Why Paddle Boarding is the New Gym

People are tired of the same old same old. They want to be fit, but they don’t want it to be a chore. They have been talking themselves into joining a gym and jogging, but it never seems to happen.

Enter paddle boarding. The gym on the water that creates exercise, muscle building, fat stripping, balance and exhilaration. It is an easy entry sport. People of any age can do it. People who are afraid, have given up, or don’t want to surf can do it and go to the same places as the surfers.

Beginners start with a 12 paddle board that any child or any “over the hill” 30+ athlete or non athlete can usually stand up on. One advantage is that you can start in calm water. It can be enjoyed on a lake, in a lagoon, a lazy river, or in a calm ocean.

Many lessons are combined with tours of inner water ways along calm ocean lagoons where from the stand up position, participants can see down into calm waters. The participants can enjoy the group camaraderie that surfing often doesn’t provide as participants are quickly split up by the surf.

Enterprising paddle board destinations are creating exercise classes on the boards in the water. They are stable enough to support your push ups, stretching, and leg raises in the atmosphere of a body of water in the sunshine. Get too warm and a quick dip takes care of that problem.

The core and muscle building advantage are best known and utilized by the likes of surfers like Laird Hamilton, big wave guru, for cross training and exercising when the surf is down. For the average Joe, it is a workout that transforms the crowded and old hat gym into a dynamic new process that can strip inches with vigorous application.

The more adventurous and athletic can take the board to the sea and paddle long picturesque distances solo or in groups that are forming to enlist the enthusiasts in social exercise. The boards can be surfed easier than regular surf boards.

The various sizes of paddle boards can facilitate the learning process for the beginner to the expert surfer. The longer boards have more wave catching ability and stability than even a long surf board. They will catch small waves easy and if you must, Laird Hamilton has been known to paddle into 30 foot waves. So don’t think there is a ceiling.

The World Paddle Association and others have created events for the competition minded. Hawaii has hosted contests for paddling between islands for the super fit. The boards offer a variety of small 8 foot boards for the surf minded to the 12 boards for those who never want to leave flat water.

Every coastal town that caters to surfers has meet up groups. It’s the new coffee clutch and maybe singles hang out. What a great way to find people with like interests. You have the desire for fitness, the love of outdoors, and varying degrees of adventure.

I am giving it the first shot this week with renting a few boards in a harbor with friends and then going to the World Paddle Associations event on Sunday in Oceanside where they will allow free ocean demos. I want in. You can watch some great videos on YouTube and get some easy start up instructions at TowerPaddleBoards.com.      http://youtu.be/zi-xncYFMrM