Author - Info Admin

Most great outdoor brands are connected to the personal experience of their founders, because behind them are stories that gave lives to ideas and innovation. One such is the  CEO of SipaBoards and founder Sebatjan Sitar, who had the unusual idea of putting an electric motor on a SUP.

Now in the early 2010s inflatable SUPs were new to the market and easy storage and use quickly grew in popularity. Because, what's not to love right? Great exercise, serenity in nature, a new way to explore and overall - a lot of fun. Being quick to try new things and new sports Sebastjan and their family were vacationing in Croatia, when an easy paddle almost turned into a rescue mission.

His wife and daughter were paddling over a bay, when a falling tide grabbed them. Battling the water stream they eventually got on the other side of the bay.

Sebastjan understood then that the SUP industry has a flaw and that many users might find themselves in a situation where a "helping pair of hands" could make a difference in terms of paddler safety. When a user is pulled out by a tide or current, or blown out by an offshore wind, no leash or PFD will help them get back.

Sitting down now, 6 years later we take a look back on how SipaBoards came to be, what's new and how the future of SUP could look like.

Q: Some people have their eureka moments, but SipaBoards wasn't your first invention. What brought together sports and innovation for you to create the first motorised SUP?

S: Well, I was always keen on engineering, I must have gotten it from my father. He once built a car home (laughs), we made some snowboards in the late 1980s, we built a lot of unusual things. And for me it was always interesting looking at how things work, how they could work better.

When I was actively invested in sports I innovated on sports gear. Later when I was helping my wife with her café, I came up with the idea of a spring wallet that is today known and patented as the Eurowallet and still sells all over the Eurozone. And then came SipaBoards.

Q: Right, the "World's first SUP with an electric jet motor". An invention still raising eyebrows to those wondering what good is a motor on a board that should be paddled. How do you tackle that question?

S: Haha, it's a common question. Even most people who are buying their second or third SipaBoard had them at first. Because when people think about sports, they think about fun. No one thinks about helmets when they go skiing or cycling. But both sports have been around for a while now and we've seen what good a helmet does and it's a commonality now. The first great confirmation that an electric SUP board is indeed an invention with added value for the paddler was the Red Dot Award.

When you go out with a SUP, you don't think about winds or currents too much, or at least most people don't. And that thinking can get you in trouble.  Also, people have different physical capabilities and paddling can be a different experience for a child, an adult or an elderly.

The motor is there to help you. It's on and off and it will not take anything away from your paddling. But, it will be easier for families to go paddling with their kids. Or grandkids. And whenever you're surprised by a tide, a current or wind, the motor is there to help you back. So, it's easier but still as much an exercise as any other board. It's safer. It's more fun because you can go faster, further and discover more. And when you need peace and quietness, you just turn it off and enjoy.

Q: So kind of like an e-bike on the sea?

S: That's a common analogy and with electric mobility being one of the global megatrends, we see more and more similarities between eSUP and eBikes. Battery autonomy has become a regular question. We are improving the riding experience, adding reach to our boards and like so many other electric motor gadgets, eSUP is growing in popularity.

Q: Do you see the electric SUP segment growing?

S: Yes, no doubt. On one hand, the iSUP segment rapidly over the last years and is slowly coming into a mature market phase. There will be growing numbers of new paddlers opting for better boards, looking to more expensive brands and innovative solutions to upgrade their experience.

We see more and more interest from different media, reviewers are lining up and the demand for the boards is in a steady growth. As a company we're also looking for ways to electrify the market and offer our systems to other top shelf brands. We're proud to be going into the second year of cooperation with Jobe, who are already pushing out their first generation of electric SUPs. Also, there’s a growing number of innovative products following our win in the outdoor segment at ISPO.

Q: Do you spend a lot of time on the water?

S: I try to go out as much as possible - whatever time of year. One thing is that you have to test what you make, but also, standup paddling has become a part of my life and lifestyle. So having a self inflatable electric SUP in the van at all times, can help (laughs). But also, sport has always been big for me. From skiing, to hiking and running, to running a sports store and now a sports goods and equipment company. I like to keep my head as fresh as possible.

Q: Great to hear you walk the talk. Have you ever had a special endeavour on a SUP? Did you do it with a motor or without?

S: Well, having these SUPs always pushes us to go out for more. I paddle with my family a lot and after 6 years we're paddling, there were many situations where we couldn't have done a tour without a motor. People just go all in on these boards. We have users reporting 30 - 40 km rides on a single tour, which is a lot.

Q: Do SipaBoards hold a competitive edge? There are some mount-on alternatives available on the market.

S: We keep a close eye on the incoming innovations, and the ones that exist are - as said - mount ons. Having propellers instead of jets creates drag and tangles all sorts of debris into the rotor. Also there's battery life. Mount-ons usually pack smaller batteries and offer less autonomy, range or speed. Plus, none of them will inflate the board for you.

Q: What does the future hold for SipaBoards? More motors, more boards, more compressors?

S: A bit of all I think. But at our core we are a maritime propulsion company and will continue developing high end electric jet motors with different functions. We are already driving down the noise, adding speed and range and there's still so much we can do with the original SipaDrive before adding new features. We plan to launch the Dual+ Battery SipaDrive Concept in the 2023 season and that will already be a huge improvement over the first generation.

Sources:

• https://www.red-dot.org/design-concept/red-dot-design-ranking
• https://www.ispo.com/en/products/coolest-e-skateboards-and-e-surfboards-pictures

Stand up paddle boarding is now one of the most popular water-based sports in the world. It is the best sport for adventuring and even fishing. When people ask, are paddle boards worth the money, the answer is clear – yes, they are. A paddle board is an investment that can be used for years! If paddle boarding is something you plan on doing often, it's worth the extra money to get something really good. In 2022 the world of paddle boarding is becoming motorized. A new dimension of paddling with motorized paddle board is safer, faster and more exciting. So, if you are still asking us, are paddle boards worth the money, read all the key benefits of quality paddle board.

There are different kinds of paddle board you can buy - inflatable paddle board, hard paddle board or self-inflatable/motorized paddle board. It is relative to what you want to do with your paddle board and the types of water you want to ride in – sea, lakes. All of paddle boards have their advantages and disadvantages. So, the choice is based on many factors like weight, durability, portability, etc.

Inflatable paddle board: The fact that they are inflatable means, they can be easily stored and transported (in the car or in their bag) to the nearest stretch of water. You don’t need roof racks or a big garage. An inflatable board is ideal and works great in all conditions, it is also great for a first-time paddler/beginner. If you plan to travel a lot with your paddle board, an inflatable will be the best choice because it is easy to take wherever your adventure takes you.

Hard paddle board: Hard paddle boards are more expensive and performance orientated in the SUP world. If you are buying a board mainly for SUP surfing or racing, certain technical attributes of hardboards make them worthy of consideration. But don’t forget that hard boards take up a lot of storage space.

Self-inflatable / motorized paddle board: Self-inflatable paddle boards are equipped with a Self Inflate System, that inflates the board to its optimal pressure in minutes. You don’t have to worry about the pressure and you don’t have to pump. Motorized paddle boards are paddle boards with integrated electric motor which can also be used as pump. Because of the motor you can go faster, further and you can paddle more safer.

The average price of a paddleboard is about $300 to $500 for the lower-end ones. The cost increases to $1,500-$2,500 for the really high-end paddleboards. You can find inflatable paddle board for as cheap as $180 because they have a lower price point then hard boards. But if you want quality inflatable paddle board, you can find a good one around $1000.

A paddle board is an investment that can be used for years. If paddle boarding is something you plan on doing often, then paddle board is worth the extra money to get something good. Not all inflatable paddle boards are made equal. The differences are in construction & technology, durability, deflating value, lack of versatility, quality accessories.

When asking yourself are paddle boards worth the money, you need to watch out for these basic things.

Thickness - SUP boards range from 4 to 6 inches thick. Whilst the 4 inch boards will be fine, they do sit closer to the water. The heavier you are the more likely you are to get your feet wet! For beginners, a board anywhere between 4-6 inches deep will be more sturdy and easier to get started.

Length - there’s so many different board lengths! For an all rounder board when you’re starting out, go for the 10’6 or 10’8 depending on your weight and height. These will be the best ‘all rounders’ when starting out and provide a nice balance between stability and maneuverability.

Width - the wider the board, the more stable it will be. Boards which are narrow in the middle tend to be better for racing or touring. Beginners will need a wider board to begin with. Generally, something around 32 inches wide should be sufficiently stable. Many people will make the mistake of upgrading a board too early. It’s better to learn on a board that is suitable for learning and making mistakes on, rather than a board you later come to dislike spending time on because it’s too unstable for you when you start out.

Weight - Now, if you’re just planning on pumping your board up by the car and dropping it in the canal straight at the side of you, you can kind of discount this. But if you’re planning to go on an adventure with your paddle board then check the weight of the board. It is also recommended to check the weight of the whole package especially if you’re walking or catching public transport.

Fin setup (one vs three) - different boards have different fin systems. Some have one main middle fin, some have three finds in a V formation. Generally, the one fin setup is better for touring, tracking and long journeys, and the three fins are better for all round paddling and especially surfing.

How easy is it to get parts - Make sure the place you’re purchasing from or the brand you’re buying from is reputable if you can. Sorting any issues and being able to get hold of new parts saves a lot of money in the long run as we don’t want boards to just be used for one summer season. Always try to consider your new board as an investment for a long run.

No, because you get what you pay for. Of course, we all want to jump on it, when we see a chance to save some money but don’t forget that buying quality paddle board is an investment. It is true that cheap paddle boards are great for beginners, they will save you money if you break them and you can try a range of styles by buying cheap paddle boards. But with cheap paddle boards, you also buy cheap quality which can lead you to wrong PSI – it may be lower or higher than recommended, they may be less durable, less comfort and they can be much slower.

There are 6 reasons that you need to know, when asking are paddle boards worth the money.

1.Quality - better quality, higher price. Quality materials usually cost more so paddle boards made of high quality material are also slightly more expensive.

2.Technology - the market use either single or double layer “dropstitch”, which refers to how the material that forms the top and bottom skin of the board is connected by threads, giving the board it’s shape and structure. Depending on the technology chosen, the price can be very different too.

3.Durability - It’s no good if it starts falling apart after just a season, you want it to last. Not only does this not look great and it can cost you more money, it could also be dangerous. Better quality, longer durability.

4.Quality accessories - If you’re looking to buy a cheap, low quality paddle board, it’s likely you’ll also find that it’s not just the board that falls apart. To keep the price point as low as possible the manufacturer will probably have to choose low quality of ever thing else that comes along with the paddle board - the bag you put it paddle board in, the paddle and the pump.

5.New and improved systems – with the new and improved systems in technology boards have better quality, longer durability and deflating value. But this is only possible if manufacturer puts more money in the process of making the board.

6.After sales services – once you have your paddle board, you may have some questions about the board, accessories and other stuff. So, it is very important that you check how the after sales services is organized at the company that you bought the board.

Yes, electric paddle board / motorized paddle board is also made for beginners. Because of all the pros and advantages that they have, is even more recommended to buy this kind of paddle board for people who will paddle for the first time.

It depends of the model you want to buy. Prices vary according to size, use, etc. You can find a good one from $1.990 and on. They are more expansive in comparison with normal stand up paddle boards because of the motor / built-in Paddle Assist System technology and all the accessories that comes along.

Yes, for sure. They have so many advantages like self-inflating, help when you need one from built-in Paddle Assist System technology - if you get tired or if a stream of water carries you away, they are safer and more stable. It really helps you with a lot of different situations on the water. Motorized paddle boards are the new generation of SUPs.

As we already said, motorized paddle boards have so many different advantages and benefits. Below we are explaining, why motorized paddle boards are better than normal paddle boards and why they are worth all the money.

Self-inflating – paddle boards are equipped with a Self-Inflate System that inflates the board to its optimal pressure in minutes. More paddling fun, zero pumping.

Better stability on the water - with a patented built-in Paddle Assist System technology motorized paddle boards are more stable on the water and therefor even beginners can use them without a problem.

You can paddle faster - with a patented built-in Paddle Assist System technology our motorized paddle boards SipaBoards have 3 speed settings: 3 hours at cruising speed of 2 knots or 1 hour at max speed 3.5 knots.

You can ride further – our SipaBoards motorized paddle boards with a built-in Paddle Assist System technology can make you explore and find places you have been only dreaming about.

Paddling is safer - Yes, it is. With the water being unpredictable you know that you can always came back safe with a little help from your friend – our motor SipaDrive: built-in Paddle Assist System.

Yes, they are. Especially if you take this advice - buy well, buy once. Cheap paddle boards may appear attractive at first, but the low quality materials and construction mean that not only is their performance far inferior to their more expensive counterparts but they are also far less durable. So now, you no longer have to ask yourself, are paddle boards worth the money, only do I buy normal or motorized paddle board?

Motorized paddle boards SipaBords are the first and the best motorized paddle boards in the world. We are focused on using the very best materials and innovative technology to ensure quality is the most important thing for us. We are passionate about creating an authentic paddling experience for everyone who loves stand up paddle boarding. With first motorized paddle board in the world. We put paddling in the whole new dimension.

Motorized paddle boards are the future - they are safer and more stable. See our awesome video below!

Sources:

• https://www.divein.com/motorized-paddle-board/