With summer in full swing, many locals are taking to the many bodies of water surrounding the city. For those without access to a boat and driver, the options can be limited. This is why many are turning to the growing popularity and ease of the self-contained water sport of stand up paddle boarding.
The Chattanooga division of SUP paddle boarding, owned by Michael Phillips, offers instructional classes, rentals, paddle boarding equipment and gear, and even yoga and Pilates paddle boarding classes. Hayley Graham is the instructor for most of these classes, held at the Big Ridge Marina and Yacht Club, and is an instructor at North Shore Yoga by day.
She says SUP was born out of the surfing in Hawaii, but has is popular on the coast and, in the last couple of years, has started to take off inland. In surfing, there must be a “surf” in order to ride the waves, so when the tides are flat, there can be no “traditional” surfing. The dense stand up paddle boards came about for surfers to stand up and paddle out to where they could find surf or to enjoy the conditions of the water on hand. Stand up paddle boards are also a nice cross training piece for surfers (and others) as the paddling builds a lot of upper body and a lot of core.
Graham says, “It’s a great activity, especially in this type of a town where water is everywhere. You can use them anywhere, on flat water, in the surf, so why would you not want to have them accessible here?” Graham became involved with stand up paddle boarding about a year ago, when she and a fellow instructor at North Shore Yoga saw a video of paddle board yoga and signed up for a class. After that, she was going out every weekend, attending the demos of SUP from Phillips, and was ultimately called and asked to be an instructor, providing her with even more access to paddle boards.
There are several different kinds of stand up paddleboards, from the narrow, fiberglass race boards to the wide, dense, plastic paddle boards that are used in Graham’s lessons. The wider boards are heavier, but are much more stable and are good for the Chattanooga area which is sometimes rocky and harder on boards. The low end for paddle boards is about $650 and the high end can be anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500. Graham says the type of board someone chooses depends on the materials the board is made of and the purpose it is used for.
Graham reiterates that the great thing about stand up paddle boarding is that if someone has a board and paddle they can go pretty much anywhere, including lakes, creeks, quarries, and other bodies of water. “It’s kind of calm and a great workout without feeling like you are working out,” she says. “Because you are constantly trying to keep the boat steady, and constantly having to engage your stomach and your legs, and you are paddling with your arms, you are getting a great work out but not paying attention to the fact that you are working hard because it is so nice and you can wander down and see wild life.”
Stand up paddle boarding is the perfect hybrid for Graham’s personality as a yoga instructor for the serenity the activity offers and its outdoor environment. “It’s a really nice, easy water sport and you are still getting a lot of benefit out of it. I love doing yoga on it because it makes it 20 times more challenging,” Graham says. SUP brings their boards to the riverfront during Riverfront Nights and offers demonstrations at the quarry. They also have boards on display at River City Bicycles on Tremont Street for those who want to get an idea of what these boards look like up close.
This Herald reporter’s experience on an SUP for one of their hour-long instruction classes was a great experience. From learning how to choose the right size paddle; and the art of paddling with and against a river current; to how to turn the paddle board around; to standing up and balance atop the board; and to how to push through the inevitable foot cramps that come from this balancing.
The activity sparked our interest, provided an intense workout, and allowed us to enjoy a natural resource of our city. Although the board wobbled many times, I did not end up taking a dip, and had a thoroughly good time with stand up paddle boarding.
For lessons, rentals or equipment, contact Graham (preferably by email) at Hayley-graham@hotmail.com or by phone at 615-415-4116. More information can also be found at www.suppaddleboard.com and www.chattanoogasupyoga.com.