“I don’t get it. Isn’t it just stand up kayaking? Or surfing for the uncoordinated? ”
If you’re a stand up paddler, you may have encountered a few people who simply just don’t get the appeal of stand up paddleboarding. And chances are, those people probably haven’t tried it yet.
Stand-up paddleboarding is reportedly one of the fastest growing sports in the world, so there has got to be a few good things about it. Here are just a few reasons why (I think) the sport is becoming so popular:
It’s a good workout: unless you’re a SUP racer, stand up paddling won’t give you an intense Crossfit-style workout. However, what it will do is provide a low-impact full body workout. Paddling will sculpt your arms and shoulders and the balance required to stay upright on your board provides a great workout for all your stabilizer muscles in your feet, ankles, legs, hips and abs. SUP yoga has also been gaining popularity as a new take on the ancient practice.
It’s accessible: Unlike other board sports like surfing and kite-boarding, stand up paddling has very few barriers to entry. Some people are reluctant to take up a new sport if they feel that they can’t commit enough time to it to become a least marginally decent at it. With stand up paddling, you’ll get the hang of it on your very first time. This makes stand up paddling something that people of all abilities and ages can participate in, even people recovering from illness and injury. A post from last week highlighted the results from a great research study on the effects of stand up paddling for recovering breast cancer patients. Stand-up paddling is also a low fuss sport – all you need is a board, a paddle and a sense of adventure. There is no need for super fancy equipment (unless you want to splurge).
The cool factor: It’s true. Stand-up paddleboarding is just plain cool right now. Social media is full of pictures of celebrities stand-up paddleboarding, like Jen Aniston in Hawaii and supermodel Gisele Bundchen and hubby Tom Brady in the Bahamas. Even pro surfers like Laird Hamilton have taken up SUPing which has created some street cred for the new sport.
What do you like most about stand up paddleboarding? Leave your comments or send me an email 🙂
PADDLEWAGON 
I live right by Lake Ontario and every year I miss the deadline for signing up for rowing lessons. This is making me think that I should forget rowing and try paddleboarding! Seems so much more convenient!
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You should definitely try it out! You can rent from a number of places in the city. One of my faves is paddling Toronto Islands 🙂
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I admit… I don’t know how to swim. Would paddle boarding be right for me, as in, would a life jacket get in the way? PS. I stayed near Lagoon City this past summer, and I do think the waters in that area would be safe for me. 🙂
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If you don’t know how to swim, paddleboarding is something you can still do but you’d definitely need to wear a life jacket. I admittedly don’t wear one most of the time, but I do always have one tied into my board. You should try it – it’s really fun! Protected places like Lagoon City are great places to start out. Even the Toronto waterfront has places with break walls where the water is much calmer. 🙂
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