Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
The world's fastest growing watersport, stand up paddling allows an individual to remain upright on a buoyant surfboard – realistically this is the closest sport to the biblical idea of walking on water.
You propel yourself forward using a paddle with a single-blade at one end and a T-shaped handle at the other; the shaft is a much longer than that of paddles adopted by other paddlesports. On average, the paddle is the length of a bent, outstretched arm above your head to the ground.
Boards come in different shapes and sizes depending on their function; race boards are less stable with pointed, slipstreamed noses while expedition boards are much thicker, durable, stable and ultimately slower for safety.
The beauty of stand up paddling is that so many disciplines, competitive and recreational, have spawned from the original Hawaiian surfing version across all three types of paddlesports:
- Ocean = SUP-surfing (beach break), Downwind (a wave-course over distance following the wind), Technical Racing (a surfbreak course around buoy-makers), Ocean-Racing (5 to 20km), Team Relay
- Flatwater = Sprint (200m to 2km), Marathon (up to 30km), SUPball (like canoe polo), SUPyoga,
- Whitewater = SUPer G (river giant slalom), SUP Xross (like boatercross)
Governed by the International Surf Association (ISA), stand up paddling is not Olympic but it certainly could make use of the same location for canoe sprint and rowing competitions in the future.
The ISA World Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship is held every year which made its début in 2012, events for men and women are divided into three categories: SUP racing (technical and distance); SUP surfing; and paddleboarding (technical, distance).
Athletes are also tested in The Stand Up World Series, a global race tour of six worldwide events including an additional final held at Turtle Bay, Hawaii. A 'Challenger Series' occurs parallel to the World Series encompassing more regional and smaller-scale events.
SUP also features as a surfing discipline at the inaugural Sport Accord World Beach Games in 2017 (Technical, Long Distance and Team Relay races). Surfing and SUP were voted into the 2019 Pan American Games in July 2015.
Websites:
Payette River Games: http://www.payetterivergames.com/sup/
Molokai 2-Oahu: http://www.molokai2oahu.com/
Battle of the Paddle: http://www.battleofthepaddle.com/
Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge: http://gorgepaddlechallenge.com/gpc1/
Bilbao World Sup Challenge: http://www.bilbaoworldsupchallenge.com/
Honolulu SUP Ultimate Showdown: https://www.facebook.com/UltimateSUPShowdown
The Lost Mills Europe: http://www.lostmills.com/