Explore your world. Engage with Nature. Enjoy the Ride. Orange Beach, Alabama.
Why are we paddling on this trip?
I am an avid SUP-er (SUP being paddle lingo for “stand-up paddleboard”), and I belong to a SUP paddle group called “100/100 Paddle Challenge”. Friday morning we paddled in the Gulf waters of Alabama with Zach and Marc Rounsaville of Gulf Coast Paddle in Orange Beach, Alabama.This group has over 600 members scattered throughout the country, and even a few members overseas. The group was started in my tiny coastal town of Beaufort, NC a few years back and now includes some of the top SUP-ers in the country.
The first challenge of 2016 is simple–paddle 100 miles in 100 days, starting January 1st. I was doing pretty well through January and had racked up 35 miles by the end of the month–including some brutally cold and windy days on my local NC waters. Now the prospect of being on the road for almost a full month has me down in the dumps thinking about being away from my board for so long [see article here about the dedication, bordering on obsession, SUP-ers feel about their craft]. And if you happen to get hooked on SUP-ing in the future, let me know so we can commiserate together.
Luckily, the members of the 100/100 group stepped up big time and offered numerous tips about where to paddle along our route to CA. Chris is a great sport, and has agreed to plan a percentage of the trip fulfilling my need to get on a board (who knows–he may even catch the paddle obsession along the way!). Our first paddle stop Friday in Orange Beach, AL, brought us to a beautiful paddle spot we otherwise would have never heard of it not for the awesome and incredibly welcoming 100/100 community.
Zach (a 100/100 member) owns Gulf Coast Paddle, and along with his dad Marc (also a 100/100 member) state on their company website that their goal is to “get you out on the water, getting fit, and reconnecting with nature.” Although this was our first time meeting Zach and Marc in person, we all instantly connected, talking shop about board designs and training regimes, being on the water, and life in general. I have found that this instant connection often rings true among fellow SUP-ers. The sport is evolving quickly, with many of the current top SUP-ers having previously completed in other sports at the Olympic or world level, and have now switched over to compete in grueling and demanding world SUP events. I recommend you-tubing some of the top SUP races in the world, it’s fascinating.
But I think the underlying and connecting factor among SUP athletes, whether they are ranked in the top 15 in the world, or are “serious recreation-ists” like me is our love of being on the water, and the overwhelming desire to surrender ourselves to the joys of nature. I can’t go more then a few days before I feel ansy for my board and the endorphins that come from a great workout and time spent on the water. The last time I worked out in a gym was probably the day before the first time I stepped on a SUP board about two and a half years ago. I was instantly hooked and never looked back at the gym.
And I got 5 more miles in on Friday-–I’m up to 40/100! - SES
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A little bit of paddle shop talk, for those of you wondering about the differences between kayaking and SUP-ing, I am a lifelong kayaker, but I’ve found that I generally like to paddle my SUP over my kayak now, even though SUPs don’t move as fast through the water as kayaks. This is because 1. A SUP is easier to carry to the water than a kayak, 2. I like the workout standing up–constantly working on my “sea legs” and my core muscles, and 3. I can see so much more from my vantage point standing on a SUP then seated in a kayak. If you feel the need to learn, come visit me in Beaufort. I am a certified ACA SUP instructor, and can get you up and going on a board in no time!