Paddling Education

Stand-up paddleboarding is a fantastic full-body workout that people of all ages can learn how to do and enjoy. We’ve collected 23 helpful tips to get you stand-up paddle boarding quickly.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Marcel Bieg is the director of River House Outdoor Center in Eugene, Oregon. A lifelong paddler himself, Marcel discusses the paddle programming they offer as well as the myriad of benefits he sees for kids who paddle.

There are so many reasons we choose to kayak, canoe, paddleboard or packraft. Here are some of the main reasons we love to paddle. Which are YOUR reasons to love it?

The kinds of water conditions that make ideal kayaking, packrafting and paddle boarding depend on a couple of key factors: your experience and the type of boat and gear you have.

Traveling to epic kayak and canoe destinations is amazing. But paddling locally can be equally wonderful and is a whole lot more accessible.

Aqua Bound Ambassador Ken Whiting covers the essentials of how to choose the best life jacket for you, no matter what type of paddling you do:

Paddle boarding (SUP) is pretty straightforward: you need a board, a paddle and a PFD. Depending on your situation, there are other accessories you may need to cover safety. And there are options you can choose that add to your enjoyment on the water.

Last spring, I was the first person to enter Houlton, Maine’s Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race with a stand-up paddle board (SUP). It was also my first time stand-up paddling a river.

When it comes time to choose a SUP board (stand-up paddle board) there are a few questions you’ll want to answer.

Should you buy an inflatable or a solid paddleboard? Let’s take a look at the advantages of each to help you make your decision…

Here’s a wrap-up of our readers’ favorite content for 2022—a great place to start if you’re new to Aqua Bound or just looking for fun paddling content.

It’s nothing new to kayak in the dark, especially with a full moon or with lots of city lights to show us our way. But with new technology, glow-in-the-dark paddling opportunities are emerging.

It’s that time of year when gift giving is on our mind. We want to help you out by suggesting some of our favorite kayak, SUP and packraft brands for all your paddling friends and family.

Twin Cities Kayaking, based in Minnesota’s Twin Cities of Minneapolis/Saint Paul, has a unique business model for their kayak rental and guide service. Instead of asking their customers to go to them, they go to their customers.

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a fun way to get a great workout and enjoy the water. Paddling along on glassy water is always a thrill…but isn’t always reality. Sometimes wind can become a real issue.

One of the most important gear items for kayakers, canoeists, paddle boarders and packrafters—that doesn’t often get a mention—is a good pair of polarized sunglasses.

Adaptive kayaking is one of the best ways people with disabilities can experience freedom and enjoyment in the great outdoors—specifically on the water.

Unless you keep your kayak or paddle board at a cabin or you live on a lake or river, you’ll need to tie it down to your vehicle to transport it. This video from our friends at Aquabatics Alberta (AQ Outdoors) gives you clear steps on how to tie down your kayak to your vehicle...

Which boat should you buy: a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard? All are wonderful options depending on where, how and with whom you want to paddle.

Tanya Walker is the founder of Black Women Who Kayak+ (BWWK+), an organization dedicated to getting women of color where they’re not typically seen—in outdoor spaces and connected to nature and each other.

We firmly believe that paddling is for everyone! Just as we want to see people of all ages and ethnicities out on the water, we want to see people of all sizes out on the water.