Stand-up paddling is perfect for families

Two summers ago, Northbrook’s Amy Lyons was looking for a way to occupy her time while her older son took sailing lessons. She met Ian Jacobson, owner of Great Lakes Board Company (see sidebar, right). He suggested she try stand-up paddling, an easy-to-learn hybrid of surfing and kayaking accomplished with a stable paddleboard, a long paddle, a little balance and a bodyof water.

Even on her initial attempt, “I was able to get a good workout and some peace and quiet just chilling out in the water,” Lyons remembers. Before long, “I was going all the time because it was so convenient.”

Soon her sons, now 13 and 8, wanted to paddle, too. “This became our major activity of the summer,” says Lyons, who biked or played basketball with the boys before discovering stand-up paddling. “It was a fun bonding experience.”

A booming sport, stand-up paddling (SUP) is growing particularly quickly in places like Chicago with inland lakes, ponds or rivers (as opposed to coastal regions where it was already popular). In some cities (though not yet here), SUP yoga has replaced stroller yoga as the go-to activity for moms; small children sit in life vests on the front of the board while Mom does her downward-facing dog onthe back.

Plenty of parents such as Lyons like the sport because it’s fun for the whole family to do together. In general, kids under eight can ride on Mom or Dad’s board; older kids learn to paddle on their own, with parents and/or an instructor safely nearby.

“It helps kids, especially those ages 8 to 13, work with their confidences and insecurities because it allows you to be the captain of your own ship,” says Tim Inskeep, owner of SUP Guides (supguides.com), a company that offers private SUP and surfing lessons across the country.

“The learning curve is fairly easy. You do not need to be athletic,” Jacobson says. While you might tumble into the water once or twice when testing a new move, for the most part, the stable boards and forward movement keep you upright, and it’s easy to remount if you do fall. (U.S. Coast Guard regulations require life vests if paddling outside of designated swimming areas.)

Best of all, Jacobson adds, SUP offers “this unique experience to see what it is like to walk on water.”

To learn more about local spots that offer stand-up paddling lessons and equipment rental, click through to the next page below.