ance epiphany” after paddling a half- dozen times on a board. During that initial period, your fast twitch muscles feel the most challenged, getting condi- tioned to the new sport. In Tomas’ ex- perience, most of the initial discomfort starts to subside after a little bit of time on the water.


“What shape and size board do I need?”


One of the most important parameters when shopping for a board is the volume of the board—its buoyancy and displace- ment—defined by


length, width and


depth dimensions. Pay attention to rental board dimensions wherever you are in- troduced to the sport. “Everyone has an upper and lower board volume comfort level,” Tomas says. Most river and whitewater boards tend


to be wider and shorter for better mov- ing-water performance. Tese shorter boards have a tighter turning radius that increases maneuverability. Cruisers and all-rounders tend to be longer since longer boards generally have more glide. While wider boards offer more stability, be careful not to overdo it. “Some of our


PADDLING BUYER’S GUIDE | www.rapidmedia.com 55


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