Imagine a sport that can be a relaxing cruise along the coastline taking in the wild-life, a thorough cardiovascular work-out or a heart
pounding adrenaline ride in equal measure – and you’ll know what’s -SUP
Stand up paddleboarding, or paddlesurfing, is the latest adrenaline water sport to hit the U.K shores and there is no better place to try it out than at Stand up paddleboard Gower (SUP Gower) on the stunning Gower peninsula in South Wales.
The revived sport, was started by the ancient Hawaiians where it gained some attention in the 1960′s when the Hawaiian Beachboys used to paddle out into the surf to
take pictures of the tourists when they were surfing.Its emergence into the mainstream however did not surface until recently, when surfers like Laird Hamilton increased its visibility.
The board the paddlers use is usually made of a epoxy sandwich construction similar to that of surfboards , but it is about 3 feet
longer than a longboard and on average 11ft in length and twice as wide and thick. It can have a rubber pad on the surface to decrease slipping
and the paddler uses a tall carbon fiber oar to paddle with and steer the board.
SUP Gower was launched this year by Matt Barker Smith as part of Gower Kite Riders, a water sports school specializing in kite surfing
“Because of the size, you can stand on it and it is very stable, unlike a surfboard,” Matt a kitesurf instructor and keen surfer is bored of
sitting around waiting for good wind or waves and decided to bring the sport to the beautiful coastline of the Gower peninsula. A popular surf destination in Wales
You can go out at any time of day or night no matter what the conditions are, light wind, heavy wind, big waves or no waves, so it is a perfect cross
training /wave riding activity. Rather than laying down on the board and paddling with your arms to catch a wave, The SUP rider uses the paddle to gain the same momentum
as the wave and is already in position for the ride thus no need to pop up on the board.
Most of the time, however, people are content to just paddle around the coastline, where the appeal is for most people.
The other benefit to the sport is that it is a very good core,cardiovascular and whole body workout
You don’t realize you are getting a workout on it, but the next day you can tell the difference and any weaknesses – whether it is your
abs, legs, shoulders, back, arms or even your wrists – will be targeted and made stronger.
“A lot of people give up on learning to surf, but this is a happy medium. They can do this very easily. The people I have shown how to do
it picked it up the first time they tried it and were even catching waves,” Even Hollywood A-listers such as Cindy Crawford, Jennifer
Aniston and Kate Hudson have been spotted with a paddle.
Stand up paddleboarding or paddlesurfing really has universal appeal among watersports enthusiasts
Windsurfers, surfers, sailors, kayakers and even skiers and snowboarders could all find something they like about it. And, unlike
those things, paddleboarding can be done with a minimum amount of preparation and in any conditions-’Stand up and Just add water ‘
The Gower peninsula with its array of surfing beaches has all a stand up paddleboarder could want – flat water, small waves, big waves , beautiful coastline and friendly people.
SUP Gower…stand up, paddle, catch loads of waves or fall in !
SUP Gower can arrange private coaching for groups of up to (6). Prices
start at £45 for 2 hours including tuition and hire.
Stand up paddleboard hire is only for experienced surfers- 40 pounds for 3 hours with this fee being redeemable on a new board if bought.
121 coaching is £35 per hour
SUP Gower and Gower Kite Riders are recognized members/registered with
the British Kite Surfing Association and the British Stand Up Paddle
Association
SUP Gower uses Jimmy Lewis amd Galaxy of New Generations Paddleboards
