Saturday, June 15, 2013

Manuel Antonio Paddleboards: A Costa Rican Recipe For Fun

By Lou Manning


Stand up paddle, or SUP as it is known in the surfing community, is the latest trend in water sports. Once popular in 1960s Hawaii, it regained admiration in the new millennium when professional surfers brought attention to it. The five thousand year old Peruvian origins demonstrate longevity. Join in the fun through Manuel Antonio paddleboards in Costa Rica for a terrific time.

One of the first things to learn about paddle boarding is that the sport requires specific equipment. It is wise not to just hop on a regular surfboard and try to paddle off into the sunset. A stand up board, or SUB, is not at all the same as a long board. Instead, a well-designed SUB will make paddling and balancing easier, so you can glide with little effort rather than struggle for control.

Before you are ready to join the fun in Manuel Antonio, you will need to learn to use the oar correctly, particularly how to hold it in various positions and how to switch it from one side to the other. You will also need to know how to move from standing to kneeling and back again. It will be necessary to learn strategies to work with the wind and currents, techniques for turning, and weight distribution and balance.

Modern paddle boarding gained popularity through professional surfers like Laird Hamilton, who initially used it mainly for conditioning. Just carrying one to the beach can be a workout in itself. Manuel Antonio paddleboards are sometimes used in water yoga workouts. Participants strike yoga poses on their boards while out on the water. The workout enhances their balance, and after yoga board meditations are even more relaxing on the moving water.

You can choose one of these diverse paddleboard tours in Manuel Antonio for a quiet time on the water. One tour takes you through the mangroves where you will see exotic birds, reptiles and other wildlife in one of the most bio diverse and sensitive ecosystems in Costa Rica. The other will have you gliding across clear water staring into the turquoise at abundant marine life. It is a perspective you could not duplicate sitting or lying on it.

For the more adventurous, stand up surfing would make a better choice. Manuel Antonio Beach is the perfect venue for this activity. Even as a novice, the brave at heart can have fun here. Experienced guides will not only teach you how to catch a wave in a safe way, but they will also make you aware of surf etiquette that may keep you from unnecessary confrontations with surfers. This beach serves up excellent waves for the more experienced SUP surfer.

Pair your stand up paddleboard adventure with a second activity that is completely different. By combining activities like paddle boarding and a canopy tour or a jungle hike, you can experience the best of both worlds. Spend time in Manuel Antonio National Park with the sloths and monkeys, or hike to hidden pools and beautiful waterfalls.

Try this hot new watersport in Costa Rica, and get out on the water with Manuel Antonio paddleboards. Whether gliding calm waters, navigating tropical mangroves, pairing paddle boarding with another activity, or stand up paddle surfing, there is something for everyone.




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