What’s SUP? It’s the new old surf sport
REVIVING old sport: Paddle surfing is gaining popularity here and around the world. Jeremy Stephenson (left) and Peter Boyd (right) give Gisborne Herald reporter Martin Gibson some pointers, although not enough to stop him getting thoroughly wet. Picture by Wayne Panapa
Martin Gibson
You might have seen them at the Marina and you will see more and more of them in the waves . . . stand up paddle surfing is gaining popularity here, and Turanganui is the perfect place for the first form of surfing.
SUP or Stand Up Paddle Surfing is an exciting variant of surfing. A paddle is used to move through the water while standing on a surfboard.
The sport has its roots in Hawaii, where it is called Ku Hoe He’e Nalu — to stand, to paddle, to surf a wave. In the early 1940s, the beach boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take great pictures of tourists learning to surf.
Boredom led to waves being caught, and the ancient sport was rediscovered and has steadily gained popularity ever since.
“We just want to get people back into the ocean,” says Gisborne SUP enthusiast Peter Boyd, who was also one of the early waka ama paddlers.
“It’s great exercise, even on flat water, and the view is so much better when you stand up. Surfers ask when the sets are coming because you can see so much further when you’re standing up. You can see fish and other marine life.
“An appreciation of our rivers and ocean is a big part of the sport.”
Auckland stand up surfer Jeremy Stephenson brought down a range of boards for an open day last weekend, which attracted a stream of people curious to try the new old sport.
At first it feels strange to be standing on a board with both feet facing forward holding a paddle but, after a few minutes and a couple of dips, it gets easier and then fun.
“This is such a great spot for the sport. I’d like to make the visits here a regular thing. We’re not pushing the surfing aspect of it so much, as just aiming to get people out on the water. You wear yourself out in the gym but you actually get energy being on the water, as well as giving your body a great workout.”