When practicing inflatable paddleboarding, handling and managing equipment are essential steps to keep your gear in good and reliable condition over time. The deflation phase is crucial for properly storing your SUP.
In this article, we will answer the following question: how to deflate and store your paddleboard? We will also address the problems you might encounter and how to avoid them. We will start by discussing the equipment, then the procedure itself, and offer some tips along the way.
1. Preparation
To store your paddleboard, you will need the following equipment:
- The storage bag,
- a cloth
- and your hands.
To deflate and store your paddleboard while protecting your equipment, it is essential to follow these steps during preparation:
As part of your preparation, find a suitable spot. Avoid areas where your paddleboard could blow away or be damaged. Ideally, a large mat or carpet on the ground would help protect your SUP.
Next, make sure you have everything you need within reach.
2. Preliminary steps for deflation
- Before deflating your paddleboard, start by using your cloth to wipe down your board to protect it from mold, sand that could damage it, and odors.
- Then, remove your fin to lay the SUP flat on the ground.
- Dry and store your fin.
3. Deflating the inflatable paddleboard
We finally arrive at the most important part, deflating the paddleboard.
To do this:
- open the inflation valve cap, then open the valve by pressing the central button and locking it in the open position with a quarter turn before releasing.
- Allow the paddleboard to empty its air.
- While the air is escaping, store or remove the paddleboard leash in the way that suits you best. Removing it prevents it from dragging once the paddleboard is folded.
4. Folding and storing the inflatable paddleboard
Now we will tackle rolling up the paddleboard:
- Position yourself at the back. The SUP is right side up.
- Start by making a fold towards the front so that the three fin boxes are visible.
- Next, fold the rearmost fin box over the other two, bringing it towards you.
- Finally, resume rolling in the original direction. Fold the paddleboard by applying pressure to expel any remaining air in the SUP.
Once folded, place it in its bag and close it.
For storage, choose a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight.
SROKA's tips
- The first small piece of advice is to be wary of algae, which can react with the materials and risk staining them. So, make sure to rinse your paddleboard properly, especially if you are storing it for a long time.
- Regarding storage in the garage, avoid placing weight on your paddleboard and, ideally, store it vertically, not flat.
- Finally, and although it seems logical, avoid deflating your paddleboard in the water, because even if it prevents sand, it would be disastrous for water to get inside your SUP.
Conclusion
In conclusion, be mindful of the place you choose to deflate your paddleboard, make sure it is as clean as possible when storing it, especially for long-term storage, and above all, learn our homemade folding technique to avoid damaging your fin boxes.
All that's left is for you to enjoy our paddleboards, which, we assure you, if you take care of them, will last a long time.
How to deflate a paddleboard? You now have the answer. Always make sure to take care of your equipment; it's the guarantee that it will last you a long time! All you have to do is go and enjoy the water. Many other articles are available on our site to accompany you in your paddleboarding practice; feel free to take a look!
If you still have questions on this subject, or for any other request, do not hesitate to contact us!