Sunrise, water so flat and glassy it’s like walking on water. Standing six feet above the water you can see farther and deeper into the water - a birds’ eye view of what’s swimming under right under you. This is what you will experience if you get out on the water via paddleboard. All you need is a paddle and a board and the adventure begins. This is one of the few water sports where the participant doesn’t necessarily need certain weather conditions to enjoy the sport. Whether it’s flat water, gnarly waves, or even raging river rapids stand up paddle boarding is versatile for many conditions.
Stand up paddling boarding is not a new invention, in fact it has been around for hundreds of years, but it is an up and coming sport as well as a more popular leisure activity. In the past few years it can be increasingly seen in rivers, lakes, sounds, waterways and oceans either for relaxation, exploration or adventurous endeavors.
Paddle boarding was first used for functional purposes. The ancient Polynesians used to stand on long boards or rafts and paddle around the narrow canals to transport goods or simply to navigate around the compact city. Hawaiians then adopted the method of standing on long boards in order to photograph the beach and tourist learning to surf. Surf instructors also used paddle boarding to paddle around their students and give them pointers; it was useful to see the incoming swell.
In more recent years paddle boarding has been considered more of a sport. There are now competitions in speed, wave riding, river rapid riding and distance. Of course anyone can stand on the board and paddle, but there is a technical side to the sport that can be developed to master any one of these types of boarding. On the flip side to developing your skills as a paddleboard competitor, the sport can also be as leisurely as you want to make it. On a flat day all you really need to do is paddle around and check out the scenery. With virtually no draft (six to eight inches) you can paddle where boats may not be able to go and check out undisturbed wildlife.
Whether you are into the competitive side of paddling or the more relaxing side, paddle boarding provides a great core work out and always many adventures. So get out there and paddle!
