Well it ’ s safe to say that paddlesports have had a phenomenal rise in popularity over the last year . Participation in paddlesports has risen 143 % from 2.3m in 2019 to 5.6m in 2020 , and it ’ s not hard to see why .
Yes , the global pandemic has meant that people have had to find sports and activities they can do in isolation , but additional benefits such as being great for your physical and mental health and increased accessibility have really catapulted paddlesports in popularity over the last year .
One particular form of paddling which has seen a huge spike in participation is stand up paddling ( or SUP !). With so many boards on the market and places to paddle , it ’ s now easier than ever to give SUP a try . Someone whose been a fan of SUP for a number of years now is India Pearson . India is a Go Paddling and Gill ambassador . Find out how she first got into SUP and why SUPYoga is a new craze we all need to try !
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO SUP ?
My first experience on a SUP was after signing up to a SUPYoga class . I had seen SUPYoga featured in a magazine and knew I had to try it , so found a class on a lake about an hour from where I lived – I was immediately hooked !
ANY ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO HASN ’ T TRIED SUP AND THINKING ABOUT HAVING A GO ?
I would recommend starting in closed water , like a lake or canal and go out with an experienced friend or even better book a lesson ! Go out on a calm , dry day and pace yourself . There is no shame in starting out on your knees , let your mind and body get used to being on the water first and then only if you feel comfortable slowly make your way up to standing .