Usually you hear, “Sit down in the boat!” But not this time. If you take a paddleboard out on the water, you had better stand up. That’s how you cruise around on this newest trend in on-water self-propelled recreation.
A paddleboard looks like an oversized surfboard, but you don’t ride the waves. Instead, a paddleboard provides a stable platform on which to stand, and paddle across the water.
Paddleboards, also called SUPs (standup paddling), originated in Hawaii at about the same time as surfing as a way for instructors to stand and watch their surf students, and as a way to access areas too tough to reach by prone paddling on a standard surfboard.
But you don’t need to be a surfer to paddleboard. Kiki Seago, high school physical education teacher at Penn Yan Academy, has enjoyed paddleboarding for four years.
“If you want to get outside, connect with nature, be on the water, and enjoy some whole body movement, try a paddleboard,” Seago says.
The combined physical and emotional benefits appeal to Seago. Unlike a kayak or canoe that requires sitting, and often leads to poor posture, paddleboarding engages core muscles, keeps the spine aligned, works the entire upper body and, depending upon the pace, can provide an aerobic workout too. Plus, a paddleboarder does all this in the middle of a beautiful lake with a unique vantage point to see around and under them.
“I go at 5:30 a.m. and I am the only one out there on Keuka Lake,” Seago says. “The water is like glass, and it’s so peaceful. Because you stand up, you can see so much deeper across a greater surface area. I see all the fish and all the plants.”
Paddleboarding requires little specialized skill. Balancing on the board isn’t hard, Seago says, because paddlers stand across the shorter part of the board, facing where they are going, unlike surfers who stand parallel to the length of the board.
“You have to be able to get onto your feet from your hands and knees, because that’s how you get on (a board) from the shore,” she says.
The design of recreational boards makes it easy, says Seago, who also operates a paddleboard business where she trains newbies. For flat water, the boards average 11 to 12 feet in length and 28 to 32 inches across.
“Every board has a sweet spot where it’s really stable,” she says. “I have only had two people fall off in two years.”
Of course, if a paddler wants to splash around or enjoy a quiet float, that’s an option. Paddleboards are flat, so climbing on and off is much easier than a boat.
“I take my daughters out and they swim off the boards,” says Seago. “I have a hybrid board that is a sit-on-top kayak and paddleboard, plus dry storage. We will take lunch and go out for three hours.”
As far as water sports go, it’s fairly economical, Seago says. After the initial start-up cost of a board ($300 to $800), paddle ($100 to $150) and a life jacket ($20 at Walmart), there’s no maintenance.
Seago does recommend people try several boards before buying one. Large retailers and rental companies offer different sizes and styles to try that allow a person to find the most comfortable fit.
“Summer is short in this area, and this is another way to enjoy it. You might be a gym rat during the year, and this is an opportunity to do something a little different, which is so good for your body,” Seago says.
“It’s much more accessible than people think. People who try paddleboarding are usually pleasantly surprised.”
