Stand Up Paddle Surfing is now in Austin, but its origins are Ancient Hawaii...
Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is now in Austin (SUP Austin), but it's origins are rooted in ancient Hawaii. In September of 2009, the SUP ATX Stand Up Paddle Journey made its way from Malibu, California to Austin, Texas with the mission of introducing and popularizing the sport of stand up paddling on lakes and rivers across the United States and around the world, permanently planting it in Central Texas, in Austin. As an Austin, TX based company, SUP ATX has since become the #1 stand up paddle board maker in the world, while paying homage to its ancient roots...
Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he'e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and began as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of learner surfers, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them - such as incoming swell. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard. The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term "Beach Boy Surfing", another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing, originates. The sport benefits athletes with a strong 'core' workout.
SUP'ing is popular at warm coastal climates and resorts, and is gaining in popularity as celebrities are sampling the sport, and cross-over athletes are training with SUP. SUPs have been spotted around the globe, anywhere where there is easy access to safe waters, as well as in the surfing lineups of the world. The first "modern" surfer to bring Stand Up Paddle Surfing out of Hawaii and onto mainland USA was Vietnam veteran, Rick Thomas. In 2000, Rick - on a 11ft Muñoz board, and with a Leleo Kinimaka paddle - introduced California to the new sport. Surfers have converted because of the versatility of the new sport. Stand up paddle boarding offers surfers the ability to catch more waves in a set, as well as offering a better view of incoming sets. New custom SUP board prices range from US$600 to US$1500, and most use glass-reinforced plastic construction using epoxy resin that is compatible with the expanded polystyrene foam used in the core. The boards are generally longer than 9 feet, and up to 12 feet (4 m) or more in length, with features such as padded decks and concave hulls; they generally have one or three surfboard-style fins in the stern for stability. As of October 3, 2008, the US Coast Guard now classifies SUPs as vessels and as a result SUP riders are obliged to wear a personal floatation device when paddling in certain areas. Whether this will affect the continued take up of stand up paddling in the USA remains to be seen.
Stand Up Paddle Austin! Austin and Central Texas Lake and River SUP Resources and Links:
Stand Up Paddle Lake Austin - Stand Up Paddle Lady Bird Lake - Stand Up Paddle Lake Travis - Stand Up Paddle Town Lake - SUP Austin Texas
SUP Austin SUP ATX in Facebook - SUP Austin SUP ATX Meetup Group - SUP ATX and RunTex: Run PADDLE RUN - Stand Up Paddle Austin
