping shore without snags or rocks at the water's edge.
A board demands balance, but it forgives mistakes if you are wearing a life jacket and know how to get back on.
First kneel in the centre of the board and take a few strokes. Then place your feet one at a time where your knees were, shoulder-width apart, and slowly stand up, looking ahead rather than at your feet.
Tip: Keep your knees soft: straight legs absorb the rocking poorly.
If you feel yourself falling, push away from the board and fall flat into the water, not onto the board. Hold the paddle away from you so you do not hit the blade.
Tip: Use a leash — a cord connecting your leg to the board — so the wind cannot carry the board away from you.
Swim to the middle of the board from the side, lay the paddle across it, grab the centre handle and, kicking with your legs, pull yourself onto the board on your stomach. Then turn around and kneel.
Tip: Practise climbing onto the board in shallow water — it will pay off later in deep water.
Judging conditions correctly is a technique too, and one worth learning before the paddle stroke.
An offshore wind is treacherous: it is calm at the water's edge, but further out the waves build and you have to paddle back into the wind. Start your outing into the wind so it helps you on the way back.
Dark towering clouds, a sudden gust, a band of ripples moving across the water and a sharp drop in temperature are all signals to head for shore.
Only go out on ice at least 7 cm thick for one person, or 15 cm or more for a group. Walk in single file with gaps between you, test the ice ahead with a pole and avoid dark patches, snow-covered ice and spots near bushes and reeds.
Do not run or jump. Lie down to spread your weight and crawl back along your own tracks the way you came.
Endurance for walks and paddling, swimming, warm-ups and stretching, with no rigid programmes.
Life jacket, layered clothing, sun and cold protection, dry bag, first-aid kit and ice gear, with no brands.
A step-by-step guide to your first kayak or SUP outing: preparation, launching and coming back.
Where and when you may swim, paddle a kayak or SUP, or go out on the ice is set by local rules for each body of water, and these rules differ by country and place. Before heading to the water, check the current requirements and the warning signs on the shore.