The Paddler Magazine Issue 61 Late Summer 2021 | Page 114

ThePADDLER 114

SUP

INSPIRATION

Words : Elaine Farquharson Photos Elaine Farquharson and Howard Shep For many of us , we take our bodies and movement control for granted . It ’ s effortless to put one foot forward and navigate our bodies around our daily lives . When we start as SUP paddlers , it ’ s fun , just like being a baby all over again , learning to balance and coordinate our movements . We laugh and enjoy the plenty of splashes from falling off . Over time , we gradually learn to adjust to our watery environments by developing the coordination to stand up and explore the world on our paddleboards .
Just imagine , though , if you had one leg , no sight , or that your brain coordinated movement differently from the altered sensations it incorrectly perceives . It must be challenging to move when the programming of human motion doesn ’ t sequence correctly . As a coach , I am privileged to work with some fantastic superhuman people who adapt and overcome their restrictions to enjoy SUP as a sport despite barriers complicating their movement control . I wanted to share some of their achievements with you and help you as coaches or paddlers to see that anything can be possible with the right imagination and determination .
When we think of movement , we tend to think of the muscles and joints ; however , every body system affects how we move . Whether that be how our heartbeats , our lungs breathe , how we process movement in our brains , how we receive sensation from our eyes or ears , or even how well our skin stretches over our bodies . All of these amazing systems give us the unique way that we move , and as we go through our life journey , we pick up problems and compensations along the way that , as a coach , we need to understand and adapt to enable us to enjoy SUP .