Stand-up paddle surfing may sound like a scene from a comedy movie,
but no one's laughing in a sports and fitness industry that has hit the
recession as hard as any other business.
SUP, as it's called for short, looks exactly as it sounds: you stand on a large surfboard and propel yourself forward with a paddle. But, unlike traditional surfing, you don't have to wait for the waves. In fact, SUP, which is wildly popular, can be done on lakes, rivers, pools or any sufficiently large body of water.
It's generally agreed that the sport has roots in ancient Polynesia, but it didn't really enter the modern mindset until the mid 20th-century, when Waikiki's "beach boys" decided to stand up on their longboards and paddle around with outrigger canoe oars to get a better look at their surfing students, spot far-off waves, take photos for tourists or simply to have something to do on flat days. However, the modern explosion began in the late 90's when big wave surfer Laird Hamilton picked up SUP and started publicizing it as simultaneously adventurous, peaceful and a solid form of core conditioning for surfers and non-surfers alike.
But while SUP enthusiasts have became a daily dot on the horizon of many a coastal California city, it's the market for lakes and rivers that has everyone really excited. Think about it, you don't need waves, just a board and a paddle.
It does sound interesting, we'll have to wait and see if this will catch on like windsurfing or kitesurfing
For surf, like other sports, core conditioning is a very important part of staying fit and healthy. I'm not sure many are aware of this, though.
Posted by: Core Conditioning | 01/22/2012 at 03:54 AM