Stand up paddle boarding is an ancient form of surfing. Before it became a tourist activity or leisure activity, stand up paddle boarding was a form of work. For those unfamiliar with the sport, it is a surface water sport where the surfer uses a paddle to move through the water while standing on a surfboard. The boards used are similar to surfboards, but longer and more buoyant. Stand up paddle boarding can be traced back to the early days of Polynesia. However, it gained popularity in Hawaii. In the 1960’s photographers would use paddle boarding in order to capture a better action shot of the surfers, the angle that the stand up paddle board provided resulted in better pictures. Although this was part of the photographers job, they were not the only ones interested in this new form of surfing. A major component of stand up paddle boarding is balance, the feet and legs have to work hard to keep the surfer on the board. Also, the paddling keeps the arms moving constantly and all the while the paddlers core abdominal and back are getting a great workout. As time passed, the professional surfers began to take notice and "they were discovering stand up paddle surfing to allow them to keep in shape for the bigger days of tow surfing as well as adding a new dimension to their skills" (Rasmussen 1). As this approach became more popular, competitions for stand up paddle boarding began to emerge throughout the surf world. This ancient form of surfing had become a profession for photographers and surfers. Just as resorts would offer surf lessons, paddle boarding lessons became available for tourists visiting locations such as Hawaii, California, and Florida. This activity soon became more popular than surf lessons because it is relatively easy to pick up, offers a great view deep into the water and across the surface of the water, and provides an excellent work out. Stand up paddle boarding has transitioned from a form of work to a "perfect combination of exercise and fun" (Basso 1).
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