Ever wondered if you should get a SUP? Let me tell why you should..... Surfing requires waves. With SUPs, you do not need waves – as simple as that. All you need is a flat body of water, a stand up board and a paddle and away you go. Take Hout Bay as an example, there is the big wave spot, Dungeons - but lets face it - it is way out of the comfort zone of the 'average' ocean user and the bay itself has no waves. Thus unless you only want to go for a swim, SUP is the answer. You can paddle across the bay or just play next to the harbor wall, there is fun to be had. With the popularity of Stand Up Paddleboard as a sport, you are seeing SUPs in just about every line up and I’m sure soon on just about every lake and river. As the numbers increase you will see them everywhere, because riding a SUP is easy and lots of fun. There is also the health and fitness aspect of it; I mean there are actually people doing yoga on them. I predict that very soon the guys inland, where there are only lakes and rivers will start to get into SUPs. You will see more and more people riding them young, old, male and female. It is that accessible – simply anyone can do it. Most guys who have taken up riding a Stand Up Paddle Board have more than one SUP in their garage or on the surf rack of their car as they head out to the water. Another great aspect of SUP is that it allows you to get together with your friends, social groups, clubs, or just yourself and spend some leisure time on the water, sightseeing, cruising, and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. While you are paddling, you are getting good exercise and some special time alone or with your friends in a very healthy atmosphere. Many who ride a SUP use it for physical training. It is especially good for core, legs, and shoulder training. An hour of steady paddling will wear you out and give you a terrific workout. While you are training or just paddling, it will clear your mind and get your blood flowing for a good cardiovascular workout. All you need to do is get a board and a paddle that are suited for you so that you will have a smooth stable ride. Proper sizing of your SUP and paddle is very important. It might also be a good idea for you to take a lesson or two from your local surf shop or water sports facility. The experts in the shop and your instructor will make sure that you make the proper choices. SUPs come in different types and designs. There is beginner hard and soft SUPs, intermediate and professional SUPs. Depending on which SUP you choose, the cost of a board starts about R6000,00 onwards. Remember that you also need a paddle, they start at about R800.00. Initially it might be easier to purchase second hand equipment until you know all the ins and outs. So get out there and just do it!.
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At Cape Town SUP we are always consciously aware of those less fortunate than ourselves, hence our total support to this worthy cause. Let's face it - Winter is cold! The Twitter Blanket Drive (TBD) is a uniquely South African, community-driven response to the needs of the poor during the winter months of the year. The Twitter Blanket Drive (TBD) started with a single tweet in 2010. Founder, Melanie Minnaar, contemplating the cold winter ahead, tweeted “what if each person on Twitter donated a blanket”. Since then, the TBD movement has grown in leaps and bounds. Just as the genesis of the idea started with a single tweet, so all efforts on promoting the national drive focus on Twitter. In 2012, 13 000 blankets were collected by the Twitter Blanket Drive and donated to needy organizations. All beneficiary organizations are Non-Profit Organizations (NPO’s), registered with the Department of Social Development. The Twitter Blanket Drive has injected a true sense of community into the South African Twittersphere, as Twitter users across the country join in to help disadvantaged communities keep warm during the winter months. #TWITTERBLANKETDRIVE is happening in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, at the moment. The hashtag is #TBD2014. The photos below were all taken last year at the Fire & Ice Hotel and at one of the blanket handout drives in Melkbosplaas, near Melkbosstrand. I went out with the Tippy Toes Foundation to document the event. This year's blanket handover event to selected charities will take place simultaneously in these 3 cities and other venues in George, Somerset West and possibly Hermanus on Thursday 29 May at diffirent venues, from 6pm. Our charity in Cape Town is Operation Shoebox. They represent 15 charities and thousands of children. For information about the Cape Town event, tweet @merentia or e-mail [email protected] Alternatively: visit: www.facebook.com/twitterblanketdrive Watch the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8S2t1tmDwA Here is a list with the official drop off zones for 2014: ** Blankets can be dropped off from now already until Thursday 29 May at 6pm. Cape Town CBD: @FireAndIceCT (additionally @ProteaHotels) - The Fire and Ice Hotel (200 Bree Street, Cape Town is the main drop-off point, and where the official handover of all blankets will be done on 29 May.) @CapeTownTourism has availed 4 of its biggest offices. – CTT in Burg Street, CTT in Muizenberg, CTT in Blaauwberg & CTT in Somerset West Northern Suburbs, Belville: @TygerBurger offices in the Bloemhof Building, c/o Bloemhof and Edward Streets, Bellville Athlone: @Metamorphasize (alternatively contact @shaqct) in Asar Mini Mall, Belgravia Road in Athlone Helderberg, Somerset West: @GrowthSpace on the 2nd Floor, Oudehuis Centre, 122 Main Road, Somerset West Media material about the drive in Cape Town: Cape Town Tourism blog http://www.capetown.travel/blog/entry/spread-some-winter-warming-magic-with-the-tbd2014-blanket-drive TygerBurger blog http://www.tygerburger.co.za/articles/articledetails.aspx?id=142668 YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8S2t1tmDwA To RSVP for the Thursday 29 May event: http://twtvite.com/hgr68nspkxy43aw For information in Cape Town: Tweet @merentia e-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 083 299 6585 MR Price Sport are running an awesome competition where users who sign up to the MRPSPORT Newsletter stand a chance to WIN ONE OF TWO R1000 shopping vouchers each month. Win one of 2 R1000 shopping vouchers from MR Price Sport each month by signing up to their newsletter. Here is your chance to make some easy money to buy all that SUP and Sports gear you have been eying for awhile now. It’s so simple - All you have to do is sign up for their monthly newsletter. Be ahead of the crowd and receive the monthly MRPSports "Get into it" magazine as a digital edition. Issue 10 is out now and is full of great content for all of you outdoor lovers with features ranging from camping tips to hiking trails or simply what to pack for padkos! Check it out here: MR PRICE GET INTO IT . And that's not all - Get the latest on new arrivals, whats hot, once-off promotions, exclusive giveaways, behind-the-scenes footage and top tips from your favorite sporting heroes. So what are you waiting for - enter the competition now: I've been surfing in and around Cape Town for about 20yrs now and when the 1st SUPs appeared in the backline about 5- 6 years ago I wasn't too impressed. I mean, you stand on a board with a paddle and it looked so clumsy. It also looked way too easy, all you have to do is paddle and there you go. Nah, I wasn't interested. As time went by the number of SUPs in the water increased and you could hear talk in the surfing community about how awesome this new sport is. Then people who had nothing to do with surfing started talking about it, people who lived far from the ocean. They were talking about health and fitness, the stress release, yoga and paddling on rivers and lakes. It made me wonder. Then in February this year I heard about a RED PADDLE promotion day at Hout bay beach. So I went down to the beach and was issued with a 10'6 inflatable SUP and paddle. A few quick tips from red paddle guy on where to stand, how to hold the paddle, how to paddle and steer and off I went. At first I was on my knees paddling out past the small breakers and then got to my feet. Ok, wake up call - It's not THAT easy - I slowly (and awkwardly) paddled around for a while in flat water. After a couple of tumbles I was laughing at myself, why haven't I tried this years ago, this is fun. It seems easy enough but there is certainly an element of challenge. Facing the (tiny) swell directly and paddling over it was a lot easier than going sideways or facing the beach. Once I got relatively used to standing and paddling around I looked at the rest of the people around me, it hit me like a bomb. This was really something anyone could do, there were kids, moms and dads, old and young. Everybody was having a blast. Amazing. Ok, so then I decided to try and catch a wave, jeez I was laughing so much. After surfing for so long i.e lying prone (on your stomach) on the board, paddling with your arms and then getting to your feet is so ingrained that trying to catch a wave standing up was so foreign to me. Your whole view is different. Anyway, as mentioned the waves were really tiny and not really meant to be ridden but I persevered and managed to catch a wave in. That was enough - I was hooked, there is so much satisfaction associated with stand up paddle boarding. Thus I have to sheepishly admit that the old saying of never judging a book by its cover applies to me here, SUP is anything but boring or clumsy. In fact a whole new world awaits...... |
The sup guy...
a 40something surfer from Cape Town that discovered SUP recently. The bug bit me hard. Archives
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