I spent Saturday afternoon with gorgeous Fall weather, a stand up paddleboard, and Shannon, my SUP instructor @ Pier 66 (Manhattan Kayak Company).
SUP’ing on the Hudson was a bit more calamitous than I’d anticipated; compared to Sunset and Newport Beach’s calm, quiet waters, the Hudson held a few surprises for the beginner SUP, including but not limited to: helicopter winds, big boats, and wind-driven waves.
Shannon taught us the Tahitian paddle, which I learned was far more efficient than what I’d been doing. Basically, the former is a total body workout, leveraging hip and torso movements, while the latter is all arms.
I ended class with om, downward dogging to stretch out my legs from thr 40 mile, 1700′ climb by bike I’d done earlier in the day. Sadly, I fell into the murky Hudson River shortly after attempting a side plank on my board. #SUPyogafail.
I look forward to SUP’ing next season in the city!