MARQUETTE -- The U.P. is saying aloha to stand up paddleboarding or suping. Suping originated by surfers in Hawaii who used a paddle to get out to big waves faster. It turned into a sport of its own.
Paddler Zach Wilson says it's such an easy sport.
"It's one of those things that you, really, within five minutes, you stood up and we were shooting across the lake, you know, trying to race each other or just see how it was," said Wilson.
Anyone can sup for fun, competitively, or just to stay fit.
Yoopers are catching on to this new sport of paddleboarding. It's a great way to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Upper Peninsula and get some exercise. Guess what? It's easy to learn, too.
I jumped on board to test it out. Bill Thompson with Downwind Sports walked me through it, stroke by stroke.
You start by placing your knees on the board, one at a time. Your feet should be shoulder width apart from each other. As I nervously stood up, I almost lost my balance.
The key is in the paddle stroke. You should push the paddle vertically in and out of the water by bending at the waist as you do it.
"It's a way to get out on the water and experience Lake Superior or even inland lakes and rivers. So people want to get out have fun in the summertime; this is just another opportunity to do that," said Thompson.
Next year there will be a suping competition in Marquette. So if you are gnarly enough, try a demo lesson at Downwind Sports. Within a few minutes, I got the hang for it and it was so rad!
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