There’s a state park near me with a lake, and the park offers all sorts of boating and water activities. We have season passes, and we’ve been going just about every Sunday after church since I’ve been home for the summer. So far, we’ve taken out canoes, kayaks, and a small motor boat. But today, I tried something completely new: paddle boarding.
I had seen other people trying it, and thought it looked fun, and fairly simple. The board itself is about the size of a surfboard, perhaps a little bigger. You sit or kneel on the board, and paddle like you’re in a canoe. There was little wind today, and absolutely no waves on the lake, so today was my best option to give it a try. I loved it!
My biggest fear was keeping my balance and not falling. I’ve been doing lots of balance exercises in my workouts, and I hoped that would help me in this venture.
I started with a mini lesson from one of the guys who works at the water sports part of the park. When he showed me everything, it looked easy enough, but I know looks can be deceiving, especially in shallow water. Once I got onto the board, I started on my knees to gain my balance.
After I got accustomed to the board and how it felt to be on the water, I rose up onto my knees instead of sitting. This was a little more difficult than sitting, but I quickly adjusted my balance and paddled around a little more. Once I was comfortable there, I paddled back into shallower water and tried to stand all the way up. It was kind of wobbly, but…
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| I did it! |
My parents were in a canoe, and they were taking these pictures while I was boarding.
It took me a little while to figure out the most comfortable way to stand and position my feet, but I eventually got it right, with my feet staggered a little just behind the center of the board. I got the hang of it fairly quickly…I was actually surprised how easily I caught on.
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| My dad is a great photographer! |
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| The life jacket makes it look like I have a hunchback, but I promise I don’t! |
I loved paddle boarding! It’s also a great upper-body workout…my shoulders are so sore right now. Maybe once I really nail this, I’ll give windsurfing a try.
So today was an exciting day, and tomorrow will be, too: I have my first USTA event! I’ll be working and covering the championships of the Middle States’s US Open Qualifying tournament! I can’t wait for some great tennis, and the opportunity to meet and interview the champions. More on that later this week!
