Puerto Vallarta: Paddling
Stand Up and Paddle
Our first introduction to standing on a surf board with a paddle was a wet one. It took several attempts to learn our balance points but the landing was always soft and forgiving. Stand Up Paddle, known as SUP, has become increasingly popular in Puerto Vallarta over the past few years. SUP is an all-ages sport. Competitions are regular and entertaining, up and down the coastline, with Sayulita hosting a variety of annual events.
SUP might be new in Puerto Vallarta but to surfers, it’s been around for a long while. Hawaiian surfers called it Board Surfing and when the surf wasn’t high, they could still be in the water and move about at will, waiting for a big one to come along. The idea is to place your feet parallel faced toward the head of the board. Using your large back muscles, pull a long stroke, making sure your grasp is a shoulder width apart, otherwise you’ll wear yourself out quickly with short movements. A sesh (session) is the length of time one works out on their board and the goal is to lengthen the seshes on a daily basis in an effort to improve balance, strength, and endurance. It’s an alternative to the gym and we like the outdoor aspect. In Puerto Vallarta, summer is a great time to strengthen skills and lengthen seshes; the water can be a method to cool off in the intense heat and humidity.
Some think Puerto Vallarta’s surf is a little too rough and that may be true for the beginner, though the ocean is unpredictable. We have seen the Bay of Banderas at Beach Los Muertos as smooth as a pond. We’ve found calm waters in the bay at Yelapa, north in Sayulita, and Bucerias, and to the south, off the shores of Las Animas and Quimixto. Mismaloya, with its protected cove is ideal for SUP. It’s not necessary to schlep your board to these destinations but we do see them often toted onto buses. Boards in zippered cases are a common site in oversized baggage at the airport, as well.
Tours of Stand Up Paddle are very common and it’s nice to have a guide who can teach you the fundamentals. Ask at any beach kiosk in Puerto Vallarta or any of the above mentioned locations and you’re likely to find just what you’re looking for, along with someone knowledgeable and experienced. We recommend SUP as a great relaxing form of exercise; low impact and easy for anyone.
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Thanks to our Guest Blogger Adam Garcia for this great article!
Harriet Cochran Murray, Director of Cochran Real Estate, is a seasoned Real Estate professional both here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and in the United States. Harriet has served in many capacities as a board member and President for the local Real Estate Association AMPI (AMPI is the national association of real estate professionals). She is also a member of FIABCI and NAR in the United States. Harriet’s expertise and experience in the Real Estate and especially in the Mexican market makes her Viewpoint blog articles both informational and intriguing. Harriet is a Buyer’s Agent who specializes in getting the best deal on the right property for her clients.
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