Stand up paddle boarding is now one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. Paddle boarding has become increasingly popular over the past few years, as more and more people embrace the sport for the first time. This could be because of Brexit (increased cost and complexity to get to Europe), the pandemic (boarders were closed and folks stayed at home and looked for new ways to explore and experience the UK), health and fitness benefits and finally its ease of access and fairly low price point of entry.
Here are the best reasons to answer the questions Why is stand up paddle boarding so popular? And why stand up paddle boarding is growing so quickly. There are many factors that have contributed to paddle boarding’s incredible growth over the years, but the following are a few that we’ve noticed over the years.
1: Everyone can participate in stand up paddle boarding.
Paddling is an extremely family-friendly sport that is open to all ages and skill levels to enjoy. It’s a glorious sport that is very easy to learn, it is loved by children and seniors alike. SUP is an excellent way to spend an afternoon with your family. If you want to spend some quality time with your family or friends, this is the perfect activity for you.
2: SUP has many health benefits.
Fitness and getting outdoors for some exercise are highly beneficial for those looking to improve their physical health. SUP is also great for mental health, a sport that is as good for the body as it is for the mind. Paddling allows you to get a great workout, and builds core strength, arm strength, balance all at the same time. It also gives you a full-body workout, which can be gentle exercise ( sightseeing, relaxing and soaking up the vibes) or an extreme physical exercise where you push yourself and your board hard, racing, and trust us, even the fittest athletes will get the benefits from a good SUP session. Paddle boarding has many physical health benefits, and it burns calories, lots of calories.
It is an excellent activity for improving your cardiovascular health and strengthening your core. Paddleboarding is a great way to relax and unwind from the stress of daily life and allows you to paddle to beautiful and peaceful spots. There is simply no better way to unplug and recharge than to paddleboard. That may not be a fact!
Finally, paddle boarding may be a cool and interesting way to lose weight.
If you’re tired of fad diets, useless weight loss supplements, and expensive gym memberships, SUP can be a great alternative. It’s great for burning fat and losing weight. It’s more fun than sitting in a crowded gym all day.
3: It’s very affordable.
Paddle boarding is very affordable. It’s not something that you need to have a high net worth to enjoy, it is absolutely accessible to almost everyone. SUP does not require lots of expensive equipment to take part. Don’t get us wrong, there are lots of shiny SUP accessories. See them all in our SUP gear guide but you do not need all the bells and whistles to enjoy this adventurous activity. Inflatable paddle boards are fairly cheap and can be purchased as a kit they also pack down for easy transportation. That means that you don’t need to buy expensive travel gear to enjoy the sport. Paddleboarders can paddle virtually anywhere in the world. Traveling with an inflatable board and travel bag is included with many of our SUP packages. You can buy a full SUP kit including inflatable board, paddle, pump, fin, and carry bag for £200 here in the UK. Check out my SUP guide.
4: SUP is a great way to socialize.
You will find endless SUP-related clubs and social events all over the UK (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England). This makes it super easy to make friends. Whether you’re a dog owner, river SUP enthusiast, ocean advocate, or fitness fanatic, yoga lover, there are plenty of local options to meet people who share your passion and to meet like minded people. They are just like you and average person looking to have fun and explore their new hobby and build new friendships.
5: Brexit and the Pandemic
Because of Brexit, increased cost and complexity to get to Europe add in to the mix of the pandemic with the boarders being closed and folks staying at home and looking for new ways to explore and experience the UK and their own backyard. This combination seen an explosion in all out outdoor activities. Camping, kayaking, SUPing, hill walking, and more. I suppose there had to be an upside to it.
6: It’s a great way to experience nature.
If you have ever had a dream of exploring down rivers, across lochs or down the coast then a SUP board will enable you to access those dreams and experience some of the most amazing places and beautiful nature that the UK has to offer. Your pictures and stories will make your family envious! If you paddle a SUP board, you can get to some stunning spots that would otherwise be an inaccessible to you. The scenery that you see while paddle boarding is simply breathtaking.
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