Paddleboarding

So somewhere, probably a magazine of some sort, I came across paddleboarding.   I'm sure what drew me to it was a picture like this:

credit

I mean, doesn't that look nice?  In my head it looked like a very serene, tranquil, one with nature, zen- like experience.  It also looked really, really easy.  I mean the board looks big and think, I'm relatively coordinated, and I know how to canoe.   Right?  No problem.

So, of course, my first thought it is, 'I will buy one of these boards and immediately become one with the water.'  A quick google search shows that boards and paddles are in the range of 400+ bucks.  Ahhh I think, let's find a better solution.

So I found a local group on meet up.  Last night, for a mere 25 bucks, I went out to meet the meet up group and be one with the water.  Well let me enlighten you on a few things.

1- It is like canoeing when you are on your knees... and even then, it isn't.

Ohhh and that's Cameron Diaz in case you were wondering.  

2- A very big positive.  When you do finally stand up, and then fall in, it is very easy to get back on the board.  I was very glad to find that out because I fell a good number of times.

3- Pictures of this

credit

probably take more practice than one night.  

4-  It is a very serene sport.  Especially since, you are by yourself.  This isn't the kind of thing where you are socializing while waiting for a wave or just getting tan.  In fact if you aren't paddling, you are more likely to fall over and be one with the water.

credit

 5-  It is no joke.  I googled a bamillion pictures.  Every person paddleboarding looks like a model.  It is an entire body workout.  I'm pretty sure my entire body will need to be iced tomorrow and I plan a nice day of movie watching.

see models!
You can scroll back up and look at Cameron too
credit

I really did enjoy myself though.  The group I met with had 3 really nice 'instructors' and they each took time to give me some pointers and tell me to get up and try again.  They even loaned me a suuuper expensive board for the night and made the experience super enjoyable.  

Aaaand, after my ice baths, Bengay rubs, and a week of recovery, what will I be doing Thursday nights from now on?  Paddleboarding.