Stand-Up Paddling | Get up, Stand up

There's no need to look beyond city limits when it comes to wild new water sports. A new trend, stand-up paddling (SUP), has been enjoying increasing popularity in these parts. Supposedly, it all began in Hawaii, where surf instructors stood on their boards in order to keep a watchful eye on their protégés. While the legend may or may not hold true, this summer marks the first year where stand-up paddling classes will be held afloat Berlin's various bodies of water.

The Technische Universität Berlin offers courses meant not only for students but for anyone who's interested at TU's boat house near Stölzensee. Here, trainer Christian Hahn regularly introduces amateur-paddlers into the world of SUP in a one and a half-hour introductory course. “SUP trains your entire body because you're constantly working to keep a balance. But it's still a gentle sport that anyone can learn.” The only prerequisite is that you know how to swim.

After Hahn's introductory course, participants can acquire a card with which they may rent equipment from the boat house at any time of the day – a definite advantage because SUP boards are expensive. They're also almost twice the size of a normal surf board.

Stand-up paddlers must follow the same regulations as canoeists on public water terrain. So remember: always yield to larger boats!

(azi)