Heat can cause inflatable SUP boards to burst

Inflatable stand-up paddleboards can burst in high temperatures if they are overinflated, ORF reported. Paddleboard providers in Carinthia have repeatedly seen boards burst with a loud bang at temperatures of about 35 degrees Celsius.

Heat causes the air inside the boards to expand, especially when they are left on dry land. SUP provider Alfons Kristan recommends reducing the air pressure by one third. Storing the boards in the shade or in the water also helps prevent damage.

Kristan said many cheaper boards are glued rather than welded, allowing the adhesive to loosen. He said buyers should not expect a 200 euro board to last as long as one costing between 500 and 1,000 euros.

Hard-plastic boards do not need to be inflated, but inflatable models are more practical for private water sports users because they fit easily into a car when deflated.

A burst board can be repaired if the tear is shorter than 10 centimetres. Kristan estimated the cost at between 30 and 80 euros. Larger tears usually cannot be repaired.

Markus Bräuhaupt, head of the Carinthia water rescue service, said no SUP had burst in the middle of a lake. The water cools the board from below, making a burst unlikely while it is on the water.

Bräuhaupt generally recommends attaching the body to the SUP with a loop around the foot. Paddleboard users should also avoid going too far from shore when thunderstorms are forecast.