Stand-Up Paddling... Surfing gets you on your feet

While vacationing in the beautiful state of Washington this past month...I ran across an article
about "stand-up paddling." I am going to para-phase some info taken from reporter, Chester Allen, who writes for "The Olympian." Thought all you "action" junkies out there would enjoy hearing about it!

Chris writes that you can grab yourself a 12-foot long surfboard and a long canoe-style paddle. Then you ease yourself out to some glassy lake water... ( or surf if your balance is better)! Any way, after a 10-minute introduction, you should be able to manuver just fine.

The sport has grown in the past decade and it is obviously easier to learn than regular surfing. How can it not be? You are standing on a wider, thicker, more stable board, and the long but light paddle helps with balance. "Stand-up paddlers have an advantage, as they can catch smaller, junkier waves...and they don't need to hit the peak to get the ride."

"Stand-up paddle surfing...like regular surfing ...was born in Hawaii, " writes Chris. "Boys
teaching Waikiki Beach tourists how to surf would stand on their longboards and use outrigger canoe paddles to propel the board and catch the waves. Now there are stand-up paddle-surfing contests and distance-paddling contests."

More people are learning they can handle a standup longboard (paddle board)...and after about an hour, they are sold on the sport. For you concrete junkies...order your flowboards and skateboards from Extreme Sports Junkie and feel the rush from gravity instead!