It's a warm, almost sultry evening in Deep Cove, a placid inlet tucked into the forest-bearded mountainside of Vancouver's north shore. All kinds of self-propelled watercraft and paddles lie scattered on the beach: pastel-coloured sea kayaks, Clipper canoes and, stacked along the seawall, four new Starboard surfboards. A curious sight since the closest rideable wave is likely in Tofino, a six-hour drive away.
But these are “stand up paddle” surfboards, the latest summer toy. While catching a good wave certainly makes the emerging sport more fun, lively waters are not essential. SUP, as it's known, can be done on flat lakes and rivers. And as celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey take up the activity to help maintain their beach bodies, it's gaining popularity on the West Coast – and even places as unlikely as Edmonton.
Earlier this month, about 200 amateurs and 20 pro paddlers participated in the first International Pro/Am SUP World Cup in Hamburg for more than €15,000 ($23,500) in prize money. Organizers called it “an indicator of what is to come in SUP world.”
The modern sport has its origins in Waikiki, Hawaii: The famed “beach boy” instructors of the 1960s would keep their surf classes organized by standing up on a longboard and paddling from one pod of students to the next. The upright perspective also made it easier to determine where and when a set of waves would break.
But SUP was all but forgotten until about 2002, when pro surfers Laird Hamilton and David Kalama started paddling longboards to stay in shape in still water. Once the surf was up, they found that they could get more rides by standing up and paddling out through the water as opposed to lying prone and stroking with their shoulders and arms.
Now, “the sport appeals to athletes of all ages who want a full body workout,” says Adam Cole, a SUP instructor with Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak in North Vancouver. “It can be as relaxing or as vigorous as you want to make it.” The paddle stroke works arms and abdominal muscles, while standing on the tippy board improves balance.
SUP is easier to master than traditional surfing and has a learning curve similar to snowboarding. If you don't have experience with balance sports such as skiing or skateboarding, you'll probably suffer a dunking or three the first few times. But the basics are easy: Push the board out into waist-deep water, get on your knees, brace the paddle across the front of the board and then stand up. To get the board moving, you simply dip and stroke the paddle, cruising in a straight line by using a J-stroke – familiar to anyone who has ever gone canoeing. You stand with your feet at 90 degrees to the board, and simply switch to the traditional surf stance to catch a wave. As you're propelled, you can use the paddle as a rudder to steer or for balance.
While SUP doesn't supply the same rush of traditional surfing – paddling into a wave and popping to your feet – Island Longboards owner Colin Kearns of Vancouver Island appreciates what the activity has to offer. He likes that “I can get out on the water and get some sort of exercise, even without waves.”
Mr. Kearns, a native of South Africa who has been surfing for almost three decades and dabbling in SUP for the past three years, has been selling stand-up boards to people who have never surfed. Along with equipment, he makes sure to hand out words of caution. Surfing has its own peculiar pecking order – one that doesn't suffer fools gladly.
“Our job is to educate SUPers on wave etiquette and direct them to beaches that aren't crowded. An 11-foot board and leash can do a lot of damage if it hits someone,” he says. Out in Tofino, for instance, he'll advise against popular surf breaks such as Cox Bay and direct newbies to Wickaninnish or Long Beach instead.
Some of his customers don't have to worry about overcrowding, however.
“We've even sold an SUP board to a guy in Prince Albert,” Mr. Kearns says.
Who knew? The surf's up in Saskatchewan.
SUP technique
At Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak in North Vancouver, instructor Adam Cole counsels beginners to think of the paddle as a “third leg.”
To turn the board sharply and paddle onto a wave, Mr. Cole says, you need to “pivot turn” – a dynamic move in which you plant your front foot sideways and move your rear foot aggressively toward the back of the board.
“Here, you assume the same position as a surfer would – your upper body and legs are lined up parallel with the board and you're stroking the board to catch the wave,” he says. “Getting back towards the tail of the board allows the front to rise up and makes it easy to turn.”
SUP gear
SUP boards come in a variety of sizes and prices, starting at $1,200 for a decent model. With its lightweight wooden core that is exposed at the bow, the Starboard Big Easy ($2,100) is a throwback to the retro balsa boards of the California surf era. Larger surfers needing more stability may consider the Naish Classic, ($2,250) a dual-purpose SUP that comes with a mast track for light wind boardsailing.
Proper paddle selection is as important as choosing the right board. Carbon-fibre paddles such as the Werner Spanker ($380) come with a telescoping shaft, so you can adjust the size to fit different body heights.
Special to The Globe and Mail
