Standup Paddleboarding

It seems as though there are few activities that have experienced an increase in popularity like standup paddleboarding (SUP) has in recent years. These days, if you head towards a body of water, especially when the sun is shining, you’re sure to spot people of all ages paddling by!

Traditionally, paddleboarding involved laying or kneeling on a board and using your arms to move. This is also known as prone or kneeling paddleboarding, whereas the standup version is exactly how it sounds; you stand upright on a board, and use a paddle to propel yourself along. The sport in its modern form is believed to date back to Hawaii in the 1940s, when a local man, John Ah Choy, began standing on his surfboard as it was easier than getting up and down as he got older. Laird Hamilton, a famous surfer in the 1990s, helped to popularise it, and now, people all over the world enjoy it.

The easiest way to get started with SUP is to find a local watersports club and hire the equipment you need. They might also offer lessons for starters, and it’s a much more affordable way to work out if it’s something you want to do more regularly! Experts at the club will be able to guide you on choosing the right type of board for you, and will also provide you with the safety equipment you need, such as a buoyancy device, and a leash to make sure you don’t lose your board.

You’ll spend your time on your board working on balancing so you don’t fall in (though you should probably expect to fall in at least once, if you’re a beginner), making it a great workout for your core muscles. As you get more confident, you’ll find that you can move a little faster, meaning that you can use it as a cardiovascular exercise, and it’s low impact, meaning you shouldn’t be putting too much strain on your body.

And on the water, you’ll get all the benefits of exercising outdoors. You’ll get a Vitamin D boost by being out in the sunshine, plus spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems.

If you’re feeling confident, you could even try folding in another activity while you’re on the board – yoga! SUP yoga has also increased in popularity, with people choosing to work on their flexibility by getting into poses such as downward dog, warrior and even inversions like handstand and crow pose.