If you’re a member of the stand-up paddle board (SUP) community, then summer is likely your favorite time of year. And who could blame you? With beautiful days and lovely nights, every moment of summer is a genuine delight. Even then, however, it is of the utmost importance to stay as safe as possible. That’s precisely why our team at Atoll Boards is here today to tell you all about the best ways to stay cool during a hot summer SUP session. As always, we have everything you need to know, so keep on reading below!
Read more: What to Wear While Stand-up Paddle Boarding in Summer
Waterproof Sunscreen
First of all, if you’re going to be in the hottest sunlight of the year, then it’s clearly important to protect yourself. For starters, we recommend some high-quality sunscreen. More importantly, you’ll want to make sure it’s waterproof, especially if you’re going to be SUP-ing. Furthermore, if you’re anything like us, then you probably don’t want to be wearing a ton of clothing in the middle of summer, especially in the middle of an SUP workout. At the same time, however, you’ll probably want to invest in some optimal clothing options; but we’ll come back to that shortly.
Returning to the topic at hand, the more your skin is exposed, the more you will want to protect it from the harshness of the elements, especially the unforgiving, hot summer sun. In short, whether you’re wearing a full outfit or just the bare necessities, please be sure to use waterproof sunscreen, as it can truly make a world of difference.
Limit Your Time in Direct Sunlight
Additionally, if you want to limit your time in direct sunlight, consider paddling either very early in the morning or sometime after sunset. Or, if these are inconvenient times for you, just try to avoid being on the water between 11:30 in the morning and 1:00 in the afternoon, as this is typically the stretch of time that includes high noon – when the sun is at its highest position in the sky. Even if you’re fully prepared to spend an entire day out on the water, we recommend taking a break during this timeframe, as it will help to avoid sunburn, heatstroke, exhaustion, etc.
Stay Hydrated
Speaking of the best ways to avoid such heat-related problems, we can’t forget about our old friend, water. For best results on a hot summer day, SUP experts recommend drinking at least one liter of water before you even begin to paddle. This will help to ensure that your body remains hydrated for the first section of your expedition. Also, please note that you will want the water to be cold but too cold, as drinking ice-cold water on a hot summer day can lead to some very intense side effects, such as chest pains, abdominal cramps, etc. This is because the drastic difference in temperatures is essentially shocking your body, just like how ice cream can give you a brain freeze; but, you know, without the ice cream. In short, drink your water, but keep it cool and not bone-chillingly ice-cold. For more information about how to stay hydrated while SUP-ing, click here.
Moisture-Wicking Clothing
Another underrated game changer is moisture-wicking clothes. Unfortunately, regular garments can trap sweat between you and your clothes. When this happens, your body isn’t able to cool itself off. Why? Because the evaporation of sweat is your body’s way of keeping you cool, especially when you need it most. Moisture-wicking clothes, on the other hand, are specifically designed to be much more breathable, thereby allowing sweat to escape and evaporate – ultimately leaving you as cool as possible, even in the middle of a hot summer SUP session. Suffice it to say, we highly recommend investing in some moisture-wicking clothing.
Get in the Water
When all else fails, you can always get in the water. Or, if for any reason you can’t take a dip, you can still use water in a few different but helpful ways. First, run some cool water over your wrists for about 30 seconds. Because these blood vessels are close to the surface of your skin, the water will help to cool all the blood that is being circulated from your wrists to the rest of your body, thereby providing a cooling effect for basically your entire anatomy. Additionally, you can fill a spray bottle with cool water and give yourself some spritzes here and there, whenever you need that extra little bit of refreshment.
Proper Rest and Relaxation
Last but certainly not least, we can’t overstate the importance of proper rest and relaxation. While it is beyond tempting to keep going and going when the weather is just right, you can’t stay out all day and night. At least, not without paying for it in the end. Whether it’s sunburn, exhaustion, muscle pain and soreness, or anything else, you can only push your body so far before it pushes back. That said, please take the time for proper rest and relaxation, especially in the form of frequent breaks. SUP-ing is a workout, after all, so think of it like going to the gym; it all comes down to balance. At the end of the day, if you take good care of your body, then your body will take good care of you.
Read more: Five Reasons Why SUP-ing is Better Than Going to the Gym
Get in Touch with Our Team at Atoll Boards
We hope you enjoyed learning all about the best ways to stay cool during a hot summer SUP session. For more information about this or anything else, please feel free to get in touch with our team at Atoll Boards. To get the conversation started, you can click here, give us a call at 877-698-8581, or send an email to customerservice@atollboards.com. In any case, we would be more than happy to help you in any way we can. Until then!
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