When you’re a first-time stand-up paddler, there are a few basic skills that everyone needs to learn. Fortunately, they’re about as easygoing as a paddle down a quiet stream or mirror-like lake. The Outbound Pursuit Series expert José González created a few easy videos to teach you what you need to know before you go.
It isn't a matter of if, but when. Everyone falls off their board, even the vets. When you slip into the drink, José explains the two ways you can clamber aboard again.
Not all PFDs are inherently buoyant, and paddlers commonly use a hip-strapped emergency inflatable device. In a moment of panic, it's good to know exactly what you need to do to stay afloat.
Paddling against the wind is at times a necessary evil. José shows us how to stay low and reduce our profile to limit the impact of headwinds on the water.
In a series of photos, José depicts essential rescue techniques that might just help you save a stranger stuck in the waves.