What’s S.U.P.?

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons/surfercosmovision

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Stasha Eliu
December 16, 2009
Filed under Sports

Imagine gliding along mirrored flat water on a long surfboard that you’re standing on paddling with a long canoe paddle. The next moment, you’re catching waves at ease and balance from the paddle while going through a tube, getting a fun and productive work out. The diversity of this surfing/paddling sport also known as Stand up Paddling seems to be a perfect fit for Hawaii’s many options of leisure.

Darin Kohara, a physics teacher at `Iolani School, has been stand up paddling for a year.

“I wanted to do something when the surf was junk but still could go in the water; when there was no waves” he says.

Kohara owns two stand up boards amongst eight or nine surfboards. Having difficulty with balancing and underestimating what looked to be an easy sport, Kohara stumbled off his board into the water several times in the process of learning.

“You have an amazing new perspective when standing: you can see the fish, turtles, the waves sooner,” he explains. “I was hooked after the first time.”

Although Stand up Paddling is similar to surfing, Kohara explains how surfers despise stand up paddlers because they can cause danger to others.

“Stand up paddlers are usually beginners and don’t know how to control themselves on a board,” he says.

Many friends of Kohara own surf shops. There has been an increase in purchases of stand up paddle boards.

“They sell boards everyday,” he says.

Stand Up paddling is not only seen in Hawaii. With its roots in the origins of surfing, SUP has become the world’s fastest growing water sport.

In California, Battle of the Paddle is the world’s largest stand up paddle contest. This competition played host to the top water athletes from around the world.

Here in Hawaii, there are numerous surf shops that sell paddle boards.

“We sell about five boards a day. Many of the tourists here are interested in various sports that we do here in Hawaii. Stand up paddling is one of them,” said Brian Keaulana, one of the founders of C4 Waterman Company, a surf company.

“It’s not surprising to see a great number of people standing on boards at the beach just cruising it. It’s just incredible,” Keaulana explained.

Louie Kuni,a 28-year old local, has been involved in this sport for two years.

“My friends influenced me to do it. Since they were doing it, I thought, why not?” he said. “It was embarrassing to see girls just paddle past me while I’m actually trying to balance on my board, stumbling everywhere.”

Kuni has three cousins on the mainland who have tried Stand Up Paddling and were entranced by its amusement. They are three of many who have been enjoying the unique sport. The number of participants continues to increase in places such as Munich, and Stand up Paddling has drawn many surf-paddlers from countries such as Australia.

“It truly is an amazing sport,” Kuni said.