# paddleboarding.guide

Site grounding for agents without the paddleboarding.guide repository: its seven charter files, unchanged except that headings sit two levels lower and every term id the pinned version defines, in the frontmatter blocks too, is followed by its label from the pinned version. The YAML blocks are therefore for reading, not parsing; the repo files are the source.

- Domain: paddleboarding.guide
- Pins: editorial-charter@1.3.1, portfolio-icp@1.0.0
- Repo: 94483b0fd4114bda960df33ff13c468cbc168b5d (committed 2026-10-03T14:44:30-07:00)
- Built 2026-10-05T03:25:29+00:00
- Pages: https://taxonomy.tfw.bz/sites/paddleboarding.guide/

## BRAND.md

Version 1.0.2 · status draft · sha256 19f9d85bfe2772313e168587da6fe069a31ca0ba0688c31c61129be6776905bc

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.2
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
archetype: charter:brand-archetype-everyman (everyman)
secondary_archetype: charter:brand-archetype-caregiver (caregiver)
claims:
  - id: c1
    text: The site does not sell paddle boards, accessories or lessons, and accepts no sponsorship or affiliate placement that would change a recommendation.
    basis: charter:claim-basis-documented (documented)
    source: "about.manifest.json copy.commercialStance"
  - id: c2
    text: Sizing claims cite manufacturer guidance and safety rules cite the authority for the market, with sources on every page.
    basis: charter:claim-basis-documented (documented)
    source: "briefs/site.md site-specific rules; about.manifest.json about section ('Every page lists its sources and the date they were accessed'); content/STATUS.md (source count per drafted page)"
```

### BRAND

#### Name and entity
paddleboarding.guide (written Paddleboarding.Guide in about.manifest.json copy), founded 2026-09-17 and published by Thomas Prommer. Entity home: https://paddleboarding.guide/en/about/. Contact comms@flywheel.bz. The site is pre-launch, with noindex and robots blocking kept on (PRODUCT.md).

#### Promise
Plain, sourced help to choose your first paddle board and get standing on calm water safely.

#### Personality
The everyman: a patient instructor on the beach who explains one thing at a time and assumes you know nothing about boards yet (VOICE.md section 1, PRODUCT.md Brand Personality). The caregiver second: safety limits, leash and life vest rules sit right beside the advice, and families are spoken to as people with children on board. It stays friendly but drops the jokes where numbers matter.

#### Visual pointers
Design tokens: design/tokens.json. Design system and component rules: DESIGN.md. Locked direction: design/DIRECTION.md and design/pocs/2-neo-memphis-playful.html (the Wobble direction).

#### Do / Don't
Do: give a number with a plain reason. Do: cite the manufacturer for sizing and the authority for safety rules. Do: point to the paddle-length tool where sizing comes up. Do: say falling in is normal. Do: keep sources and safety limits next to the guidance.
Don't: claim "we tested" or invent reviews, authors or testers. Don't: promise instant success or a board that cannot tip. Don't: rank boards by commission. Don't: use surf-bro slogans or extreme-sport imagery. Don't: show the unsourced board-size tool.

## VOICE.md

Version 1.0.1 · status draft · sha256 289d9ebd3d6a6605db28f2c0c486cb6b594a1faf42b7caf0893e4f08adf9ae0f

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.1
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
register: charter:voice-register-practitioner (practitioner)
person: charter:voice-person-second (second person)
languages: [en]
addresses: [first-board-buyers, new-paddlers]
essence: The instructor who gets you standing on day one and makes sure you bought the right board.
```

<!-- ASSUMED DEFAULT, 2026-09-17: recommended voice option 'a. Friendly instructor' from ~/reports/site-strategy/paddleboarding.guide.json, pending Tom's review in ~/reports/site-decisions/index.html. If Tom picks another voice this file is replaced. -->

### VOICE: paddleboarding.guide (Friendly instructor)

> Loaded by /humanizer (Step 0) and the content publishing gate (drafting Step 1 + humanizer Step 3). If absent, both fall back to generic mode.

#### 1. Identity & Register
- Voice owner / who speaks: paddleboarding.guide editorial, second person; 'our' only for site tools (calculator), never for testing
- Register: practitioner
- Language/locale: en (US), imperial with metric in brackets
- One-line essence: The instructor who gets you standing on day one and makes sure you bought the right board.

#### 2. Audience
- Primary audience: beginner
- Reader's job-to-be-done: choose a first board and paddle confidently and safely
- Assume they know: nothing about boards. Always explain: width vs length, volume and weight capacity, inflatable pressure, leash and PFD rules

#### 3. Tone Axes
- Formal ────●── Casual
- Authority ──●──── Peer
- Serious ───●─── Playful
- Concise ──●──── Expansive
- Default editorial_track: factual

#### 4. Person, POV & Cadence
- Person: second person
- Sentence rhythm: short to medium; one instruction per sentence in how-to steps
- Paragraph length: 2 to 4 sentences
- Structural tics to keep: numbers with a plain reason; a calm 'you will fall in, that's normal' beat in technique pages; link to calculator where sizing comes up
- Structural tics to avoid: talking down; overpromising stability

#### 5. Lexicon
- Preferred terms: all-round board, inflatable (iSUP after first mention), width, length, volume, weight capacity, leash, fin, PSI
- Banned phrases (beyond humanizer's generic list): "stable as a rock", "unsinkable", "anyone can do it in minutes", "SUP-er" puns
- Capitalization & spelling rules: SUP in caps. iSUP. Brand casing per manufacturer. PSI in caps.
- Domain-jargon level: low; define each term once

#### 6. E-E-A-T / Experience Claims
- Authentic experience this voice can claim: none yet. No "we tested", "in our experience" or invented authors, testers or credentials. Claims rest on cited manufacturer specs and authorities until a real byline exists.
- Named author + bio source: added later by a human (TBD). Do not invent one.
- Quantified credential for bios: TBD by the named author. Leave empty rather than inventing.
- Citation posture: Board sizing from manufacturer guidance, cited. Leash and PFD rules from the relevant authority per market.
- Original-data hooks this voice owns: size calculator and paddle length calculator outputs; manufacturer size tables compiled
- "What I got wrong" angle: the first-session mistakes everyone makes (standing too early, looking at feet, underinflating) stated plainly

#### 7. Gold-Standard Examples
- Example A (proposal sample, /en/paddle-board-size/; replace with a published paragraph once live): "For your first paddle board, go wide rather than long. A board around 32 to 34 inches wide feels steady the first time you stand, and a length around 10 to 11 feet is easy to turn and carry. Then check the weight capacity: add your weight, anything you bring, and a kid or dog if they're coming, and stay well under the manufacturer's number. A board loaded near its limit sits low and feels tippy. Our size calculator does the maths if you give it your weight and where you paddle."
  - Why on-voice: clear numbers, one reason each, warm pointer to the tool
- Example B (proposal sample, /en/how-to-paddle-board/how-to-stand-up/): "Start on your knees in the middle of the board, hands on the rails. Look at the horizon, not your feet. Bring one foot up where your knee was, then the other, and rise slowly with the paddle across the board."
  - Why on-voice: one instruction per sentence, calm cadence

#### 8. Anti-References
- surf-bro slang
- luxury lifestyle SUP marketing
- generic 'best paddle boards' listicles

#### 9. Other languages
Voice is authored in English. Translations (DeepL, then native review) keep the same tone axes, with these register rules:
- de: du. SUP culture in German is informal and the Wobble design is playful. Metric (cm, kg, Liter for volume). Safety rules cite the national or state waterways authority.
- es: tu. Metric. Keep jokes light, humour doesn't always translate, rewrite rather than translate puns.
- fr: tu for voices a and b, vous for voice c. Metric.
- it: tu. Metric. Rewrite wordplay rather than translate it.
- pt: voce, Brazil-neutral. Metric.

## STRATEGY.md

Version 1.0.1 · status draft · sha256 e8e805d85ab425a67732f4db6e59bab8631ad15e89f2194f5934580cfc4e4491

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.1
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
mission_shape: charter:mission-shape-serve-x-to-achieve-y (serve X to achieve Y)
horizon: charter:horizon-12m (12 months)
positioning:
  primary: charter:positioning-axis-authority-depth (authority depth)
  secondary: [charter:positioning-axis-speed-of-answer (speed of answer)]
audiences:
  - kind: charter:audience-kind-consumer (consumer)
    name: First board buyers
    segment: first-board-buyers
    job_to_be_done: Choose a board type and size for their weight and use, and know what else to buy, before spending money.
  - kind: charter:audience-kind-consumer (consumer)
    name: New paddlers
    segment: new-paddlers
    job_to_be_done: Learn to stand, paddle and stay safe in the first sessions on calm water.
profile_required: true
```

### STRATEGY

#### Mission
We help adults and families buying their first paddle board choose the right type and size and get on calm water safely, using manufacturer guidance and official safety rules instead of retailer rankings.

#### Positioning
Authority and depth first: sizing comes from manufacturer rider guidance and leash and life vest rules from the authority in each market, each cited with an access date. Retailer pages and "best paddle board" lists skip that. Speed of answer second: the paddle-length tool and the sizing pages give a range in a few inputs. We concede locality and price: we do not list shops or compare prices, and the head terms are retailer and brand results a new guide may never reach (briefs/strategy.md risks).

#### Audiences
First board buyers are adults or families buying a first board, usually an inflatable for storage and the car, for calm lakes and holidays. Sizes and capacity numbers confuse them and they fear buying the wrong size. New paddlers already have a board or a rental and want to stand up, paddle straight and know the safety basics without being talked down to.

#### Competitors
Retailer and brand pages (REI, Costco, iRocker, Bote) that own the head terms, affiliate "best paddle board" lists, and YouTube how-to channels. Source: briefs/strategy.md, briefs/site.md, PRODUCT.md anti-references.

#### What we will not do
No invented reviews, testers, authors or "we tested" claims. No recommendation that changes with commission. No unsourced board-size calculator. No surf-bro, luxury or extreme-sport framing. No affiliate links, ads or listing fees until Tom confirms the model. Source: PRODUCT.md, briefs/strategy.md, about.manifest.json.

#### Bets for the horizon
1. Rank the sizing, type and inflatable pages, where a new guide can win before the head terms (moves gsc_clicks).
2. Make the paddle-length tool and sizing pages the place readers finish their decision (moves content_engaged).
3. Turn on the affiliate lines once Tom confirms, with boards matched to the size range rather than to commission (moves affiliate_clicked).

## AUDIENCE.md

Version 1.0.2 · status draft · sha256 7b567780a3d5153d7ce9a632cfa8215f30288f81ef2efcf0d2603ba32a94e008

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.2
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
segments:
  - slug: first-board-buyers
    name: First board buyers
    kind: charter:audience-kind-consumer (consumer)
    archetype: icp:gear-buyer-enthusiast (Gear-buying enthusiast)
    priority: charter:segment-priority-primary (primary)
    job_to_be_done: Choose a board type and size for their weight and use, and know what else to buy, before spending money.
    funnel_stages: [charter:funnel-stage-consideration (consideration), charter:funnel-stage-decision (decision)]
    languages: [en]
    regions: [US]
    pains:
      - Size and capacity numbers are confusing.
      - Cheap boards feel soft.
      - Fear of buying the wrong size for a family.
    channels: [charter:channel-organic-search (organic search), charter:channel-social-video (social video)]
    entry_paths: ["/en/paddle-board-size/*", "/en/inflatable-paddle-boards/*", "/en/hard-paddle-board/*", "/en/paddle-boarding-equipment/*"]
    size_signal: {metric: monthly_searches, value: 236000, unit: count}
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (ICP a, assumed default) and STRATEGY.md audiences", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      size_signal: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "briefs/strategy.md (about 236,000 monthly en searches, copied as written)", as_of: 2026-09-17}
      regions: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "about.manifest.json copy.summary150 ('beginners and families in the United States')", as_of: 2026-10-03}

  - slug: new-paddlers
    name: New paddlers
    kind: charter:audience-kind-consumer (consumer)
    archetype: icp:first-time-experience-seeker (First-time experience seeker)
    priority: charter:segment-priority-secondary (secondary)
    job_to_be_done: Learn to stand, paddle and stay safe in the first sessions on calm water.
    funnel_stages: [charter:funnel-stage-awareness (awareness), charter:funnel-stage-retention (retention)]
    languages: [en]
    regions: [US]
    pains:
      - Falling in and not knowing why.
      - Unsure which leash and life vest rules apply.
    channels: [charter:channel-organic-search (organic search), charter:channel-social-video (social video)]
    entry_paths: ["/en/how-to-paddle-board/*", "/en/paddle-boarding-equipment/life-vests/"]
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (ICP b, alternative not chosen) and briefs/site.md audience", as_of: 2026-10-03}
```

### AUDIENCE

#### First board buyers
Adults and families buying a first paddle board, usually an inflatable for storage and car transport, for calm lakes and holidays. Summer, a good rental day or boards on sale at a warehouse store set them off. They need board type, size against weight, and the list of what else to buy. Source: briefs/strategy.md.

#### New paddlers
People who have a board or a rental and want to stand up, paddle straight and know the safety basics. They read the technique and equipment pages. Source: briefs/strategy.md alternative b, briefs/site.md.

#### Excluded audiences
Readers looking for extreme or competitive paddling, shops wanting paid placement, and readers under 18 as a target (family pages speak to parents). Source: PRODUCT.md anti-references, STRATEGY.md section What we will not do.

## MONETIZATION.md

Version 1.0.2 · status draft · sha256 8a377f9c730e68a593dab4d152f23e90812c7d89b9328ef7b48369983d74f8ec

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.2
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
revenue_lines:
  - slug: affiliate-irocker
    name: iRocker affiliate program
    type: charter:revenue-type-affiliate (affiliate)
    partner: {name: "iRocker", entity: null, program_url: "https://irockersup.com/pages/affiliates"}
    network: "Direct"
    program_status: charter:program-status-published (published)
    commission_model: charter:commission-model-revshare-percent (revenue share)
    placements: [charter:placement-type-tool-result (tool result), charter:placement-type-inline-link (inline link)]
    segments: [first-board-buyers]
    kpi_key: affiliate_clicked
    status: charter:revenue-status-idea (idea)
    share_band: charter:revenue-share-band-major (major)
    start_trigger: Tom confirms the affiliate model and the commercial pages rank; FTC disclosure at the tool result and near links.
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (Monetization a, assumed default pending Tom's review)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      program_status: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-researched (researched), source: "https://irockersup.com/pages/affiliates (read 2026-10-03, affiliate program page)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
  - slug: affiliate-sea-eagle
    name: Sea Eagle affiliate program
    type: charter:revenue-type-affiliate (affiliate)
    partner: {name: "Sea Eagle", entity: null, program_url: "https://www.seaeagle.com/Affiliate"}
    network: "Direct"
    program_status: charter:program-status-assumed (assumed)
    commission_model: charter:commission-model-revshare-percent (revenue share)
    placements: [charter:placement-type-tool-result (tool result), charter:placement-type-inline-link (inline link)]
    segments: [first-board-buyers]
    kpi_key: affiliate_clicked
    status: charter:revenue-status-idea (idea)
    share_band: charter:revenue-share-band-minor (minor)
    start_trigger: Tom confirms the affiliate model and the commercial pages rank; FTC disclosure at the tool result and near links.
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (Monetization a, assumed default pending Tom's review)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      program_status: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "briefs/strategy.md sources; the page returned a Cloudflare 403 on 2026-10-03, not read", as_of: 2026-10-03}
  - slug: affiliate-nrs-avantlink
    name: NRS on AvantLink
    type: charter:revenue-type-affiliate (affiliate)
    partner: {name: "NRS", entity: null, program_url: "https://www.avantlink.com/programs/10525/nrs-affiliate-program/"}
    network: "AvantLink"
    program_status: charter:program-status-assumed (assumed)
    commission_model: charter:commission-model-revshare-percent (revenue share)
    placements: [charter:placement-type-tool-result (tool result), charter:placement-type-inline-link (inline link)]
    segments: [first-board-buyers]
    kpi_key: affiliate_clicked
    status: charter:revenue-status-idea (idea)
    share_band: charter:revenue-share-band-minor (minor)
    start_trigger: Tom confirms the affiliate model and the commercial pages rank; FTC disclosure at the tool result and near links.
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (Monetization a, assumed default pending Tom's review)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      program_status: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "briefs/strategy.md sources; the AvantLink page loaded on 2026-10-03 but did not name NRS in its HTML", as_of: 2026-10-03}
  - slug: affiliate-amazon-associates
    name: Amazon Associates, long tail
    type: charter:revenue-type-affiliate (affiliate)
    partner: {name: "Amazon", entity: null, program_url: "https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/"}
    network: "Amazon Associates"
    program_status: charter:program-status-published (published)
    commission_model: charter:commission-model-revshare-percent (revenue share)
    placements: [charter:placement-type-tool-result (tool result), charter:placement-type-inline-link (inline link)]
    segments: [first-board-buyers]
    kpi_key: affiliate_clicked
    status: charter:revenue-status-idea (idea)
    share_band: charter:revenue-share-band-minor (minor)
    start_trigger: Tom confirms the affiliate model and the commercial pages rank; FTC disclosure at the tool result and near links.
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (Monetization a, assumed default pending Tom's review)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      program_status: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-researched (researched), source: "https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/ (read 2026-10-03)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
  - slug: affiliate-decathlon-awin
    name: Decathlon on Awin, EU pages
    type: charter:revenue-type-affiliate (affiliate)
    partner: {name: "Decathlon", entity: null, program_url: "https://ui.awin.com/merchant-profile/26895"}
    network: "Awin"
    program_status: charter:program-status-published (published)
    commission_model: charter:commission-model-revshare-percent (revenue share)
    placements: [charter:placement-type-tool-result (tool result), charter:placement-type-inline-link (inline link)]
    segments: [first-board-buyers]
    kpi_key: affiliate_clicked
    status: charter:revenue-status-idea (idea)
    share_band: charter:revenue-share-band-marginal (marginal)
    start_trigger: Tom confirms the affiliate model and the commercial pages rank; FTC disclosure at the tool result and near links.
    evidence:
      default: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-assumed (assumed), source: "agent draft 2026-10-03 from briefs/strategy.md (Monetization a, assumed default pending Tom's review)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
      program_status: {basis: charter:evidence-basis-researched (researched), source: "https://ui.awin.com/merchant-profile/26895 (read 2026-10-03, Decathlon UK Affiliate Programme)", as_of: 2026-10-03}
```

### MONETIZATION

#### Revenue model
Nothing is live. The assumed default in briefs/strategy.md is affiliate: direct-to-consumer SUP brands and specialist retailers for boards, Amazon for the long tail, and Decathlon or Amazon country programs on EU pages. Links sit on the sizing result, board-type pages and equipment pages. Revenue is seasonal, spring to summer in the northern hemisphere. Share bands are rough guesses at the 12-month horizon. No payout or commission rate is recorded here.

#### Disclosure rules
FTC 16 CFR 255 disclosure at any tool result and next to affiliate links. The size range comes from manufacturer guidance and must not change with commission. No "tested" or review language without real testing (Google reviews guidance). Only a `verified` program permits commission copy on the site.

#### Not monetised
Safety, leash and life vest guidance, technique pages, and the paddle-length tool's size output. No sponsorship, no paid listings, no display ads in the default model (about.manifest.json commercial stance).

#### iRocker affiliate program
Direct-to-consumer inflatable boards, linked from the sizing result and inflatable pages to boards in the matching size range. Program page read 2026-10-03.

#### Sea Eagle affiliate program
Direct-to-consumer inflatables. Program page not readable on 2026-10-03 (403), so the status stays assumed.

#### NRS on AvantLink
Specialist retailer for paddles, pumps, leashes and life vests on equipment pages. The AvantLink page did not confirm NRS by name, so the status stays assumed.

#### Amazon Associates, long tail
Accessories and long-tail items in the US where no direct program fits. Program page read 2026-10-03.

#### Decathlon on Awin, EU pages
Boards and accessories on European language editions. The program read is Decathlon UK; other country programs are not checked.

## KPI.md

Version 1.0.1 · status draft · sha256 34ca59721fdc19b0d4a6536615cc8ce0cfb67a68f6dd55d1299b3af0660d7da7

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.1
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
template: charter:kpi-template-editorial-traffic (editorial traffic)
template_override: ""
kpis:
  - {key: pageview_recorded, role: charter:kpi-role-primary (primary)}
  - {key: gsc_clicks, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: gsc_impressions, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: avg_position, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: content_engaged, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: newsletter_subscribed, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: affiliate_clicked, role: charter:kpi-role-secondary (secondary)}
  - {key: crawl_errors, role: charter:kpi-role-guardrail (guardrail)}
  - {key: pages_indexed, role: charter:kpi-role-guardrail (guardrail)}
catalog_sha: 4304fc97e9ac457725bdc25dcbb724c36257a707cbb3c237b69cd3e7ba04ac39
```

### KPI

#### Why these metrics
The site is pre-launch and run on reach first, so pageview_recorded is primary. gsc_clicks, gsc_impressions and avg_position show whether the sizing, type and inflatable pages rank. content_engaged shows whether readers use the guides and the paddle-length tool. newsletter_subscribed comes from the template; no newsletter exists yet. affiliate_clicked tracks the affiliate lines in MONETIZATION.md once one goes live. crawl_errors and pages_indexed are guardrails: 251 pages are planned across six languages.

#### Reading guide
Read weekly pageview_recorded against the target in kpi-mgmt once one is set; no target exists yet. Expect a strong spring and summer season, so compare a week with the same week last year once there is one. Rising impressions with flat clicks points to titles. crawl_errors must not rise as pages ship.

#### Review cadence
Quarterly, with the 12-month bets in STRATEGY.md, plus a check before each paddling season.

## taxonomy/binding.yaml

Version 1.0.1 · status draft · sha256 2180f7341fda17407ac1d9b351b32551eb600452e235ce2498548c419cfd2886

```yaml
charter: 1
version: 1.0.1
profile: editorial-charter@1.3.1
domain: paddleboarding.guide
status: draft
reviewed_by: ""
iab_content: ["iab:483"]
icp_profile: portfolio-icp@1.0.0
content_profile: null
languages: [en, de, es, fr, it, pt]
regions: [US]
```