Why would so many great surfers take up stand up paddling?
There are lots of reasons, from the great cross training it provides to the increased speed when catching waves made possible by the use of the paddle, a better view of the surroundings, and just plain fun!
At the 2004 Buffalo Big Board Contest the Beachboy Surfing even was added and was quite popular. Also in 2004, Archie Kalepa was the first to use a Stand Up Paddle Board to complete the Molokai Channel during the famous Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard race.
Since the Buffalo Big Board contest, the number of events that feature stand up paddle boarding and stand up paddle surfing has skyrocketed.
Some Tips on Stand Up Paddling
Turning Around To Catch a Wave: Step to the back and let the nose rise out of the water a bit. This makes it much easier to turn a very long board. Meanwhile you plunge your paddle into the water and make a sweeping stroke that spins you around.
It is important to master this skill for stand up paddle surfing because waves often appear with little notice and turning the board around is a crucial component in being able to catch and ride waves on your stand up paddle board.
When you master that skill you can work on some variations including standing parallel and back paddling and also making more sweeping turns and tighter pivots.
How do I paddle out through the surf?
The best way to paddle your stand up paddle board through the surf is to aim it straight into the waves and try to paddle up and over the foamy wash.
Always look for the best areas to get out beyond the breaking waves and try not to paddle straight into areas where the waves are breaking without any gaps to punch through.
How long are Stand Up Paddle Boards?
Most Stand Up Paddle Boards range anywhere from 9 feet to more than 12 feet long. Some experienced stand up paddle surfers ride shorter boards while some open ocean paddlers prefer long streamlined boards for speed and stability on the open sea.
What kind of workout do you get Stand Up Paddling?
Stand up paddle boarding is a great workout for your arms as well as your legs and all of the core muscles between. Of course your shoulders and back also get a good workout. Stand up paddling is the ultimate in cross training.
How popular is Stand Up Paddle Boarding?
As one of the world’s fastest growing sports, stand up paddle boarding has also been attractive to celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Cindy Crawford. Even James Bond (aka Pierce Brosnan) does it.
Stand Up Paddleboard Race Series at Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe Area Increasingly Popular For Stand Up Paddle Boarding Every year about 400 inches of snow fall in this area, but there are also 300 days of sun making this alpine lake a prime paddle boarding venue. Boosting the sport’s popularity in 2010 are a series of stand-up paddleboard races from May 29 to September 26. The stand up paddle board races are hosted by the Ta-Hoe Nalu and the Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association to sponsor this event that includes both prone paddleboarders and stand up paddle boarders. The races are known as the 2010 Quiksilver Tahoe Stand-Up Paddleboard Race Series. Two of the five Lake Tahoe paddle board races are considered elite races. The prize money for these two events combined is $40,000 in both merchandise and cash. Also part of the series are on-water stand up paddle boarding demonstrations for the public. On August 21 and August 22 is the Ta-Hoe Stand-Up Festival in Kings Beach. Various races will take place including an elite class race as well as OC-1 Outrigger Race. The grand finale of all of these paddle boarding events is the Tahoe Fall Classic, a 22-mile event across Lake Tahoe which takes place on September 26. Stand up paddle boarding has been rapidly gaining in popularity during recent years in Hawaii and California and now world wide. Stand up paddle boards range in size from about nine feet to more than 17 feet depending on the use. The stand up paddleboards also have usually one or three fins that provide added stability and steering ability, and a soft pad on the deck of the stand up paddle board helps the rider keep their grip and avoid falling. The stand up paddle boarder uses a long paddle on alternate sides of the stand up paddle board to propel themselves across the water. The popularity of stand up paddleboarding in such areas as Lake Tahoe is due largely to the presence of many athletes who ski and snowboard, and who use stand up paddle boarding as a cross training method that helps them keep in shape during the off season of skiing and snowboarding. The Lake Tahoe area is also known for its many runners, mountain bikers and other athletes, who also have taken up stand up paddling in large numbers, adding to the many outdoor sports that can be enjoyed in the Lake Tahoe region. Sports equipment shops in the Lake Tahoe region now rent stand up paddle boards so you can give it a try!
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