Within a few days of landing in Canada, I went to Lake Ontario and saw someone on a SUP board. It immediately reminded me of Qin Guan's words which roughly translate to: "The sun in the middle of the mountain, fog on both sides, the sound of a flute, and a little boat." The air blends with the water and the sky like a cloud of wild cranes.
Finally, this summer, after five years of moving to Canada, I tried stand-up paddleboarding for the first time, and it felt enchanting.
Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP) is a very popular water sport among Canadians in the summer. There are two types of SUP. First is the hardboard, which is put on the roof of your car during transportation. It's extremely fun on the water, but it takes up a lot of space when it's not being used. The second is the inflatable board. It's easy to carry, and you won't need to install a car rack on your roof. The downside is that it needs to be inflated every time after storing it. I use the inflatable board, which is the most popular option nowadays.
The first step to having a good time on your SUP board is finding good weather. This means no rain and warmer temperature, so the water isn't too cold. Remember to bring sunscreen, an experienced friend, and of course, a SUP board!
This time, we looked for a spot to set sail somewhere on a creek on the side of the lakeshore with a deck sticking out. I recommend that you also choose a launching point like this; otherwise, it is easy to damage the tail under the board. Whether your board is inflatable or hard or even a kayak, the bottom of the board and the tail are the weakest part. Once there is even a small crack, it is tough to repair. I remember when I first started kayaking, I took the kayak to a lakeside beach I found with many rocks, and it got damaged on the bottom. So the lesson here is that you shouldn't go onto the big lake as a beginner. Instead, find a peaceful creek to start off with; it's much easier for beginners!
The next step is to inflate your SUP board. Inflating the board requires quite a bit of strength and anyone who has done it before knows it! If the board is insufficiently inflated, the board's body won't be stretched completely, which greatly reduces the balance when you're on it. On the other hand, if it's inflating too quickly and is exposed to the sun, the board could be damaged as it is made of PU. Make sure to pay attention to the markings on the inflator when inflating the board. You want to have it in the green range. But to be honest, while inflating it, I don't think I could over-inflate it past the green range. Of course, if I was more of a fitness person, then it might be a different story. Ha!
Next, put on your life jacket. Make sure your jacket is fastened. Although it may seem useless, it can save your life. In addition, if there is no whistle on the life jacket, you need to equip one yourself. When you need to call for help from a nearby ship in an emergency, a whistle can help a lot. Then, there's the oar. The length of the oar can be adjusted, but the recommended length is one hand longer than your own height.
Okay, now you are ready to leave land! Because balance is difficult to grasp for your first time in the water, my friend suggested that I sit or kneel on the board. This is generally easier to control and less scary. Don't stand up in a hurry. When kneeling, try to feel the shaking caused by the waves. I tried to find my balance, and then I tried paddling and watching the surrounding scenery. Even though it was a little frightening, my first time was enough to make me feel relaxed and happy!
Not long after I was kneeling, I felt more confident and tried to stand up. I got one leg up first, then quickly stood up, trembling vigorously in my core several times before getting both feet on the board. Although my body was very stiff, my legs were shaking slightly. The moment I got up, it felt like a new world opened up in front of me. I instantly pictured the scene of a little boat and flute playing.
That day we paddled through the tall reeds and found a naive baby duck, the hidden cave of a beaver, a little turtle basking in the sun, and a rare egret heron spreading its wings flying over our heads. Sometimes it was sunny, sometimes a cool breeze swept by, waves of light and shadows everywhere, incredibly comfortable.
After mastering the basic skills in the relatively calm creek, my friend took me out to Lake Ontario to experience the real wind and waves! As soon as I paddled out of the creek into the big lake, I could clearly feel the ups and downs of the waves. Nervous yet excited, I once again confirmed that the three straps have been buttoned and went out to the open water. I almost forgot the stiffness of my body and the fear of falling. I chased the swan with my friends, appreciating the water and the sky and the blowing winds. I feel the comfortable breeze on my face and the constant laughter as I drift further and further with the waves.
Just as I was immersed in excitement, my friend suddenly shouted to me, "there's a big ship ahead of you! Come back quickly." Although the boat was still some distance away, it came towards me very fast. I quickly turned around awkwardly and rowed vigorously out of the way. Due to the wind, I couldn't row very fast. "Kneel down and paddle fast!" My friend yelled at me again. I used my full strength to paddle away, and I was finally out of the dangerous situation. You must remember to stay away from large ships because once it gets close, the ship will cause large waves that could easily capsize your board.
We had been paddling for two and a half hours, and I started feeling quite confident in my technique. I was getting cocky, and after two seconds of being proud, I fell into the water. It was so fast that I didn't know I fell in until I was completely soaked! But at that moment I entered the water, I was unexpectedly calm. I knew that my life jacket was fastened, and ask long as I relaxed, I would float up to the surface. Luckily the board comes with an ankle strap so that it won't float away. The board was basically a piece of driftwood for me. I was hanging on to it and resting out of embarrassment. "Great, you have graduated now!" my friend shouted from the side. Honestly, I'm happy that I fell into the water. For my first time on a SUP board, I have experienced it all! It is truly unforgettable!
Lastly, do you know what the most popular activity to do on the SUP is? It's yoga! I will be working toward this goal, so you should hurry up and try it!
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