Are you on the fence of trying stand up paddle boarding? Or are you trying to convince your friends and family to join you? If you’re wondering why you should stand up paddle board—the benefits are endless.
Although it varies from person to person, research has shown that forming a new habit can take up to 66 days. With SUP, getting hooked should happen sooner than this. It generally takes a few trips to realize the advantages this watersport provides.
Stand up paddle boarding improves your abilities both at a physical and mental level. In this article, we’ve gathered the top 18 reasons why you should give it a chance.
#1. It’s for Everyone
There are no pre-requisites for this activity, it’s suitable for everyone. If you’ve never stepped on a stand up paddle board, go for a relaxing SUP ride. If you’re looking for adventure and adrenaline, SUP white water rafting or surfing should exceed your expectations.
It doesn’t only fit all levels of experience, it’s also appropriate for all ages—from children to adults and seniors. You’ll find boards specially designed for kids.
It isn’t a challenging sport to start, and most paddlers can learn on their own. It generally takes an hour to find your balance.
#2. It Can Be Done Everywhere
You don’t need to go on a fancy vacation or to a faraway location to stand up paddle board. Although most paddlers practice this sport by the beach, you’ll only need a body of water to get started. If this is your first trip, choose calm waters, such as lakes or quiet rivers.
As you gain experience, stand up paddle boarding can be taken to the ocean or sea. Surf zones are considered one of the most popular spots to bring your SUP. Waves will challenge your stability and should add some fun and good laughs to your trip.
Inflatable SUPs are the most compact and portable types. Deflated, they should fit in a backpack. Take it with you on a hike to reach a remote and quiet lake. Or bring it on the plane and paddle board across the world.
#3. You’re In Control
When it comes to watersports, losing control can be intimidating and sometimes scary. If the wind picks up while windsurfing, you may take off without controlling your speed or direction. As you’re standing on your board, though, you’re in control of its speed and direction.
By knowing only a few key paddle strokes, you should master your board like a professional. Always remember that the worst that can happen is you fall in the water. Compared to kayaking or canoeing, the recovery technique is much easier, and you won’t need to pump water out of your boat.
#4. Socialize and Meet New People
Paddle boarding is a social sport. On the water, it’s easy to make friends with nearby paddlers. An impressive 37 percent of paddlers have between one and three SUP friends, while 24 percent have over 10 SUP friends.
Larger boards have a higher weight capacity and can accommodate several people on a single board. This is ideal to go on a family trip or to introduce your child to paddle boarding. You might even add a deck pad and take your pet along.
#5. Get Some Exercise
Full-Body Workout
Approximately 73 percent of stand up paddlers enjoy this activity because of the exercise it provides. Rather than working out muscles individually, SUP brings a full-body workout. This watersport engages all muscles—large and small—together.
Paddling and rotating movements help strengthen your core and back muscles. Your arms and shoulders are engaged to propel your SUP, while your legs are working hard to keep you stable. Stand up paddle boarding provides the right balance between endurance, strength, core, and stability exercises.
Because all muscles share the intensity, it’s a low impact sport. It limits the chance of muscle injuries such as strains or sprains.
Helps You Lose Weight
If you’re looking to get lean and lose weight, SUP burns approximately 400 calories per hour. That’s 1600 calories when paddling for half a day.
Along with a proper diet, you should be able to see results within a couple of weeks. For those feeling out of shape, you’ll be able to ramp up your stamina slowly.
Intense Cardiovascular Exercise
Surfing and racing SUP will provide an intense cardiovascular workout. With your heart beating faster, the amount of oxygen released to your brain increases, improving your cognitive functions.
Complements Your Gym Workout
Even gym addicts can benefit from paddle boarding more than they might think. Injuries—such as shoulder pain—generally occur when pushing motions outweigh pulling exercises. The external rotation and gentle pulling movements can help rebalance the body.
The Best Part About SUP Workout?
You can cool down instantly. When exercise gets you warmer than you wish, step away, and take a refreshing swim.
#6. Work on Your Balance
Working on our balance is an activity we should all be practicing throughout our lives. Although we don’t always notice, it’s necessary daily. Without proper stability, tying your shoes, sitting on a chair, or even just walking would be impossible.
As we age, stability exercises are even more important to stay in good health. Stand up paddle boarding will help you maintain proper balance, or will assist you in increasing your overall stability.
#7. Getting Close to Nature
If you enjoy nature, this sport is for you. No engines, noise, or pollution. Simply yourself and your board.
Being close to nature is the reason why 50 percent of stand up paddlers enjoy this activity. You also get to see the scenery from a different angle than observing from the shore. If the water is clear enough, you may even be able to spot different types of fish down below.
Paddling with kids might make for the ideal hands-on nature and marine life education session. Good habits start at a young age.
#8. Quiet Down and Meditate
Meditation comes in many forms, and sitting in a Buddha posture isn’t the only way to achieve this state of mind. If regular meditation isn’t your thing, solo paddle boarding might help.
Just imagine it—you’re gliding through the water, paddling slowly, being conscious of every move, and surrounded by nature’s scenery, smells, and sounds. Whether this is what you’re aiming for or not, this is a relaxing experience that leads to a quiet mind. All the elements are gathered to boost self-reflection.
You can even take part in a SUP yoga class. Although it may be challenging at first, you’ll be able to take your meditation practice to the next level. To know more about SUP yoga, read our article dedicated to the basics of paddle board yoga.
#9. Stress Reliever
Exercise releases endorphins also called the ‘happiness hormone’. It doesn’t only help with anxiety, but also promotes restful sleep and a better mood.
Remember that the sun comes with loads of Vitamin D, and releases serotonin. This means less stress and more sleep.
Being outdoors and surrounded by nature also helps to relieve both physical and mental stress. If you’re feeling down or tense after a workweek, hop on your paddle board to unleash the steam and restart the engine.
#10. Catch Some Waves
Stand up paddle boarding doesn’t have to take place on lakes and flat waters. If you’re adventurous, try catching some waves.
One of the advantages of SUP surfing is to catch the smallest waves. You’ll be able to paddle between waves instead of patiently waiting sitting on your board. This watersport provides excellent core and cardiovascular workouts.
If surfing is your primary goal, purchase a SUP specially conceived for surfing. They’re shorter and easier to maneuver. Just ensure that you familiarize yourself with the surf rules and etiquette ahead of time.
#11. Easy to Transport and Store
Are you concerned about space or method of transportation? Don’t worry, a few options are available. Most paddlers transport their board on top of the roof of their vehicle.
Depending on the model of your car, you may need to purchase roof racks. They’re typically budget-friendly and can be utilized for other purposes—such as carrying a bike or luggage. When handling and lifting your SUP alone, investing in a mounting system may be worth it.
If you don’t own a vehicle or live in a small apartment, an inflatable SUP can be your way to go. Fins should be removable to save some room. Deflated, you’ll be able to carry your board as a backpack and take public transportation.
Finally, modular SUPs are models that come with separate pieces to assemble. They’re convenient to transport and should be able to fit easily in most vehicles.
#12. Get the Perfect Tan
Most of us enjoy a golden glow in summer, and it doesn’t come without effort and dedication. Standing on your board and above the reflection of the water, you should get a perfect, smooth, and all-around tan. Just don’t forget sunscreen and a hat!
#13. Time Saver
We never seem to have enough time. In summer, between barbecues, swimming, staying fit, and meeting new people, extra time can never be refused. Multi-tasking can be the solution.
What better way of saving time than tanning, exercising, and having fun at the same time? If each of these activities takes at least two hours, that’s six hours combined in two hours of paddle boarding.
#14. Try Racing
If you’re an experienced paddler and have a competitive mind, we suggest trying SUP racing. In the summertime, races are being organized all over the country and tend to be popular during charity events.
#15. Practice SUP Yoga
To attempt stand up paddling from a different angle, try SUP yoga. It should challenge your stability a step further and workout different muscles.
To find out about the 10 paddle board yoga poses to master, read our article here.
#16. Purify the Body and Skin
Although bathing in deep seawater brings the most benefits for our skin, soaking in regular seawater would still show significant benefits to your skin.
Saltwater helps relieve dry skin and conditions such as psoriasis. Take a deep breath and feel your sinus and lungs clear up.
#17. Work on Your Minimalism Skills
Compared to kayaks or canoes, SUPs have less storage space available. Every accessory and every pound counts. Most paddlers will have at the most a small SUP backpack to fit their needed gear.
The less you bring along, the easier your board will be to move and steer, and the more fun you’ll have. When possible, try to fit all your belongings in a waterproof SUP pouch and see where your minimalist skills take you.
#18. Have Fun!
The leading reason to paddle board remains to have fun and enjoy your time. If you can fit any other benefits, consider it as a plus.
Go on a trip with friends, bring some drinks, and take turns when it comes to paddling. You can also decide to make it a family trip. Kids generally love paddle boarding.
It’s a great way to get them outdoors, work on their balance, and get them familiarized with the water. These should create unforgettable memories.
For some of us, going solo might be less of a headache and more of an adventure. Whichever your idea of fun is, go for it!
Wrapping It Up
These are the many reasons why stand up paddle boarding is one of the preferred water sport activities today. It’s suitable for all levels, all ages, and can be practiced almost anywhere.
Whether you like adventure and adrenaline, or a relaxing and meditating trip, stand up paddle boarding should meet everyone’s needs. In all cases, this watersport gets you closer to nature and provides a significant amount of healthy exercise.