Standup paddleboarding

Lore & Background

The act of propelling oneself on a floating platform with a paddle traces back thousands of years, with records as early as 3,000 B.C. across regions including Peru, Levant, Italy, and China. Modern standup paddleboarding began in the 1940s on Waikiki beach, where instructors taught tourists to surf. John Ah Choy, an older Hawaiian surfer, would stand on his board and paddle out with a canoe paddle to catch waves. His sons Leroy and Bobby Ah Choy, along with friend Duke Kahanamoku, mimicked this while teaching surfing, using the vantage point to monitor students and take pictures. This style became known as Beach Boy Surfing.

Reader's Guide

Standup paddleboarding has diversified from surfing into racing, touring, yoga, whitewater, and fishing, making it accessible to a wide range of participants. The 2013 Outdoor Participation Report identified it as the outdoor activity with the most first-time participants in the United States that year, with a median age of 28. By 2014, 2.8 million Americans participated, up from 2.0 million in 2013. The sport's heritage and variety of disciplines contribute to its broad appeal. Notable achievements include Cal Major becoming the first person to paddle Land's End to John o' Groats in 2018, taking 59 days. In 2021, Dave Chant and Sophie Witter became the first pair to complete that route. The sport continues to evolve with specialized equipment such as inflatable boards and fishing-specific designs.

Did You Know?

• Standup paddleboarding was documented in a 2013 report as the outdoor activity with the most first-time participants in the United States that year.
• The first magazine devoted to the sport, Standup Journal, was founded in June 2007.
• In 2017, Michael Booth became the first person to paddle Land's End to John o' Groats.
• SUP yoga is often practiced on inflatable boards, which are said to be more forgiving for yoga practice.