Ya know…this list looks good on paper. In practice? Well this one was scary as hell! Why, you ask? I have terrible balance, I’m not at all fond of bodies of water that aren’t loaded with chlorine and I’ve got not a single athletic cell in my body.
I missed my first opportunity to try SUP (that’s how the cool kids abbreviate it) when we had to cancel a trip to Schroon Lake two weeks ago. I missed my second when we just couldn’t get it in gear during a visit to our friend’s lake house in Rhode Island last weekend. July 4th, I was leisurely floating in the pool with my sister Linda, and told her about my two dashed chances. Always the supportive sister, she told me she would do it with me if I wanted. Hello Groupon! For a mere 37 bucks each we signed up for a 90 minute instruction and tour in Cold Spring Harbor. I proceeded to spend the week alternating between panic and preparation. I have wicked bad knees and I knew a great part of this activity was going to involve kneeling and hopefully getting up from kneeling. I literally was practicing this on the floor. In my house.
The email from JKKayak.com came and for some reason assumed I was excited. I also needed water shoes. I haven’t worn those dorky things since I was a kid at Asharoken Beach and my tender little feet couldn’t handle rocks. A quick trip to Dick’s and I had water shoes and volleyball knee pads for both of us. Yes. Volleyball knee pads. Did I mention my wicked bad knees?
So at 10:15 on this beautiful Sunday morning we arrived in Cold Spring Harbor, spotted the JK Kayak van and with less excitement than the email suggested, dragged ourselves over to meet our instructor Krissy.
We got fitted for our paddles and our life jackets and if I thought those water shoes were dorky, check out the two of us in knee pads! We learned how to paddle, how to get from kneeling to standing, and my favorite – how to fall. Apparently it’s important to fall AWAY from the board and not face-plant onto it. Who knew!?
We got on our boards and started paddling out. Once Krissy brought us out past the channel it was time to stand up. On a board. Floating in the water. I’d like to say it went well. I’d like to say I wasn’t startled by a giant swan landing nearby. I’d like to say I fell into the water with grace and aplomb, but none of those would be true. Unbeknownst to me, Linda also took a fall. She, however, wasn’t paying attention during the instructions, and totally face-planted. I ended up sucking in some very salty water, managed to get back on the board and somehow got the guts to try it again. SUCCESS! I was standing on water! I lasted for quite a while too. We paddled along and I may have heard Krissy talk about the Cold Spring Harbor Lab yada, yada, yada, but I was afraid to look anywhere but straight ahead. Then the wind kicked up and helpful hint – once you slightly lose your balance on a paddleboard, you’re done. There’s no recovering while standing on water. Back in I went. I think it was here I blew my whistle and yelled “man down!” I thought it was funny, but Krissy got all nervous. All in all…I fell three times, which means I successfully got up twice (I happily paddled myself in on my knees).
Bottom line…I did it! Will I do it again? Not sure. Maybe if I’m on real calm water and I can stop sooner if I decide I’m done. But I will tell you…those knee pads were brilliant!
Suggested by Suzanne Schindel
Completed 7/10/17