Setting meaningful paddling goals is more than just jotting down a few numbers. It’s about challenging yourself and making every stroke on the water count. Whether you're a recreational paddler or an aspiring pro, having clear goals for your paddling journey can enhance your motivation and performance. With Paddle Logger, tracking your paddling progress has never been easier. Here's how you can make the most out of your 2025 goals.

What an epic year on the water! 2024 has brought awesome collaborations, new podcast episodes amazing new features and of course some fantastic paddling! What a way to celebrate 10 years on the water! As always paddlers can now access their annual data round up which this year includes goals achieved and reference to where across the year you were on the water most! Make sure you head to Year on the Water and share your stats with the community!

For kayakers, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, GPS tracking each session using the Paddle Logger app on your iPhone or Apple Watch can be transformative. If you don’t already track your routes, the ability to monitor distance, speed, pace, and heart rate brings new insights to your paddling experience, enhancing enjoyment, safety, and performance. GPS tracking has become an invaluable tool for many kayakers, helping them explore further, paddle smarter, and gain insights into their progress on the water.

What to do when things go wrong

In previous articles we looked at the three main categories of unexpected occurrences which you might encounter while out on your paddleboard. Namely; issues with your equipment, your environment, or your wellness. Other than a few really extreme situations (such as a cardiac arrest or being run over by a speedboat), the vast majority of unexpected occurrences are not in themselves life-threatening. It is how you deal with them that will determine how they play out - which could be anywhere on a spectrum from minor inconvenience through to full blown emergency. 

This is our third set of excerpts from the series of SUP SAFETY books written by Bill Dawes, National Safety Officer for stand up paddleboarding in New Zealand.

Good kayaking technique is essential for efficiency, safety, and enjoyment on the water. By improving your paddling skills, you can conserve energy, increase speed, and navigate more challenging conditions with ease. The Paddle Logger app allows you to track your progress by monitoring stats like speed, distance, and pace, allowing you to see real improvements over time. Here are some key kayaking technique tips, along with insights on how tracking your sessions can elevate your skills on the water.

Navigating open water can be exhilarating, but it also comes with challenges, especially for paddlers up for adventures in unfamiliar areas. PaddlePLAN® was released in Paddle Logger’s latest major update. It was designed with these adventurers in mind, bringing paddling navigation tools to your iPhone and Apple Watch.

PaddlePLAN® allows you to plot detailed routes, track your location in real-time, and stay safely on course with haptic feedback and on-screen alerts, even if you stray from your route.

Continuing our series with PaddleUK. Here are a mix of routes to check out next time you are in the NE of England. We asked Anna Little, to offer some suggestions. From river cruising to some advanced ocean paddling, this guide has it all whether you are local or just visiting. Keep an eye out for awesome coastal paddle events, the Big Dippa and Beadnell Belta too! For a range of abilities as always make sure to check the conditions before you go! Have fun!

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

You’ve done your planning as we discussed in the previous blog, you’ve carefully checked the conditions and you’ve invested in the best safety equipment. Yet things still can - and do - go wrong.  This is where the third cornerstone of paddleboarding safety comes into play: knowing how to deal with a situation when things don’t go according to plan. 

There are two quite distinct aspects to dealing with problems:

• Knowing what to do.

• Doing it.

This is our second set of excerpts from the series of SUP SAFETY books written by Bill Dawes,  National Safety Officer for stand up paddleboarding in New Zealand.

Paddling can be a fun, relaxing and adventurous outdoor activity, but it also comes with its share of challenges - especially when the weather turns unpredictable or when you're navigating unfamiliar waters. At Paddle Logger, we understand that staying safe and connected is paramount for every paddler, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out. That's why we’re so excited to introduce our new route-planning feature, PaddlePLAN™ - recently featured by Apple at their Keynote event. Designed to enhance your paddling experience and keep you connected, even in tough conditions.

A few weekends ago I had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Fort Boyard Challenge, a downwind stand-up paddle race in the picturesque waters off the west coast of France. It was a great two-day event, featuring races on both Saturday and Sunday with a mixture of crafts including SUP, foils, va’a, windsurfers and more! In total, there were over 600 competitors. I was fortunate enough to win the SUP races on both days.