River SUP, a new sport Made in Spain
Year 2008 at a stop on the Valencia-Alicante highway.- What's that? - I asked.
- It is a SUP (Stand up Paddle Surf) board
- Can this navigate a river?
- I don't know. Fernando Labad responded, but this is designed for the sea.
- If it floats in the sea, it can also float in a river. I invite you to my river to try.
In this way, the River SUP was born. We tried it and I immediately realized that it could be anew way of descending rivers. You can see an example of this sport in this link and get an idea of what I mean.
For two years I fought with the river and the board, I fell in all the rapids again and again. I knew it was a matter of persevering: I began applying whitewater kayaking techniques to the board.
I soon got the first positive reactions, although guides and kayakers did not predict any future prospects. I was still stubborn.
At the end of 2010 I was no longer falling and I managed to put the bug in my colleague Gallego who until then had also been skeptical.
The simple fact of walking down a river standing gave me great satisfaction, it was different from what existed. On the river, in all or almost all boats, you descend while sitting, which prevents you from having a wide view, however, from a board it is much larger, therefore reading the river is easier. br />
Soon I found a type of board that had good conditions for the river, I bought some boards and added it as one more activity offered by Kalahari Adventures. The results were great and I could see how the clients were delighted.
It was difficult to get people to choose River SUP as an activity, but given the good results it had obtained, it had to be tried. We encouraged clients who were undecided about choosing an activity to try it. The most surprising thing? People repeated it, which gave us the opportunity to continue.
We awaken curiosity of the sea paddle surfers and some were interested in the novelty and beauty provided by the photos that we posted on the Internet.
The questions that were repeated the most were: Do you have to have a lot of balance if it is already difficult in the sea? Well no, in principle it is easier, rivers are much more predictable than the sea and the surface until you reach the rapids is usually flat. When you reach the rapids you can go down on your knees on the board, sitting or even lying down. Although people end up walking down or at least try to.
Last year we had the opportunity to descend the Noguera Pallaresa River in a concentration of kayaks and not even tell you the look of astonishment on the faces of the most expert canoeists.
Last year we managed to hold the first competition of this sport in the Cabriel River, this year we have consolidated it with the "Mitical River SUP" with a 40 km route. downhill plus a slalom test.
Today we have become a worldwide reference. Let's hope little by little to make this activity known to people willing to try something new and with this initiative attract the world of surfing to the interior.
In Kalahari we offer you the possibility of trying a one-day descent or taking a weekend course where we not only teach you descent technique but also river self-rescue. , essential for practicing River SUP.
Degrees of difficulty in river
At initiation the rivers must be simple, grade 2, to gradually advance and ascend in difficulty to the maximum, grade 4. In kayak the most difficult is grade 6 and from there it is considered impassable.
Have you already practiced it? Tell us your experience here.
