The Arrowhead
Paddleboarding: The Cooles New Water SportSunday, July 29, 2012 By Madison Rowe
With all the possible summer activities available to participate in, it can be difficult to choose one that is fun and exciting, fits your budget, and is available to do when you are available to do it. Paddle boarding is a great choice for a variety of reasons. It is fun and exciting, cost effective, and always sitting in the same spot when you want to use it. Besides these general factors, paddle boarding is a fun way to get some exercise. According to Hannah Rowe, “It really works your upper body and core muscles. But at the same time, it’s fun!” Despite many people’s idea that paddle boarding is very difficult and takes a long time to get the hang of, paddle boarding is relatively easy. Abbie Loeser says “Paddle boarding is not very hard at all, I literally got on the board, started paddling, and had it down within minutes.” In spite of this knowledge, many people still question how easy it is to fall off the board. However, according to Shawn Zieglemeier,”It is actually more difficult to fall off then to stay on. If you feel like you are going to fall, you simply start paddling and it balances you out.” Like many other water sports, a personal floatation device is required by law. Any clothing can be worn; however, be ware that clothing may get wet during the activity. Paddleboards can be bought at many different sporting goods stores or major department stores. They range in price from $250 to $2500 depending on the material of the board. In the Lake Country area, there are plenty of lakes to paddleboard in, including Beaver Lake, Moose Lake, and Okauchee Lake. Rivers and extremely wavy lakes should be avoided in order to maximize enjoyment and minimize accidents. As Melissa Mortenson says “It is a really awesome experience. It’s fun, easy to learn, and an overall great summer activity.” |