When you are starting to do paddle boarding for the first time, you will be lucky to stay on the board and probably will not need to consider how fast you will be able to go. But if you have some experience paddle boarding you might want paddle a litter further and faster. If you are one of these people, you might be wondering “How long does it take to paddle board 1 mile?”.
Well, how long does it take?
That is not an easy question to answer since there are many factors that can affect your paddle boarding speed. But in this blog we will go over the different factors and give you our best guess at how long it will take you to paddle board 1 mile.
If you want to learn more about the speed of paddle boards, check out our blog post: What is the average speed of a paddle board
The Factors That Affect Your Paddle Board Speed
Because there are many factors which will affect how quickly you will be able to paddle board 1 mile, we will give you an overview of each factor and how it will affect your speed. But if you want more detail on paddle board speeds, check out our blog post: How Fast Can You Paddle Board
Fitness level of the paddler
It is not surprising at all that if you are in better shape you can paddle faster. As a matter of fact, a powerful paddler will be covering 1 mile on a paddle board significantly faster as compared to a weaker paddler.
If you just have started paddle boarding or are developing fitness levels gradually, then it will be difficult for you to paddle quickly in the initial stages. As you make progress learning to balance and paddle, you will find that you will be able to paddle harder through the water. Thus, your speed is going to increase as well.
When you venture out on a paddle board initially and find that the people around you are paddling at a much faster pace, you might feel somewhat frustrated. However, you must realize that everyone starts as a beginner and have increased their speed with practice.
Paddle Board Type
If you are not aware, the type of paddle board will affect the speed at which you can go. With that being said, some boards move much faster as compared to the others. For example, Flatwater paddle boards are usually larger boards which implies that they will not be moving that fast. These are actually used for yoga and fishing, and therefore, they are not built for speed.
However, paddle boards which have been designed for surfing and racing will be moving quite fast. These boards are longer and narrower which helps them to glide easily through the water. Bigger paddle boards are generally the slower ones.
Solid Paddle Board or Inflatable Paddle Board
Although inflatable boards will be able to perform identical activities as that of a solid board, they are quite different when it comes to speed. A solid paddle board is made from a hard material which makes it quite simple to go through the water as compared to an inflatable.
Even though you might not be able to see much difference between these two types of paddle boards, an experienced boarder will be able to do so. They will be appreciating the extra turn of speed provided by a solid board over its counterpart.
Paddle Board Size
Your speed can also be impacted by the size of the board. In case your board is of the wrong size, it will not be feasible for you to move fast in the long run. Figuring out the right volume and purchasing the proper size will assure you of the fact that you will be able to maneuver easily through the water. In case the volume of the board is ideal, it will be able to displace water at the proper level beneath you, and you will be able to go faster.
However, if your board is small and you are a large person, you might find it tough to control the board which will reduce your speed in the long run.
If you are not sure if your board is the right size, try using our paddle board size calculator to help you find the right board.
Paddle Boarding Experience
As mentioned earlier, if you are a beginner when it comes to paddle boarding you cannot expect to move quite fast initially. It is essential to get some experience before you will be able to enhance your overall speed.
As a matter of fact, beginner paddle boarders usually move slower than 4 mph since they are not aware of what they are doing out there. This is quite normal since everybody needs to begin from somewhere. You will be able to improve your speed by practicing more and more. However, it will take some time, and you need to be patient.
Wind
The wind can come to your assistance while you are out on the water paddle boarding. Although it will be a good idea to have the wind on your side, things might start going the other way quite easily. For example, you will not be able to move fast in case the wind is blowing against you.
Water conditions
Another essential factor that you ought to consider while paddle boarding is the condition of the water. In case the waves are smooth and plentiful, they can create the required momentum for you that will help you to increase your overall speed. Nevertheless, if the ocean becomes quite rough then it will become tougher for you to navigate through the water. As a result, this will also reduce your speed to a great extent.
Average Time To Paddle Board 1 Mile
Thus, after going through this post mentioned above, it must be clear to you that lots of factors come into play for ascertaining how long it will take for you to cover 1 mile while paddle boarding. On most occasions, an average paddle boarder will take roughly 30 minutes for covering one mile. However, this will vary from individual to individual and it will be best to figure out your personal timing by trying to paddle board on your own.
