Before you even get started, it’s really important that you learn the correct way to carry your equipment. Stand up paddle boards are quite heavy and can cause injury if lifted incorrectly. The best beginner boards have carry handles, but with all boards, the safest carry for beginners is the shoulder carry. In this you simply pick up the board by the nose end and walk your out-stretched hands down the deck until the weight feels balanced. Then ease the board onto your shoulder, placing your other arm over the top to steady it if necessary.
When pushing off into the water you might find it easier to start out on your knees until you feel confident and balanced. Once you’ve mastered the knee paddle, lay the paddle across the deck and ease yourself up and stand parallel to the rails of the board. Hold the paddle in front of you at arm’s length, parallel to your body with the blade fully immersed. Now pull the paddle towards you while keeping your arms straight and rolling your body with the paddle. Release the blade from the water and use the same backward motion to bring the paddle back to where it started, keeping the blade as close to the waterline as possible. Keep your head upright and look forward, not down. Check your direction and, if necessary, change sides and perform the same movement. Feel the board surging ahead? Congratulations, you are stand up paddle surfing! Chris de Aboitiz | 
