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Stand Up and Paddle
It's like surfing for the masses
If you are tired of hearing about surfing (especially from me), or if you have tried surfing and thought, "This is too damn hard," or if you live inland by a lake or some other flat body of water, I have some good news. There is a new option, much more accessible to the average in-shape person, that you can do on flat days or in flat conditions. Let me introduce you to standup paddling.
Hardcore surfers in Hawaii, like Brian Keaulana and Todd Bradley from C4waterman.com, are actually the ones promoting standup paddling by making it look so cool (as in, if guys who surf 25-foot waves like it...). C4 has introduced the all-season sport to lake people in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, and the potential growth for the market is limitless.
According to Keaulana, who comes from the most famous family of Hawaiian watermen on Oahu, standup paddling's appeal is that it's easy to learn. "Anyone can do this and stand up in one day," he says. It turns out to be fantastic core and balance training to boot.
Okay, so exactly what is standup paddling?
It's solitary, like surfing: just one person and one board. Also like surfing, it's free-form and unencumbered: no straps, no harnesses, no tanks, no masks; just you and your bathing suit.
The standup paddle board is like an extra-large surfboard, maybe 12 feet long, three feet wide, and six inches thick (C4waterman actually makes a blow-up version perfect for traveling). You stand up on it, knees slightly bent, feet about hip distance apart, holding one long, light paddle you also use as a rudder. Your body acts as a sail, so you have to get used to working with, not against, wind and ocean currents. You'll probably want to learn in an enclosed bay, but it's pretty much that simple: You stand up and paddle.
It's great to do in shallows with clear visibility because you can look at all the pretty fish and coral. And it's fun to do with a buddy, side by side, shooting the breeze. Just be aware of boats and rogue waves; they can sneak up on you. And though it feels nearly effortless while you're doing it, the next day you can expect some sore muscles you didn't even realize you were working.
Hardcore surfers in Hawaii, like Brian Keaulana and Todd Bradley from C4waterman.com, are actually the ones promoting standup paddling by making it look so cool (as in, if guys who surf 25-foot waves like it...). C4 has introduced the all-season sport to lake people in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, and the potential growth for the market is limitless.
According to Keaulana, who comes from the most famous family of Hawaiian watermen on Oahu, standup paddling's appeal is that it's easy to learn. "Anyone can do this and stand up in one day," he says. It turns out to be fantastic core and balance training to boot.
Okay, so exactly what is standup paddling?
It's solitary, like surfing: just one person and one board. Also like surfing, it's free-form and unencumbered: no straps, no harnesses, no tanks, no masks; just you and your bathing suit.
The standup paddle board is like an extra-large surfboard, maybe 12 feet long, three feet wide, and six inches thick (C4waterman actually makes a blow-up version perfect for traveling). You stand up on it, knees slightly bent, feet about hip distance apart, holding one long, light paddle you also use as a rudder. Your body acts as a sail, so you have to get used to working with, not against, wind and ocean currents. You'll probably want to learn in an enclosed bay, but it's pretty much that simple: You stand up and paddle.
It's great to do in shallows with clear visibility because you can look at all the pretty fish and coral. And it's fun to do with a buddy, side by side, shooting the breeze. Just be aware of boats and rogue waves; they can sneak up on you. And though it feels nearly effortless while you're doing it, the next day you can expect some sore muscles you didn't even realize you were working.
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15:03 EDT, 28.Sep.07