Despite being a diehard kayaker, when I first saw a paddleboard, or SUP, I knew I would love it. I liked the idea of being able to stand up and paddle, and I thought that SUPs would be perfect for the flat rivers and spring runs of north central Florida where I live. Now, after several years of paddleboarding, I have taken my 10′ ULI Steamroller all over Florida and Georgia, to the ocean, gulf, rivers, and springs. I also bought a 9′ AllWave Fanatic for surf, which is perfect for the baby waves I can handle.
Getting Started
Standing up on a paddleboard is fairly intuitive, and it doesn’t take much to get going. And if you fall in, just climb back up on the board, a real benefit on a hot Florida day. I first tried paddleboarding at the Sea Kayak Georgia Symposium, which although primarily a kayak event, often has several SUP options. Danny Mongno from Werner Paddles, showed me two types of paddle strokes and taught me how to do pivot turns, which helps me in the surf. As in kayaking, paddling comes from the core, not the arms, so learning proper technique has helped me avoid shoulder wear and tear. As I have become addicted to SUP surf, Ronnie Kemp of Sea Kayak Georgia has mentored me on techniques, such as turning on the wave. Just like skiing, though, learning to surf takes a lot of falls. As Ronnie reminded me the other day, I spent more time in the water than on the board.
Paddleboarding is a different workout than kayaking, and it engages different muscle groups. When I first began, my feet hurt from gripping the board, and my legs get a workout from constantly balancing–especially in choppy water. Paddling through the surf is a full body workout, and I have learned to loosen my legs to paddle over waves.
Where to SUP
Florida’s calm rivers and springs are ideal places to SUP, and standing up on the board offers a terrific vantage point to see manatees, fish, and turtles.
I often paddle the Ichetucknee River, starting at the south entrance and paddling upstream to the headspring at the north entrance, then floating back down. Paddling upstream on the Ichetucknee–and most springs–is not difficult. In places where the river narrows and the flow is stronger, I hop from eddy to eddy, working my way upstream. Last week, I paddled up the river and swam down, pulling the board behind me, and experienced the river from above and below. Spring runs like the Ichetucknee, Wakulla, and Rainbow Rivers are perfect places to get your ‘board legs,’ and the Ichetucknee State Park’s new outfitter rents extremely stable boards.
The shallow water of the Florida Keys is perfect for paddleboards. I’ve seen a variety of marine life, including baby nurse sharks hiding in the mangroves around Bahia Honda, Knight’s Key, and Curry Hammock State Park. At times, I’ve had to lie flat on my board to get through mangrove tunnels, a challenge to boarders. The shallow waters of the Keys and the darker waters of the St. Johns River and Ocklawaha River present another challenge to boarders: the fin. Several times, my fin has snagged on roots under the water and pitched me forward to an undignified face plant on the board.
To SUP or Kayak?
I am equally happy on a board or in a boat, so how do I choose? For spring runs or anytime I want to swim, I usually choose the board. To me, it’s just an excuse to jump in the water and swim, then climb back on. I love it for spring-hopping on the Santa Fe and the Suwannee rivers. For longer paddles, especially where the water might be choppy, I generally choose a kayak. While I can easily keep up with rec boats on my ULI board, I can’t keep up with longer sea kayaks. On Paddle Florida’s December 2015 trip on the St Johns River, the high winds and rough waters made my decision easy. I was comfortable in my 17′ kayak—paddling a SUP against those winds would have been miserable. I battled 20 mph headwinds on the Ocklawaha River earlier this week, and I think that might have been my limit.
What’s Next?
In the nine years I have lived in Florida, I have paddled all over Florida, on my own and with groups like Paddle Florida. My husband Kevin is an avid paddler, and we have explored and camped in the Keys and the 10,000 Islands and are eager to explore more of our state. I would like to try camping from a paddleboard and am looking at longer, solid boards that will carry my gear. So, you might see me on my new, longer board on the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Trail in the next few years.
Florida Waterscapes 
Great write-up! Any gator/sturgeon experiences?
Thanks. I’ve seen plenty of gators, but no real “experiences” to speak of .. fortunately. Same with sturgeon.