How To Store Your Inflatable SUP Over Winter

While we’re huge fans of paddleboarding all year round and hitting the water in cold weather, we do understand that a winter SUP experience isn’t for everyone! In fact, if you’re a fair-weather paddler, it’s around now that you’ll be considering stowing your SUP away until next year. Storing your paddleboard correctly during the winter is an essential part of paddleboard care and will help you preserve your board’s lifespan and ensure you return to it in the same condition when summer comes. With this in mind, here’s exactly how to store your inflatable SUP for winter.

1. Ensure That Your SUP Has Been Thoroughly Cleaned

This is the crucial first step in our guide on how to store your inflatable SUP for winter. Before you even consider paddleboard storage, you need to get it ready to put away for the season. 

Use fresh water to thoroughly rinse off any saltwater or grime from your most recent paddleboarding trip. Mild soap can be very useful for getting rid of tougher patches. It’s also just as important to remember to properly dry off your board afterwards as well, as otherwise you’re almost guaranteed to get a buildup of mould over the winter.

2. Deflate Your Board

Once you’ve managed to get your board properly cleaned off and dried, you’ll need to deflate it to allow for easy and compact storage over the winter. Don’t rush the process - let their air come out naturally using the valve. Avoid any accidental sharp bends or creases - this can put undue strain on the seams of the board, causing damage in the long run.

3. Carefully Roll Up And Fold Your Board

Roll the board up from the nose down, being careful not to create any accidental pressure points that could damage the material. Keep it fairly loose, so as to not cause over-compressing of the board and keep it in top condition to bring out again next year.

4. Pick Out A Suitable Paddleboard Storage Location

With all of your preparation done, you need to pick out a location to store your paddleboard over the winter. Your decision should come down to several factors:

• Store indoors: A garage or basement is ideal for this. You’re looking for a location that is cool and dry with plenty of space to store your board. Ideally, don’t allow it to touch the ground while being stored if at all possible.
• Avoid areas that are subject to temperature changes: Constant shifts in temperature or high levels of humidity can lead to the material wearing down on your board.
• Avoid direct sunlight: UV rays are well known for degrading paddleboard materials over time. If it’s totally unavoidable, a UV-resistant board bag will help to protect your inflatable SUP.

We hope that this short guide on how to store your inflatable SUP over winter has been helpful! It’s always important to be sure that you’re looking after your board - even when it’s put into paddleboard storage and not in active use. If you need any additional advice about the best way to store your paddleboard or the right bag to keep it in, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team for advice from the experts today.