21 Unique Facts about SUP for 2021
One of our all-time favorite ways to enjoy and explore with our guests is on a stand-up paddleboard or a SUP! To inspire you to enjoy our glorious Lowcountry with us even more, we wanted to share a few unknown facts about SUP that just might surprise you!
Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the blog! We hope this new year has treated you kindly thus far and has continued to inspire you to enjoy and look for more adventures every day! One of our favorite ways to educate, explore, and see the Lowcountry in its full glory is on top of a stand-up paddleboard, or a SUP! Not only is it an exciting way to experience nature, but it’s also really fun, and it is an amazing workout for your body and mind. Never used or been on a SUP before? Don’t worry! We are here to show you how to use a SUP and how to successfully use one while on an expedition with us.
We are currently offering two different SUP tours, one in Isle of Palms and the other on Shem Creek. During our SUP tour in Isle of Palms, you are going to be escaping into the longest stretch of underdeveloped coastline on the east coast. The full 30-mile saltwater estuary feeds into Morgan Creek and is abundant with stunning South Carolina wildlife and iconic oyster and marsh grass habitats. You’ll begin your tour with both on land and water instruction on how to use your SUP. Once the tour begins, prepare to see an incredible plethora of wildlife right in its natural habitat including loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, rays, and marsh wrens. Your tour will also include a ton of wonderful educational facts about the wildlife around you and its history.
When you venture over to Shem Creek and enjoy our SUP excursions there, you will have a delightful experience. You will also spend time both on land and in the water learning about how to use your SUP. Our expeditions in Shem Creek are very special because they are a slice of history. You get to be apart of the hustle and bustle of Shem Creek right between the docked shrimp boats and out into Charleston harbor. You’ll more than likely be joined by a dolphin or two, and in the summer you might even see a manatee! It’s one of the best ways to see and experience Charleston at its finest! Once everyone is comfortable on their SUP, our guides will share stories about the local history and lore, all while explaining the intricacies of the salt marsh estuary and the habitats it provides.
In honor of celebrating one of our favorite ways to learn about the Lowcountry and see and experience its wildlife and plant life, we wanted to share some of our favorite interesting unknown facts that you might not know about SUP! One or more might even be the reason why you make this year the year you try SUP with Coastal Expeditions for the very first time.
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John Zapotocky is not only known as the father of modern-day SUP, but he was also the oldest SUP enthusiast and surfer in the world at the time of his death in 2013. He was 95 years old.
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The history of SUP is incredibly rich. For thousands of years, the sport has existed in multiple forms and for multiple reasons.
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SUP is not only a fun pastime to do here in the Lowcountry, it is a competitive sport! There are three different SUP disciplines; flatwater paddling, open water/ocean paddling, and SUP surfing. There is a SUP discipline best suited for everyone!
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SUP has brought surfing to more countries than ever before, many of which you wouldn’t consider surfing locations. Ever since the ISA (International Surfing Association) has included SUP, it has allowed them to develop its international body, including landlocked states and countries. Thanks to SUP, ISA’s total membership has 106 nations as members.
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Modern-day SUP began in Hawaii in the 1940’s when instructors would stand on their boards to get a better view of the waves and other surfers around them. At the time this was called “Beach Board Surfing.” In the 1990’s, SUP was being taught in Hawaii when there were no waves to surf on.
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The sport became very popular in California in the early 2000’s.
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SUP can even be dated back to biblical times. In the story of Moses, the Pharo’s Daughter Queen Bithia, stood up in her watercraft to see the child floating in the weeds.
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One of the oldest SUP dates back to Peru, almost 3000 years ago. Fishermen would stand on these watercraft made out of reeds. When they would return from fishing, they would stand on the watercraft and surf on top of them while steering them with their oars for fun or to show off.
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Did you know that SUP’s are built exactly the opposite from a kayak? They are built from the inside out. Fiberglass is wrapped around foam, and a textured mat is added on top to provide good footing. The larger the person, the longer the board you will need.
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While Duke Kahanamoku has been credited very famously for the creation of SUP, John Zapotocky Sr. was a genuine pioneer in the sport for 55 years.
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It’s hard to find a sport that anyone at any age can enjoy, SUP is the perfect sport for everyone.
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Until Rick Thomas brought the sport to California in the early 2000’s, SUP was primarily exclusive to Hawaii.
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Ever since 2009 SUP has become one of the fastest-growing sports in America.
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Today there are over 150,000 SUP enthusiasts in the US alone.
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The SUP officially became classified as a vessel similar to that of a canoe and kayak by the Coast Guard in 2008.
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A SUP can be used as a land lock sport too! Many canoe and kayak enthusiasts across the globe are turning to SUP as another option to enjoy their local rivers and lakes.
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Recreational and racing SUP was officially made a sport in 2009.
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You can enjoy one of the most dangerous places in the world on top of a SUP. There are SUP tours you can enjoy in Antarctica. You can SUP around icebergs and see all of its wildlife up close. The only downfall is that it can be extremely expensive to go on one of these excursions.
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Are you hooked on SUP? It does have a pro tour! Events and competitions have been going on across the world since 2010.
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The most prestigious paddleboard race out there is the M20, or the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race. If you love SUP, this is a race you need to know about. It is one of the longest and most dangerous races across the Ka’iwi Channel. The race can take 4 to 7 hours to complete. Just completing the race is considered a huge achievement since it is so dangerous and strenuous.
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SUP is an incredibly low impact workout for the whole body. It can be beneficial to those recovering from injuries, too. SUP helps strengthen joints, muscles, and recover from your injuries while still being able to work out.
There you have it! 21 interesting and unique SUP facts for 2021! How many did you already know? What surprised you? Remember, these are just 21 of the many facts that are out there about SUP. Go and explore and continue to learn more! We hope, dear adventurers, that after you read this blog, that you’ll be even more excited to try a SUP for the first time or come to SUP with us at Coastal Expeditions! If you have any questions or comments about Stand Up Paddleboarding, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We are here with all you need to know to prepare you for your next big adventure!