Stand up paddle (acronym SUP) is a variant of surfing in which one stands on a board (similar to surfing but with more volume to support the athlete’s weight), using a special paddle for propulsion. This sport has experienced considerable growth in recent years worldwide, with many practitioners also in Italy
According to analysis of James Cook’s diaries, as early as 1778 the English explorer, as the first European to land in Hawaii, observed some natives paddling upright on large boards to ride the waves. Others believe that they were simply fishermen and that, in any case, the birth of the sport took place around the 1950s in Waikiki, with the rediscovery of wave surfing led by Duke Kahanamoku, who would, years later, create the first generation of beachboys.
Photo by Matteo Paolillo IL GOLFO DELL’ISOLA and Scuola Bonaccia Sup Bacci
