Marbella - Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING (SUP) IN MARBELLA

'Stand up Paddleboarding' or SUP for short or Surf de remo in Spanish. This sport is usually performed in the calm sea or a lake as larger waves or strong winds make it challenging. It was practiced in Tarifa in 2011 and became popular in other parts of Andalucía by 2015.

HISTORY

The origins of the sport are in Africa where it was common to stand on a kayak for better visibility when fishing. Lifeguards in Israel, Australia and California have practiced the same to watch over the swimmers. 

In the 1990s Stand up Paddleboarding was taught at Hawaiian surf schools as an alternative way to surf when there was little swell. This practice became increasingly popular and by the early noughties competitions were held.  The sport spread to Tarifa in summer 2011 and other parts of Andalucía by 2015.

EQUIPMENT

Stand up paddlers wear wet suits or neoprene suits depending on water and air temperature. These can be thinner than for surfing since most of the time is spent out of the water. Life jackets are recommended though not yet mandated in Spain as they are in some other water sports. An ankle-tied leach is also recommended to tie the person to the board, which is the flotation device in the event of difficulty.  

BOARDS

New SUP board prices range from 300 euro upwards. They can be purchased from watersports centres on the Coast or sports chains such as Decathlon in Málaga or Algeciras. 

Most SUP boards are constructed from a glass reinforced plastic exterior with an expanded polyurethane interior.  Inflatable boards have been introduced as well. 

The boards are generally longer than 2.7 metres with features such as padded decks and concave hulls; they generally have one or three surfboard-style fins in the stern for tracking. 

Shorter boards, which are more manoeuvrable andmade out of high-performance carbon fibre, are used in Stand Up Paddle Surf competitions. Race boards can be longer.

SCHOOLS AND COURSES

Some of the watersport centres in Marbella and on the Costa del Sol offer SUP courses and equipment rental.

Introductory courses usually last from two to four hours. They can be individual or in small groups.  

Boards can also be rented by the day, for beginners or professional custom boards.