Stand up paddle surfing
Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), stand up paddle boarding, or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he'e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and has reemerged as a way for surfers to paddle longer distances.
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History [edit]
Stand up paddling began in the 1960s when surfing instructors used the technique to position themselves for taking photographs. [1][2] More recently, professional surfers used the technique for training and it has become a popular surfing-related pastime.
Supporters cite the ease of learning as a key to its popularity, with beginners becoming comfortable in as little as an hour of training. Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama re-introduced the ancient sport of paddle surfing to the modern water sports world. The first "modern" surfer to bring Stand Up Paddle Surfing out of Hawaii and to the mainland United States was Vietnam veteran Rick Thomas.[3]Custom surf shaper Jimmy Lewis, created one of the first modern production boards, the All Around.[citation needed] Surfers have converted because of the versatility of the new sport. Stand up paddle boarding offers surfers the ability to catch more waves in a set, as well as offering a better view of incoming sets.
River SUP'ing is gaining popularity in the boating community due to the skill and agility required to navigate rapids and obstacles. Stand up paddle surfing is now the fastest growing water surf activity because it allows a wider range of athletic types to get involved and SUP surfers need not schedule around high and low tides[4]
Kai Lenny claimed the first SUP racing world champion title when he won the seasons finals of the first Standup World Series championship races held at Turtle Bay Resort, O'Ahu, Hawaii on 13–14 September 2012.[5]
August 8, 2007 on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe in Tahoe City, CA was the site of the very first stand up paddle board race. A 7 mile race from Jake's on the lake restaurant to Tahoe Vista, CA ending at Captain Jon's restaurant. 34 competitors men & women from Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz and San Diego completed the 1st ever SUP only event. This was the beginning of the TA-HOE NALU paddle festival. 2012 marked the 6th year of what is now the oldest SUP event in the world drawing over 4000 spectators and over 400 competitors from around the world to compete at the Quiksilver TA-HOE NALU Paddle festival.[6]
--- The world's first-ever printed standup paddling magazine is Standup Journal, www.standupjournal.com founded in June, 2007; first issue of Standup Journal hit US newsstands in March, 2008 and has grown to international newsstands since. The publcation is headquartered in Maine, US and is co-published by Clay Feeter and Joyce Bilodeau.
Materials and design [edit]
New custom SUP board prices range from US$600 to US$1500, and most use glass-reinforced plastic construction using polyester or epoxy resin that is compatible with the polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam used in the core. Some SUP boards use a hollow wood construction instead of foam with epoxy resin.[7] In the last few years inflatable boards have been introduced as well. The boards are generally longer than 9 feet (3 m), and can be longer than 12 feet (4 m), with features such as padded decks and concave hulls; they generally have one or three surfboard-style fins in the stern for tracking.
As of October 3, 2008, the US Coast Guard now classifies SUPs as vessels and as a result SUP riders are obliged to wear a personal flotation device when paddling in certain areas.[8] Whether this will affect the continued take up of stand up paddling in the USA remains to be seen. The Canadian Coast Guard has implemented similar rules, however SUPer's are only required to have a PFD with them, they don't have to wear them.
Stand up paddle [edit]
A stand up paddle is a type of paddle used in stand up paddle surfing. The stand up paddle is used to propel an individual across the surface of the water while standing on a surfboard. The paddle consists of a blade, shaft and handle.
Materials and design [edit]
Paddles used for stand up surfing are usually constructed from carbon, fiberglass or wood with flat blade on one end connecting to a handle on the other end by a long smooth shaft. The blade ranges from 6 to 10 inches in width with an oval or round shaft ranging from 67 to 86 inches in length with a 1 to 1.5 inch diameter. Blades are designed with several shapes and features. Normally the blade has a banana peel shape sometimes having a slight keel on the back side of the blade. Other commonly used shapes include diamonds, or oar like blades. The more ability you have the smaller you can go. [9]
Use [edit]
The proper form for paddle surfing requires a paddle of the correct length and size. A common rule of thumb is a “shaka” length, or 5 to 7 inches, above the rider's height. While standing on board, the rider holds the paddle with one hand on the handle and the other hand approximately 1/3 of the way down the shaft. The hand placement alternates depending on what side the rider is paddling on. When paddling on the right side the handle is held with the left hand and the shaft with the right, vice versa on the left side. When paddling, the blade is placed in the water 1 to 2 feet in front of the rider. The paddle is then pulled through the water with a motion similar to the rider punching with the top hand. The motion is continued until the blade is pulled through the water to a point approximately 6 inches to a foot behind the rider's body.
Inflatable SUP Boards [edit]
Performance surf boards have traditionally been made from laminated layers over foam cores. SUP boards are larger boards and the desire to travel with them has led to the development of an inflatable system where the board and pump can be carried in a back pack. The core material is called 'drop stitch'. Thousands of locked nylon stitches keep the board at a specific thickness. Pressure from specially designed hand pumps can inflate a board to over 30Psi. This creates a board not much less rigid than a hard board. Two of the greatest benefits of inflatable boards are their durability and weight.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Paddle surfing |
- ^ McGinn, Daniel (11 November 2012). "Best places for stand-up paddle boarding". Boston, MA, USA: Boston Globe Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "Stand Up Paddle Surfing Global - The History of Stand Up Paddle Surfing". www.supglobal.com. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Stand Up Paddle Surfing Global - Interview with Rick Thomas". www.supglobal.com. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
- ^ "Stand up Paddle Surfing in Costa Rica?". SurfinJaco.com.
- ^ Team Naish rocks the SUP Racing World, Standup Journal
- ^ [1] Ernie Brassard, Rick Thomas & Bob Pearson are the co-founders of TA-HOE NALU.
- ^ "Barefoot Boards - Handcrafted Wooden Boards". www.barefoot-boards.com. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
- ^ Stand Up and Be Counted - Surfline.com
- ^ "The ABC's of SUP boards with advice on choosing equipment".
