The 5 SUP Pointers for River Paddle Boarding

Proper river outfitting of gear.

Rivers are a unique environment and require the consideration whitewater boaters have given over the generations to remain as safe on the river as possible. This includes river specific boards, paddles, and safety equipment.

Yes, river SUP is paddle boarding but it is also a river sport that get's a lot of it's influence from kayaking and rafting. It's more like whitewater canoeing than traditional paddle boarding.

Most down-river SUP paddlers prefer river specific inflatable boards, ISUPs. Of course the inflatable story of easy travel and storage applies, but having a board that does not break upon impact with rocks is important. Plus, falling on an inflatable is easier on your body and paddle than falling on a “hard board,” or epoxy.

River surfers or paddlers who do squirt maneuvers in a slalom course may prefer epoxy boards for their low volume rails and reduced buoyancy. I liken it to a mountain biker with full suspension rather than a road biker with a rigid frame.

Regardless of the board being inflatable or epoxy, the board should be durable, and river oriented. Look for whitewater boards with a high rocker profile, durable deck pad, handles that make the board easier to handle on and off the water, and a fin configuration that is intended for navigating rivers without breaking.

For most down-river running I use the ​Hala Atcha​ ISUP that is 9'6” and 36” wide. One very nice feature is its spring loaded retractable fin system, the StompBox. Ride over rocks and the fin is pressed inside the board only to spring back out after the impact.

Many beginner river SUP paddlers ask if they can bring their epoxy flat water board to the river with long fixed tracking fins. Please don't. You will thrash the board before you know it and potentially put yourself in jeopardy not being able to navigate. Most river boards are less than 10 feet long. The most popular down river size is 9'6.

Traditional SUP paddles are long with a blade that is raked forward to catch the water in front of the board and pull for momentum. Release at the toes and reach forward again. Over and over all day to get where you are going. ​River SUP paddles are built more durable and are designed to maneuver along the foot box rather than just generate forward momentum.

River paddles like the ​Sawyer SUPER Styk ​tend to be shorter with the grip not much taller than “helmet height.” The point is less about forward momentum and more about maneuvering, cross bow paddling, bracing, drawing lateral strokes, and feathering the blade for subtle adjustments. The lower your center of gravity is the more stable you will be. A shorter paddle length will force you to stay low.

The SUPER Styk has a blade river paddle raft guides are familiar with. Most notably, it has zero rake, it's flat unlike most other SUP paddles. This gives the paddler more precision around the foot box where much of the maneuvering in whitewater takes place.

Wear what many experienced whitewater boaters wear, not a lake paddle boarder. River running is not about bikinis and flip-flops. ​My acronym for the “river SUP uniform” is S.H.I.P.P.S.

* ​Shoes​, always wear closed toe shoes to protect from foot injuries. Kicking rocks with your exposed toes makes it hard to keep standing on your board.

* ​Helmet​, always wear a properly fitted helmet. Whitewater specific helmets are good, but multipurpose water/snow/trail helmets work well for many river outings.

* ​Insulation​, dress for both the water and ambient temperatures. This may mean a drysuit during spring runoffs, a full wetsuit, a farmer john, or simply some board shorts on those hot august days in the desert. Drysuits are nice because you can control your own thermoregulation with layers under the suit. But good suits are expensive and do make swimming cumbersome. Wetsuits are typically worn by surfers or those who swim more than stand. These suits keep you warm while in the water, but can be cold if worn paddling exposed to the wind.

* ​PFD​, always wear a properly fitted Personal Floatation Device on moving water. Not an inflatable belt pack. Not tethered to your board. On you, always. Period.

* ​Padding​ of some sort is useful. I take most of the hits on my shins and knees, so that is where I put my pads. Unfortunately there is no best solution for paddling. I have found that G-form pads to be the most effective for protecting from scrapes, bumps and bruises.

* ​S is for signaling device​, in the form of a whistle. Rivers are loud and communication is made difficult. A whistle and hand signals are useful.

Learning about river navigation and hydrology is vital in becoming a whitewater paddle boarder.

Moving in current puts you at the mercy of the river. Knowing how to identify hazards, and read the river to paddle efficiently comes with time and also comes from the advice of mentors and formal tutorials. When I was just learning I looked online for tips and pointers. Nobody in my area paddled boards the way I wanted to. Since then a number of organizations such as the ACA and a number of popular paddlers have created curriculum to teach river SUP. Asking questions, learning from the pros, and just getting in the river practicing is important. Let one clinic lead to another. Eventually you may get certified in swiftwater rescue, and become a paddling instructor yourself.

Staying low and keeping your paddle in the water

Staying low and keeping your paddle in the water ​is one important pointer I offer every river SUP paddler. Keeping your center of gravity over the board is key to stability, and being active with your paddle keeps you moving upright. Standing is a strong stance, but it's not the only one. I often encourage student paddlers to kneel on the board before standing in order to learn how to navigate the board, especially peeling in and out of eddies. Progress to one-knee exercisers, then stand.

Don't mistake being low as merely bending at the waist. Sink your butt into your heels instead. Warm up by doing squats and lunges. This is why mountain bikers with strong legs or telemark skiers often learn to stand on rivers faster than even experienced boaters with abs of steel.
There is no shame in kneeling while running rapids. The point is to remain healthy and happy and paddle again the next day. Besides, the sport is too young to have purists.

Maneuvering the board in eddies and on waves is great training for down river running

You can get an amazing amount of experience quickly by going to a whitewater park like the ones in Bend, OR and Salida, CO, or by playing on a section of your local river with eddy lines and waves. Knowing how to lean into the current, shift your stance, pivot, fall and recover, use your paddle for both balance and leverage comes with time and miles. In a user friendly part of the river you can get both without having to set shuttle or commit to the logistics of river running, including finding paddling partners.

Experiment and find your own style.

For many river SUP paddlers, surfing is the only thing they do. For others, it's about multi-day trips. And for others, it's pushing the limits of technical whitewater. All these are great. Finding what you love about the sport is your own journey. For me, I wanted to do solo multi-day SUP-support expeditions. That led me to learn how to run whitewater without gear, which inturn led me to want to help build the community of river SUP paddlers around the world.

I tell people “get weird.” Experiment. See what happens when you pivot the board first on the tail, then the nose. Can you paddle the board flipped upside down? Can you run Class 2 or Class 3 or Class 1million? Find out. Go do it. Have fun. And learn the beauty that rivers offer.