editor’s note
Bored?
Has stand up paddle boarding become boring? It’s a good question and
one that may resonate more with those sweeping for a while rather than
those just discovering the joys/benefits of SUP. Since 2005, when stand
up more or less landed in renaissance form (it’s not a new thing!), there
have been all sorts of developments. From high performance surf, to flat
chat race, white water charging, recreational sweeping, windSUP and
everything else in between; it’s been fast paced and growth was, at
least in those formative years, rapid to ascend. Of late things do seem
to have started to consolidate, but not in a negative way. We’re actually
in a great space in terms of knowing what kit can do and type of stand
up we can achieve.
There’s still a regular influx of paddlers each summer, and some of those do
indeed go on to progress. A good many don’t though. Maybe because
there’s no defined pathway, maybe it’s restraints of the equipment
purchased or maybe it’s because those entering SUP don’t have prior water
skills. Not that there’s anything wrong with that if opportunity to develop
presents itself.
For my money SUPs never been so colourful with opportunities everywhere
you look. But then I’m heavily involved and immersed in watersports culture
across various forms. And within that sentence it’s ‘culture’ that we all
should focus upon.
I live, breathe and bleed the water. It’s my life, my family’s and all my friends.
Where we reside certainly plays its part – I appreciate not everyone has ready
access to stretches of brine. In the UK we don’t have a watersports or even
‘waterman’ culture as they do in places like Polynesia. For sure seasonal
weather doesn’t help – winter can be extremely off putting. And without this
wide reaching cultural inspiration the ‘want’ to get out there really needs to be
actively sought. If it isn’t forthcoming I can totally understand why floating
about mere yards from the shore, without a pre-defined goal of what you’re
going to achieve, does mean stand up can lose appeal quickly. Add to the mix
skunking’s born of Mother Nature’s unappreciable moods (wind being the
biggest factor) and you can appreciate why newbies can quickly move on to
other things. There are, of course, other factors in the mix, but the cultural
element certainly adds weight.
SUP has so many routes to follow. And it doesn’t just halt with swinging a
paddle. Look in these very pages and you’ll see options and ways to make
your sessions engaging. If you’re wanting to spice things up then this can
be readily achieved. The great thing about stand up paddle boarding is it
opens minds.
Anyone fully engaged with stand up has a job to do. We’re all educators and
ambassadors and have the ability to show SUP and its many disciplines in a
positive light. If your passion is racing, for instance, then passing on that
stoke to a new recruit is positive and one way to increase the culture of SUP.
Same with downwind, surf and other aspects.
As we draw to the end of summer there’s still plenty of time to enthuse
about stand up and show others just what’s capable. Heading into autumn,
where performance conditions are more likely to be found, why not be the
leading light within your circle of contacts? Show them stand up paddling
isn’t boring at all with plenty of versatility, progression and ways to have fun
even with winter being just around the corner. Love it and live it – SUP
certainly isn’t boring that’s for sure!
Enjoy the latest issue of SUPM and maybe we’ll see you for a float…
Tez Plavenieks, August 2019
[email protected]
Twitter: @tezwoz.
Instagram: @tez_plavenieks_sup_wind