Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Stand-up paddleboarder on calm water

'SUP! Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is one of the fastest-growing water-based activities on the planet. Here is why:

  • It is a spectacular way to enjoy the water and outdoors
  • It is great exercise, particularly as a low-impact core workout
  • It is easy to learn; almost anybody can do it
  • It is inexpensive compared to other water-based activities
  • You can go almost anywhere there is water, from ponds to oceans, flat water to rapids

Rent a paddleboard at Heritage Harbor · Shop kayaks and paddlesports

History

Stand-up paddleboarding, or in Hawaiian Hoe he'e nalu, is an ancient form of surfing that re-emerged as a way for surfing instructors to manage large groups of students. In the early 1960s, the beach boys of Waikiki would stand on their longboards and paddle out with outrigger paddles to instruct and take pictures of tourists learning to surf.

SUP evolved as its own sport because surfers started using paddles to catch more waves and get a better view of incoming sets. Adding a paddle means you do not need waves to have fun on a surfboard. SUP has since spread across the globe as a relaxing way to explore waterways, a platform for yoga and balance exercises, and in race forms from flat-water endurance to agility-based navigation of rapids.

Paddleboarders gliding across a harbor

Versatile fun, easy to learn

Some compare the feeling to walking on water. SUP gives a strong core workout and has become popular in warm coastal climates and, increasingly, inland. It appeals to men and women alike; because of their lower center of gravity, women often take to paddleboarding even more quickly.

Unlike wave surfing, paddleboarding is very easy to learn. Within one hour you can become comfortable on your board, since SUP boards are generally larger and much more stable than wave-oriented boards.

Equipment

SUP boards are typically 9 to 12 feet long, with padded decks and concave hulls, and usually one or three surfboard-style fins at the stern for straighter tracking. Most are fiberglass with epoxy shells and expanded polystyrene foam cores; some use wood or plastics, and inflatable boards have been introduced in recent years.

SUP paddles are made of aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass and/or wood, with a flat blade (6 to 10 inches wide) on one end and a handle on the other, joined by a smooth oval or round shaft 67 to 86 inches long.

New boards have ranged from about $600 to $2,500, with paddles at $75 to $250 and up for lighter, more responsive equipment. A personal flotation device (PFD) is the only other required (and recommended) gear, because the US Coast Guard classifies SUPs as vessels and requires PFDs in most areas. Optional extras include a roof-rack system and bungee cords or netting to carry a picnic, extra clothing or camping gear.

Prefer a pedal-powered board? Look at the Hobie Mirage Eclipse and iTrek Eclipse.

Stand-up paddleboards on display

How to SUP

Good form starts with a paddle of the correct length. A common rule of thumb is a "shaka" length, or 5 to 7 inches, taller than the rider's height.

  • Standing on the board, hold the paddle with one hand on the handle and the other about one-third of the way down the shaft.
  • Alternate hand placement by side: paddling on the right, the left hand is on the handle and the right on the shaft, and vice versa.
  • Place the blade in the water 1 to 2 feet in front of you.
  • Pull the paddle through the water with a motion like punching with the top hand while pulling with the bottom hand.
  • Continue the stroke until the blade is 6 to 12 inches behind you.

Watch this great video lesson:

Want to try it?

Check out Quest's paddleboard rentals at nearby Heritage Harbor.

Paddleboard rentals at Heritage Harbor Ottawa