Stand Up Paddle Boarding -- America's new favorite pastime, or just a passing fancy? Where did this sport come from? And is it here to stay? Can I do it? Can my mom? 

Stand Up Paddle Boarding has become increasingly popular around the world. This sport is making huge waves in the ocean, lakes, rivers, and maybe even your backyard pond. It is an activity everyone should try and it's fun. Although that sounds great, I found that when quizzed about my newfound love, I knew very little about it. So I began to search for answers to common beginner questions. Those answers, combined with a little bit of personal experience, inspired me to get others out there seeking adventure. 

When I announced to my family that I had bought a paddle board at a black Friday sale, in one of the coldest states in the continental U.S., I got a few strange looks. Most of them had heard of the rapidly expanding sport, but had never seen a board, let alone been on one. Being curious, or noisy, they wanted to know all about my board, how to use it, where they could use it, and if they could do it, too.

According to the information section of the Recreational Equipment Incorporated website, there are many different kinds of boards for different riders and tasks. My board is an 11-foot long wooden board; it is thick, wide, and heavy. The benefits of a shorter board like mine are that it has more maneuverability and it's great for beginners on flat surfaces. The longer boards (12’ to14’), according to REI, are better for racing and touring over long distances. REI recommends that beginners use a thicker wider board because this will disperse your weight and give you better balance on the board.

Here is where I messed up, but this could help you. My board is heavy. This means that it takes some serious muscle, or help from a friend, to get it on and off my car. REI found that companies are developing new ideas to conquer this problem. They are beginning to make hollow boards that can easily be carried by any kind of SUP fanatic.This is especially great if you’re a girl, are shorter than your car, and can barely reach the board, let alone get it down. 

Now, on to where did this sport comes from. Like run of the mill surfing, Suping came out of Polynesia. The paddle could be used to get to new points in the water and wave systems according to SUP World Mag, an international stand up paddling magazine. This meant surfers could access better surfing and different parts of the land. It also meant that those who were older or who had injuries could surf, as well, giving way to modern Stand Up Paddling.

Now the boards are used everywhere and can be seen all over the world. The Outdoor Foundation's outdoor participation report noted Suping as the most popular sport, with first time participants at 56 percent of all those surveyed. With more people, like that 56 percent, getting into the water everyday it is likely the sport is here to stay. 

So get out before this summer is over. Rent, borrow, or buy a board and head to the closest body of water. You never know what you may find in the depths of the ocean or swimming around in a lake. Grab life by the board and duck dive in.