Fun Times on the Water

The end of summer is in sight, but there is still lots of time to get on the water. We have all done our share of swimming, but have you tried all those fun water sports which are now so accessible and affordable? Kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, and at the beach- surfing.

All of the above water sports are fabulous, but paddle boarding is the newest and maybe the fastest growing of the water sports. A paddleboard is just a big surf board with a paddle. It can be used on flat water, rapids, or even waves. All of which are super fun, depending on your skill level. The rapids and flat water options are available here in Richmond. Obviously, the rapids are more dangerous and take much more practice, but offer a ton of excitement, too!

 Paddleboards are also a great way to get your body into shape. Forcing yourself to balance while paddling, strengthens the core, and endurance is increased from just staying on the board. Another form of exercise on the paddle boards is yoga. Imagine yoga on a sturdy surface, then put water under you. Sounds hard! A workout regimen can be done on the boards, too. Just think of how strong you can get while enjoying the water.

Paddle boarding is easy to learn. Then it’s up to you to practice and master all the neat techniques to enhance your fun and fitness. Lessons are available to get started. Another opportunity to have fun with paddle boards is racing them. This gets you in shape while some competitive juices flow.

One of the local paddle board experts is East Coast Board Sports. Their website http://eastcoastboardsports.com will show you all your options and costs. My guess is that you will get all fired up to get on a paddle board. I know there is one Extra Attic team member who is chomping at the bit to master the paddle board!