Episode 8
How to choose your first stand up paddle board with Tez Plavenieks
In this session Nick and Simon chat with the editor of SUP Mag UK Tez Plavenieks about how to make the right choice when you are buying your first board. Stand up paddle is the fastest growing watersport worldwide and something that Laird Hamilton predicted “will be bigger than surfing”. This means that there is a growing number of beginners joining the sport, some of whom have never surfed or even been on the water before. Tez uses his long experience of testing boards to explain the choices available and gives some important reminders for anyone at any level looking to buy a new board.
In this episode we cover
- Hayling Island and the godfather of windsurfing Pete Chilvers
- When Tez met SUP and his first time on a board
- How he became the editor of SUP Mag UK
- Tez’s board and kit testing experience
- Basic advice to newbies when buying a board – keep it simple.
- Width, thickness & size
- Inflatables
- Demo Days
- Women in SUP
- Board Disciplines
- Fishing & Adventure Paddling
Links & Resources
- SUP Mag UK
- RedPaddle.com US and Rest Of World Red Paddle.co.uk (UK)
- Fat Stick Paddle Boards (UK)
- Wake surfing on a SUP in Alaska (Video)
- UK based waterman
- Tez Plavenieks defies gravity on his windsurfer
- Another board testing session…living the dream.
Mentioned in this episode:
Coffee and Coast
Our sponsor for this episode is Coffee and Coast. The Dorset based coffee company has a range of delicious roasts available for individual order or on subscription so you never run out of a quality brew. Why not buy a subscription as the gift which keeps on giving!
Paddle UK and ICF World Cup 2026
Book now to take part in 2026's most exciting racing event as the ICF World Cup hits the beautiful waters of Torbay between June 24th and 28th, combining with the PaddleUK Super Festival Book before the end of December 2025 for discounted entry
