SUP, Portland! Popular water sport a hit locally
Published 12:00 am Monday, August 29, 2016
- Newbies are well-served with a beginner lesson in stand-up paddleboarding; a little instruction in proper technique goes a long way.
You’ve seen them out on lakes, rivers and even the ocean.
Trending
It looks fun, if not downright easy — just stand up and paddle.
Stand-up paddleboarding started catching fire in California and then Oregon and the rest of the world in 2004, an alternative water sport to hardcore surf culture and a more active way to enjoy the water than by kayak, canoe or boat.
In 10 short years SUP rentals, lessons and races have sprung up all over Portland and Oregon. Each summer, thousands of enthusiasts can compete in or watch a handful of events including the Rose City SUP Classic, Willamette SUP Cup, Ross Island SUP Series, Gorge Downwind Champs, and the Naish Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge.
Trending
Newbies can start out on their own by renting a board and simply taking it out to the water, but probably will be better served by taking a beginner workshop to learn proper technique — which is exactly what I did last month.
I’ve been on a SUP before, but without much confidence or success. I had never quite managed to get to the stand-up part, preferring to kneel and avoid the wobbles that made me fall in.
After my two-hour lesson, however, I found myself standing up and paddling like a pro — or at least an advanced novice.
My instructor was Aaron Madore, a longtime SUP enthusiast who teaches lessons through Next Adventure Paddle Sports.
He teaches the quick-start lesson, as well as yoga SUP, a newish spin that emphasizes core strength and balance.
As we went from sitting to kneeling to standing and learning how to hold and stroke the paddle correctly, Madore sprinkled in several pro tips about how to avoid falling in. Here’s a key one: Don’t look down.
After the lesson I asked Madore several questions to gain a deeper insight into his passion:
Tribune: What’s the biggest appeal of SUP for you?
Madore: The convenience and ease of getting out on the water. It’s one of the best physical activities I’ve done for cross training and it is the best core workout; you don’t even realize you’re working out.
Tribune: What is the most common mistake you see beginners make once they get their board out on the water?
Madore: I often see students underestimating the importance of safety equipment. A personal flotation device or life jacket is an essential tool when you’re on the water. When worn properly in combination with a leash, one can enjoy a safe experience.
Tribune: After you teach proper technique to launching, landing and transitioning from kneeling to standing, what sort of reactions and results do you typically get from your students?
Madore: There are quite a bit of “aha” moments as students start to realize that each step works in hand with the next movement. Most of the time folks tend to find the combination of skills acquired throughout the experience gives them a sound foundation to build upon to stand up. … When transitioning from sitting to standing the most important realization is that your paddle is your connection for stability. When your paddle is on the board you are creating a brace to the board and the water.
Tribune: What are some of your favorite spots around Portland and the region to take your SUP?
Madore: Sellwood Riverfront Park, Elk Rock (in Milwaukie) and Timothy Lake (near Mount Hood) are a few of my favorites.
Tribune: There are competitive SUP races, yoga SUP — do you see any other twists on the sport emerging to appeal to new demographics?
Madore: For the more adventurous individual, there is whitewater SUPing. It clearly requires more safety equipment and is not for beginners. We are also seeing a big rise in customers that are interested in SUP fishing; there are benefits to being on the water standing over the fish rather than looking for them at an angle.
Tribune: What does learning to SUP do for kids? What kid-specific activities do you teach, if any?
Madore: It allows them to develop skills that will relate to other sports and activities. For kids it’s more about learning through play while increasing their balance. At this point we do not have a workshop series specifically for kids, but kids over the age of 12 can take classes with a parent.
Tribune: What’s it like SUPing on the Willamette in the fall and winter?
Madore: There are a lot less people so it’s calmer, more of a one-on-one with nature.
@jenmomanderson