It’s the middle of summer here in the beautiful state of New Hampshire. Still at least one month left before the crisp fall air starts moving in. Now is the time to get out there and enjoy the sun and stock up on as much Vitamin D as you can before the colder months ahead. Purchasing a stand up paddleboard is a big decision. There are so many factors that go into deciding what type of board is right for you. If you’re like me, you may have already had the chance to demo a SUP, or possibly have rented one. Coming soon – a blog with rental and demo tips and ideas.

Once you have made the decision to start looking for a SUP, do your research. I cannot stress this enough. I had a surfing background and I still had no idea what type of SUP would be best for me. It took many hours  of online research, traveling to a few shops and talking to the professionals that had a wealth of knowledge to share about the sport. So where do you begin your search for your new board? Below are some tips on how to begin the quest for your new SUP.

Why do you want to SUP:

There are so many reasons why people want to get into paddleboarding. Maybe you are considering doing SUP yoga. Maybe you live on a lake and have children who want to use it for fun. Maybe you are extremely adventurous and want to use it for touring, or extremely athletic and want to race. I wanted a board that was somewhat universal, and could be used for leisure paddling on a lake, but also one I could bring to the ocean for surfing. Before you purchase a SUP, really consider what you will be using the paddleboard for, and where you are going to be doing the most paddling. This does, and will make a huge difference in what type of board you are looking for.

Choosing the Correct Board:

Once you figure out why and where you are going to use your SUP, the next step is to find the best SUP for you. There are a few important factors to keep in mind during your research:

• The size and shape of the board
• The durability of the board
• The weight of the board
• The graphics of the board (ok, maybe not one of the most important things, but definitely something to consider, as you want to actually like the way your board looks) 🙂

More posts coming soon that take an in depth look at each of the above items and how to really narrow down your search.

Enjoy the Experience:

Have fun with the process of looking for a board! My awesome boyfriend (who willingly and patiently accompanied me in my search), and I started our search up north in Wolfeboro, NH. I had been emailing back and forth with the owner of a small standup paddleboard shop called Full Moon Paddleboard and she was so helpful. I figured her shop would be a great place to start and I was definitely right. She was so friendly and knowledgeable. She was able to answer all of my questions and gave me some great advice. If you’re ever in the area be sure to stop in!

After visiting her shop and walking around downtown Wolfeboro, we headed to a great little restaurant called the Lyon’s Den in Gilford that overlooked the water. I would highly recommend it. Their food is fantastic with awesome water and mountain views, and they are open year round.

After our lunch, we decided to stop at one more place that I had mapped out for our excursion. It’s called Parafunalia  in Gilford NH. This is where I ultimately ended up purchasing my board. Bart, the owner, was such nice guy and gave me a ton of advice. I did not take the board home that day, because I needed to do a little more research (as this was a board I had not looked into during my online searching).

That following weekend, we drove back up to Gilford and I ended up buying the Amundson board (Cross 10’6), and got a great deal. Bart even threw in a free paddle with my purchase – which it was a super lightweight, adjustable paddle that I absolutely love! He also gave us a deal on a roof rack system that worked great. Parafunalia does not specialize in only SUP, but after researching this particular board, it just seemed like the perfect one for me.

I began looking for a board during the winter and spring months, thinking I may get better deals. A lot of places are trying to get rid of last year’s models and replace them with the newest and latest boards. This was a great idea, except that when I did finally purchase my board, it was way too cold to try my board out and had to wait a couple months for the lakes to thaw before I could try it. Such a tease, but definitely worth the wait! I absolutely love my board and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Be patient and make sure the board you are buying is going to be the right one for you. It’s a big investment, but totally worth it. You will start this process wanting a board, and by the end, you will figure out all the reasons why you love your board.