The first time I tried stand-up paddle boarding (otherwise known as SUP) was more than six years ago, in January 2018.
A couple of girlfriends and I joined the flotilla of Echuca SUP’s boards on a blustery 40-something-degree day along the mighty Murray River — right through the Port of Echuca — during the peak holiday period to see if we liked it.
The verdict?
By the end of the same month, I owned my first board.
By the end of the next month, I’d sold it and bought my second.
I love being on the water, but buying a boat didn’t seem like the best option for me.
There’s that little issue I have with reversing trailers (I can’t do it … yet), as well as the whole storing-it thing.
Boats are big and cumbersome: they have motors I don’t understand, require ongoing money to be spent on them and just can’t get me to some of the places I’ve explored on my board.
I’ve paddled on lakes and rivers, reservoirs and creeks.
I’ve even paddled down the street I live on during the 2022 floods.
I’ve paddled in a regatta; I’ve paddled for exercise; I’ve paddled to get photographic vantage points I couldn’t get from the land; I’ve paddled gently to get up close to wildlife without the animals being scared away by the noisy roar of a motor, which incidentally meant not disturbing any habitat either.
There’s such a peace to floating on water — we’ve probably all felt the weightlessness and relaxation lounging on a lilo or bobbing in a tube at some point.
It’s the same peaceful sensation, but only with a SUP. You’ve got your paddle for full control of direction, speed and obstacle avoidance.
My board is hard, so I don’t need to worry about sharp objects compromising inflation, nor pumping it up in the heat on the bank and deflating it on my return.
It’s a matter of chucking it on the roof rack, securing it with a couple of tie-downs, grabbing a paddle and a life jacket, and I’m ready to go.
It’s so easy; in fact, a friend could ask me to go for a paddle with them, and I’d be ready in 10.
I don’t need a licence or registration, fuel or trailer-reversing skills. I don’t even need to change into my bathers because my board is near impossible to fall off.
Of course, if it’s hot enough, I might choose to jump off.
My kids didn’t quite take to paddle boarding as I did; instead, they prefer kayaks (a pastime my dodgy back doesn’t enjoy me taking part in).
Also easily transportable, even though they’re different watercraft, it means we can still go paddling together and pretty much hold the same pace.
Fast forward to 2024, when SUP has become a hugely popular recreational activity.
Inflatable boards are readily available at all camping and outdoor stores. And they’ve come way down in price.
So, there’s a good chance you might have already tried it, too.
But if not, and you’re keen, Get Mooving Greater Shepparton’s Activities in the Park initiative has paddle boards for hire (for under 10 bucks) one last weekend of the season this Saturday on Victoria Park Lake.
And if you like it, who knows? You might get hooked as quickly as I did and have your own board by next season.
DETAILS:
Try SUP
What: Stand-up paddle boarding
Where: Victoria Park Lake (southern boat ramp)
When: Saturday, March 16
Times: 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm
Cost: $7.50 per board for 45 minutes
Age: 8+ (under-8s can accompany an adult on their board)
To book: trybooking.com (search on Shepparton events)