In the beginning were the fishermen from Polynesia, who stood and maneuvered their narrow canoes with a paddle in the Pacific in search of the perfect catch. In the meantime, the so-called “stand-up paddling” has established itself as a recognized sport all over the world, in which competitions are also held. Especially during Corona, the sport experienced a boom that is still going on.
Born in Lichtenberg, Alexandra Hutter from Ried im Innkreis and Sigrid Lesterl from Ohlsdorf, district of Gmunden, are passionate fans of this sport, for whom their paddle boards have become indispensable. “Even before Corona, we both discovered the passion for this special type of water sports and got to know each other through it. Since then, we have undertaken numerous tours together throughout Austria and discovered new spots,” says Hutter. To be more precise, there have been more than 70 bodies of water in seven countries since then, because vacations are now also used to explore cities and regions from the water. The two publish the impressions of their SUP experiences on social networks (see info box). “You discover things from completely new perspectives and see the world from a different perspective,” adds Lesterl.
A joint e-book of these tours is currently being developed. For the two friends, stand-up paddling is not only a change from everyday life in summer. “Especially in autumn and winter we enjoy the decelerating solitude and silence and really come to rest,” says Hutter. The safety aspect is particularly important to both of them, recently there have been a few accidents – also in Upper Austria.
Observe precautionary measures
“There are rules that everyone should follow when going out on the water to avoid accidents. If the water temperature is below 13 degrees Celsius, it is imperative to wear special protective clothing, such as a wetsuit or dry suit, so that you don’t suffer a – sometimes fatal – cold shock when you fall into the water. This also applies in spring or late autumn when the air temperature is higher,” emphasize the paddlers. You should also pay attention to high-quality equipment and wearing a leash (ankle strap to fix it to the board in the event of a fall),” says Hutter.
“Before a tour, it’s also important to check the weather conditions and adjust the distance to your own ability,” adds her colleague. If you are well prepared and equipped, nothing stands in the way of untroubled paddling fun. When asked about the most beautiful spot so far, they don’t have to think long: the mystical Hallstättersee, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has particularly impressed them.
Tips from the pro
“Basically, you can say that boards from around 500 euros are usually of good quality and you can definitely have a lot of fun with them,” says Stefan Karpe, who founded the Glory Boards brand in 2015 with its headquarters on Wallersee.
“The wider a board is, the more stable it is. However, you need more power to move forward with wide boards. The consequence: you are slower. The narrower and more pointed a board is, the faster it goes, but as a paddler you need more balance Good advice is important, and testing the board, if possible, is also recommended,” says Karpe.
The demand for SUP boards continues to be high. “I think that one can no longer speak of a trend sport. Stand-up paddling has established itself as a popular sport. The sport and the boards will continue to develop in the coming years, I am convinced of that,” says Karpe .
Facebook and Instagram
Anyone who would like to join the Facebook community of Alexandra Hutter and Sigrid Lesterl, where not only tours are described but also lots of useful paddling tips are given, can do so in the “Sup Around in Austria” group. The two also share their many SUP adventures with their followers on their Instagram accounts. More: “sup_erience”, “__sup.reme__”
Source: Nachrichten
