In the last week we have had two clinics at Lake Wingra in Madison,
WI. Conditions were not ideal for first-timers with the winds sweeping
across the lake. Wind aside, we taught over 50 new paddlers and not
one person got wet. Well, one 6-year old boy went in up to his knees,
but we think that might have been out of curiosity. The new tribe of
paddlers ranged in age from 6 to 60. All but a few had never been on a
stand up board. Some had never even heard of stand up paddling until
they saw that the demo was happening in the park. Curious paddlers
from as far as Chicago and Milwaukee were in Madison for test drive on
our new line up of beginner boards.
These demos were a good test for our beginner board lineup. The
stability in the new boards is fantastic. They give a new paddler
exactly what we want to provide, a comfortable, dry and fun first
experience. The boards we have been using for beginners are our
Peter Pan designed Bic 11’4”, the
Surftech Randy French Softtop Series and
the
Aquaglide Amundson series.
There are a few qualities that all of our beginner demo models share.
They are very stable, they have a comfortable deck pad, and their
price points are great for someone making their first investment into
paddling. Their shapes are primarily geared towards having fun.
Whether it is going for a paddle with friends and family, playing in
the surf, or just taking a leisurely solo paddle.
The boards also have some differences that may help beginners decide
on which model is a more fitting first choice.
Starting with the Bic
11’4” ACS, a great value. Make it a package and your looking at
everything you need to start paddling for under $1000 including
shipping. Packages include the board, a leash, paddle cover, and a
paddle. You can choose between an aluminum adjustable paddle that the
whole family can use or for a small amount more a composite
adjustable paddle. The Bic is built to last. It is made of Ultra
durable polyethylene / urethane foam construction yet weighs only 34
pounds . It is perfect to have at the cabin or to let the kids go
crazy on. Just because it is low on the price range, does not mean it
is low on performance. The shape is geared a little more towards a
surf shape, but after testing it ourselves we were impressed with its
flat water performance.
The Surftech Randy French Softop Series takes the advantage of the
Surftech bank of shaping knowledge and applies it to a construction
and price that suits beginners. These boards are very stable.
Beginners up to 240 lbs at our demos had no problem standing right up
and keeping their feet dry on the 11’6” model. They are available in
both 10’6” and 11’6”. The 10’6” works well for light and moderate
weight paddlers or larger paddlers with intermediate skills. The 11’6”
is good for beginners and larger paddlers who need the extra bit of
stability. The shapes are great for those who would not only like to
paddle flat water but who are looking to start catching some waves.
The Surftechs are also available as packages with an adjustable paddle
from $1099 including shipping.
The Amundson Aquaglide series takes the beginner board to a more all
round performance level. We loved last years Aquaglide board and this
year they stepped it up with two shapes available, the 11'3" and the
11'6". The 11’3” has a wide footprint which provides great stability,
while slightly less volume and subtle rail shaping keep the board
light and maneuverable. Epoxy ASA construction is light and durable.
The 11'3" weighs only 26 pounds! The color on this board is also a
nice new touch. The bottom is a deep purple that looks a super sleek.
The 11’6” is a full volume board that can handle larger paddlers and
is ready for flat water cruising or nice long peelers. The tail rocker
makes catching waves even little waves a breeze. This is a great
option for someone exploring all types of paddling conditions. As a
package the
Amundson's come with the option of the aluminum adjustable
paddle kit, composite adjustable paddle kt, or the Quickblade Kanaha
FG paddle kit.
For a personal recommendation on which beginner board is right for
you, give us a call at 1-877-473-1199. And to see all of our beginner
boards and packages visit
paddleboardspecialists.com.
