What's SUP?

The winter months provide a great opportunity to take a break from the grind of training and rest those weary bones. But if you’re still craving some action and adventure while racing takes a break over the winter, Stef Hanson has just the sport.

SUP is Stand Up Paddleboarding, and it’s my new favourite cross training tool! We’ve come to the end of the season, and after months of training and racing, it’s time to try a few new things to give the mind and body a reprieve from all of the swimming, biking and running.

The SUP phenomenon, which originally began in ancient Polynesia, only rocketed into our life in the mid 20th century. Waikiki’s “Beach Boys” decided to stand up on their longboards to gain a better view of their surf students, take photos for tourists, spot far off waves, and simply just have something to do when the waves weren’t kicking.

SUP has enjoyed resurgence more recently in the late 1990’s. At the time big wave surfer and exercise guru, Laird Hamilton publicised the sport as adventurous, peaceful and a solid form of core conditioning. From then, its popularity has amplified, attracting celebrities such as, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Ben Harper, and Matthew McConaughey. Big names in the triathlon world have also picked it up such as, Chris Lieto, Heather Fuhr, Greg Welch, Paula Newby Fraser, Belinda Granger and at a tangent, Lance Armstrong. Professional Triathlete Chris Leito sings its praises. “You focus so much on those three sports, swimming, biking and running. It’s good to release and do something different… But at the same time you’re getting a lot of benefits out of it”. The concept of SUP is to move people out of the gym, out of their comfort zone and into a completely different environment to “workout”. Outside on the water, there is fresh air, beautiful scenery,nobody checking himself out in the mirror no mirrors and no stench of stale sweat. Simply just going for a paddle forces you to engage your core muscles while simultaneously using your legs for stability, and your upper body to propel you through the water. World Ironman Champion Heather Fuhr says SUP keeps her well_and-truly fit. “It’s an amazing workout – working your core the entire time to balance it and keep it straight with every stroke that you take, you can feel that everything is getting engaged, and that’s something that transfers so well to triathlons,”

I’ve spent the last month with Nick King (www.SUPwarehouse.com.au), who has very kindly been taking me out on his boards so that I could personally see what all the fuss was about. A little wobbly at first I must admit, but it wasn’t long until I was craving to go further, and faster - typical triathlete mentality I guess. As soon as I got the hang of the technique, I could really feel my core engage, and the next day? PHEW!! Those deep abdominals had definitely had a work out, that’s for sure! After a few sessions of purely paddling in the bay and enjoying that sensation of walking on water, we decided it was time for more of a challenge. I started a few resistance and core stability exercises on the board. If you thought a plank on solid ground was tough, then back the truck up ladies and gentlemen – a plank on a SUP adds a completely different dimension! I may look like I’m nailing those poses in the photos, but I really got the shakes up, especially when I gave the lunges a crack. My core was working hard, and Aussie superstar, Belinda Granger can relate, “I think it’s better than doing it in the gym… I really love it and it really helped strengthen my core.” Who can argue with a hall of famer?

Another bonus of adopting SUP is for coaches conducting open water swim sessions. What better way to view your athletes? You can’t get that same perspective if you’re in the water with them, or even if you’re in a kayak..

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first. Usually, I need more action or intensity in my choice of sport, and I thought that SUP might not provide me with enough stimulation. However, the combination of low impact – perfect for active recovery and off season training; the environment – so nice to be amongst nature; varying degrees of difficulty - depending on how you choose to push yourself; and the understanding of how it could positively transfer to my triathlon training was plenty enough to convince me. This is something I want to continue so that I can also reap the benefits in my training and racing. Plus, you can still take these bad boys out in the surf, you can participate in races, and I’ve seen photos of people taking their dogs for a paddle – so my next biggest challenge is to get Henry to sit still for more than two minutes and come for a cruise with me.

If you have any questions relating to SUP, best chat to Nick (info@supwarehouse.com.au), he’s an Ironman Triathlete and a SUP guru.

Happy off season training!
TMSM

Written By: Stef Hanson
Photo’s By: Rebecca Brindley
Triathlon & Multisport Magazine Vol. 13 No. 6