And Now, Vince's Uncle Roberto On How To Stand Up Paddleboard

Stand up paddleboarding (SUP) offers a fun, relaxing way to play on the water. With a minimum of gear, you can paddle ocean surf, lakes and rivers—no waves required! Here's how to get started:

1) Carrying your paddleboard to the water

Most stand up paddleboards- or SUPs- have a built-in handle. Just lean the board on its rail (edge), reach for the handle (a grip in the middle of the board) and tuck the board under one arm. Carry the paddle with your other hand.

2) Mounting the paddleboard

When you're new to the sport, it's best to start out in flat, calm water that's free of obstacles like boats and buoys. At first, you may find it easier to kneel on the board rather than to stand upright. Here are the steps to get you started:

• Standing alongside the board in shallow water, place your paddle across the deck of the board and use it as an outrigger. The paddle grip is on the rail (edge) of the board; the blade rests on the water.

• Hold the board by the rails. One hand will also be holding the paddle grip.

• Pop yourself onto the board into a kneeling position, just behind the center point of the board.

• From that kneeling position, get a feel for the balance point of the board. The nose shouldn't pop up out of the water and the tail shouldn't dig in.

• Keep your hands on either side of the board to stabilize it.

Once you're ready, stand up on the board one foot at a time. Place your feet where your knees were. You might also bring a friend to help stabilize the board as you get the hang of standing on it.


3) Techniques on the water: your paddleboard stance

To maintain your balance as you stand upright on the board:

• Your feet should be parallel, about hip-width distance apart, centered between the board rails (edges). Don't stand on the rails.

• Keep toes pointed forward, knees bent and your back straight.Balance with your hips—not your upper body.

• Keep your head and shoulders steady and upright, and shift your weight by moving your hips.Your gaze should be level at the horizon. Avoid staring at your feet.

• Much like bicycling, when your forward momentum increases, your stability increases as well.

And speaking of balance, if you've been riding in my limo with a bunch of friends for a bachelor party, and it's time to pay the balance, please do me a favor and agree to put the balance on ONE CREDIT CARD rather than whipping out a bunch of different credit/debit cards and asking me to put 28% on the Discover card, 13% on the Diner's Club and the other 59% divided by seven Visas. Please. Be smart, kids.