Imagine starting your morning quietly gliding across the lake. The morning mist still veils the shoreline, a blue heron swoops gracefully past only inches above the glassy water. The only sounds are the morning bird songs and the occasional splash of a jumping fish… That’s one side of what standup paddleboarding on Lake Norman is all about; calm, quiet, relaxing, finding one’s center. When the lake is calm and glassy it’s very much like taking a stroll across the water. And much like taking a brisk stroll, paddleboarding, or SUP’n, as those who have taken up the sport often call it, also gives you a very efficient aerobic workout, while using many of the body’s major muscle groups.

Standup paddleboarding is easy to learn and great fun for all ages. The boards are larger than the average surfboard and fairly stable, but newbie’s may want to take up the sport when the water’s warm. Beginners are apt to fall in a few times on their first day. And the odds of falling off the board go up drastically if you have to contend with a power boat wake.

But falling in the water is just part of the fun, and soon new SUP’ers are gliding effortlessly across the lake like pros. Even young children can become very good at the sport in no time!

Of course SUP’ing on Lake Norman isn’t always tranquil. The lake also hosts the occasional standup paddleboard competition. Races have attracted paddleboarders from all over the region, which shows how popular the sport is becoming, and can get pretty competitive. The photos included here from a recent race that started and finished at Queens Landing in Mooresville are a good example of the competition. Other races aren’t quite as serious and one local competitor is well known for bringing his dog along for the ride.

Around the world standup paddleboards are also becoming very popular in the ocean surf. Using the paddle for extra speed allows the rider to catch waves regular surfers might miss. Taking a cue from this surf riding capability a few local boarders have taken to riding their board in the wake of a ski boat.  The cover of the Spring/Summer 2011 Lake Norman Official Visitors Guide features one of these adventurous pioneers in the new, but rapidly growing sport of standup paddleboarding on Lake Norman, North Carolina!