iSUPs and inflatable wing boards: What to do with the inflatable SUP in the sun?

There are horror stories about SUPs bursting in the sun or boards that have become crooked. The good news is that this rarely happens, high-quality boards can withstand a lot, including - slightly - increased pressure in the heat. The bad news is that SUP boards are not indestructible and the damage mentioned above does occur. And time and again you see boards frying flat on the beach in the midday heat. This often works well, but it's better to leave the SUP in the shade. Of course, this also applies to inflatable wing boards, as the technology and material are identical.

SUP in the sun? You should avoid that!

If you want to know, Here you will find the most important tips on how to protect your board in the heat.

First of all: The board is "water-cooled" when paddling, with no known problems.

• SUP in the car: Even if an inflated SUP fits in your car, you should not store it in the car on hot or sunny days. At temperatures above 50 degrees inside the car, the pressure rises extremely. If a board bursts in the car, the windows will probably fly out and so will the eardrums.
• SUP in the sun: A SUP heats up in the sun - differently depending on the colour - but always quite strongly. This increases the pressure. In extreme cases, it could actually burst.
• SUP on the car roof: No problem while driving: the airstream cools the car. The problem comes when parking. If it's a nice shady spot, no problem. In the blazing sun, the board gets boiling hot after a while: see two points further on!
• UV protection: In addition to the temperature, UV radiation is not good for SUPs - as for all plastics. Anyone who has ever seen how pale and brittle a red plastic bucket becomes after two years of 24/7 use in the sandpit will be able to judge this clearly. Permanent UV exposure will also lighten and fade the pads and decor. The easiest trick against this is to put the board in the shade before and after paddling.
• SUP becomes crooked: This can actually happen if you lay your SUP flat in the sun for a long time in strong sunlight. The upper side heats up more than the underside. This will expand and the board may bend.

Our "secret" tip: less pressure in the SUP

Especially on hot days you don't necessarily have to inflate your SUP to maximum pressure in the sun. We tested it with two identical JP Sportsair 12'6'' x 30'': With a solid, high-quality SUP, we were able to reduce the pressure to 11 psi without feeling any real difference at normal touring speed. With our 60kg tester, there was no difference to be seen or felt at all. With our tester weighing 84kg, the board "flexed" slightly more. Even at a fast touring speed, this made no difference. Only at racing speed - as in a sprint - did the board no longer lie as straight in the water as it did at 15 psi and achieved slightly less top speed.

Another advantage of less pressure in the SUP is quite banal: You have to pump significantly less. The two psi from 13 to 15 are the most strenuous. Especially for lighter people. If you don't weigh 100 kilos, why don't you try it out with 13 psi, or even with just 12. It doesn't cost anything :-) You might not even notice any difference.

What to do with the SUP in the heat? The tips summarised

• Store in the car without being inflated if possible
• If it is not used, place it in the shade or depressurise it considerably. But UV alone is also harmful in the long term.
• Try reducing the pressure. Often less than indicated is sufficient, and the pressure increases automatically in the sun.

More SUP topics:

• Buying advice for beginners - The first SUP
• SUP riding technique: basics and turns - how to paddle correctly!
• How to get started with SUP with children