Exploring the Utilisation of Stand up Paddle Boarding in Australia

Abstract

Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) has grown exponentially in the last few years with unprecedented participation rates globally. Despite some scientific research on physiological and performance variables, minimal information exists regarding participation and utilisation. The purpose of this study was to discover more about how and where people participate in the relatively new sport of SUP. An open-source online survey application was administered internationally to active SUP participants to capture information relevant to both demographics and participation. Of a total of 240 responses, 154 (64.2%) were Australian. The average SUP rider was 42.9 ± 11.7 years, mass 80.4 ± 18.7 kg, 1.75 ± 0.10 m tall with a BMI of 26.1 ± 4.9. More males (69.5%) participate in SUP than females with the majority of participants from the eastern seaboard of Australia. Participants most commonly used SUP for fun and fitness, for around 3 h per week, predominantly at the beach with friends, with around half of the respondents reporting a competitive involvement. This is the first study to date to quantify participation of SUP within Australia. Results revealed SUP is a global activity with a high representation within Australia. Key findings from this study reveal the geographical and demographic distribution of SUP use. Consequently, these findings may inform the industry about its target audience. Additionally, information regarding the ‘typical’ SUP rider may serve to further promote and grow the sport.

Anaerobic Threshold in Stand-up Paddle: Comparison Between Direct and Alternative Methods

“…Thus, although of lower agreement with OBLA, this methodological approach increases the applicability of CV in training routines. Furthermore, this study used efforts between 400 and 800 m, which are uncommon in SUP competitions (21), and this could be a limitation of our results. Thus, future studies should test the relations with OBLA, using longer efforts to determine CV in SUP.…”

“…Eight athletes (age: 23 6 3 years (range: 18-27 years); height: 173.0 6 9.0 cm; body mass: 66.9 6 5.8 Kg; body fat: 9.4 6 1.9%) participated in this study, with a minimum of 2 years of competitive SUP experience, training 5 times per week, with a mean volume higher than 10 h•wk 21 . The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil, on the protocol number 58508116.1.0000.5013.…”

Analysis of Stand-up Paddle Boarding: A systematic review (Análisis del Stand Up Paddle. Una revisión sistemática)

“…On the one hand, Azevedo, Carvalho, Batista & Columá (2017) aim to discuss, via a review, the relationship of SUP practice as an adventure sport, concluding that this form of adventure has become a growing practice, especially in coastal regions. On the other, Schram and Furness (2017c) conducted a study via an on-line questionnaire, with the aim of finding out more about how and where people practise SUP. They concluded that participants most commonly used SUP for fun and fitness for around 3 hours a week, predominantly at the beach with friends, with around half of respondents reporting competitive participation.…”

Insight Into the Development and Competitiveness of Male UK-Based Stand-up Paddleboard Flatwater Distance Racing From 2013 to 2017

“…These studies stated that SUP is a globally performed physical activity but with a high concentration in Australia (6). In addition, it proposed that SUP athletes possess a high level of fitness, strength and balance (3) and that long term participation appeared to be associated with improvements in body composition, aerobic fitness and trunk muscle endurance (4).…”