Stand up paddle boarding is growing in popularity and the Surfrider Foundation, Atlanta Chapter, along with the Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club, is holding a race this Saturday at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue. If you haven’t seen this sport that looks like standing on a surfboard and paddling with an extra long paddle – this is a great opportunity to learn a little about it.

It’s not as hard as it looks – and people are trying it everywhere. It started in Hawaii in the 60’s, but classes have been offered in this part of the country for several years. It doesn’t take much of a class either, if you can stand up, you can do it. The boards are actually wider than a surfboard and really very stable. Experts suggest beginners start in a kneeling stance to get comfortable, then stand up as they feel balanced.

I saw my first SUP boarder on the New River in Apalachicola, Florida last year as he guided a group of kayakers in search of alligators.  (Yep, they were from out of town.) Standing up gives the paddler a better perspective of the horizon than those sitting the boats. The alligator hunt was fruitless, but the guide really was quite comfortable and in control on his board. The New is a very slow, blackwater river, but stand up paddle boarding is not limited to flatwater.

This year I spotted the boards on the Toccoa River near Blue Ridge. The Toccoa River is fast, and has rapids, although it’s not quite as fast as the Ocoee which it becomes. The Ocoee was the site of the whitewater course during the 1996 Olympics.

Which brings us back to the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue and Saturday’s race. There is no charge for admission to Saturday’s race. There will also be a free paddle session and demonstration, an SUP instructional clinic and children’s races. (Race participants must register and pay a fee.) Food will be provided by Sweet Auburn Barbeque and Kona Ice. For more information, see http://supsplashrace.com/lanier.