If you’ve spent a lot of time near the water this summer, you’ve probably seen them already: paddle boarders! In a short time, stand up paddling has become extremely popular here.
SUP stands for Stand Up Paddling. With a SUP board, you move forward while standing on the board using a paddle. The sport originated in Hawaii: surf instructors stood upright on their boards with a paddle to keep up with their students and maintain an overview. From there, it developed into a new sport.
You can quickly learn the basics of stand up paddling. You can start seated or on your knees for better balance, and stand up on your feet later. Keep in mind that as a beginner, you’re likely to fall into the water now and then. So wear comfortable, quick-drying clothing!
You can go paddleboarding almost anywhere, and because you’re standing up high, you often have a great view. Think of rivers, canals, lakes, or even the sea. Just remember the sea can be rougher, so you may lose your balance more easily.
By now, regular paddleboarding has evolved into many variations. You can see people doing yoga on their SUP boards to train extra balance. There are also organized tours, including ones where you can bring your dog on the board.
Besides being easy to start with, SUP is also very healthy! Because you have to maintain your balance and propel yourself forward with a paddle, you use almost all your muscles—not just your arms, but also your core, back, and legs. So paddleboarding is easy, versatile, and healthy. What are you waiting for?