An essential step
Inflating your SUP is a tedious step, but conditions the quality of your output. An under-inflated SUP is unstable, drags water and will ruin your session. The inflation time of a SUP varies between 6 and 12 minutes. The length and thickness of your board will vary this time (thick = inflation + long). We can consider this step as a good warm-up before a session!
The more swollen it is, the better your session will be
Your SUP is ideally inflated when it does not deform under your weight. The recommended pressure should be indicated next to the inflation valve. Otherwise, a pressure of 15 PSI (1 bar) is recommended on most boards.
Be careful to read the pressure gauge carefully, and not to confuse PSI with BAR.
How to properly inflate your SUP
Important! The anti return valve must be positioned correctly, otherwise your board will deflate when you remove the hose from the inflator
- Insert the hose into the inflation valve and make a quarter turn to block it
- Remain linear in your effort and keep a steady pace.
- Stay well above the pump to keep your back in line.
- Use your body weight to put pressure on the pump, keeping your back sheathed and bending your knees.
- As the end of inflation becomes more and more difficult, you can give small blows to make the final stretch easier.
- When removing your hose, apply a small amount of pressure towards the inside of the valve to ensure that the valve is correctly positioned.
The different types of pumps
It is imperative to use a high pressure pump. Your tender inflator will not provide sufficient pressure.
There are 3 types of paddle pumps:
- the single casing pump is an entry level pump that is often included in discovery packs. The pump's piston only sends air when you lower the handle, and will therefore require a longer inflation time.
- the double body pump sends air up and down the pump handle at the same time. The first inflation phase is much faster. A small valve allows you to switch back to single body to make the end of inflation less physical.
- the electric pump, which plugs into a cigarette lighter socket. It will inflate your paddle to 15PSI in about ten minutes, without any effort, but making a lot of noise.
