Stand up paddleboarding is a relatively new water sport that started popping up in coastal communities and now has spread from coast to coast. It is akin to surfing, but the board is longer and wider (and therefore steadier) and the participant uses a paddleboard, like an oar, for balance and to propel themselves through the water.
Unlike surfing however, the objective is to remain on the board at all times and in generally calm waters.
Stand up paddleboarding may have been started by surfing enthusiasts, but it has been embraced by a variety of people of all ages and abilities for the fantastic physical workout and the peace that can come from being in a quiet place on a body of water.
In beautiful Daytona Beach, Three Brothers Boards not only offers SUP tours on the Halifax River which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, but they make their own boards as well and ship them all over the world.
In addition to the killer abdominal and leg workout one can get from SUP, it is also a great way to see marine life. It is not uncommon during a Three Brothers Boards tour in Daytona Beach to journey through mangrove trails, bird sanctuaries and see a variety of wildlife including dolphins, redfish and manatees.
Many hotels and resorts are now offering SUP to guests as a value-added hotel amenity and as a way to experience their coastline.
In Laguna Beach, California, the Inn at Laguna Beach offers SUP tours for adventurers of all types, from novices through experts, right in a quiet cove of the Pacific Ocean. Various fish, sea lions, and dolphins can be enjoyed during their tours.
Stand up paddleboarding isn't limited to ocean communities, though. Anywhere there is a body of water, SUP can be done.
In landlocked Georgia, guests at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation can participate in stand up paddleboarding on what they call YOLO Boards, which are a sturdier and easier-to-use type of paddleboard. These YOLO Boards give an intensive core workout, and are fun to maneuver around placid Lake Oconee.
For anyone who wants to have a great workout, and wants to experience the wonders of the water as well, stand up paddleboarding is one activity to check out!
Sources:
Threebrothersboards.com. Web. 16 April 2014. "SUP tours Daytona Beach".
http://threebrothersboards.com/sup-tours-daytona-beach.cfm
Innatlagunabeach.com. Web. 16 April 2014. "Stand Up Paddle".
http://innatlagunabeach1-px.trvlclick.com/specials/stand-up-paddle
Ritzcarlton.com. Web. 16 April 2014. "Lake and Recreation."
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation/LakeandRecreation/Default.htm
Reviewed April 17, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith