![Two lifeguards of the German DLRG patrolling bathing area of a lake on stand-up paddling boards](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Two_lifeguards_of_the_German_DLRG_patrolling_bathing_area_of_a_lake_on_stand-up_paddling_boards.jpg)
Standup paddleboarding (SUP) is a water sport born from
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
with modern roots in
Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
.
Stand up paddleboarders stand on boards that are floating on the water, and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water. The sport was documented in a 2013 report that identified it as the outdoor sporting activity with the most first-time participants in the United States that year. Variations include flat water paddling, racing, surfing, whitewater SUP,
yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
, and fishing.
History
Standup paddleboarding (SUP), the act of propelling oneself on a floating platform with the help of a
paddle or
setting pole, traces back thousands of years and across many continents in the form of
rafts and
punts, but its current form and popularity originated in Hawaii in the 1900s. Records of earlier forms of SUP have been found as early as 3,000 B.C. and its iterations span over various regions such as
Peru
, image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg
, image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg
, other_symbol = Great Seal of the State
, other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal
, national_motto = "Fi ...
,
Levant
The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is eq ...
,
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
, and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
.
Modern standup paddleboarding began in the 1940s in Waikiki. John Ah Choy was a local Hawaiian who surfed, but as he got older and was unable to get up and down from his board, he would stand on his board from the break and paddle out with a canoe paddle to catch waves. His sons, Leroy and Bobby Ah Choy, and their friend,
Duke Kahanamoku
Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the sport of surfing. A Native Hawaiian, he was born to a minor noble family less than three years before th ...
, started to mimic this while they taught surfing to visiting tourists. They did this as a way to keep an eye on surf students while also monitoring the incoming swell. They also utilized the vantage point of being out on the water to take pictures. As the style became popular with other surfers, it took on the name Beach Boy Surfing after the instructors, who were called Waikiki Beach Boys.
Steve West credits outrigger canoeing combined with surfing as the basis of SUP, since the individual skills (board riding and paddling) already existed. In the 1990s
Laird Hamilton
Laird John Hamilton (born March 2, 1964) is an American big-wave surfer, co-inventor of tow-in surfing, and an occasional fashion and action-sports model and actor. He is married to Gabrielle Reece, a professional volleyball player, television ...
redefined and modernized standup paddleboarding as a sport.
In 2004, SUP surfing was added as a category in the Buffalo Big Board Contest.
Standup paddleboarding has diversified from a variation of surfing into racing, touring, yoga, whitewater, and fishing.
Its surfing heritage coupled with its various disciplines make the sport attractive and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.
The first magazine devoted to the sport, ''Standup Journal'', was founded in June 2007.
SUP surfing
SUP surfing is a variation of traditional surfing. Instead of lying prone on the surf board and paddling with arms to get out to the surf zone, SUP surfing allows the participant to stand on the board from the shore and paddle out to the surf zone using a SUP paddle. The best way to move forward is to stand hip-width apart on the board with your knees slightly bent. The paddle should be held in the water perpendicular to the board so that you do not unintentionally steer while driving. Once in the surf zone, the rules for surfing still apply. At the SUP surfer's turn, you paddle and steer with the SUP paddle to catch a wave. This style of surfing is widely used by surfers who have physical limitations due to hip and shoulder injuries.
SUP touring
In 2007 the concept of paddle boarding on flat-water began to take serious shape and a year later the first touring boards started to hit the market. This style of board differs from traditional surfing style SUPs in that it includes a displacement hull. The displacement hull allows the board to glide and track similar to a
canoe
A canoe is a lightweight narrow water vessel, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by one or more seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle.
In British English, the term ...
or kayak. Many other features were soon offered, including deck rigging to carry gear. The fast design with more glide is an attractive option for those who plan to keep their adventures inland.
Tour paddle boarding has become a way for individuals to seek adventure, serenity, personal achievement and a deeper connection with nature.
![SUP It & Sea](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/SUP_It_%26_Sea.jpg)
In 2018 Cal Major became the first person to paddle
Land's End to John o' Groats
Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities, in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists 10 to 14 days; the record ...
, the classic British long-distance journey, taking 59 days.
Her route took her along the Cornish and Devon coast into the
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel ( cy, Môr Hafren, literal translation: "Severn Sea") is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Seve ...
, up the
River Severn
, name_etymology =
, image = SevernFromCastleCB.JPG
, image_size = 288
, image_caption = The river seen from Shrewsbury Castle
, map = RiverSevernMap.jpg
, map_size = 288
, map_c ...
and by canals to
Blackpool
Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...
, by sea around
Cumbria
Cumbria ( ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in North West England, bordering Scotland. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local government, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumb ...
and the
Mull of Galloway, across the
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde. It is located on the west coast of Scotland and constitutes the deepest coastal waters in the British Isles (it is 164 metres deep at its deepest). The firth is sheltered from the Atlantic ...
to
Arran, along the whole of the
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. The canal was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.
Route
The canal r ...
, and up the coast of north east Scotland.
In 2021 Dave Chant and Sophie Witter became the first pair to paddle
Land's End to John o' Groats
Land's End to John o' Groats is the traversal of the whole length of the island of Great Britain between two extremities, in the southwest and northeast. The traditional distance by road is and takes most cyclists 10 to 14 days; the record ...
taking 64 paddle days and 25 days off the water due to bad weather and logistical challenges. Their route similarly took them on a mixture of sea, river and canals but was the longer expedition covering 1703km from start to finish.
SUP yoga
SUP Yoga is the practice of yoga while on a SUP board. Any SUP board can be used; however, an inflatable SUP (iSUP) is said to be more forgiving for yoga practice. SUP Yoga inflatable paddle boards are mostly stable, robust all-around stand up paddle boards with some important additional features:
* slightly wider than normal
* enlarged, soft and non-slippery surface in the middle of the board for better grip
* Paddle holders (lateral) for fixing the paddles during the yoga session
* the carrying handle is not located in the middle of the board
SUP yoga is done on calm water, such as lakes and bays.
Sometimes a small anchor is attached to the end of the board to keep the board in one location during the SUP yoga session.
SUP fishing
The introduction of SUPs to the fishing world provided a new low cost alternative to anglers looking to explore shallow water estuaries in the solo skiff category. The inflatable SUP could be easily traveled with or transported to destination fishing locations by car, boat and even seaplane and packed as luggage on commercial airlines for use at travel destinations. This portability extended the anglers fishing range and ability to fish previously unexplored areas. A paddle board's minuscule draft allows fishermen to access extremely shallow estuaries that skiffs can not, thus increases their popularity specifically amongst fly fisherman and anglers sight fishing. SUPs do not displace as much as a traditional skiff, therefore allowing anglers to approach fish in shallow water without alerting them to their presence.
A few fishing-specific SUPs are designed for mounting an engine, further extending the angler's range and creating a new hybrid SUP category. Powered fishing SUPS combine the advantages of engine propelled shallow-water fishing vessels with the advantage of stability offered by SUPs when the angler is standing, compared with more traditional methods such as a powered canoe.
Popularity
According to the Outdoor Foundation's 2013 Outdoor Participation Report, stand up paddle boarding was listed as the most popular outdoor activity among first-time participants. The report stated that the median age of stand up paddle boarders was 28.
The Outdoor Foundation's 2015 Special Report into Paddlesports found that 2.8 million (or 0.9%) of Americans participated in standup paddleboarding in 2014. This was up from 2.0 million in 2013. Ages 25–44 made up the highest percentage of overall contributors (47%). The highest participation rate was teenagers ages 14–17 (1.8%), with males comprising 76% of this age bracket.
Equipment
Board
Most SUP boards are in the range of 10–12 feet, with boards over 12 feet used mostly for racing, and those under 10 feet primarily used for SUP surfing. The size board a user would choose depends on the user’s weight, although height can also be a factor. Wider boards give better stability for beginners, as well as users who plan to do casual activities with their board, such as yoga, touring and fishing.
Narrower boards are more agile and are mostly used by advanced paddlers and for SUP surfing.
Due to the thickness required of a SUP, solid boards have a foam core that is then covered in one of many materials available, such as wood veneers, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. Epoxy resin can be added on top of those materials to create a stronger board.
Another option is an inflatable SUP, or iSUP, which is built from a drop-stitch core of thousands of fine threads, that is then covered by one or more layers of
PVC.
iSUP can be used for all types of paddling activities, and when deflated, can be small enough to fit into a backpack.
Many SUP and iSUP boards utilize a single, centered removable fin. This is to aide in stabilization and used mostly in calm and low wave paddling. Occasionally second and third, smaller fins are added for surfing or additional stability.
Paddle
A SUP
paddle is used to propel the board and its user across the surface of the water. The paddle consists of a blade, shaft, and handle, and should be between 8 and 15 inches taller than the user. They are similar to, but longer than, traditional canoe paddles. They can be constructed from plastic, aluminum, fiberglass, carbon fiber, and wood. The blade of a SUP paddle is designed to be at an angle to the front of the board. This design provides more power as the user pulls themselves through the water.
Leash
A leash is used to attach the user to the board. It keeps the board from floating away should the user fall off. The leash should be about a foot longer than the board, with one end attached to the tail of the board and the other end attached to the user's ankle or calf. There are two types of leashes: coiled and straight. Choosing which to use depends on the user's preference. It is recommended to only use a leash made for a SUP, as leashes made for surf boards may not be durable enough for the heavier boards. It is also recommended that users choose a breakaway style leash for use on rivers due to the potential to get tangled in fallen tree limbs and rocks that are in the water.
Additional equipment
The
U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, multi ...
requires users that will be outside of swim and surf areas to have a
personal flotation device
A personal flotation device (PFD; also referred to as a life jacket, life preserver, life belt, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suite that is worn by a ...
available or worn, as well as a whistle to alert other boaters of your presence. It is also recommended to have a light available for night paddling and sun protection for paddling activities during the day.
Safety and regulations
United States
In many areas of the US, no regulations require the use of a
personal flotation device
A personal flotation device (PFD; also referred to as a life jacket, life preserver, life belt, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suite that is worn by a ...
(PFD) while using a SUP board in the surf zone. However, the jurisdictions and rules requiring a PFD may vary according to the type of water: surf zone, international waters, harbors and other inland waterways. The US Coast Guard classifies SUPs as vessels, like canoes or kayaks. Hence, SUP riders are required to wear a PFD when paddling in certain areas outside of the surf zone.
Areas such as Myrtle Beach, SC or Virginia Beach, VA closely regulate beach and surf zones, requiring the use of leashes on a SUP board similar to the law for surfboards. These regulations and requirements may be enforced seasonally during high-tourism seasons or all year. It is important to use a quick-release belt when paddling in whitewater conditions as this allows the paddler to safely detach from a tangled leash.
United Kingdom
No regulations require the use of a personal flotation device (PFD) while using a SUP board in the surf. In flat water environments localized regulations may require the use of a PFD such as on lakes, rivers and inland waterways. In a teaching environment SUP schools and clubs individual risk assessments may require the use of PFDs for less confident stand up paddle boarders. The use of a leash is always recommended in all paddling environments and is a key piece of safety equipment.
Competition
In August 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) determined that both the International Surfing Association (ISA) and International Canoe Federation (ICF) can hold official standup paddleboard competitions, although the ISA alone will be recognized as the governing body at the Olympic level. However, the only ISA competition currently approved for 2020 and 2024 Olympic competition is shortboard.
The ISA's World Championships were first held in Peru (2012, 2013), with following editions held in Nicaragua (2014), Mexico (2015), Fiji (2016), Denmark (2017), China (2018), and El Salvador (2019).
2020 World Record attempt to SUP around Great Britain
References
External links
*
The American Canoe Association
{{authority control
Boardsports
Individual sports
Paddling
Surfing
Canoeing