Advanced Elements AE1060 - Manual (Page 6)

3. If you are paddling a river, do not use an ankle leash. This could be very dangerous because if you fall off, your
board could pull you under the water as it continues down the river. Also, an ankle leash could get caught on
items under the water and pull you off of your board as you are riding down the river.
4. Be careful in windy conditions. Because you are completely above the water, strong winds can greatly affect you
and could push you around.
5. Never leave your board, even if you lose your paddle. You can still paddle your board with your hands, which is
easier than trying to swim back to shore. Also, if the wind was to pick up, your board will blow away from you
faster than you can swim to it. This is why an ankle leash is so important.
6. Foot Position: You should stand in the middle of the board when paddling. When on flat water, stand with your
feet about shoulder width apart and face forward. If you are surfing or in choppy water, you want to take more
of a surfer’s stance with your dominant foot facing forward. Your feet are not glued to the board, make sure to
get used to moving your feet around on the board because the sooner that you do this the more comfortable
you will feel about doing turns and riding waves.
7. The Best way to turn your board is to stand with your foot at the tail of the board with your weight over the fins.
This is where foot movement will come in handy.
8. For more in depth instructions or lessons on paddle boarding, we recommend utilizing the internet or a
paddleboard instructor.
7.2 Surfing Do’s and Don’ts
Be Aware: Be aware of other surfers and water users, of the surf conditions, and of where you are surfing.
Comfort Zone: You should paddle surf in waves that you are comfortable in, don't get in over your head.
Fitness: Make sure you are physically fit when surfing. You need to be able to swim back to shore if you lose your board
at the end of an exhausting session - no mean feat in a 9 foot swell.
Food: As with swimming, do not go surfing for at least 45 minutes after a meal.
Hold or Throw: Know when to hold onto your paddleboard and when to get rid of it. If you are paddling out then keep
hold of your board, you'll get out back to the line up more quickly and you will not put anyone paddling out behind you
at risk. If you are about to wipe-out then get rid of your board. You are far more likely to sustain an injury if you and your
board are getting washed around together.
Patrolled Beaches: If you are paddle surfing on a patrolled beach, make sure that you keep within the designated surfing
area. Take note of where you should be surfing before you go out, and make sure you stick to it when you are out.
Priority: Always make sure that you are not taking anyone else's wave. Remember, the surfer who is closest to the
breaking wave has priority. If you see someone already on a wave then the wave is taken and you'll have to wait for the
next one.
Practice: If you want to improve then you need to be in the water surfing as regularly as possible. No-one got any better
at anything by staying home and watching TV.
Respect: Respect the locals if you are visiting a beach. Remember that you are a guest and that waves should be shared.
Rips: If you are caught in a rip current remember that it's called R.I.P. for a reason and you will probably not make it back
to dry land ever again. Although hopefully you already know that a rip current is a strong current that (normally) goes
straight out to sea and if caught in one that you should not panic and paddle across the rip current (not against it) until
you have escaped.