SUP Touring Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – efficient distance paddling, trip planning and staying safe on open water.

Equipment

Item	Priority	Tip
Board	High	V-shaped displacement hull, 3.5–3.8 m long, a narrow 71–81 cm – more speed and tracking.
Fin	Medium	A long centre fin for tracking – short wave fins tend to slow touring down.
Luggage	Medium	Split into two smaller dry bags symmetrically instead of one big pack in the middle.
Hydration	High	Around 1 litre of water per hour within easy reach instead of buried in the dry bag.

Planning the perfect trip

Check wind and tides: Check the wind forecast, tide table and thunderstorm risk before every trip – not just on the coast.
Calculate realistically: At a base pace of 4–8 km/h, 12 km takes one and a half to three hours – plus a 20 percent buffer for headwind.
Entry and exit points: Fix at least two exit points plus a plan B along the route before you launch.
5 to 8 km to start: Plan your first leg with a return buffer and a tailwind for the way home.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Power from the core, not the arms

Concept: Arm-only paddling exhausts your shoulders in minutes – on a multi-hour trip that's the surest way to an early finish. Tip: Use torso rotation, lower arm straight – the stroke ends at your feet, after that it only brakes.

Factor 2: Low cadence beats high tempo

Concept: 45 strokes per minute is measurably most efficient for endurance paddlers – 13 to 17.5 percent more economical than 55 or 65 spm. Tip: Count strokes for 30 seconds and double it. If you can still speak in full sentences (talk test), your pace is touring-ready.

Factor 3: Actively catch downwind bumps

Concept: Keep paddling at a steady pace with the wind behind you instead of using the bumps, and you give away free propulsion. Tip: When the nose dips slightly, paddle a few strong strokes and catch it – first bumps ride from 12–15 knots, around 20 knots is ideal.

Distance & logistics

Topic	In short
Daily leg	20–35 km is realistic, closer to the lower end with full luggage.
Energy & water	Plan around 450–500 kcal and 1 litre of water per hour, plus reserve.
Navigation	Compass, GPS and landmarks as a backup system – re-check your position every 20 to 30 minutes.
Camping rules	Tent rules differ by state – official boat rest stops are the safest option.

Safety on open water

Offshore wind is the biggest risk: At Beaufort 4 you drift about 1.6 km in 30 minutes, often unnoticed – always check wind direction beforehand.
Sit down immediately in an emergency: The braking position reduces your drift speed by around 63 percent.
Pace set by the weakest paddler: Guide at the front, sweeper at the back – so no one falls behind unnoticed.
A buoyancy aid is mandatory: At least 50 N to DIN EN ISO 12402-5 with a quick-release buckle and crotch strap.

Pro tip: On a long trip, the winner isn't the fastest paddler but the one who stays steadiest longest: 45 calm strokes per minute get you further than 65 hectic ones.