Few Outrigger Canoe paddlers can escape the obvious explosion of Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) ranging from novices to pro-surfers. Hundreds have written on the origins and the storied history of this emerging sport. As an OC paddler myself, I have often wished that OC paddling would establish a mainstream appeal like SUP. It is truly "the more, the merrier" in any sport; the more participants, the bigger the audience, thus bigger sponsorships that will give serious paddlers an opportunity to go "pro". SUP has already spawned a class of "pros" that are following the playbook of pro-surfing, for better or worse.

There are many reasons "why?". Despite the tremendous head start we had in OC paddling as an established Hawaiian sport with organized races, we have not been able to capture the widespread attention of the mainstream health and fitness audience. That's a discussion for another day.
The question for today is WHY should OC paddlers care ? Most of all, OC paddlers are PERFECTLY positioned to be top competitors in SUP paddling races be it stock class or unlimited class. Top OC paddlers have the right base training, ocean knowledge, technique and power. It is quite easy to "GET UP" and dominate. We can train at a much higher heart rate on an OC than you can on SUP. Both sports truly complement each other.

1. SUP is relatively easy for anyone, especially OC paddlers to "jump on and go". This ease of adoption masks the more challenging aspects of SUP for those of us who sit down to paddle. SUP, when done properly, is an incredible cross-training tool to build power in your stroke, extend your core, REBUILD back & leg muscles and improve flexibility. The more choppy the water and the shorter/narrower the board, the more you will work every single muscle in your body.
2. If you SUP surf, it is extremely fun and you will not notice the number of miles you do after paddling out to the break over and over again. If you catch a set, you will ultimately be sprint paddling back around the break to avoid getting hammered in the surf. Of course, you get so addicted to the thrill of surfing, you will do anything to catch the next set. If there are consistent waves, you will really feel it in your muscles after a couple of hours that just seem to zip by. If you get tumbled, jumping on and falling off repeatedly is akin to doing multilateral calisthenics. Let's not forget about breath holding while swimming to the surface after a wipeout, a sure way of getting your heart rate up... way up... legs shaking... chest pounding.

Truth is for those of us who either paddle OC-1, OC-2 and OC-6, (more importantly V-1 or V-3), SUP requires "paddle steering" finesse where you do not have a foot pedal rudder system to assist in catching "bumps". You will find an analogous relationship between Rudderless V-1 and SUP to be even more critical as cross-training tools for each other. We do V-1 rudderless to feel the water more intuitively; it is more challenging to paddle and surf a V-1 in open ocean. You only have to look at Te Aito race in Tahiti where you have 800 V-1s in the water RACING. There you appreciate the tremendous ocean skills needed to navigate such a cluster. Similarly the Battle of the Paddle race course in Doheny Beach (So. Cal) had about 450 competitors in a 1 mile race circuit at the same time ... resembling a NASCAR race. Any OC paddler can excel in SUP, just do it, and most of all HAVE FUN !

Ian Foo - Chief Eternal Optimist
HYPRNalu Hawaii & Hoku'ula