SUPing it Up – Adventure, Nature and Exercise

What does SUP mean?  When I first heard it, I thought it was a new slushy flavor at 7-11 or a way to greet an old friend as in, “Whas sup?.”  Oh how wrong I was!  SUP stands for Stand Up Paddleboarding.

Florida’s Natural Beauty

SUP has become hugely popular and you are likely to see SUPers on nearly any body of water – lakes, canals, rivers or the ocean.  After Catrell and I experienced it for the first time, we clearly understood why it’s become the “in thing.”  It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get some exercise and commune with nature.  What more can you ask for?

My first concern was how will I ever balance myself on what looks like a very long, wide surfboard?  Our hosts for our first SUP experience were Cheryl and Tim Baker who reassured us that the boards were very stable on the water.  They own East Coast Paddle, located south of New Smyrna Beach on A1A at JB’s Fish Camp, which is just before entering Canaveral National Seashore.

East Coast Paddle owners: Tim and Cheryl

Cheryl and Tim have been operating East Coast Paddle since 2010 and are the quintessential outdoor couple.  They are fit, have bronze tans and exude vitality.  Both look like they should be on the cover of Outside Magazine or in an ad for heathy living.  It’s easy to see they love what they do and have no regrets about giving up the corporate world to pursue their dream of living and working in the great outdoors.

An abundance of wildlife

East Coast Paddle offers a unique service to its clients.  Instead of starting from the dock and having to evade fishing lines and boats, they ferry guests deep into the estuary so there is more time to enjoy nature and the beautiful surrounding.  On the boat ride to the designated drop-off point, we saw several dolphins including a baby, manatees, ospreys and many other species of birds.

Mom and baby dolphins

Once at the designated location, Tim began with a safety briefing and gave an overview of what to expect and how to properly use the paddleboard.  Both he and Cheryl work as a team to alleviate any angst clients may have about their first SUP outing. Tim thoroughly explains each step including how to properly use the manual propulsion system, also known as the paddle.

Mike practicing standing up

Now came the part I was most nervous about: How was I going to stand on that thing without tipping over?  (I am not known for my grace, poise or balancing skills.)  Cheryl got on her board first and then Catrell and I were launched from the front of the boat on our boards in a knelling position.  Each of our boards had a life jacket and bottle of water laying on the front.  They were out of the way, but easily accessible.  We paddled around for a few minutes in the kneeling position to get used to the feel and how best to use the propulsion system.

Now we are both up and ready to go

The real test came after we’d learned to paddle properly.  Cheryl told us to slowly go from the knelling position to a squat with both feet shoulder-width apart on the board.  She then instructed us to slowly stand up in the center of the board with the paddle over our heads to help with balance.  I was amazed at the stability under my feet and quickly became one with my board.  After a lesson on how to maneuver around corners and reversing course, we followed Cheryl into one of the canals.  We waved goodbye to Tim as he left to meet us at the end of our water-based trek.

Beauty around every bend

Cheryl was a wealth of knowledge and told us many interesting facts about the area and pointed out plants, birds and even fish in the water.  The water in and around the canals is very shallow so even if someone falls off the board they can quickly stand up in most places.  We passed an area called Shipyards that was used during World War II to repair Navy vessels.  It was hard to imagine how ships could have ventured into such shallow water, but Cheryl quickly pointed out that over time nature had “rearranged” things and changed the depth of lagoon dramatically.

We definitely chose the right day for our first SUP experience.  It was a perfect day for any outdoor activity, especially SUPing.  The blue sky was dotted with a few white cotton-ball clouds, there was no wind, the vegetation lush green and there was enough bird life to make an ornithologist giddy.

Becoming one with our boards

After nearly two hours of paddling through canals and a few open areas, we emerged into the Mosquito Lagoon with the Canaveral National Seashore on the opposite side.  As if on cue, six manatees appeared including a mom and baby.  It was the perfect ending to our first, but certainly not last, SUPing experience.

Tim arrived with the pontoon boat to take us back to the fish camp.  Catrell and I didn’t want it to end and considered highjacking the boards and paddling for one of the canals, but were sure Tim could catch us before we could get far.  Instead, we reluctantly paddled to the boat and stepped off our boards and onto the deck with poise and grace – something I developed in only two hours of SUPing.

SUPing is a great way to exercise without even knowing it.  It works core muscles, arms, buttocks, improves balance and under the right conditions can be a great cardio workout.  Catrell loves to exercise while I prefer to be “tricked into it” through activities like paddleboarding, hiking and biking.  I fully expected to be sore, but even after several days, there were no residual aches or pains from my “workout.”

Cheryl and Tim have been making paddleboards since 2010 in a 6,000 square foot manufacturing facility in New Smyrna Beach.  Boards are made of the highest quality materials and shaped onsite.  They can customize boards to the exact needs of each customer and can add a little bling to make yours the most unique on the water.  Fourteen people are employed at the plant.  It was refreshing to see Made in the USA on every board.

Paddling back to the boat

For the ultimate Stand Up Paddleboard experience contact Cheryl and Tim with East Coast Paddle at 386.402.8585.  Along with their regular eco-tours, they also offer board rentals and SUP-based exercise programs including yoga.  SUPing is great for groups, family outings and a special reward for employees who have gone above and beyond.  So the next time you ask me, “Whas sup?”, set aside at least an hour and I’ll tell you.