On a relatively dismal day out at “Number Threes” in Waikiki, I counted three guys on stand up paddle surfing boards (pictured here) go by. That convinced me the large marge barges of surfing are multiplying rapidly. What is it? Basically a very thick stubby surfboard with a traction surface on the deck and enough stability and float to allow a rider to stand up and paddle gondolier-style around surf breaks.
You used to see people on these things periodically off Waikiki but they were mostly wild-eyed surf dogs or mad surf scientist types. Then my good friend Carnet Williams, who has a far more respectable job than I, told me he had bought one and was a convert. He says you get great exercise because you are paddling and balancing, using a host of muscles in the process. Besides, you can surf on microscopic gerbil waves due to the float and inertia of these puppies. I dug a little deeper and learned that even Laird Hamilton, the surf god and tow-in surfing maestro, was into stand up paddle boarding. Mongo trend alert, folks. Look for an article in Outside or the New York Times soon!
This is a guest post by Alex of Hawaiirama.com. The original post can be found here.
For a look at some very cool paddle surf boards, check out Paddle Surf Hawaii.
Image via Paddle Surf Hawaii
tiana mayumi 