DON’T MISS OUT: THIS SUMMER, I'M STARTING SUP!

Discover stand-up paddleboarding the easy way.

Have you been gazing enviously at bodies of water for years? Have you been seeing more and more paddleboarders on lakes, rivers, and along the coastline? What if this year were finally the year you got into stand-up paddleboarding?

The good news is that SUP is probably one of the most accessible water sports around today. You don’t need exceptional fitness or any previous experience in board sports. With the right advice, just a few minutes are usually enough to find your balance and start enjoying the unique sensations that stand-up paddleboarding has to offer.

Why is SUP so accessible?

Stand-up paddleboarding lets you discover the water at your own pace. From your very first session, you can enjoy gliding across the water, exploring your surroundings, and making the most of the peace and tranquillity that come with the sport.

Some of the key benefits of SUP include:

Quick and easy to learn.
Suitable for all ages.
Low impact on the joints.
An excellent way to develop core strength and balance.
Countless ways to enjoy the sport, from leisurely paddles and fitness sessions to cruising, surfing, racing, and even yoga.

Whether you live near the ocean, a lake, or a river, there is bound to be a great spot nearby to get started.

How to get started the right way?

For your first sessions, try to keep things simple:

Calm water.
Stable weather with little to no wind.
Guided or supervised sessions whenever possible.
Always wear a leash and use a personal flotation device whenever conditions call for it.

Start out on your knees to get used to the board, then gradually stand up, keeping your feet parallel on either side of the carry handle.

What’s the key to making progress? Regular practice. For most beginners, just a handful of sessions is enough to build confidence and develop the right reflexes. Discovering beautiful paddling spots, enjoying the feeling of gliding across the water, and sharing the experience with others naturally fuel the desire to keep coming back. And the more time you spend on the water, the more you improve.

SUPers: Moritz and Vilayta, GONG team riders, with Explorer and Adventure I-SUP.

Which board should you choose as a beginner?

Choosing the right equipment is key to ensuring a successful start.

As a beginner, you should look for:

A stable board.
Plenty of volume.
A reassuring width.
A durable construction that is easy to transport.

Inflatable boards are often the best choice for a first boarf. They are easy to store, simple to transport, and highly effective for cruising.

SUPer: Moritz, GONG team rider, with the Do It I-SUP.

Get everything you need with our complete SUP packages

GONG SUP packages include everything you need:

The board
The paddle
The leash
The fin
The carry bag
The pump

Everything is designed to help you get started immediately with a setup that is perfectly matched and suited to your needs.

Depending on your size and what you want from your paddling experience, the Allround and Cruising packs are the ideal entry points into the world of SUP. The former offer excellent versatility for both surfing and cruising, while the latter are designed to maximise glide, helping you cover greater distances with less effort.

SUPers: Jeanne and Loic, GONG staff, with a First Cruising pack and GONG waterproof bags.

Why choose a pack?

Because it gives you:

Everything you need to get on the water straight away.
A carefully matched setup designed to work perfectly together.
The best value for money.

SUPers: Pamella and Evelin, GONG team riders, with a First Allround pack.

Improve faster with GONG HOW TO

To help you progress quickly, our HOW TO section provides a wide range of detailed tutorials.

Discover practical advice on:

These HOW TO have been designed to support every stage of your progression, from your very first paddle stroke to your first adventures on the water.

Essential tips for beginners

A few simple tips can help you progress more quickly:

Keep your eyes on the horizon, not on your feet.
Maintain a slight bend in your knees.
Use your paddle for balance and support.
Engage your whole body when paddling instead of relying only on your arms.
Spend as much time on the water as possible to develop your feel and confidence.
Don’t worry about falling in, it’s all part of the learning experience!

Above all, the most important thing is to enjoy your time on the water.

SUPers: Moritz and Kim, GONG team riders, with Cruising and Allround I-SUP.

The best time to start is right now.

SUP is an invitation to experience nature from a different perspective. Accessible, fun, and beneficial for both body and mind, it allows anyone to enjoy their first gliding sensations on the water with ease.

This summer, make it happen. Find the pack that suits you best, learn with the GONG HOW TO guides, and become part of the ever-growing paddleboarding community.

SUPers: Kim, Moritz, Vilayta and Sylvia with Allround, Cruising, Do It and Longboard I-SUP.