Stand Up Paddleboarding (or SUP) is propelling yourself across the water surface while standing on a large surfboard with a long paddle. SUP originally comes from Hawaii, and you can practice this sport on both flat water and in the waves at sea. It all started around 1960 when some beach boys in Hawaii came up with a good way to more easily take pictures of tourists in the water. They stood on their surfboards and used the long paddle to propel themselves on the water. For surf instructors at the time, this new way of surfing also proved to be a handy technique to keep a better eye on their students in the waves during surf lessons and to give instructions more easily.
Great surf legends like Dave Kalama and Laird Hamilton gave the SUP sport a new boost by using SUP as a training method when the waves weren't high enough for regular surfing. They would simply grab a SUP board to train. From that moment on (around the year 2000), Stand Up Paddleboarding gained enormous popularity precisely because it is such an accessible, fun, and great way to exercise.
Anywhere in the world where there is water, you can encounter SUPers nowadays and practice the sport yourself. With all its canals, ditches, rivers, lakes, and water-rich nature reserves, the Netherlands is a truly beautiful country to discover on a SUP. It's not without reason that it is currently the fastest-growing water sport in our country. Moreover, it's not just surfers who are starting to SUP; various celebrities and athletes have also discovered the sport as a complete workout. Furthermore, SUPing is a highly accessible sport. Anyone can SUP: young or old, man or woman, athletic or not.
You can SUP on flat water as well as in the waves at sea. On flat water, you can go on beautiful tours or participate in races. On large open waters, you can try to sail downwind and make use of the waves by "riding" them. Just like at sea, you use the waves to propel yourself on the water and "ride" along with the wave, so to speak. At sea, you can do fun downwinders along the coast or simply ride the waves. With all these different disciplines, there is something for everyone!
The fact that SUP is becoming increasingly popular in the Netherlands can also be seen in the large SUP competitions and events that are now regularly organized in our country. For example, the SUP 11-City Tour (SUP Elfstedentocht) is organized annually in September, where both national and international participants cover 220 kilometers through Friesland on their SUPs in 5 days, either individually or in teams. Other SUP events that have been huge successes for several years include the Battle of the Coast in Zandvoort, the Real Trip in Makkum, and the National SUP Championships in Noordwijk!
We have been SUPing through the canals in Leiden for over 10 years now. It's fantastic to work on your fitness while taking a pleasant tour on the water and discovering the city from a completely new perspective. This beautiful old historic city is also a very good starting point for great day trips in the area. The nature reserve De Kaag or Kagerplassen is just around the corner, and from Leiden, you can also easily SUP to places like Katwijk. Paddling the Singelpark route along Leiden's urban nature is also highly recommended!
With so many different SUP disciplines, it is understandable that you need different equipment for each discipline of SUPing. There are various types of SUP boards, paddles, and accessories available for use in all different conditions. So, if you want to purchase your own equipment, make sure you are well-informed about the possibilities and what is available before buying. Test as many different materials and brands as possible and ensure that your final choice fits your specific needs perfectly! Know what you want! We are happy to help you with this, and you can also test the different materials with us.
