Come On, Get on Your Surfboard

I live near a park with a lake, and over the years I’ve watched small watercraft go from a mixture of canoes and kayaks to a mixture of kayaks and paddle boards or SUPs. SUP is all the rage these days and standing on the board is part of its newness. But I would like to suggest a new way to get around the water: get on your SUP with a kayak paddle and sit on it with your butt.

I thought about it a lot. Longtime readers will remember that I love kayaking , but I also have an inflatable surfboard , and I love that too. When I think about what boat to take on the lake, I know the following:

• The kayak moves better on the water partly due to its shape, but also due to the two-blade paddle.
• A paddleboard is easier to pack into a car and carry to the water , as it is a simple board that deflates and rolls up. (In the case of a kayak, there is a problem with attaching it to the roof of a car. Simple, but unpleasant.)
• A paddle board is more refreshing on a hot day because you can easily dangle your feet or even jump off to take a dip. In a kayak, you are on the water, but not in the water.
• You can lie down on a surfboard and relax (and just drop anchor if you’re afraid to swim away). In a kayak, you can lean back a little, but it will definitely never be comfortable.

All things considered, paddleboarding is the best remedy for a lazy day. A kayak would still be my choice for a workout (speeding to the other end of the lake and back, like a run, but for your arms) or on a cooler day when I really don’t want to get wet. But if I’m just trying to cool off and relax, why would I get up and clumsily maneuver the boat with a one-sided paddle?

Yes, you can use a kayak paddle with a surfboard.

The standard paddle you use with a kayak has two blades – you dip the right side into the water, then the left side, and so on. It effectively moves you through the water. However, a standard paddleboard paddle is longer, with a single blade at the bottom and a T-handle at the top so you can rest your hand on it. You paddle on one side of the board, although you can change sides if your arms get tired and you want a change. (It’s basically the same idea as a canoe paddle, except it’s longer because you’re standing.)

But it’s okay to mix and match. You can just take a paddle for a kayak, or you can think about it. Paddle board enthusiasts have come up with convertible paddles that allow the addition of a second blade ; some will carry both a kayak paddle and a kayak paddle on the same board . You can even, if you’re into that idea, buy a clip-on kayak seat .

Don’t have a surfboard yet? Consider these simple options:

• Here’s a basic 10’6 board kit (with a regular single-blade paddle) for less than $200. It’s not fashionable, but it does its job.
• Here is an electric pump to inflate an inflatable paddle board (I highly recommend one of these instead of a manual pump).
• And here is a simple paddle for a kayak, the same as mine.

If you want specialized seated paddleboarding equipment, try the following:

• Convertible paddle for rowing (with one or two blades)
• Universal kayak seat for paddle boards.

But I went the easy way. Yesterday I brought my regular kayak paddle and regular kayak board to the lake. I sat cross-legged on the board and just paddled like a kayak. And it worked great.

I could move as fast as usual while standing; maybe faster. And, unlike my kayaking trips, I could strap the paddle to the bungee at any time, lean back and relax thanks to the flat surface. I could even get up and do yoga. (Do I do all the slow, mindful yoga on a surfboard? No. Do I notice sometimes that I can get my feet off the ground in crow pose without falling? I bet. Sometimes even successfully.)

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the best of both worlds, at least for a lazy walk on the lake. The board makes it easy to transport, and the two-bladed paddle keeps me moving. So what if it’s a “standing” surfboard? The position is overrated.