WW SUP – performance criteria comparison

By John R Dean &
Sam N Dean

Photos:
John R Dean

Paddleboarder:
Sam N Dean

Bios

Both John and Sam are SUP and white water safety providers for the British Canoe Awarding Body and performance coaches in moderate water environments.

WW SUP – Performance Criteria Comparison

Have you considered progressing from sheltered water paddleboarding to moderate water? Well, it is possible with a bit of knowledge, support from others, and a suitable white water stand up paddleboard (SUP). But first, what courses are out there to get you both experience and help you enjoy the thrill of paddleboarding?

The British Canoeing Awarding Body has created a plethora of awards for SUP, ranging from sheltered water to open water and white water. BCAB awards, available via your home nation delivery centre (Paddle Cymru, Paddle Northern Ireland, Paddle Scotland, and Paddles Up Training (England and International), are available as follows:

Personal performance awards:
SUP Sheltered Water Award, SUP White Water Award and SUP Paddle Surf Award.

Leadership Awards:
Sheltered Water SUP Leader, SUP Tidal Leader, SUP Coastal Leader, SUP Inland Open Water Leader, and SUP White Water Leader.

Coaching:
SUP Instructor, SUP Open Water Coach (Moderate Water), SUP Race Coach (Moderate Water), SUP Sheltered Water Coach, SUP White Water Coach (Moderate Water).

Most of these require other pre-requisites, such as hands-on safety and rescue awards and appropriate support modules (weather, tides, surf and swell, navigation, and open crossings).

We are focusing on the white water (moderate water) environment

So, what is moderate water SUP?
Moderate water is defined as Grade 2(3) white water. The numbers refer to what we call river grading. A Grade 2 river would be classed as small rapids featuring regular waves requiring some manoeuvring around river features (rocks, obstructions like overhanging trees and their associated debris). Grade 3, in contrast, is classed as a river where most of the rapids will have irregular waves and hazards that need avoiding.

Regarding the paddleboarder, it can sometimes be more appropriate to portage around some river features, particularly when developing your skills in the white water environment, and portaging is easy with a paddleboard.

It is normal when white water paddleboarding that the paddler would wear on top of their drysuit (or dry pants and cag) a buoyancy aid and helmet. The buoyancy aid assists if you fall in the moving water, with the additional protection of wearing a well-fitted helmet. But what about the other necessary kit, alongside a SUP paddle, namely the white water SUP?

We decided to test a range of white water SUPs on the River Spey using a fixed set of rapids at Knockando to evaluate their performance. The Knockando rapids are a series of Grade 2 rapids with upper, middle and lower sections. We also consider it important that if you need to wear knee and shoulder pads, then you may need to consider the phrase height management.

Now, we all get caught off-guard by that hidden rock now and again, so swimming is definitely part of white water SUP. But considering your height management, i.e. the ability to move (gracefully) from an upright stance to a more crouched stance, to a one-knee (or both knee) position are important considerations. The transitioning between different postures is something to practice and hone your skills at.

Crucial to white water paddleboarding is the ability to read the water, to anticipate and manoeuvre your position around the river by looking for what often might be just micro-eddies within the main flow. Then, by experience, you will quickly adapt to (almost) anticipate when your balance, aided by the paddle and its position in the water, is lost, and you will fall off. Considering your safety when the unexpected happens and you fall off your board is essential.

Again, by practice, try to fall first onto the board (on your knees, ideally) and then carefully disembark into the water. This is the critical danger point as you do not want to enter the water unexpectedly and land on the submerged edge of any rocks. Also, it is important to remember, if you can at this point, to keep hold of your paddle. This will help you focus on where your hands should be. It is very important that you do not put your arm out as you fall, as this could lead to a dislocated shoulder.
Note: At this time, BCAB and its delivery centres do not advocate wearing any leash while on any of their white water SUP awards.

Before testing the kit, we decided to compare the white water SUPs (9’ 6” and 9’ 8”) against a set of performance criteria in the moderate water environment. So, a head-to-head challenge was set by considering the following white water SUP performance criteria:

Tracking: Does the board maintain directional stability when crossing the flow?
Punching: The ability of the board to carry its speed while going through a wave or stopper.
Change direction: Can the board easily change direction mid-flow to play on a river feature or adapt your leadership strategy to avoid hazards or rescue a paddler
Directional stability (down the flow): The ability of short boards to maintain direction pre-wave entry, mid-flow, and post-wave exit.
Carving: Does the board maintain stability whilst undertaking edge control as part of a manoeuvre?
Swooshing: The ability of the board to allow a pivot turn (step-back turn) while maintaining stability during a white water manoeuvre.
Stalling: The ability to slow down mid-flow by dynamically changing the board’s trim.

Useful information:

Methodology
The methodology was discerned as part of the BCAB Coaching Philosophy, on the use of reflective practice.

For action: Seven white water SUP performance criteria were initially considered prior to paddling commencement. The criteria to be assessed were tracking, punching, change of direction, directional stability (down the flow), carving, swooshing, and stalling.
In action: This information on the seven white water SUP performance criteria was assessed ‘live’ and the so-called ‘first impressions’ immediately after each run.
On action: The seven white water SUP performance criteria were reviewed again the following day after the video (and the camera images, as required) were reviewed.
Reflection on action: A retrospective review was done, all data was re-considered, and aggregates of scores were determined along with the final commentary.

All the white water SUP boards were paddled in a moderate water environment. The performance criteria have been quantified, and commentary has been provided on how well they can perform under the test conditions.

Hala Atcha 96:
An excellent performance across almost all criteria, with perhaps not its forte stalling. Great board for the big water, but does want to be on that bigger water. It is very safe and comfortable in a moderate water environment.

Hatha Drop 9’6:
A good performance across most criteria, excelling in punching, swooshing and stalling. Its least performance was in carving. A great board for eddie turns, with a reassuring front rocker for the waves. It wants you to move around the board to get the most from it.

Fanatic Rapid Air Premium:
This board performs excellently across almost all criteria, with perhaps its weakest area being stalling. It is a great board for paddlers who like to charge around rapids, which makes for a fun day out playing.

McConks Go Wild 9’8iX6:
A good all-round performance against all the criteria. It performed best in terms of punching and directional stability. No obvious weaknesses. A great board for reassuring stability that allows the paddler to be at any level of ability, allowing for comfort and/or a challenge.

Loco Rapid Air:
It performed well across most criteria, excelling in carving. It’s an excellent board for surfing. The board really likes to be carving around those waves. The surprise board from the group, with some moving around, performed well across all the challenges.

Red 9’6” Wild MSL:
A good all-round performance against all the criteria. A great board for the quick feel. The twin fin system causes some sticky friction for the turns, and the narrowness of the board provides a sense of quickness when running rapids.

The Authors:
Both authors are SUP and white water safety providers for the British Canoe Awarding Body and performance coaches in moderate water environments.

With special thanks to the following for loan of their boards.

Hala Atcha: Jim Miller @Highland_outdoor_Adventures
Hatha Drop: Emy McLeod @empaddlesports
Fanatic Rapid: Sam Dean @sam.canoeing
McConks: Andrew McConkey @mcconks_outdoors
Loco Rapid: Jess Philip @Dipper_Paddle_Boarding
Red Wild: Adam Burns @sup_paddle_adventures

A minimum of ten runs were done on each white water SUP across the upper, middle and lower sections. Each white water SUP run order was chosen randomly to aid data gathering in an unbiased way. In the upper section, two identical runs were done; in the middle section, two identical runs; and in the lower section, six runs (2×2 identical runs and two individual solo runs). The activity per section was determined to allow coverage, in total, of all seven white water SUP criteria. All runs were recorded by either camera (Nikon D3500 body with a Nikon DV VR AF-P Nikkor 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6) or phone video-recording (iPhone 13 pro using 60 frames per second, and either x1 or x3 magnification) to allow In Action review. The weather was dry, with no discernible wind.

Hala Atcha 9.6
https://halagear.com/collections/2025-sups/products/atcha-96

Hatha Drop
https://hathaboards.co.uk/product/drop-96-white-water-isup

Fanatic Rapid Air
https://www.fanatic.com/en/uk/products/fanatic-rapid-air-premium-2024-13200-1144

Mcconks Go Wild 9’8
https://mcconks.com/shop/mcconks-go-wild-98i-beginner-ww-paddle-board/

Loco Rapid Air
https://locosurfing.com/products/loco-rapid-air-inflatable-paddleboard-for-white-water

Red 9.6 Wild MSL
https://red-equipment.co.uk/products/96-wild-msl-inflatable-paddle-board