Stand up paddle surfing (Supsurfing), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu,  is an ancient form of surfing with a Hawaiian heritage and re-emerged as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of students, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard. The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing”, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing originates.

The sport benefits athletes with a strong ‘core’ workout and is gaining in popularity as celebrities are sampling the sport, and cross-over athletes are training with stand up paddling. SUPs have been spotted around the globe, anywhere where there is easy access to safe waters.