Standup Paddle Boarding

The Ultimate Water Workout

Standup paddle boarding is a water sport that originated from surfing. It is the ultimate water workout. Standup paddleboarders stand on a paddle-powered board, which floats on the water. 

Unlike traditional surfing, however, paddleboarders do not use their legs to paddle, instead using their arms and legs to propel themselves through the water. 

The standup paddle board is the most fun piece of workout equipment I have ever owned. 

Standup Paddle Board History

Standup paddleboarding, also referred to as SUP, has a history that spans thousands of years. It was first popularized and developed in Waikiki, Hawaii, in the 1940s. John Ah Choy, a local Hawaiian surfer, discovered that he could not get up and down to catch the waves as he got older. So instead, he would stand on his board and paddle out with a paddle to catch waves. 

While teaching surfing to tourists, his sons Leroy Ah Choy and Bobby Ah Choy copied their father and further developed their skills. They used the unique vantage point on the water to capture photos. The style gained popularity among other surfers and was named Beach Boy Surfing after its instructors, Waikiki Beach Boys.

Laird Hamilton modernized standup paddleboarding in the 1990s. SUP surfing was included in the Buffalo Big Board Contest in 2004. Standup Journal was the first magazine to be devoted exclusively to this sport, established in June 2007.

Let’s now look at the different types of paddle boards there are. 

All Round and recreational Standup Paddle Boards

All-round or recreational paddle boards are the most popular and great way to start this fun sport. However, recreational boards can be used for all types of paddling.

Before you buy a board for recreational paddling, here are some things to consider. Different features can offer you a different experience on the water. In addition, a paddle board’s dimensions play an essential role in its buoyancy or how much weight it can carry. These are the benefits and features to look at when you’re looking for a SUP recreationally:

• Length. How long a paddleboard determines a large part of its buoyancy. A board that is eleven feet long will move much faster in the water if it has a 130-pound human on the board than if the human weighs 230-pounds. The reason is that the board will sink deeper into the water when the heavier human is on the board.
• Width. It is essential to consider the width of your board, especially for recreational purposes. You won’t be racing your board or competing against other paddleboarders, so getting a little wider is best. You might consider buying a board with a width of 32 inches or more at its widest point. The more stable your board is, the wider it will be.
• Hull. Another feature that can affect the speed of your board through water is its hull. Paddleboards come in two types of hulls. Planning Hulls have a round, fat nose that allows you to glide over the water quickly. It pushes water down and turns slightly upward to keep it on top. Displacement Hulls have a pointed tip designed to cut through the water rather than glide on top. Planing Hulls are an excellent choice for beginner paddlers as they provide greater stability for the board.

My current board is a recreational board from Antidote Outdoors. It’s called their Adventurer. It is 11 feet long, 33 inches wide, with a volume of 230L, and has a weight capacity of 260 lbs.  

The Antidote Adventurer paddle board has been redesigned and features an all-white deck with your choice of side rails. In addition, the Antidote Adventurer comes with an 8-piece deck mat, two vent plugs, and an upgraded butterfly handle. 

The Antidote Adventurer standup paddle board is a great all-around board. It has a round nose with a rocker nose that’s perfect for calm waters like bays, lakes, and rivers. The tail is slightly concaved with standard three fins.

I installed an extra set of deck lines so she can now carry things on both the bow and stern. I can sometimes take so much stuff out on paddles that I named her U-Haul. I just love this board. 

Touring Standup Paddle Boards

Touring SUP boards are designed for long-distance paddling and have many features that can be used for those longer adventures. They aren’t too different from the features you see on recreational boards but have other specifications. In general, these boards will be longer and narrower than recreational boards. 

• Length. Long-distance trips will be more enjoyable if the board is longer. Longer boards are buoyant and also more stable in the water. Longboards are straighter and more efficient, which is required for long trips. Expect to see lengths between twelve feet and fourteen feet.
• Width. A touring paddleboard’s width will affect its speed on the water. A narrow board will be more suitable if you aim to paddle longer distances and go faster. Here widths are typically 26 inches to 30 inches.
• Hull. Touring boards have a displacement hull to cut through the water and move faster than other boards. Most paddlers desire to be more efficient when paddling long distances. This type of hull allows you to do exactly that. The displacement hull is excellent for stabilizing the board when you paddle through moderate surf or waves.

Two More Considerations

The other two types of boards worth noting are one’s for surfing and racing. 

• Surf Paddle Boards. Surf SUP boards are usually shorter than boards designed for other activities because surfing requires more maneuverability. They are also thinner than traditional SUP boards. The majority of surf paddle boards feature a wide, rounded, planning hull. This hull prevents the nose from dropping into the water, which can cause you to fall off the board. This allows the board to glide over the waves rather than trying and cut through them.
• Racing Standup Paddle Boards. The SUP board for racing has the narrowest width of any paddle board. These boards are usually 25-29 inches wide at their widest point. This allows them to travel at a more incredible speed than larger boards. They tend to be less stable and wobble from side to side, making it difficult to stand on unless one is paddling fast. The displacement hull is excellent for speeding up your board, whether on a quiet lake or the ocean.

Which type of Standup Paddle Board is best for you?

 If you are reading this, you are most likely getting started with standup paddle boarding. If that is the case, you should almost always begin with a recreational or all-around board. These are generally more stable and forgiving and allow you to spend more time on top of the board and less in the water. 

With a year or two on a recreational board, you can consider if a different type of board makes sense. I might own a couple of different types for different situations, but let us see. 

Summary

As I mentioned before, a paddle board is probably the most fun piece of exercise equipment we own. I love that my wife and I can go out together and have a solid workout tother, jet be on our own as well. The health benefits of paddle boarding are huge, as research has shown, and I crave this all the time.