Posted by: AnthoH | December 24, 2014

10 reasons why stand up paddle boarding is a fast growing sport!

Stand up paddle (SUP) is everywhere… Even your friends who are afraid of the water are thinking about giving it a try!

But why is our sport becoming so popular?

Here is our top 10 reasons :

1) Accessible for people of all ages

SUP Trotters (social network for SUPers) gives us interesting statistics about the average age of his members :

  • 30% of users are over 45 yo (year of birth between 1960 and 1970);
  • 40% are between 35 and 45;
  • 25% are between 25 and 35;
  • Only 5% are born in the nineties!

This means that 70% of the users are over 35!

Data speak for themselves… stand up paddle is not only a sport for young tanned hawaiian surfers!

This sport is accessible for people of all ages and this is for us its major asset!



Knut Sörby, 61 yo, Norway

2) It’s easy!

With SUP, the pleasure is immediate! Launch a beginner into the water and after a few paddle strokes, chances are big that he will come back with a big smile on his face!

But be careful and respect these conditions if you don’t want to disgust your friend :

  • the gear must be adapted for beginners (stable and voluminous board);
  • good weather (no wind!);
  • the water should be calm and easy to access (no waves, boats, …);
  • start on the knees and make them stand up once they found their stability;

3) A family activity!

Statistics from SUP Trotters are interesting here as well :

  • 25% of the members are women;
  • 60% of the posted sessions are of type “family” or “just paddling for fun”.

You can share your SUP sessions with your wife/husband, your kids and even your dog!

And as Christopher McCandless said in the movie “Into the wild” : happiness is only real when shared!



Florent Gasnier and his daughter in France

4) It’s a water sport!

Even if a lot of people are scared by water sports, they are secretly attracted by them!

They dream about the surfers lifestyle… a sport they think is inaccessible because it’s too extreme.

SUP allows people to discover water sports and to feel as free as surfers!

5) The pleasure of standing

The human body has been created to stand and walk!

Unfortunately, with our stressful offices lifstyles, we spend most of our time sitting at desks and this habit has many bad effects on our health.

During a SUP ballad, you stand up all the time and it feels great!

Moreover, by standing, you get a great view on everything around you to fully enjoy your ride! A huge advantage compared to kayak for example!

6) Various spots

You don’t have to live near the sea to practice SUP!

Lakes and rivers are also great playgrounds and everyone has at least one spot not too far from his house!

But the big advantage of SUP is that it will give you the traveling fiber!

Soon you will only have one wish : take your board in the plane and discover the most beautiful spots in the world!



Madera SUP school

7) Zen

Being on a SUP board, in the middle of the water without a noise allows you to relax! You leave your daily life behind your for the time of a session!

Be careful, it can quickly become an addiction… You will want to get back on your board as soon as possible to find this peace of mind again!

8 ) Back to nature

The Internet, television, gym… we spend way too much time locked inside!

A SUP session allows you to come back to the nature. Trees, fraish air, animals, … a simple but so great pleasure!

9) It’s good for your health

Like every sport, stand up paddle is good for your health! A physical activity to keep you fit!

With SUP you have a complete workout and you work on your balance as well.

It is also a soft and natural sport, the risk of injuries is low.



Valentina Busca

10) Adapted and affordable equipment

Technologies are evolving and with the rise of inflatable boards, SUP has become more accessible than ever!

Your board is rolled in a bag that you can carry everywhere with you…

Prices are going down and you can now get your own board for a few hundreds dollars!

What about you?

Why do you like SUP so much? Please, give us your impressions and… thanks for reading!

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