Unlike many other watersports you don't have to rely on the weather. If it's flat and there's no wind go for a cruise down the river or along the coast, if there's some surf hit your local break...you'll never be left sitting on a beach waiting for mother nature to produce the goods!

SUP's biggest growth market has been with flat water users; families taking boards on camping trips, recreational users meandering down rivers or along the coastline at their leisure and fitness fans recognising the core muscle workout benefits of regular SUP. The latter has lead to numerous celebrities taking up the sport, including the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Schweisinger.

Despite being great fun and superb exercise on flat water, SUP hasn't forgotten is surfing roots. We're now seeing short boarders using SUPs as a fun alternative for smaller days. Many longboarders are now only SUPing as the paddle makes getting out back and turning that much easier. Board designs are constantly evolving and we're now seeing shorter SUPs with thruster set ups and swallow tails. You only need to check out You Tube to see the likes of Laird Hamilton & Co riding some of the world's biggest waves on SUPs giving the sport some well deserved kudos. 

SUP is what you want it to be. Having meandered, paddled for fitness and surfed varying sized waves I have to say each has it's own pull. On a personal note, I have lost a few pounds, seen some amazing countryside and coastline from an elevated vantage point and now have the confidence to drop in on monster waves I'd never have been brave enough to tackle on my surfboard.