Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

SUP advice

15 replies

SUPNovice · 21/06/2022 20:43

Hope this is the right place! I've just found out DH is giving me a SUP for my birthday. I've always refused to go because of his somewhat cavalier approach to water safety and the fact that DS can't swim.....so now he's bought me one for my birthday...despite the fact that we're supposed to be saving money as we literally could only just cover the bills last month

How is this going to work? It's not even big enough (or only just) for me and DD weight wise. It's not really something you can let the kids loose on is it?

What do I need to know? Total utter beginner, never tried one before. I have some concerns. Mainly:
Is it going to make my prolapse worse?
I wear contact lenses- do I need to wear goggles in case I fall in? I can't see that would be comfy or great against the sun/glare for any length of time?

OP posts:
MrsBooks · 21/06/2022 21:12

I would 100% recommend you have a lesson first.

We are a family of SUPers, my eldest has had his own board since he was 11 and manages fine. Youngest is 9, gets tired quickly and usually ends up being towed if he’s on his own - he’d rather sit on mine or his dad’s and look out for fish and ducks. We have boards which inflate to a high PSI and are more than capable of taking out weights with him on board.

We always wear a life jacket and ankle leashes (we also have quick release waist leashes for river use).

A good SUP school will teach you the basics of safety, recovering if you fall in, equipment needed as well as posture and paddle strokes. If you’ve never done it before I would honestly not go out until you’ve had a lesson or gone out with an experienced group who can help you out. You’ll also need to know about tides , weather conditions etc relative to your local area.

It’s become so popular which is amazing but not enough people do the research before hand and understand how to keep themselves safe before going out and get into trouble. There was a chap near me who sadly died on his first outing after falling in and having a heart attack in the water.

Prolapse wise it’s pretty low effort if the conditions are right and you’re not fighting against the wind.
Contacts could cause an issue if you fall in salt water so glasses with a floating strap might be better?

Sorry if I’ve lectured you!! Have a look on Fb for local SUPing groups to you, there are loads where I live (central south coast).

Original poster
SUPNovice · 22/06/2022 06:37

A lesson is a good idea thanks.

falling in and having a heart attack in the water.
I'm not good with cold so I wonder if the shock of this would also finish me off! I'm guessing I need to get some boards shorts and a rash vest? I've a wetsuit but as I'll be hoping not to fall off, it'll be too warm won't it?

Contacts could cause an issue if you fall in salt water so glasses with a floating strap might be better? I'll not be going in salt water, it's lakes and rivers around here. But I still don't want lake water in my eyes! I usually wear contacts but always have glasses with me. How do you transport stuff like phone, glasses etc?

ankle leashes (we also have quick release waist leashes for river use).
right, so waist leash for river, I'm not sure I've seen anyone using one but I've never paid much attention.

do you wear life jacket rather than a buoyancy aid? I have those for the DC as DS can't swim so has always worn one while swimming in the lake.

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 23/06/2022 10:40

The difference between a bouyancy aid and a lifejacket is that the lifejacket has a collar which will support your head if you were unconscious. Anyone taking part in watersports really needs to be able to swim and shouldn't be relying on flotation devices for safety. Most hire places and groups such as scouts who do watersports will insist on you being able to swim at least 25m before they let you out.
You don't seem very keen on this idea so why is he buying you one? It seems like an odd gift for someone who's concerned they'll have a heart attack if they fall in!!

Original poster
SUPNovice · 23/06/2022 12:43

You don't seem very keen on this idea so why is he buying you one?
because I refused to let him get us some last year [sigh]

I know the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life jacket. It's just MrsBrooks said life jacket and I thought most people wore a buoyancy aid when on them so wanted to check I had it right. I can swim, DH and DC2 can swim but DC1 can only manage a metre or two.

OP posts:
Yodaisawally · 23/06/2022 12:48

I wouldn't take a child that wasn't a confident swimmer out.

My kids started age 8 and found it easy, think it's their centre of gravity! I am more of a sitter than a stander.

I wear contacts and sunglasses, never crossed my mind not to tbh.

We've got waterproof pouches for phones and straps on the front for a rucksack.

Is he only buying one between 4 of you, so only one of you can go out at once?

DDog comes out too, with a lifejacket on.

What's the water temp like where you are?

CMOTDibbler · 23/06/2022 12:52

If you don't want one, tell him to return it and get something you do want! You couldn't afford food last month, so spending hundreds on something you don't need, and don't want is madness

coodawoodashooda · 23/06/2022 13:02

He's bought himself one and is disguising it as a birthday gift for you. My xh used to do shit like that.

AquaticSewingMachine · 23/06/2022 13:05

So you as a family can't afford this and you don't want it or to use it.

This isn't an exercise issue, it's a relationship one!! Tell him this isn't a present for you and to return it!

emmathedilemma · 23/06/2022 13:14

SUPNovice · 23/06/2022 12:43

You don't seem very keen on this idea so why is he buying you one?
because I refused to let him get us some last year [sigh]

I know the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life jacket. It's just MrsBrooks said life jacket and I thought most people wore a buoyancy aid when on them so wanted to check I had it right. I can swim, DH and DC2 can swim but DC1 can only manage a metre or two.

Most people probably don't know the difference and use the terms interchangeably.
Tell him you want a birthday present you'll enjoy and of your choice not his!

Naughtyperson972 · 23/06/2022 13:19

I spend a lot of time sitting or kneeling on mine OP. If you do get one and start taking it out then it’s not necessary to stand up the whole time. You can also get seats that make it kind of like a canoe

Original poster
SUPNovice · 23/06/2022 13:34

Is he only buying one between 4 of you, so only one of you can go out at once?
Yes Hmm Although I think maybe DC2 and I would be just at the weight limit, I haven't seen it yet, just the delivery box! I'm not keen on the idea because I don't see how it will work for us as a family, although I would like to try it out.

I wear contacts and sunglasses, never crossed my mind not to tbh.
Thats good to hear, you've never had an issue when falling in?

We've got waterproof pouches for phones and straps on the front for a rucksack
Do you keep your phone "out" or keep in a rucksack?

Anyone taking part in watersports really needs to be able to swim and shouldn't be relying on flotation devices for safety.
I agree with this, but I honestly don't think DC1 is ever going to be able to swim without a buoyancy aid.

What's the water temp like where you are?
25 according to the local weather probably measured it in their bath

OP posts:
rnsaslkih · 23/06/2022 13:39

Be careful about doing it in our rivers. They are beyond filthy. Me, ds and dd took a lesson last summer and my dd was really ill with D&V. Apparently none of our rivers have decent water quality.

Original poster
SUPNovice · 25/06/2022 07:12

Prolapse wise it’s pretty low effort if the conditions are right
I just tried to lift the box, I'm not allowed to open it yet! If it's that heavy, carrying it will definitely be an issue, I'm not supposed to lift heavy things.

Be careful about doing it in our rivers
good point, thanks. The one closest to us is still ok, but where the IL's live an hour away has been closed due to toxic algae/ bacteria 🤢

OP posts:
Original poster
SUPNovice · 12/07/2022 20:28

@MrsBooks can you talk me through the towing a child?
In your opinion is it better to take out two smaller boards and end up towing or a larger board and have the child on the board with you?
How does it work with a leash and a child? Presumably only you wear a leash? Do you always wear it? What about on a calm lake and with child on board?

OP posts:
MrsBooks · 14/07/2022 16:24

@SUPNovice we try to only tow if we have to. It used to be me, DH and DS1 on our own boards and DS2 would board hop between us. We’d have the tow rope for older DS just in case of strong winds and him not being able to keep up / stay on course. Now the younger DS has his own board but is just plain lazy so we end up towing him after about 10 minutes so I’ll just keep him as a passenger for a whole longer as it’s much easier than towing. We have carabiner clips on the end of a piece of rope that we just snap on to the D rings of each board.

Everyone on their own board wears a leash, always. Child passenger wouldn’t have one.

Life jackets / PFDs - I use these interchangeably but now understand they are different!! - for all of us, always.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page