If you can’t tell, I’m a huge Ivan van Vuuren fan. If there’s anyone in the world I wish I could ride like, it’s probably him. And, of course, Laird H. Anyway, he recently gave some smart advice about what to look for in a first board.

Ivan says: Stand up paddle boarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world. Celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Pierce Brosnan and Matthew Mcconaughey are doing it. Top sportsmen from around the world are doing it too. 8x surfing champion Kelly Slater, 7x Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong, along with many top kiteboarders and windsurfers around the world are doing it too. It is without a doubt one of the best forms of cross training as it works the core, legs and upper body all at the same time- plus it’s tons of fun.
When starting, there are so many different configurations as far as fins, boards, paddles, deck pads and leashes are concerned that it can get confusing real quick. So let’s take a quick look at some options that will get you out on the water with the most amount of fun.

BOARDS
Cruiser Boards
When you start out you’ll want to start on a bigger board – what we’ll refer to as a “Cruiser” board. This is a board in the 11ft 6- 12ft6 range. I suggest that it be at least 30 inches wide as this will allow added stability especially for first time riders. It’s also great for riders weighing over 100 kgs to use past the beginning stage.
Don’t let the size put you off if you want to go out and have some fun, nose riding or cross stepping these boards are ideal. On smaller days this can be a great tool in the quiver and when the wind picks up great for down winders.
As you progress, or when the surf picks up to say 4-6 ft faces, you’re going to want to have a board that will be able to hold a rail and not nosedive as much as the larger “Cruiser” type boards. So here you have a few options ranging between 9ft6- 10ft6 boards. Much of this depends on your weight, for example if you are 100kg+, you’re going to want a board with more volume (10’6x 30 inches wide), and if you’re a skinny little girl, you’ll be able to get away with a smaller (9ft6 x 28 inch wide) board.
In this range tail configurations and fin set ups will change between, swallow, round and square with quad thruster twin or single fins. The best is to experiment and see what works best on your board.
Smaller Boards
Board designs are changing on a daily basis and so are the sizes being produced by different manufacturers. We’re seeing smaller and smaller boards being produced – typically in the range of 8ft- 9ft and 30 inches wide.
These boards are a great option if you’re going to be riding smaller waves and want something that turns quick. Although they are more unstable and harder to ride in choppy waters, they make a good option for a second board.
Big wave guns
Once you’re up and riding and ready for some bigger surf, big wave guns are an option and range between 11ft3 and 13ft. These boards are narrower (27-28 inches wide), which means they are harder to ride but allow for better control especially on big wave faces where there is more apparent wind and larger chop on the face.
With the sport being so new, what is in today might be outdated tomorrow. The bottom line is that if it floats you, you should get out there and make it work and have fun.

A Guide to Choosing the Right Stand Up Paddle Board Equipment