History of SUP
The Hawaiians first practised stand up paddle boarding back in the 1940s. Surf instructors on Waikki Beach used their surf boards and a single bladed paddle to stand up and head out to the surf break. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that SUP became a sport in it’s own right. Pro surfers such as Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama started paddle boarding as a means of training and keeping in shape when there was no surf.
Since then, it’s infiltrated the water sports world with disciplines ranging from leisure SUP boarding through to stand up paddle surfing, touring, fitness and racing. It’s a sport to enjoy around the coastlines and inland waterways of the UK but there’s something extra special about paddle boarding in the warm waters around the Neilson beachclubs, whilst taking in the coastal scenery of Greece, Croatia and Sardinia!
