A depiction of a traditional Stand Up Paddle Board. Image courtesy of Green Water Sports.
Let’s get to know your board so when your teacher says “Don’t scrape the rails!”, you know what he/she means. When I first started out, picture a deer in headlights. Not very attractive. SUP terminology can be rather simple (according to airheadsup.com and greenwatersports.com ) but to a novice, it can sometimes be confusing…. so let’s dive in:
Bottom: The underside of the board.
Deck: The flat, or slightly curved, part you stand on. Hence, the top of the board.
Deck pad: The pad on top of the deck, which could be a soft foam or rubber material. This is the area that you stand on that also provides traction.
Fins: Fins are located at the tail end of the board on the bottom. The fin(s) is/are the required element to navigate the board. Without fins, the board would turn with every paddle stroke, making a miserable experience. Most boards are equipped with either a single fin or three fins. The fin box is where the fin attaches.
Handle: That which you hold the board under your arm; often found in the center of the board.
Leash plug: The device to which you attach your leash to maintain connection to your board at all times.
Nose: The front of the board. Also referred to as the tip of the board.
Rails: The edges of the board, commonly located on the sides of the SUP. Rails run from the nose to tail.
Tail: The back of the board.
Vent: The vent is only found in hard boards and is a means to release gases within a hard board. In heat, gases expand inside the board. Removing the vent plug will allow these gases to escape through the vent, protecting the integrity of the board.
I hope these terms come in handy for YOUR first time out on your SUP. No worries, though, when you attend an event. We’ll give first-timers a crash course! Sometimes it’s easier with the equipment in front of you. See you out on the water!