Stand Up Paddling in Winter: What You Need to Know!

Stand Up Paddling im Winter: Das musst du beachten!

The glittering snow crunches under our shoes, our breath is visible in the biting cold winter air, and all around us the trees bend under the heavy snow that has fallen in thick flakes in recent days. Wrapped warmly in dry suits, we carry our SUP boards to the lake, because a unique stand up paddle session in icy temperatures awaits us!

Stand Up Paddling in winter – A risk?

Stand Up Paddling has established itself as a summer sport on the lake or sea. Ambitious paddlers take every opportunity to get on the board and usually paddle all year round, as long as the lakes are ice-free.
To go stand up paddling in winter, you should have some boarding experience and the right equipment, because a fall into the icy water can quickly lead to an accident if you don't know what you're doing.
Stand up paddling in winter is an unforgettable experience, but safety always comes first and you should definitely consider these points before your SUP tour!
  • Always plan a winter SUP tour in a group and never go alone. In an emergency situation, every minute counts, and as a team, you can help each other.
  • Take your smartphone in a dry bag or a waterproof smartphone case to be able to call for help in an emergency.
  • Don't overestimate yourself! Plan a rather short distance for your first SUP tour in winter to find out if you enjoy paddling in cold temperatures.
  • Prepare a thermos with hot tea at home to warm yourself up during or after the tour.

Stand Up Paddling in winter – The right equipment

The right equipment is the most important thing for a stand up paddle tour in winter. We have tried various options, and for us, the combination of a breathable SUP dry suit, rubber boots, a neoprene hood, and lightweight gloves has proven to be the best.

Thick neoprene shoes are also suitable for winter stand up paddling, but they soak up liquid when they come into contact with water or snow, which can result in cold feet. With waterproof, lined rubber boots, you can easily wade through the snow and have no problems even with water contact when getting on the SUP board.

It is very important that your head does not get cold. You lose the most heat through your head. Neoprene hoods, headbands, or breathable sports hoods protect your head from the icy winter air.

While paddling, our hands got very warm, so we took off our gloves after a short time. For pumping and the first few meters of paddling, thin running gloves or neoprene gloves are suitable, for example. If you get too warm, you can store them in a dry bag.
When stand-up paddling in winter, also use a leash. In the worst-case scenario, if you fall off your SUP board, the leash will keep it connected to your body and close to you, so you can quickly get back on.
In a dry bag, you can take a hot drink, your smartphone and possibly a change of clothes. You can also carry your smartphone in a waterproof phone case on your body to take some cool winter shots during the tour.

We wish you an unforgettable first winter SUP tour and would love for you to post photos of it on Instagram with #gloryboards so we can follow your tour! If you have any questions about our SUP boards and paddles, please feel free to contact us by email!

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