Colorado, the land of mountain living and . . . surfing?
Outdoor aqua enthusiasts are no longer limited to boats or rafts. Stand-up paddleboarding quickly is making its way into weekend plans and the gear closets of Front Rangers.
Stand-up paddleboarding started in Hawaii, where traditional surfing also laid its roots, but paddling has made a name in the Rocky Mountains on lakes and rivers.
Paddleboarding looks pretty foreign, as people drift across lakes on long and wide boards, but that’s what drew Michelle Webb.
As an East Coast transplant, Webb yearned for more access to water sports and finally found her niche in the summer of 2009. From the shore of a lake near her home in Longmont, she could only watch as two of her neighbors scooted around, but soon her curiosity won out and she tried paddleboarding at a local demonstration and clinic. After a summer of learning the basics, it became a passion, then a career.
Based on her newfound love, Webb and her husband Scott created Freshwater Paddle Boards, an online paddleboard retailer that caters to even the most novice of paddleboarders. The Webbs were beginners just one year ago.
“Paddleboarding has such a short learning curve,” Webb said. “You feel pretty sketchy the first couple times you are out there, but it is all in your head. The board is wide enough to keep you stable.”
Alex Manzo, a private instructor and employee at Confluence Kayaks in Denver, said novice paddleboarders should start out paddling around lakes, learning the basics of standing on the board, handling the paddle and taking their first strokes.
“This is a sport that anyone can do,” Manzo said. “All you have to do is put the board in the water, get on the board and start figuring it out. It doesn’t require that many skills.”
The focus for beginners is balancing and paddling. Once the basic movements are mastered, paddleboarders can move past stagnant lake waters and on to rivers, creeks and oceans. The switch from still water to moving water requires a change in paddleboard style, from an epoxy fiberglass board to an inflatable board, but also requires a change in mind-set.
Lake and river sports carry a certain risk for outdoor enthusiasts, but Manzo recommends taking a river paddleboarding class in addition to a swift water rescue course before making the move into rushing water. The option of wearing a personal flotation device is becoming less of a choice, as they are a requirement at more lakes and rivers.
“They are not called ‘life jackets’ anymore,” Manzo said, laughing. “The only thing that can save your life is yourself.
“You need to be able to read currents and deal with hazards as they come up down the river. People need to learn how to swim in the river because it is so different than swimming in lakes or the ocean.”
From Day One, in flat or moving water, people can expect to see immediate improvements in their skills, but also in their bodies. Men can count on burning 800 to 1,000 calories per hour, 500-700 calories per hour for women. With an emphasis on proper paddling technique, daily crunches can be skipped in exchange for this full-body water workout.
“At the same time you are enjoying nature in a different way, you are doing lots of exercise,” Manzo said. “People who are looking to do major core exercise are going to get that with paddleboarding.”
As Confluence Kayaks more than quadrupled its paddleboard fleet from two to nine in one year, the growth and exposure of stand-up paddle boarding in Colorado is visible from the reservoirs on the Front Range to the raging waters of Salida and Buena Vista.
The draw stems from the availability to most people, regardless of age or physical fitness, to a new way to enjoy the outdoors. Stand-up paddleboarding allows a person to surf the swift waters of the Arkansas or float across the Boulder Reservoir.
“It is fun because it is easy,” said Scott Stidham, a Confluence Kayaks employee. “If you fall off, you climb back on. If you want to race, you race. If you want to cruise, you cruise.
“You can take little kids all the way up to older adults. If you can stand . . . you can paddleboard.”
Getting on the board
The first step to getting on a paddleboard is to crawl on and into a “baby crawl” position. Place your paddle across the top of the board and steady your hands on the paddle with your knees behind you. Use your arms to lift your body up and let your legs follow. Make sure not to put more weight on one side, which will tip the board, and you, back into the water. Once in the standing position, put your legs shoulder-width apart and start paddling.
The gear
The board
Boards range from 9 to 12 1/2 feet in length and cost $399 to $2,000. Choosing the right board depends on height, weight and style of paddleboarding you are ready to engage in. If you are looking to cruise, make sure the board is long enough to support you, but short enough to control. If you have racing on your mind, find a longer board so you are less affected by lake or river waves. Paddleboards are made with fiberglass epoxy for lake boards and are inflatable for the river. The inflatable board takes on less rock damage when jetting down the river. Easy storage is a plus to the inflatable board.
The paddle
Look for an adjustable paddle made of fiberglass or carbon with a wood head. To fit the paddle correctly, place the tip of the paddle on the ground and lengthen the top portion of the paddle until your arm is fully extended and your wrist is bent naturally over the T-grip handhold. When paddling, the end of the paddle will be submerged in water, leaving you with a comfortable length.
Personal flotation device
A paddleboarder’s PFD is not a bright orange, boxy life vest, but a sleek vest that comfortably fits over a wetsuit or on exposed skin. Remember to check the PFD rules for different lakes and rivers throughout Colorado. It is wise to have a PFD with you at all times.
Coverups
Depending on the weather and water temperature, covering up skin makes a big difference in the paddleboarding experience. If the water is cold — a lake in the offseason and rivers year-round — investing in a wetsuit is wise. In the summertime, swimsuits, board shorts and sunscreen often is enough on flat water.
Leash
A leash connecting you to the paddleboard will keep things together if you fall off. The paddleboard also can act as an extra large personal flotation device if needed, so it’s best not to let it get away.
Where to begin
Chatfield Reservoir, gravel ponds
The gravel ponds on the southwest side of the park keep paddleboarders safe from motorized vehicles. Just off Wadsworth near C-470 in Littleton, it’s an easy destination for a day on the lake.
Bear Creek Reservoir
Bear Creek Reservoir offers an open lake that is conveniently close to the metro area in Lakewood on West Morrison Road.
Boulder Reservoir
Boulder’s fast-paced paddleboarding community often gathers at the Boulder Reservoir to race, attend clinics and connect with others who are interested in the sport.
Upcoming events
SUP Festival and Race
July 9, 10 a.m. One of the metro area’s largest lakes will be infiltrated with paddle boarders as the public heads out on Sloan’s Lake to celebrate the sport.
SUP Salida Sessions
July 16, 10 a.m. The Arkansas River hosts a 2.5-mile downriver run followed by a surfing competition judged on style, innovation and fluidity.
