Getting out onto the water is a lot of fun, but if you haven’t ever spent time enjoying a water sport, then you may find the feeling of being on a board a little daunting. For this reason, a lot of people ask, “is kneeboarding hard,” and they wonder what they can do to make this sport a little bit easier. I have found that almost every water sport is at least a little bit difficult, but there are some tips and tricks that you can employ to make kneeboarding a little bit easier.
If you have already spent time watching other people out on the water, have watched videos of people kneeboarding, and still have questions, then these tips will help you. Once you understand the mechanics of kneeboarding and are confident enough to get out on the water, then you’re sure to have an easier time kneeboarding when you utilize these tips.
Don’t Jump Right In
While kneeboarding may not look like the most strenuous water sport that you can enjoy, I have found that if I don’t take ample time to stretch before I go out on the water, I’m going to be very sore the next day. Many people think that your knees are going to be sore when you have been kneeboarding, but you are actually going to experience more pain in your neck and back. For this reason, make sure that you take some time to stretch and warm up before you get out on your kneeboard so that you are strong and flexible.
Do Your Research
Of course, you want to buy a kneeboard right away so that you can get out on the water, but if you buy the wrong board, then you are going to struggle to have any success kneeboarding. Everyone wants to know what board is the right one for them to buy, and there’s really only one answer – buy the board that meets your skill level.
It can be tempting to simply borrow someone else’s board or buy the nicest board in the store, but you need to make sure that you have a board that will suit your skills. Otherwise, you will likely struggle to perform well on a very advanced board, which will leave you discouraged and wanting to give up.
Know How to Start
I have found that this is one of the most difficult things for new kneeboarders to learn, but it is also terribly important that you take time to understand how to get into a good starting position. The most popular and common way to start on your kneeboard is starting from your belly, as it is significantly easier for you to sit up.
Make sure that you have the nose of the board poking up and out of the water, and gently pull your knees up while leaning back. If you lean too far forward, then you will lose your balance and will quickly fall over. While this motion may seem a little difficult at first, I have found that practicing it on dry land is a great way to make sure that your body understands what it needs to do, which will decrease the amount of times that you fall over and have to start again.
Keep Good Posture
As soon as you start to slouch, you will fall over into the water. It can be difficult to maintain good posture at first, especially if you spend your day hunched over a computer and don’t sit up straight very often. This does take a little extra effort, but I have found that I perform much better kneeboarding when I am aware of my posture and work hard to sit up straight.
Is Kneeboarding Hard for Beginners to Master?
Out of all of the water sports, kneeboarding has a distinct advantage in that you don’t have to stand up on the board or on skis and try to maintain your balance. For this reason, I think that kneeboarding is one of the easier water sports to try, especially when you employ these tips and tricks.
Before you head to the water to go kneeboarding, or whenever you are in an off-season, there are a few things to do that will help you enjoy great success while kneeboarding. If you take this sport seriously, then you will find that you improve every time you get on the board.
Take Up Yoga
While yoga may not seem at all related to kneeboarding, by becoming more flexible and strengthening your back and neck you can help to avoid injury. Practicing yoga on a regular basis will help you strengthen these muscles and also stretch them out, which will ensure that you have the flexibility and control that you need while on a board to stay up and not fall over. If you really want to challenge yourself and spend more time on the water, try yoga on a Stand up paddle board!
Sit Up Straight
You are probably slouching right now as you read this, and while it may be comfortable, it does not help your posture or make it easier for you to kneeboard. Start noticing your posture during the day, and adjust it when you find that you are slouching. Doing so is a great way to ensure that when you get out on the water, you will have an easier time sitting up straight.
Kneeboarding is a great tow sport and can be a lot of fun, but you have to make sure that you are prepared for your time on the board so that you don’t get injured or burn out. While it may seem silly to practice your posture and work on improving your neck and back strength and flexibility even when you’re off the water, this is important to improve your kneeboarding abilities.
Final Thoughts
While not the hardest water sport you can participate in, kneeboarding has its own set of challenges. Make sure that you are prepared to meet them head-on with these tips and tricks, and you are sure to love all of your time that you get to spend out on the water.
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Megan Jones leads the editorial staff of Seaside Planet. They are a multidisciplinary team of outdoor adventurers, water sports lovers, and passionate beach goers. You can learn more about Meg and the rest of the editorial team here.