SUP stands for “stand up paddle”. It’s used for both the sport, stand up paddle boarding, and the board itself, a SUP or SUP board. You stand on a large, stable board and move it with a long, single-bladed paddle.
Quick answer
- SUP = stand up paddle (board, or boarding).
- SUPing or SUPping = going stand up paddle boarding. You’ll also see “paddleboarding” and “paddle boarding”.
- iSUP = an inflatable SUP board.
- SUP surfing, SUP yoga, SUP fishing, SUP racing = the sport’s main offshoots.
- Online, “sup” can also be slang for “what’s up?” Context usually makes it obvious.
How do you say SUP?
Most paddlers say it as a word, “sup”, rhyming with “cup”. Some spell it out, “S-U-P”. Both are fine.
SUP the board vs SUP the sport
The board. A SUP board looks like an oversized surfboard: usually 9 to 12 feet long and around 30 to 34 inches wide for all-around boards, with lots of volume so it floats you while you stand. It has a soft deck pad to stand on, a fin or fins underneath, and a carry handle in the middle. Boards are either hard (foam core wrapped in epoxy or plastic) or inflatable. See what are paddle boards made of.
The paddle. A SUP paddle has a single blade and a T-shaped grip on top, and it’s long, typically several inches taller than you. Some come with a second blade that converts them into a kayak paddle, so you can sit down and paddle.
The sport. Stand up paddle boarding is standing on the board and paddling across flat water, rivers or the ocean. Most people do it for fun and fitness on calm lakes and bays. It’s easy to try. Most beginners can stand and paddle on calm water in their first session.
Where SUP came from
People have stood on rafts and boats and pushed themselves along with poles and paddles for thousands of years, in places from Peru to the Mediterranean and China.
The modern sport began on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii in the 1940s. Surf instructors, including John Ah Choy and his sons Leroy and Bobby, started standing on their longboards with canoe paddles. Standing up let them see incoming swells, keep an eye on their students and take photos of them. Duke Kahanamoku also helped popularize it. It became known as “beach boy surfing”, after the Waikiki Beach Boys who taught tourists.
It stayed a niche Hawaiian thing for decades. Then, in the 1990s and early 2000s, big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and others began using paddles to train and to surf, and the sport spread fast. By 2004 SUP surfing was a category at a big Hawaiian surf contest, and the first dedicated SUP magazine launched in 2007. Inflatable boards later made SUP cheap and easy to store, which helped it take off on lakes and rivers around the world.
Types of SUP
- All-around: wide, stable boards for general paddling. The usual first board.
- Touring: longer, pointed boards for distance and speed.
- Racing: long, narrow boards for speed.
- Surf: shorter boards that turn quickly in waves.
- Yoga: wide, flat boards with a full deck pad. See what is paddle board yoga.
- Fishing: wide, stable boards with mounts for rods and coolers. See the best fishing paddle boards.
- Whitewater: short, tough boards for rivers.
Not sure which size or type suits you? Our Board Fitter recommends a board based on your weight, ability and where you’ll paddle.
What you need to try SUP
- A board and paddle. Rent first if you’re not sure. Most inflatable packages include a paddle, pump, leash and bag.
- A leash that attaches the board to your ankle or waist.
- A life jacket. In the US, the Coast Guard treats a paddle board as a vessel outside surf and swim areas, so you need to carry a Coast Guard-approved life jacket and a whistle. We recommend wearing one. Our best PFD for SUP roundup covers options.
- Clothes you don’t mind getting wet and sun protection.
SUP basics in 30 seconds
- Start on your knees in water at least knee deep, in the middle of the board.
- Stand up one foot at a time, feet hip-width apart, knees soft.
- Look at the horizon, not your feet.
- Hold the paddle with one hand on the T-grip and one on the shaft, blade angled forward.
- Paddle a few strokes on one side, then swap sides to go straight.
FAQ
What does SUP stand for in paddle boarding?
Stand up paddle. “SUP” can mean the board, the paddle sport, or both.
Is SUP the same as paddle boarding?
Yes, in everyday use. Technically, “paddleboarding” also includes prone paddleboarding, where you lie on the board and paddle with your hands. Stand up paddling is the version where you stand and use a paddle.
What does iSUP mean?
An inflatable stand up paddle board. iSUPs roll up into a backpack, which makes them easy to store and travel with.
Is SUP hard to learn?
Not on calm water. Most people can stand and paddle within their first hour. Wind, waves and current make it harder, so start somewhere sheltered.
