Surfing for the lazy? Photo: Alex Blajan
Shots fired. In a recent article published in Bloomberg, that’s apparently meant to inspire folks to give Stand Up Paddleboarding a-go, editorial staff found it fitting to call the sport “surfing for the lazy” in the headline. Ouch.
A beginner’s guide of sorts, the piece goes on to explain what kind of equipment one would need to start SUPing, a few ideal locations, etc. The “lazy” crack is supposed to be somewhat endearing – as in anybody could do it. The author put it this way:
“Part of what makes paddleboarding so fun is that it’s not that hard. The boards are longer and wider than the ones for surfing, so they’re more stable. Sure, you may be a little wobbly at first, and beginners should steer clear of big waves. But for most people, a mellow float across a placid lake should be more than doable on Day One.”
Ok. Point taken. A baseline paddleboarding proficiency is achievable pretty quickly. Although catching waves, paddling long distances, or adding wind to the equation makes things more challenging. But, are people who ride SUPs really lazy? Laird would beg to differ.
The article goes on with a segment called, “How can I make sure I don’t look like an idiot,” with the following advice:
“Keeping stable on the board is all about using your core muscles, so think about doing some Pilates before you get out there, or at least banging out a few crunches. Once you’re on the water, get yourself situated in the center of the board, sitting with one leg on either side and your paddle laid perpendicularly in front of you. Now get on your knees: If you’re feeling tentative, paddle around like that for a while just to get the hang of it. To stand, push up slowly against the board while gripping the paddle. You’ll want your feet roughly shoulder-width apart, and your knees should remain slightly bent. Stay loose. Place your dominant hand on the top of the paddle’s shaft, with your other hand about halfway down—you want the curve of the paddle face bending toward the front of your board. Now stroke! And unless you’re one of those people who likes to be rescued, pay attention to the wind and the current, and stick close to shore.”
Pilates before you get out? Crunches? Doesn’t sound lazy to me.
