Stand up paddle boarding is a sport relatively new sport in Romania, gradually becoming popular among young, wave passionate people, who like speed and the outdoors.
Stand up paddle boarding is a sport with deep connections to surfing , the difference being that you need to use a rowing paddle to get yourself moving, compared to surfing, where you are conditioned by sea or ocean waves.
Although the first references of this sport date back to hundreds of years in areas such as Peru, Israel, China, Italy, the beginning of this sport is noted in the 1900s, when Hawai surfers used boards up to 5 meters long and paddles to navigate and control the board more easily.
In the 1990s SUP was taught in speciality schools as a surfing alternative and became so popular that instructor Brian Keaulana decided to promote his club at the Buffalo Big Board Contest in 2003, attracting an unexpectedly high number of surfers .
In the 2000s, SUP has penetrated California’s markets and beaches, being promoted by dedicated athletes such as Ernie Brassard, Rick Thomas, Bob Pearson and Blane Chambers who have organized the first sport event dedicated to SUP. This moment in history has contributed to the development of the stand up paddling board in what we know today, with various types of boarding-specific activities such as fitness, race, pescuit, yoga or touring.
Touring
With the development of this sport, various branches have begun to develop, one of the most appreciated being Touring. The idea of cruising on flat water over a longer distance has led to the creation of specific flat water boards. These boards had a design that allow the rider to “cut” their way through water, similar to kayaks. This led to to need to add elements such as a dedicated space for the transport of equipment. Paddleboards.ro offers such a paddle board, with the choice between two sizes: 350 cm and 381 cm
Race
The moment in 2007 was decisive for the stand up paddle board, being the cornerstone for the ongoing competitions that are now taking place in various corners of the world. According to Standupjournal.com, in 2017, 3.2 million americans participated in various competitions, estimating that the number has increased exponentially up to now. Here are 5 world-famous competitions:
- Yukon River Quest, Alaska
- Molokai 2 Oahu, Hawaiian Islands
- Red Bull Heavy Water, San Francisco, CA
- SUP11 City Tour, the Netherlands
- Pacific Paddle Games, Dana Point, CA
Yoga
Stand up paddle boarding has become a multi-functional sport with many benefits in creating a healthy lifestyle. Nikki Gregg was the first to start pilates and fitness programs on a paddle board, but Sarah Tiefenthaler and Gillian Gibree were the first to introduce the concept of water yoga.
Fishing
The ultimate emancipation of stand up paddle boarding for fishing came when the Corey and Magdalena Cooper family launched a company that built paddle boards exclusively for fishing, somehow returning to the origins of the board. Paddleboards.ro can provide you with a board dedicated to fishermen, with the great advantage of being easily transported and used for any fishing trip.
According to the United States Outdoor Foundation, a report in 2013 showed that the stand up paddling board would become the most popular activity for first timers. In 2014, the same foundation showed that 2.8 million Americans have been practicing this sport, and since then figures have started to grow exponentially.
In Romania stand up paddle boarding has more and more followers, being a sport you can practice in the surroundings of the cities, both on lakes, rivers and the sea.