Hannah Law

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Or maybe a new way to get that body that looks like Thor’s?!

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)  is one of the new fitness crazes to hit our shores. The likes of Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner have been paddleboarding for years so there could just be some credibility (or fun) behind it.

I headed down to Vaucluse Bay one morning to try SUP out and, after my short arms eventually managed to carry the b board to the water, was surprised by how easy I found it. My friend Courtney and I had a quick trial on our knees before managing to stand up and paddle. We had a few death wobbles at the start, especially when we got too cocky & confident,  but we were quickly paddling out of the bay to the headlands.

It’s a little bit like surfing but the board is wider and longer than most surfboards which makes them much easier to balance on. Apparently SUP originated in Hawaii and was actually an ancient form of surfing. We gave our cores a great work-out and got a bit of a tan (skin cells in trauma, I know) at the same time because it was such a stunning Sydney day. What was even better was that we could check out the Vaucluse real estate on the waterfront up close! And we may have even had a daydream about which house we would own … one day

It was a really relaxing but decent work-out. If you’re looking for an adrenaline-rush, try surfing or skydiving! But if you’re keen for an enjoyable way to work your core, thighs and arms and have over a couple of hours spare, then check out SUP.

Cost: About $40 for a 1.5hr lesson. Look out for a discount from one of the Daily Deals sites though.

Where can you try it? There are great SUP teachers at Rose Bay, Vaucluse, Manly and Sans Souci. You can probably rent boards from lots of other places as well.