Why you should try stand up paddle boarding

Go to any beach and there’s a good chance you have seen someone on a paddle board. If not, here's a quick overview – Stand up paddle boarding or SUP is where you stand on a longboard and use a paddle to propel yourself through the water. Paddle boarding is an offshoot of surfing with origins in Hawaii and has also exploded in popularity over the last few years.
Ben Buckler Boards have an amazing range of beautifully-designed stand up paddle boards available in Sydney.

A report from the Outdoor Industry Association found that the number of paddle boarding participants continues to see a steady yearly increase. Paddle boarders average about five annual outings and participation has increased across the board in all age groups, especially among teenagers. Now, stand up paddle boarders can be found in practically any body of water from the ocean and mountain lakes to rivers and canals.

If you’ve never participated in this activity before, there’s no better time than now. Here are just a few reasons why you should try stand up paddle boarding.

It’s easy to learn

Unlike other types of water sports like surfing which can take months of practice to become proficient, paddle boarding is incredibly easy to learn. You don’t need hours and hours of practice. In fact, most beginners are able to stand up and start paddling soon after getting on a board for the very first time. You may take a few falls into the water but once you master the basics it will start to become second nature. Then as you gain more confidence you can paddle board to your heart’s content.

The friendly and experienced staff at Ben Buckler Boards are happy to give you guidance, contact them for a friendly chat.

It’s a great workout

Paddle boarding makes for an excellent full body workout. The combination of balancing on the board as you paddle through the water means you’re building your core strength and training your upper body. Paddle boarding offers a fun way to burn calories without hitting up the gym. It’s also a low-impact activity so it’s much less taxing on your body and joints than other activities like running.

It’s incredibly serene

When most people think of watersports they tend to think of adrenaline-pumping activities like surfing and kayaking. But stand up paddle boarding is nothing like that. It offers a much more serene experience as you coast down a river or paddle to the middle of a lake. Either way, the scenery around you is bound to be amazing whether you’re on a Sri Lanka holiday or somewhere more local. Standing on a paddle board also offers a unique vantage point as you’re able to gaze deep into the water, something you can’t really do from the shore.

It’s just plain fun

There’s a reason why stand up paddle boarding has become more popular over the last few years – It’s just plain awesome fun! Once you try paddle boarding, you’ll wish that you had gotten into it earlier. There are also many variations so it will never stop presenting new challenges. For example, if you’re into yoga then you can push your strength and balance to new limits by introducing challenging poses on the board. Of course, that’s completely optional as even just standing up on the board and paddling around offers plenty of fun.

If you are just getting started, there are many places that offer rentals. But if you’re ready to take paddle boarding to the next level, you’ll definitely want to get your own equipment. You can find a wide selection of fibreglass and inflatable paddle boards from our online store.

Author’s Bio 

Alex Morrison has worked with a range of businesses giving him an in depth understanding of many different industries. As the owner of Integral Media, he is now utilising his knowledge and experience with his rapidly increasing client portfolio to help them achieve their business goals.