SUP Stand Up Paddling als Fitnesstraining / Foto: pixabay

SUP as a workout

Get your pulse racing with Stand up paddle boarding!

Ralf Vogel, sports scientist at the University of Potsdam, teaches SUP courses at the university's water sports centre and knows: "SUP requires every muscle from your toes to the earlobe. Not just to get ahead, but also to keep your balance when moving the paddle."

Surfing legend Robby Naish, who is himself an enthusiastic SUP fan, comments: "Stand up paddling is a full-body sport for everyone. You can totally exhaust yourself, but you may also glide along slowly and relax. You will always do something for your own health and enjoy nature".

A heart rate like a drummer

Vogel measured his values during training: his pulse averaged 145 bpm and he burned almost 700 calories per hour. "This compares to a trained jogger running for an hour," says the sports scientist. Similar values were measured with rock drummers during a concert and professional soccer players. However, the pulse of drummers during a solo jumps to almost 200 beats per minute.

Approaching limits

SUP athletes can also reach these limits. "Depending on wind, waves and intensity, such peaks in the heart rate are possible," says Vogel. Similar to marathon runners, up to 1400 calories per hour would be consumed. However, all measurements are relative because a well-trained athlete processes physical stress much better than a hobby athlete. The rule of thumb is: 160 beats minus age, "then you are actually always in the green and achieve good training effects," recommends the Potsdam sports scientist.

Being fit makes you happy

But does SUP make you as happy as running? Professor Henning Boecker from Bonn has found out that increased amounts of endorphins are produced while running. Even at short distances, the area of the brain responsible for emotions is particularly active. Ralf Vogel: "No studies have yet been carried out regarding this in Stand up paddle boarding. But when I see the happy faces of my course participants, I assume that this is exactly the same with SUP".

Stand Up Paddling as a competitive sport / © pixabay

SUP as a competitive sport

And if you really get the hang of it, you will be able to measure your skills against those of other SUP athletes in a growing number of SUP events and competitions, including the SUP World Cup. Together with the strongest amateurs, professionals fight for prize money at the only SUP Flatwater World Cup recognized by the German Surfing Association (DWV). There are sprint as well as long-distance competitions. More information on this can be found at: www.supworldcup.com.

Find out all about SUP in the Beach World!

No matter on which level you are in stand up paddling, you will find everything a stand up paddler needs at boot Düsseldorf in the Beach World in hall 8a: the right equipment, tips for beginners and advanced paddlers, information about SUP locations and travel offers as well as contacts to the SUP community and the exchange with other SUP athletes.

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