Inspiration

Reflections From a Year of Paddleboarding

The Good, the Bad, and Everything in Between

Photo by Michael Henry on Unsplash

Last August, I decided to try something I had been wanting to do for years, paddling on a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard). Like many other things, I was excited by the idea of paddling, but something held me back from actually doing it. In retrospect, my reluctance was silly. I had this idea that I may fall into the water and get a brain-eating amoeba (pretty irrational, I know).

On the other hand, I did not want to rent a SUP without first taking lessons, but I felt that lessons from the local rental shops were overpriced. As the sunny days of 2022 passed by, my desire to paddle grew stronger and stronger.

Finally, the idea popped into my head — why not buy a SUP instead of paying to rent one multiple times? That’s exactly what I did!

I found my SUP slightly used on OfferUp. For $185, it was a great deal. I originally wanted an inflatable SUP but looking back, I’m glad I went with a hard plastic model. It has a built-in cupholder, a waterproof storage compartment, bungee cords, and a strap for a cooler. What more could a paddleboarder ask for?

Image by author | This is my SUP on the bank of town lake near downtown Austin, TX

In the last year of paddleboarding, I have loved it, hated it, had the cops called on me, and even paddled in a swimming pool! Here are a few reflections I hope you will find entertaining.

The Time It Flew Out of My Truck

The day I bought my SUP, it flew out of the bed of my pickup truck on the highway and when I went back for it, it was gone — or so I thought. After convincing myself that someone had stolen it off the side of the road, I went back to look again a week later, and I found it! It was in a grassy creek bed underneath the highway bridge, a spot I had not checked thoroughly. This experience inspired me to name my SUP “Icarus.”