The SUP originated from the Hawaiian beach boys sometime in the 1950's. They would stand up on their old thick surfboards, paddling it with a canoe paddle in order to take pictures of the tourists that they were teaching to surf.
Sometime around 2000 the professional surfers started making larger boards and paddled them standing up. These boards, used for training and to kill time between SUP the good surf swells, became known as Standup Paddleboards and the SUP type surfboard evolved into a water sport that almost everyone could enjoy.
The SUP is typically over 10' 0" in length, averaging 30" wide, and 4-6" thick. Recreational SUP type surfboards normally range from 10' 0" to 12' 0" in length which are sufficient sizes to support most adult surfers or paddlers.
The SUP is a type surfboard that is a big platform, which allows a paddler/surfer the stability needed to stand up on the board and paddle with a custom sized paddle to move the board from point A to point B.
The nice thing about this type surfboard is that it is easy to learn to ride. Normally an instructor will give a new rider a lesson on the beach or shoreline, assist the rider into the water, have him or her paddling on their knees, standing up and paddling, learning how to get back upon the SUP when they fall off, and eventually within 20 minutes or so, the rider will be cruising around the lake or body of water.
The SUP requires a paddle that is fit to size the height of the rider. There is a specific way to use the paddle for maximum efficiency. The surfer/rider will learn this from experience after getting the initial instruction from their instructor.
SUPs allow the rider to be above the water and have a good view of the surroundings above and below the water. If you want to see the fish or the underwater SUP terrain, this is a great way to go.
The SUP requires good balance, but most people will find them relatively easy to ride and will bring the riders a lot of fun and a feeling of success.
You can ride the SUPs in most bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. You will find them all over the country. The SUP type surfboard has taken surfboards out of the ocean and into the interior bodies of water.