The board does not ask your age, but your body does give warnings. With a good sea, short sessions and no rush to stand up, it can be enjoyed at any age at which you feel well.
Paddle boarding over 50 is approached like it is for any beginner, with three extra precautions: flat water first thing in the morning, short sessions of an hour at most and no rush to stand up, since you can paddle on your knees for as long as you like. A half-hour lesson is enough to get started, and the life jacket is included.
The one thing nobody can know from outside is each person’s state of health. If you have any doubt, because of your heart, back, knees, balance or any medication, the sensible thing is to ask your doctor before booking. With their approval, the board can be enjoyed as calmly as a stroll along the shore.
Yes. Age on its own says little about how the first session will go: confidence in the water, mobility and how you feel that day count for more. To start, a half-hour lesson is enough, in which you learn to get on the board, stand up and hold the paddle properly.
If you have any doubts about your health, the first step is to check with your doctor, who knows your case. And when booking, on +34 669 06 27 56, you can mention that you are a complete beginner and would rather take it calmly, so that the time and the plan fit. Prices are not published: they are given over the phone.
On your knees. Kneeling on the board lowers your centre of gravity, gives you stability and lets you get used to the movement of the water without fear of falling. You can stay like that for as long as you need and only stand up once you feel confident. There is no obligation to paddle standing in your first paddle boarding session.
If kneeling is uncomfortable, you can also sit on the board, with your legs to the sides or crossed, and paddle with the paddle held shorter to suit the position. To stand up, put your hands down first, bring one foot forward and then the other, without jerking. If anything hurts at any point, stop and head back.
The flattest water possible, which is usually first thing in the morning. From midday the sea breeze comes in off the water and raises a chop, which makes your legs work the whole time to keep your balance. For a beginner, every small wave is a possible fall, and every fall is tiring.
The wind limit is the same for everyone: below 15 knots you can go out, and between 15 and 20 the light kit stays ashore. The land breeze, the offshore wind from the north or north-west, pushes the board out to sea without being felt on the shore, so you paddle parallel to the coast. The sea conditions on the home page of the website show wind and waves every half hour.
Through posture. The stroke comes from your core, not your arms: turn your body a little as the paddle goes in, rather than pulling with your shoulders alone, which tire straight away. Your knees, always slightly bent, absorb the board’s movements; with stiff legs, every movement of the water travels up to your back.
Switching sides every few strokes spreads the effort between both sides of your body. And keep the session short: an hour, half lesson and half practice, is enough on the first day. If you feel tired the next day, it is a sign that next time you should stop sooner. Several short sessions are better than one long one.
Falling in is part of learning at any age, and in the water the impact does not matter; what matters is falling to the side and away from the board and paddle, which is where knocks come from. With the life jacket on, which is included, your body floats on its own and there is time to calm down before climbing back on.
Climbing back on from the water takes more effort than falling off, so the first session is best done close to the shore, where you can stand if you need to. To climb on, hold the central handle, rest your chest on the board, bring your knees up and then sort out the paddle. If it is hard, you can swim back to the shore beside the board and get on from there.
On the water the sun hits you twice, from above and reflected, and on a board there is no shade. A rash vest or long-sleeved T-shirt, a cap with a strap, sunglasses on a cord and water-resistant sun cream, renewed every two hours. Drinking water on the shore, and drink at every break even if you are not thirsty.
In summer, with the land breeze, the offshore wind arrives hot and the heat is even stronger; on that kind of day it is better to go out very early or leave it for another morning. Outside the summer, from October to May, the sun is kinder and you can book from one day to the next, which lets you choose a calm morning without hurrying.
A kayak is the closest alternative: you sit down, it requires no prior learning and there is no balance to keep. A double kayak lets you paddle as a pair and share the effort, with the person at the back steering. It leaves from the same beach next to the Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola, so it can be combined with the board on the same morning.
For those who want to be at sea without paddling, a one to two-hour trip with a skipper to look for dolphins is another option: bottlenose dolphins live off this coast all year round, though seeing them is not guaranteed. The skipper handles the boat and is responsible for safety, and all you need to do is sit and watch.
If it is not here, call us: two minutes on the phone and it is sorted.
Any requirement is confirmed when booking. What counts is feeling well and being comfortable in the water; if you have doubts about your health, the sensible thing is to ask your doctor first.
Yes. Kneeling gives you stability and lets you get used to the water without fear of falling. You stand only when you feel confident, and there is no obligation to do so on the first day.
An hour is enough: half lesson and half practice. Several short sessions on different days are better than one long one that strains your shoulders and back.
Leave us your number and we will call you. In July and August it is worth booking ahead.
Puerto Deportivo de Fuengirola, local 367. You can drop in and see the boats before you book.
At no charge. Going out to see what happens is never worth it.
Life jackets for everyone on board, included in the price.
