As you cross the San Diego-Coronado Bridge you will see sail boats gliding in the wind, jet skis bouncing from wake to wake, and stand up paddleboards sprinkled on the water like scattered Crayola crayons. On top of the colorful paddleboards are locals and tourists who are diving into the popular watersport – Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP).
SUP has rapidly grown in popularity over the past decade and, as most sports do, it continues to evolve as athletes and non-athletes participate in the outdoorsy activity. SUP is known for being a physically demanding hobby that utilizes all of the muscles in the body. The added intrigue of exercising while floating on water is what has attracted millions of people to engage in the sport. While some enjoy the activity for the chance to be outdoors and trying something new, others see SUP as an opportunity to challenge their fitness.
PaddleFit is the most popular training program to come out of the SUP trend. With hundreds of instructors in more than 30 different countries, PaddleFit is teaching students the FUNdamentals of SUP.
“PaddleFit’s number one guiding principle is to teach people how to paddle correctly first. When the instructors accomplish that, they will hopefully limit the number of injuries and lay the foundation for clients to carve out their SUP and fitness path,” said Brody Welte, founder of PaddleFit.
I, as a very uncoordinated non-water athlete, decided it was time for me to get on board – a few boards, for that matter, and see if the trend is something I need to adapt to my fitness routine. After all, PaddleFit offers introductory lessons in Coronado.
“We offer introductory lessons, so that’s first time paddlers or paddlers with very limited skill set,” says Kevin Stucki, Head Coach at PaddleFit headquarters. “Basically, teaching you how to control your equipment and providing the foundation to progress in your paddling.”
Stucki has spent his entire life on the water either surfing, swimming, or paddling in the ocean. He’s taken over as Lead Sweeper in Coronado and Imperial Beach, conducting all lessons, camps, and classes himself.
As a SUP beginner, I knew I wanted to learn proper technique, which is why I turned to Stucki for instruction. We met at Glorietta Bay around 8:00am. After two cups of coffee, I was eager to jump on my (gargantuan) board and paddle off into the rising sun.
But, not so fast. Along the shoreline, after signing a concise safety waiver, Stucki first educated me on water safety, how to properly paddle, and the variation of paddling techniques (Hawaiian vs Tahitian). Stucki is a level 3 certified PaddleFit instructor and is passionate about building a SUP community in Coronado.
“Come out and you can enjoy the outdoors. We have such a beautiful place [San Diego Bay] here in our backyard. It has so much to offer in the way of water sports,” says Stucki.
I always thought that paddling was simple. But I quickly discovered that it requires a lot of core strength, something I lack greatly, especially after having a baby just a short three months ago. After fastening my safety belt, customizing the fit of my paddle, and practicing my stroke, I was ready to push off the shore and paddle off into the wind.
And, just like that, I was standing up on my board, the wind in my hair, feeling one with the sea, as my board rapidly shook below me.
“If you look straight down into the water you can see any aquatic life that’s swimming below you. It’s kind of like walking on water – it’s just a different perspective,” says Stucki.
I saw stingrays, schools of fish, other aquatic athletes, and, for the first time ever, ventured under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. When I looked up – the majestic blue bridge made me feel so inadequate, but when I looked down, I felt more powerful than the beings below me.
During my paddle back to the PaddleFit headquarters, about an hour and a half into the lesson, my feet began to cramp. Was I not standing properly on my board? Did I focus too much on engaging my core muscles that I forgot to stimulate blood flow to my lower extremities? No. Stucki said SUP exercises, if done properly, should work every part of my body, including my legs and feet. Maybe it was the one (or four) times I nearly plummeted into the water and frantically flailed my arms to reclaim my balance, or the 10 mile an hour winds that I faced head-on, that left me feeling exhausted; but I believe the lesson took my fitness on an adventure that I will dare to go on again.
As if challenging your fitness wasn’t enough to motivate you to try PaddleFit, “It’s a great way to meet people in the community who are doing like-minded things,” says Stucki. So whether you venture to take one of Stucki’s classes by yourself or with someone else; you will have nothing short of a memorable experience on the San Diego Bay.
This summer marks PaddleFit’s fourth summer in Coronado. The PaddleFit Headquarters can be found at the Coronado Boathouse. For a complete list of class schedules and camps, as well as pricing, please see below:
Fitness Club
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning at 7:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday beginning 5:00 p.m.
Classes are between an hour and an hour and a half long
Kids Camps – June 13th – August 18th
Each week:
Monday – Aquatics Camp 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. (no aquatics camp 4th of July)
Tuesday -Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
PaddleFit Pro Certification
April 30th, May 1st
At the Coronado Clubroom and Boathouse
Pricing:
- Group $50(3 or more persons)
- Private $75
- Fitness $35
- Fitness Punch Pass, 10 passes $250
- Kids Camps $100 resident, $110 nonresident (3 day camp)
PaddleFit also offers touring packages, like paddling plus lunch, and paddle to the Midway, as well as birthday paddle parties.
For more information call Kevin Stucki at (619) 210-3640 or email [email protected]
