No-one would put an 8-year-old child on a 28 cm men's bike, but that does happen with SUP. It's less dangerous, but the child has such a hard time getting into the water with the paddle on wide adult boards. These two boards are just slim enough for children to learn to paddle "properly", yet stable enough to tip over until they are a good 12 to 13 years old - if their parents aren't playing in the NBA. The hardboard is easier to turn over the back foot and "doesn't get much faster, but you need a lot less strength", says the tester - helpful if kids are also paddling with their parents on longer trips. The inflatable board is the more playful option and therefore the better choice in most cases.
Starboard Allstar Junior (Hybrid Carbon)Length 10'6''Width 24''Price 1994 Euro
Starboard Astro Junior (iSUP)Length 10'6''Width 25''Price 859 Euro
Info www.star-board.com
