32
Escarpment Magazine Summer 2013
a long way...
One of the most interesting progressions of SUP has been the impact it has had on the
fitness industry. Around the world instructors are bringing what they do in their facilities
onto the water. General strengthening, yoga and pilates are easy to move onto the
boards. Now participants are entering a whole new dimension in training, they must
learn to use their core (inner muscle system in pelvis and trunk) as well as their propri-
oceptive system (sense of where the body is in space and therefore how efficiently
we balance) to attain balance throughout their workout whether they are performing
standing squats, or holding a warrior pose.
This is an important concept because for years the
fitness and rehabilitation industries have been
playing with ways to effectively challenge these
two systems with use of equipment such as large
balls, wobble boards, and suspension straps.
SUP is proving to be a fun and effective way
to build core strength and
improve balance.
*
Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
has
evolved to be more than just a starting
point for beginner surfers. Depending on
the style of board you are using you may
be leisure paddling down rivers, surfing
on ocean waves, participating in a fit-
ness class, or competitively racing. SUP
boards are now being designed with
day tripping in mind where you can se-
cure down your belongings onto your
board. For small distance paddles and
playing out in the water, people tend to
be slowly moving away from their
beloved canoes and kayaks towards
more easily portable and fitness oriented
watercrafts like the SUP board.
ESCARPMENT OUTDOORS
|
stand up summer
STORY | ROBYN ALLEN & SARAH BRIGHT
...it is a sport that has a quick
learning curve and can be
enjoyed by the whole family.
