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Carrying Your Board to the Water
If your stand up paddleboard has been designed with a built-in handle, carrying it is a breeze. Just lean the board on its rail (edge), reach for the handle and tuck the board under one arm. Carry your paddle with the other hand.
For longer distances, or if your board has no handle, you can more easily carry your paddleboard on your head. Here's how:
•    Stand the board on its tail (end) with the deck (top of the board) facing you.
•    Lay your paddle on the ground within easy reach.
•    Grasp the rails (the edges of the board) with both hands.
•    Walk yourself under the board so that your head is about midway between the nose (front) and the tail.
•    Stand upright with the board overhead, still holding it by its rails.
•    Now bend down and pick up your paddle and carry it alongside the board.
•    Head for the water.

Mounting the Paddleboard
When you're a beginner, it's easier to kneel on the board rather than to stand directly upright. Here are a few pointers to get you started:
•    Standing alongside the board, place your paddle across the deck of the board and use it as an outrigger. The paddle grip is on the rail (edge) of the board; the blade rests on the water.
•    Hold the board by the rails. One hand will also be holding the paddle grip.
•    Pop yourself onto the board into a kneeling position, just behind the center point of the board.
•    From that kneeling position, get a feel for the balance point of the board. The nose shouldn't pop up out of the water and the tail shouldn't dig in.
•    Keep your hands on either side of the board to stabilize it.
Once you're ready, stand up on the board one foot at a time. Place your feet where your knees were. You might also bring a friend to wade out about knee-deep with your board. Have your friend stabilize the board as you get the hang of standing on it.

When You Fall
Stand up paddleboarding is relatively easy to learn, but expect to take the occasional fall as you're gaining skills. For those inevitable times you lose your balance:
•    Aim yourself to the side, so that you fall into the water and not onto the board. Falling onto the board is more likely to cause an injury.
•    If you get separated from your paddle and your board, get your board first, then paddle it to retrieve the paddle.

Are you interested in SUP or just want to have more information? Visit the Starboard website!