Stand Up For Fun

As you may recall, I fell paddle over board in love with a hot new sport called Stand Up Paddling on my very last day on Kauai. As soon as I booked my ticket to Florida to participate in The Color Run, I started searching for places where I could practice my new hobby.

Turns out, Tampa is a hotbed of SUP activity. Urban Kai and Water Monkey were two of a handful of companies in the area that specialize in the sport, but both caught my eye thanks to a palpable passion for paddling and hey, I’ll admit it — great design!

Although I had been on a board before in Hawaii, I was curious to see what I could learn from a SUP 101 class. After hearing me blab on about paddling after returning from my last trip, my dad and friend Paula agreed to come along.

The lesson started with our instructor Mike — who is also one of the business owners and founders — briefing us on the relatively short history of Stand Up Paddleboarding, and his personal love affair with the sport. Then, while still on the beach, he taught us proper stance and paddling technique — the latter he promised would be both the greatest challenge and have the greatest impact on our performance.

Soon, we were paddling around Harbor Island as a group. While it’s certainly not brain-surgery-level athletics, it was nice to have someone critiquing my form and giving suggestions. As we paddled, I remembered everything I loved about SUPing — the great low impact workout, being in the sunshine and on the water, and laughing and chatting with friends while at it.

I was about to go around for a second lap when I saw my dad standing on shore, gesturing out to the water. He had taken a tumble and lost his glasses — leaving him very vision impaired. I cut my lesson short so I could free dive in the murky waters looking for them but it was a lost cause. Thankfully a very efficient national glasses chain came to the rescue later, but it did put a damper on the day. I recommend that Urban Kai and other paddling companies provide glasses straps for lessons — we didn’t know better, so I think they should warn newbies.

So while my Dad set off to deal with his unexpected vision impairment, Paula and I stuck around for my favorite part of the day, and one of the highlights of my trip to Florida. What drew me most to Urban Kai was their Stand Up Fitness programs — I love the idea of working out on the water! I tried to attend a Warrior Zen Workout class earlier in the week, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to poor weather. Luckily, the conditions were much improved in time for Yoga On Water.

I’ve loved yoga for a long time — flexibility is one of my strengths and balance is one of weaknesses so it seems to be a rewarding challenge for me. I was so curious to see how it would come together with paddling — how would we not fall off the boards? How would the boards not float away?

photo via Urban Kai

photo via Urban Kai

Our impressively sized group paddled out into a clearing in the bay while instructor Mike answered both those questions for me. If you fell off the board — no problem, get back up; if your board drifted away — no problem, we’d all drift together.

I could not have loved this hour long class any more. We went through simple vinyasa poses, ones that I might normally go through on total autopilot normally but in this class were a fantastic challenge. Occasionally we heard a boat go by, a seagull crying in the distance or the distinct plop of someone falling off their board, but otherwise I zoned out to the instructor’s calming voice.

photo via Urban Kai

photo via Urban Kai

I promise you this: if I lived in Tampa, I’d be here in this class every Sunday. If you’re a Stand Up Paddle enthusiast, a yoga lover, or just plain curious — you’ve got to try it.

photos via Urban Kai

Unfortunate glasses-losing incident aside, I really enjoyed my day on the water with Urban Kai! I recommend them highly to anyone looking for a new fitness routine or fun activity on the water in the Tampa area.

I’m not sure where in the world I’ll get back on a board again — but I do hope it’s sooner rather than later!

Any other SUP lovers out there? What are your favorite on-board activities?

Note: Urban Kai did not pay or perk me to write this review. I simply wanted to share my travel experience with you!