SUP

  

   Growing up on the lake, I spent a lot of time outdoors and in the water, so it was an exciting day when my friend and I decided to try stand up paddle boarding, aka "SUP". For those of you who don't know, stand up paddle boarding is a water sport which consist of a large, semi padded, surfboard with an ankle strap that you stand up on and use a paddle to push yourself around. My friend and I decided to take a mini road trip to the closest rowing dock, and had an absolute blasty blast. It was only $15 to rent the board for an hour, I'm sure prices vary from place to place, but time flew by fast and we didn't want to leave. We got out boards and the staff helped us get on, in which we started out on our knees and in literally no time at all, we were standing up paddling our hearts out. We stood up and paddled, then sat cross legged and paddled, we even got tired and laid on our boards at one point to catch some rays. Not only was it extremely therapeutic to be outside and around so many other active people, who were kayaking and row boating around us, but it was such a great workout. The day we picked was a tad windy, but paddling against the wind was the perfect resistance workout, as well as arms and abs. I absolutely love SUP, and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys being outdoors, in the water, or just looking for something fun and inexpensive to do. I'm obsessed now, so I will definitely be returning soon to paddle it up or even kayak. 

Paddleboarding Stance

A few tips to help you keep your balance as you stand upright on the paddleboard:

• Your feet should be parallel, about hip-width distance apart, centered between the rails (board edges). Don't stand on the rails.
• Keep toes pointed forward, knees bent and your back straight.
• Balance with your hips—not your head.
• Keep your head and shoulders steady and upright, and shift your weight by moving your hips.
• Your gaze should be level at the horizon. Avoid the temptation to stare at your feet. It's much like bicycling: When your forward momentum increases, your stability increases as well. [www.supglobal.com]