10 Successful inner-city community gardens

10 Successful inner-city community gardens

BEST BEGINNER STAND UP PADDLE BOARDS

Stand up paddleboarding has exploded in popularity in the last ten years. Consumers have recognised the sport’s potential beyond just recreational paddling. Paddleboarding is an excellent workout and an exciting way to connect with the great outdoors. From SUP Races to SUP Yoga the possibilities for the sport is as limitless your imagination, so when you’re looking to invest in your very first board the choices can be overwhelming.


We have made it easy here at Gulf Water Sports and picked the Top 3 boards from our range of Inflatable SUPs specifically for beginners. These boards are made for anyone looking to break into the world’s fastest-growing watersport. Whether you dream of taking your yoga practice to the water, boosting your balance and fitness or just exploring where your SUP journey will take you, these boards will get you there!

10’8 SEEK | BEST FOR HIGH QUALITY AT AN ENTRY-LEVEL PRICE

  • Length - 10’8
  • Width - 34”
  • Capacity - up to 150kg
  • Progression - advanced stances and turns

You certainly don’t need to break the bank to purchase a quality board and Seek definitely proves that. It has been designed specifically with first-timers in mind. Its extra width (34 inches) and extra thickness (6 inches) make it the perfect SUP for beginners. These dimensions make the board incredibly stable, so you will feel confident as you start developing your SUP skills.

Transitioning to a standing position on a SUP is a common difficulty for first-time paddlers. Boards with smooth deck pads can feel slippery underfoot, which can make the transition even harder. Diamond-grooved deck pads are a great feature to look for when choosing a beginner board. This style provides excellent grip so that moving from your knees to feet feels much less daunting.


11’6 TOUR | BEST FOR SPEED AND STABILITY

  • Length - 11’6
  • Width - 32”
  • Capacity - up to 120kg
  • Progression - Touring and racing

If you are looking for a fast, stable board then look no further than the 11’6 Tour. An extended nose gives you speed as it can cut through the water much more effectively than the rounded nose of the Seek. While you make think that you would have to compromise stability for speed this isn’t the case with Tour, we designed a squared-off tail to keep you stable even in choppier waters.

As with all the SUPs in the Signature Series, the 11’6 Tour comes with a full fibreglass, adjustable paddle. Many paddles that come included with stand up paddleboard purchases are a cheaper, plastic construction to keep the overall price of the board low.

The issue with plastic for a beginner is the amount the paddle flexes when you draw it through the water. This flex reduces the power of your stroke meaning you will have to paddle harder to maintain speed. Conversely, fibreglass paddles are much stronger meaning they have minimal flex which allows you to achieve the full potential of each stroke. Fibreglass is also lightweight which reduces arm and shoulder fatigue, particularly over long distances.


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