Introduction 1

Part1: Before You Get Your Feet Wet. 7

Chapter 1: What’SUP? Paddling While Standing up through History. 9

Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Board for Your Adventure. 19

Chapter 3: Shopping for SUP Gear. 31

Chapter 4: Paddle Perfection: Finding a Match to Propel You Forward. 43

Chapter 5: Safety Dance: Take a Chance, but Don’t Leave the World Behind. 51

Chapter 6: Shielding Yourself from the Elements. 63

Chapter 7: Preparing for the Big Blue 71

Chapter 8: Before You Jump In. 81


Part2: Get Up, Stand Up 89

Chapter 9: Stand Up Comedy: Your First Balancing Act. 91

Chapter 10: Avoiding the Most Common Rookie Mistakes. 101


Part3: Leveling Up: From Wobbly Novice to Zen Waterman 109

Chapter 11: So You’re No Longer a Beginner 111

Chapter 12: The Need for Speed: Getting into SUP Racing and Endurance Paddling 123

Chapter 13: Conquering the Waves: SUP Surfing Technique. 135


Part4: The SUP Lifestyle 149

Chapter 14: The Unexpected Health Benefits of SUP. 151

Chapter 15: Finding Your Paddle Tribe: Enjoying the Sport Socially. 159

Chapter 16: SUP Racing: Going for the (Olympic) Gold. 169

Chapter 17: Taking Care of Your Board: Maintenance and Repair. 181

Chapter 18: SUPer Adventures: Paddle Adventure Guide. 201


Part5: The Part of Tens 217

Chapter 19: Ten Things to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Stand Up Paddleboard. 219

Chapter 20: Ten (Plus One) Tips to Go Faster. 229

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Deal with (or Prevent) Injuries 237

Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Enjoy SUP. 249

Chapter 23: School Smarts: Ten Resources for Learning More. 261

Appendix: SUP Lingo For Dummies 269

Index 279