This smaller paddle board weighs just 9kg and designed for younger paddlers, children and teens weighing up to 60kg. Two of my nieces, who are eight and eleven, and my nephew, who is thirteen, had much more fun with it than when trying to control a 10ft or larger board, especially when the sea was choppier and when paddling in surf.

Beginner boards tend to be super-stable, which does compromise speed and wave handling but are much more tractable for casual use. If you're planning extended trips around the coast, then choosing a dual-chamber touring style board adds an essential layer of safety, too, something that isn't as useful in the surf and closes inshore. Gul wanted to be able to upgrade the single layer board, by removing the base glue process from the second (double) layer. This additional glue process has always been messy and very time consuming. So instead of gluing GUL coats the thread structure with a layer of adhesive that has been specially formulated to create both a seal and bond once laminated to high density PVC- completely removing the human factor involved in traditional double layer application.

Who is it for?

Smith says for cross training, runners can take up a 30-minute paddle boarding session anywhere from one to three days a week. And says the mental determination required for long paddling sessions is similar to that of long endurance runs. The next big outing was with a friend on the east coast where the water is more murky, the waves are short chop and the bottom is more mud and grave than Cornish sand. Similarly I had a wobble and style judges would have awarded me 2 out of 10 max.

The paddle slots together, the fin slides in and the leash attaches very easily. Then you attach the pump….. OK so there is no gain without pain. The pain for an inflatable SUP it seems is pumping, be prepared for this bit to take a while with the GUL pump. 5 mins of sweat later you realise maybe the gym is a good idea after all. The board should get to around 12PSI, my first attempt fell well short of this, maybe 8PSI. It does get easier. You should be able to dip the entire blade comfortably into the water while standing (with a slight bend in your knees) on the board. Stand tall and strong Moving the board around on land involved grabbing the central handle with long arms, pop it on the water and it becomes much easier, light, easy to handle and relatively stable. The surface is grippy and leg friendly so within 30 seconds I was happily sat down or kneeling on the board and having a great time.There are many different types of blow-up paddle boards, so as well as your ability-level it’s worth considering whether you’ll be paddling on flat water like lakes, touring long distances with lots of kit, racing or trying SUP yoga.

It’s best to rinse your board with fresh water and store it deflated in its bag in a cool place out of sunlight. However, it’s also fine to leave it inflated between uses - with a few caveats. Also, just like when running, you can choose your pace and duration while paddle boarding, so you always have the option to turn a leisure paddle into an endurance event and get that intense workout and increased heart rate, Smith says. Just be careful not to overdo it if it’s your first time paddling, so you’re not too sore at the end of the day.Large, super stable and available for a good price, the Two Bare Feet Entradia 10’ 10” is one of the best SUP boards for beginners and bigger paddlers on the market, but it’s more than just that. It’s tons of fun even for more experienced paddlers, especially if conditions are lumpy or if you have small family members that want to get on board. The kit is really nicely put together too. Due to the size, weight and handling difficulties associated with kayaks, we are unable to provide free delivery (or included in the cost of the item). Position your feet hip width apart either side of the handle in the centre of the board, look ahead (not down) and keep your knees soft and your core engaged. The sooner you start paddling, the more stable you will be, although that might feel scary at first.” Touring boards are longer, at upwards of 12 feet in length, and have a larger volume,” says paddle board coach Jo Taylor. “They’re intended for exploring and adventures where you can put lots of equipment on your board and take it with you on your journeys.