Safety

Paddling through New Zealand’s incredible landscapes is an experience like no other, but it comes with responsibilities to keep both yourself and others safe. Strong safety skills are essential for planning ahead to avoid potential issues, whether it's checking weather conditions, understanding tides, or having the right gear. They also ensure that, if things go wrong, you're prepared to respond effectively, helping to protect yourself, your group, and the environment. Good preparation not only makes each journey smoother and more enjoyable but also keeps you equipped to handle unexpected challenges with confidence.

The SUP Safe Code

The importance of trip planning for any paddling adventure!

Whether you’re heading out on a lake, river, or the open sea, thoughtful trip planning is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable paddling experience. For both SUP and kayaking, consider the following key factors:

Weather Forecast: Check for wind strength and direction, as strong winds can make conditions challenging, especially on open water.
Tides: For coastal trips, know the timing of high and low tides, along with tidal flow directions, to avoid unexpected currents or challenging conditions on your return.
Group Ability: Assess the experience level of everyone in the group to plan a route that matches their skills and stamina, ensuring a positive and safe experience for all.

These considerations help you stay safe, prepared, and ready to adapt if conditions change, making each paddling trip more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Safety skills are crucial for handling conditions confidently and avoiding potential issues on the water. Key skills include:

Personal Paddling Skills: Strong paddling skills are foundational for managing various conditions and staying upright, reducing the likelihood of falling in. While advanced skills like rolling are useful, mastering the basics to avoid capsizing is even more important.
Rescue Skills: Ensure you can get yourself or others back onto a SUP or into a kayak after a capsize. Knowing basic rescue techniques makes a huge difference in keeping everyone safe.
Emergency and First Aid Skills: Being prepared for incidents, from cuts and strains to more serious injuries, is essential. Basic first aid knowledge allows you to respond effectively to emergencies on the water.

These skills not only enhance safety but also lead to a more enjoyable, less stressful paddling experience.

Essential safety skills on the water

Where to Learn More

NZ SUP Safety Videos

NZ SUP have created an excellent series of safety videos - many of these (such as the understanding tides) videos can be applied to kayaking as much as Stand Up Paddleboarding.

Access them all here

SUP Safety Books

Bill Dawes of NZ SUP has created an excellent series of books that covers everything you need to know about staying safe while paddling.

Download the e-books here or email Bill directly to order the physical books.

Outdoor First Aid

First aid is a vital skill for everyone and will help you should the worst happen. If you live near Christchurch, consider doing the excellent outdoor first aid course with City First Aid. Here you'll look at all the normal first aid topics, but with a focus on how these apply to outdoor activities.

Find our more and book here