Paddleboarding is a great summer activity that people of all ages can enjoy. It is a relatively easy sport to learn, but there are some things you should know before you hit the water. Let’s get to the basics of paddleboarding and answer the question: is paddleboarding hard? The answer is that it depends on what you are comparing it to.
Paddleboarding in the ocean can be difficult because of the waves and currents. If you are paddleboarding in a bay or lake, it is likely to be easier because the water is calmer.
What is a Stand-Up Paddle Board?
The sport of stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is rapidly gaining popularity due to its relatively low cost and easy accessibility. A SUP board is large, stable, and can be paddled in various water conditions using what is called the paddle blade.
You will be in a standing position, knees slightly bent, feet shoulder-width apart, and balance in the middle of the board where you feel balanced. You’ll use your core muscles to provide a firm paddle stroke and alternate strokes. You may also paddleboard in the kneeling position to get closer to the water.
Because of their size, they are also great for carrying gear, making them a popular choice for fishing and camping trips. In addition, SUP boards can be used for fitness and yoga and simply enjoying a day on the water. Whether you are interested in exploring new waterways or simply want a unique way to get an incredible workout, a stand-up paddleboard may be ideal.
Central Florida Paddle Boarding
There’s nothing quite like a day spent paddleboarding near the Gulf Coast of Central Florida. The warm, clear water is inviting, and the gentle waves provide the perfect level of challenge for beginners. The area is also teeming with wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles.
Paddleboarding is an excellent way to get some exercise while enjoying the natural beauty of Central Florida. And best of all, it’s a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. So whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a first-time adventurer, head to the Gulf Coast of Central Florida and give paddleboarding a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Is Paddle Boarding in the Ocean Safe?
Paddleboarding is a popular water sport often associated with calm, coastal waters. However, many paddleboarders also enjoy spending time in the ocean, where they can catch waves and ride them to shore. While this may seem like an adrenaline-filled activity, it is relatively safe when done correctly.
The key to safely paddleboarding in the ocean is to know the conditions before heading out. If the water is too rough or strong currents, it is best to stick to calmer waters. Once you are out in the ocean, pay attention to the waves and stay away from any areas where there might be dangerous wildlife. As long as you take these precautions, you can safely enjoy paddleboarding in the ocean.
Once you get comfortable enough with it, you can change your paddleboarding style and try to ride waves. SUP surfing is very popular and can be fun. If you feel confident in your skills, you can try more challenging activities like whitewater paddling.
Is it Easier to Paddle Board a Bay?
Paddleboarding is a fun and challenging activity that can be enjoyed in both the ocean and a bay.
Many people find it easier to paddleboard in a bay. The calm waters and lack of waves make it easier to balance on the board, and the sheltered environment can help beginners feel more comfortable.
In addition, bays are often smaller and more enclosed than the open ocean, making it easier to paddle around without getting lost. For these reasons, paddleboarding in a bay is often the best choice for beginners or those looking for an easy, relaxed experience. One precaution you may consider is choosing an area with low boat traffic. Boats may be coming in and out of the bay, causing the site to be unsafe for paddleboarding.
Benefits of SUP Paddle Boarding
There is a long list of benefits of picking up paddleboarding as a hobby.
You can paddle in various settings and see multiple marine life up close and personal.
It’s a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the water.
Paddleboarding is an excellent way to get a full-body workout.
It can help strengthen core and leg muscles which can help improve balance and coordination skills.
Paddleboarding is perfect for relaxing in nature and connecting with friends outdoors.
Bring your pets along! Don’t forget to put them in a personal flotation device for safety.
So, is Paddleboarding Hard?
The answer is no. It’s a straightforward water sport, and a little practice and research on where you want to paddle will determine the level of difficulty you experience. If you are just starting, be sure to pick a location that isn’t too crowded and where the water is calm.
There are plenty of areas in Central Florida on the Gulf Coast that offers serene and calm waters to learn and practice.
Here are some great areas to paddleboard in Central Florida:
Phillippi Creek
The Mangrove Tunnels on South Lido
Turtle Beach
North Shell Road in Siesta Key
Alligator Creek
Bird Key Park
City Island Park
Overlook Park
Nora Patterson Bay Island Park
Tips for Learning to Use a Stand Up Paddle Board
Here are some beginner paddleboarding tips to consider.
Start in a sheltered area with calm water, such as a bay.
Get comfortable paddling and balancing on the board before venturing into rougher waters. You can practice paddling in shallow water until you feel comfortable.
Wear proper clothing and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Paddleboards are large, and they are hard unless you’re using inflatable boards. If you fall and it hits you, you could get hurt. Be sure to know how to fall safely off your paddleboard.
Not only is paddle boarding easy, but it is a great way to explore new areas and get some exercise. With a bit of practice, you can be a pro paddleboarder in no time!
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and give it a try! You might just fall in love with this fun and challenging activity.
Can You Rent Stand-Up Paddle Boards?
Absolutely! If you are vacationing in the Sarasota, Siesta Key, Bradenton, or Anna Maria Island area, contact one of our locations and see about renting a paddleboard for you and the family. It’s an incredibly easy water sport the whole family will love.
We don’t stop at just paddleboards. We offer kayaks, bicycles, beach gear, scooters, and more! Make the most of your vacation and contact us to schedule your rental today. We make it easy and fun.
Bikes were great! Very easy to reserve and pick up. They were actually super nice since we got there to pick them up 5 minutes after they closed, and still helped us. 🙂
Melanie Ridlon
13:27 04 Jan 21
Renting bikes for 3 days for our family of 4 (18 year old twins, so hard to find family activities) was the highlight of our Siesta Key trip. We actually found something we all did for the very first time...riding bikes on the beach. The bikes made the trip and the best way to get around Siesta Key. Cherry on top was finding out we supported a women-owned business. Thanks Ride & Paddle!
Mike Kidder
16:21 30 Nov 20
Fast, easy and courteous service.Prices seem to be the same all over the key so don’t waste time shopping price. This place was right around the corner from us and bikes worked out great. The bikes seemed pretty new & well maintained. Nice big comfortable seats
Jack Forrest
17:00 29 Nov 20
Super easy week long rental of paddle boards with drop off and pickup, lock included. Price was better than anywhere else too. The boards are wide and heavy, better for beginners, but no complaints here considering the price!
vikki cunningham
17:27 20 Nov 20
Great guided tour paddle! The guide, Craig, was very knowledgeable and friendly. Getting a kayak and booking the trip was super easy and done over the phone so we just meet them at the water. We highly recommend it and will do it again.
Angie Poor
12:40 22 Aug 20
We stopped in to get some advice for where to Paddleboard while we were in town. Very friendly staff and lots of great information. It was nice of them to take the time to speak to us and we had a great paddle! We wanted to support his business so we bought a hat while we were there. Great people!!
Joseph Maguire
15:06 18 Aug 20
Well it was a hell of a trip I'll tell you I never expected to get the value for the Kayaking trip we took. We saw manatees one really close up too, wild life, we encountered flying fish, the staff were friendly. The boats were in perfect comfortable shape, and the map was well explained. We toured the ecologically friendly sites and we got a bit of peace and respite in the morning before a huge lightning shower came in. We felt safe we followed protocols kayaked along the shore line and got home safely, but the entire trip was amazing magical even. We'll do it again despite the bad weather that came out of nowhere.
Cat D
18:37 13 Aug 20
Everyone at Ride & Paddle were so friendly and accommodating. Great prices too! Will definitely use again the next time we are in town!
Connie Massie
20:01 30 Jul 20
We had a great experience with Ride and Paddle! We just needed 1 additional bike for a few days and they delivered and picked it up seamlessly. They were very friendly and even allowed us to keep it an extra couple of hours! Would 100% recommend them and we will definitely use them again
Kina Condra
14:22 10 May 20
This place was awesome! Great service and friendly staff! They made our trip less stressful and more enjoyable!
Kathy Letterman
03:03 01 Mar 20
Our group of six took the kayak tour and had a wonderful time! Craig was a great guide and was very patient with us since 4 of the 6 were first-timers. The tour was fabulous and very informative about the wildlife. We had a great time exploring the area and taking a break on a secluded beach. All in all a great time and highly recommended!!
Gary Rieger
22:24 17 Jan 20
Awesome bike rental! We loved the ease of renting and having the bikes waiting for us at the start of the Legacy Trail. Couldn’t have been more convenient!! Equipment was top notch too from the helmets to the bike lock to the Trek Verve bikes. Great ride and I highly recommend renting from Ride &Paddle.
Lawrence Menefee
22:07 14 Jan 20
Rented a scooter for three days. The staff were all super nice and easy to work with. My scooter was cool, zipped me around with no problem... and I'm a big guy?The price was easy on my wallet which is always a plus. I'll definitely go here again
Michael Stoos
19:45 02 Jan 20
We came. We saw. We biked.These guys were great! Great location just two blocks from the beach access, and on a main road where they're easy to find (and next to a nice little bar/restaurant for after-ride refreshments!). Everyone was super-friendly and took the time to get our bikes set up correctly for us, answer our out-of-towner questions, point us the right way, and smile while doing it! Our bikes were well-kept, comfy, and worked great. And the price was super! Riding up and down Siesta Key was a "must do" for my daughter, and Ride & Paddle made it work out wonderfully. Highly recommend!
Mel B
18:57 01 Jan 20
We rented bikes for two small girls. Staff was very helpful and patient in making sure bikes were the right size for them. We were very pleased and the 3-day rental was well worth it. Thanks to Ride & Paddle our family bike rides turned out to be a highlight of our trip here!
Zach Zussman-Dobbins
20:16 29 Nov 19
Awesome spot for road bike rentals! Had a selection of sizes of aluminum trek road bikes to choose from. They cheerfully put on SPD pedals that matched my shoes and included a helmet and a pack with allen wrenches, a pump, tire levers and a tube with the rental. The bike was well maintained and a great ride with no problems over 80 miles in the 4 days I had it. Great price, great service, this is definitely where I'll go to rent a road bike when I'm back in the area.
Bob Gordon
03:59 28 Nov 19
Show me the ... Manatees! Easy to use, very informative company. Great directions and a handy map attached to front of kayak allowed us to see all the sights on our self guided tour plus two manatees right off the bat and at the end! Highly recommend.
Robert Viera
21:20 22 Nov 19
We stayed in Siesta Key village and where able to use the bikes to get to and fromour destinations. The bikes were delivered right to doorstep and picked up as well. The service was excellent.
randy
14:05 11 Nov 19
The quality of the bikes was great. On time delivery and pick up.Great job.
sally kell
21:17 08 Nov 19
Super helpful and nice, also very reasonably priced!Awesome experience
Edward Witkowski
21:58 05 Nov 19
The paddle Boards were very nice and clean and new. Very happy with our rental.
Angela Stahl
15:23 01 Nov 19
Rented a beach wheelchair for my in-law for our wedding day. Delivered on time. We had an accident and one of our groomsmen broke his foot the night of the wedding. I called and within minutes had the rental time extended so he could enjoy the beach for the rest of his vacation. Thank you so much!!
Elizabeth Engel
15:09 15 Oct 19
We just returned from a lovely holiday weekend in Siesta Key made even more lovely by the helpful staff at Ride & Paddle. We went on a guided kayak tour with Trish. We're infrequent kayakers, so her brief tutoring session was greatly appreciated, and she quickly spotted an adjustment I needed to make to my paddling technique that prevented me from getting blisters. She took us through the mangroves and pointed out all sorts of wildlife along the way, and we ended up on a secluded beach where we ate lunch and collected shells. She also recommended we pack a picnic and check out Siesta Key's famous Sunday evening sunset drum circle on the public beach, for which we secured Ride & Paddle beach chairs. All the equipment was in great shape, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Online reservation system is a real plus, too.
Caroline Ramey
16:08 11 Oct 19
The rental cost is very reasonable with free delivery included. Our kids had an amazing time and the staff was very friendly and helpful! Will definitely use this company next time we are here!
tampistash tampi
18:32 28 Jun 19
Very nice equipment. Was given a map to show us more or less where to go and what we can do in that area. There was a beautiful private beach and I highly recommend bringing snorkeling equipment. We saw a couple of dolphins. It was near the exit into the ocean when we were about to drop off the gear at around 1pm. They were eating fish in a group. Great experience and I would do again very soon. It's only 40 bucks for a tandem kayak and it comes with life vests and the map and the two paddles for 4 hours. We got there at 9am and left the gear back at 1pm. There is parking there and I'd recommend to bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunblock and some water if the weather is hot.
tampistash tampi
18:32 28 Jun 19
Very nice equipment. Was given a map to show us more or less where to go and what we can do in that area. There was a beautiful private beach and I highly recommend bringing snorkeling equipment. We saw a couple of dolphins. It was near the exit into the ocean when we were about to drop off the gear at around 1pm. They were eating fish in a group. Great experience and I would do again very soon. It's only 40 bucks for a tandem kayak and it comes with life vests and the map and the two paddles for 4 hours. We got there at 9am and left the gear back at 1pm. There is parking there and I'd recommend to bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunblock and some water if the weather is hot.
Frankie Bonano
11:56 20 Jun 19
We rented kayaks here and they were awesome just like the staff working there.
J Towne
18:52 15 Apr 19
Wonderful fun, even a windy kayaking day. No hassle desk service and friendly. Justin was just great... Helpful and friendly, he shared some insights and pointers to make it a great kayaking adventure at the launch.
Katrina Herrera
01:51 07 Apr 19
Had a great experience kayaking off crescent beach. Chris, is super friendly and helpful. We cannot wait to go back!
Jessica Goebeler
14:51 13 Mar 19
If you're heading to Siesta Key, make sure you rent a bike or kayak (or both!) from Siesta Sports. I booked both online before I arrived so I didn't have to worry about availability. The bike was delivered - for free - to my rental tiny house. I'm definitely returning to Siesta Key and renting from Siesta Sports again. Great customer service, friendly staff, and items in excellent working condition. You can tell the owner takes pride in this shop.
Jessica Goebeler
14:51 13 Mar 19
If you're heading to Siesta Key, make sure you rent a bike or kayak (or both!) from Siesta Sports. I booked both online before I arrived so I didn't have to worry about availability. The bike was delivered - for free - to my rental tiny house. I'm definitely returning to Siesta Key and renting from Siesta Sports again. Great customer service, friendly staff, and items in excellent working condition. You can tell the owner takes pride in this shop.
Sean Sullivan
17:18 27 Feb 19
Highly Recommended. Best place to rent beach gear in Siesta Key.
A Google User
14:06 08 Jan 19
Highly Recommended.Best place to rent beach gear in Siesta Key.
Tyler Irvin
13:40 14 Oct 18
Very helpful and respectful staff, we rented 3 scooters and it was great. Good scooters with crash bars for the riders safety. We had an a key break off in the ignition, but they were understanding and we were able to work it out.
jklodner
15:18 13 Oct 18
Once again Trish and her staff make our vacation more enjoyable! Rented a bike, blew a tire, they were out to fix it immediately! Always Friendly. The guys on the beach (Ian and new guy Ben) take care of everything not only for us but everyone on the beach at Midnight Cove! No better place to get your Bikes, Kayak, boards etc!! 5+ stars!
Thomas Howard
01:27 26 Sep 18
This is a great place to rent gear for excursions in the siesta key area. We rented some snorkels for the day and the guy working at the store was nice enough to let us know some good spots to snorkel at. Unfortunately with the red tide in the area and high winds the snorkeling ended up sucking.
Ottomon
22:42 12 Aug 18
Recomended .Best place to rent scooters and beach gear, on the Siesta island. Scooters are top qualty run awesome! not some raggedy cheap China scooters for rent . Friendly staff ,easy place to find
Raquel Santos
23:41 28 Jun 18
Rented scooters here great experience. Staff is extremely patient and helpful.
Laura Noble
23:06 25 Apr 17
We had a great experience on our guided kayaking trip! Todd was very friendly and knowledgeable, and gave my son many tips for fishing. Loved seeing the mullets jumping out of the water and being able to go at a pace that worked for the whole family. We've been using siesta sport rentals for bike rentals and kayaking for more than 10 years. It is so nice to see the same friendly faces year after year.