It is highly recommended that you take a private or group sup lesson regardless of your ability.

Introduction:

Stand-up paddleboarding originated in ancient Polynesia but gained modern popularity in the 20th century. It's a simple yet engaging activity that appeals to a broad range of individuals, from fitness enthusiasts to nature lovers.

Equipment:

1. Paddleboard: Choose a stand up paddle board based on your skill level and intended use. Longer boards offer better speed and steering, while shorter ones enhance maneuverability. Inflatable boards are convenient for storage and transport, while rigid ones provide better performance.

2. Paddle: Select a sup paddle with an adjustable shaft to customize its length. Ensure the blade faces forward, and your grip is shoulder-width apart for optimal control.

3. Leash: Always wear a sup leash to keep the board attached to you. This enhances safety, especially in challenging conditions or if you fall into the water.

4. Personal Floatation Device (PFD): Always wear an approved, appropriate PFD when paddling

Getting Started:

1. Find the Right Stance: Stand in the middle of the board with feet parallel and shoulder-width apart. Keep your knees slightly bent for better balance.

2. Hold the Paddle Correctly: Grip the paddle with one hand on the top handle and the other on the shaft. The angle of the blade should face away from you.

Basic Techniques:

1. Paddling Forward: Reach forward with the paddle, immerse it into the water, and pull it towards the tail of the board. Alternate sides for a smooth forward motion.

1. Turning: To turn left, paddle on the right side and vice versa. For a sharper turn, drag the paddle behind you on the opposite side.

2. Bracing: If you feel unstable, use the paddle as a brace by placing it perpendicular to the board. This provides additional support and prevents tipping.

Advanced Techniques:

1. Cross-Stepping: On longer boards, practice moving your feet towards the nose or tail while maintaining balance. This allows for weight distribution and better control.

   Surfing Waves: For those venturing into waves, learn to angle the board, paddle into the wave, and adjust your stance for stability.

Safety Tips:

1. Weather Conditions: Check weather forecasts and avoid paddling in adverse conditions like strong winds or storms.

   Know Your Limits: Start in calm waters and gradually progress to more challenging conditions as your skills improve.

   Respect Marine Life: Be mindful of wildlife and ecosystems. Keep a safe distance to minimize disturbance.

Fitness Benefits:

1. Core Strength: SUP engages your core muscles as you stabilize on the board, providing an excellent workout for your abdominal and back muscles.

   Cardiovascular Exercise: Paddling increases your heart rate, contributing to cardiovascular health.

   Low-Impact Exercise: SUP is gentle on joints, making it accessible to people of various fitness levels.

Environmental Considerations:

1. Leave No Trace: Respect the environment by picking up any trash, avoiding sensitive areas, and minimizing your impact.

   Eco-Friendly Gear: Choose sustainable and eco-friendly equipment to reduce your carbon footprint.

Conclusion:

Stand-up paddleboarding is more than a water sport; it's an immersive experience that connects individuals to nature while promoting physical well-being. By understanding the basics, practicing various techniques, and prioritizing safety, enthusiasts can embark on a fulfilling journey atop the gentle waves, discovering the tranquility and joy that come with stand-up paddleboarding.

1 - Exercise: SUP is a full-body workout that improves balance, core strength, and cardiovascular health.

2 - Relaxation: Paddleboarding provides a calming and peaceful experience, allowing you to connect with nature and escape from daily stress.

3 - Adventure: SUP provides an opportunity for exploration and adventure, giving you the chance to see new sights, travel to new places, and experience new things.

4 -  Improved balance: The act of standing on a paddleboard requires balance, which can improve coordination, stability, and reaction time.

5 - Socialization: SUP can be a fun and social activity, providing an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, or to make new connections with other paddleboarders.  Check out the Tuesday Night Race League in Oakville (more of a fun social than a "race".

6 - Low impact: Paddleboarding is a low-impact activity, making it a good option for people with joint or injury concerns.

7 - Versatility: SUP can be used in various bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, oceans, and even calm bays, making it a versatile and accessible sport.

Contact Paddle Sport Performance to give SUP a try this summer!

Surftech announced in May 2015 that Surftech SUP and NSP have formed a distribution partnership.

Paddle Sport Performance (PSP SUP Specialists) will be expanding our SUP line up to include the NSP line, especially the Dale Chapman (DC) race board line which was heavily influenced by Molokai to Oahu SUP winner Travis Grant.  We met Dale a few years ago back at BOP before he had joined NSP so are pretty excited to be taking on his line here in Canada.  Dale and Travis both originally come from Australia, although Travis has moved now to Hawaii full time.

You can see the full line of NSP SUP boards carried in Oakville, Ontario, Canada here.

NSP SUP Canada

The DC SUP race boards have different deck standing areas depending on the type of board.

Any board that has SURF or DOWNWIND in its name will have a "flush/flat" standing area in the deck

The FLATWATER boards will have a "recessed" standing deck area with side drainage holes.

The OCEAN race (not to be confused with the DOWNWIND OCEAN race) will also have the "recessed" standing deck area with side drainage holes.

The FLATWATER RACE PRO 14' looks very interesting at 23 inches wide.  This thing will be an absolute ROCKET on the water and we are noticing the local guys here in Toronto are sometimes using their 23 inch wide boards in Lake Ontario downwind conditions so it says a lot about the stability being learned as the sport progresses.  It also features a low wash tail to help prevent your competitors from drafting you during the race!!!

For those that want the speed but just a little more stability and rocker then the OCEAN RACE PRO is the board of choice at 24.5" wide.  Interestingly this board has approximately the same volume of some of the other brands but is as much as 2 inches narrower.  The OCEAN RACE BRUSHED CARBON is 26 inches wide so better for the mid to large sized paddler.

The OCEAN RACE PRO was used by Travis Grant to win multiple events in 2015 including the Carolina Cup where we saw him pull away from the competition in the last couple of miles. It has slightly more rocker than the FLATWATER RACE PRO but still has that slightly rolled bottom (think of Travis' background  in outrigger canoe racing).  It is specifically designed for small ocean conditions (so perfect for Lake Ontario SUP paddling) and through to flat water paddling.

Book a demo session for a NSP DC SUP Raceboard with Paddle Sport Performance and we will be happy to walk you through the line!!  Or book an appointment to stop by the store in Oakville, Ontario and meet the PSP staff!!

Paddle Sport Performance went to Maui, Hawaii to visit the SIC Maui shop and see first hand some of the great ideas they have!!  Out of respect for their craftsmanship and forward thinking designs we opted to NOT take any photos in the shop.  You will have to take our word that there are some great ideas/projects at the shop!!  

Probably the one thing that blew me away was a 2 piece custom built race board based on the FX series but with some small customizations so that the NYC customer could take it apart and either bring it on the subway but more importantly get it up his elevator and into his apartment.

Could this be the future of inflatables? Take-apart hard boards?

Just think of the possibilities for racers around the world!!!

Andres took time out of his busy day to walk us around and explain the SIC Maui approach to innovation and design construction.  Talking with him you could see his passion about everything they do there and his commitment to excellence.  Meeting people like this always helps make our decision easier to expand our relationships with the brand.  Of course we have to thank Brad who helped make all of this happen and has been a great contact as we expand our line of SIC Maui boards in Toronto. Thank you again Brad and Andres!!

After the tour we decided on taking the FX 12 prototype and the Fish 9'5".  I mean how could we not take the prototype and try it out!!

Both these boards are incredibly light and stiff. 

That afternoon conditions were ugly messy due to 50 kph winds but we decided we could not wait to get on these boards.  Once we hit the water with them you could notice that SIC Maui knows their waters!!

My first impression was that the boards felt "corky" but then I realized that this was salty ocean water so it just took some time to get used to that buoyancy.

We took them back out early morning the next day and that is when we got a chance to really try them out.  Winds were light for Maui (20 kph) and there was light chop.  Even though the FX12 is a bit light for me volume wise, I could feel that the board accelerated nicely and slide into the bumps easily  This can also be proven by the two other riders who found the board a delight to paddle downwind.  They noticed an immediate increased stability once going with the waves and wind even if it was hitting them on their quarter they never even noticed a difference!!

I can't wait for the FX14 to arrive at the shop next month so we can really get to play with it!!!

The Fish was a fun little board to paddle, but unfortunately there was no clean surf either day.  We are expecting a nice swell to hit the north side on Friday so maybe that will be it's day to shine before taking it back to SIC Maui.  It is a great board as I and both of my boys loved it for pure paddling, which makes me think that it is the PERFECT board for a family person to get as their "go to Lake Ontario SUP surf  board" but yet let the kids use it too for family paddles.  It is a WIN - WIN board!

Photos and videos will come as we continue to test the boards this week.

Thanks SIC Maui!!

We have already ordered our FX boards and I can tell you know that these will be sold out just based on what I am feeling on the board here in Maui.

Often we are asked "what will the stand up paddle board class be like?" or "Is it ok to SUP on Lake Ontario?"

I think that after ten years of teaching SUP and selling paddle boards, this video taken by one of our class participants sums it up pretty well.....especially the "it's pretty awesome out there!!!!"

Hope to see you on the water in 2016!!

These guys know how to make great paddles and a quick online search will confirm that!!

When you get the urge to enter your first few races, keep in mind that if you’re on an all arounder with a large paddle blade that you actually have more force on your muscles than the pros do! 

When you get that competitive spark as someone creeps up on you and you want to punch it into a higher gear, remember that the all-around board you’re on may have a lot of drag, and that the large blade on your paddle will have quite a bit of resistance. This could be a recipe for an injury.  That is why we recommend former athletes or people who have a competitive history always go with a displacement hull SUP (http://pspsupspecialists.com/displacement-hull-sup...

Even the casual paddler would benefit from this type of hull design versus the typical planing hull board.

How can you reduce the chances of this kind of paddle related injury?

There are a few different ways to go about this.

1. Buy a board with less drag and more glide: This is not always the most feasible option for everyone, but if you get into racing competitively or are going out regularly and are paddling hard for fitness, it may be a worthwhile investment. Boards with displacement style hulls offer less resistance per stroke making it easier to reach your top speed without blowing out your shoulders.

2. Buy a quality paddle with a smaller blade: This is definitely the easiest option with the most bang for your buck! Ditch the heavy, aluminum paddle with the 110 square inch blade. Grab a nice carbon fiber, fiberglass, or carbon/fiberglass blend paddle with smaller blade. Quickblade paddles recommends you stay within 5 square inches of this formula: (your body weight in lbs. + 200 lbs) / 4 for blade size. By grabbing a smaller blade you’re able to reduce the force on your shoulders by decreasing the resistance in each stroke. You’re also able to work on keeping a higher cadence and focus on technique without as much muscle fatigue.

3. Cross training for Strength: If new gear isn’t in your future, you can help prevent injury by building up your paddling muscles with a structured training program. By incorporating some strength training in your week’s activities you can build a solid base and be able to withstand some of the impact you’re putting on your body while paddling. A little bit of strength will help move a slower board and also make a solid connection between your paddle and the water.

4. Take a technique lesson: Another way to ensure you paddle injury free is to take a lesson with a trained professional. WPA Instructors are a great avenue to learn proper technique which will help you paddle properly and decrease injury. Professionals can help you with paddle length, proper reach, driving with the hips, and using the proper muscle groups to generate forward momentum. Without a lesson, paddlers may be paddling too much with their arms, or have shoulders extended to far overhead; both ways of generating discomfort while paddling.

Whether you update your gear, strengthen your muscles, or hone in on your technique, be sure to think about long-term, sustainable paddling. Paddling is more fun when you can get out and enjoy it more often, or for many years to come. Paddling injury free is a great personal goal to have, one that is arguably more important than any race time!

http://www.snowskatesurfstyle.com/interview-ariel-amaral/