Wing Foiling, SUP and Surf Advanced Technique
An introduction to River SUP
Having covered the “mainstream” (no pun’s intended) flat water, surf and downwind paddling disciplines we feel it is certainly appropriate to ramp up the ante somewhat and introduce SUP river paddling. Consider it the “downhill” mountain biking version of stand up paddling as opposed to cross-country riding - with all the relative obstacles, challenges and body protection being duly warranted....
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All in the Prep
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’re most likely aware that recently there have been a few well-off gents flying up to the edge of space, dressed as Thunderbirds, who have then returned to earth with big grins to pop corks and shower their teams in Champagne. Your Wing foiling journey will have many similarities. You aim to leave...
Dandayamana Bharmanasana / Balancing Table pose Variation
Begin in balancing table pose placing yourself over the centre of the board facing the nose. Next bend the back leg holding onto the ankle or top of the foot. Try and gain some lift with the back leg by pushing the foot into the hand. Watching out for loss of balance so keep breathing and focus on your front...
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Facing dog
Low to gravity, upward facing dog is a stable posture to practice on a SUP. It opens the back and stretches the front of the body which feels amazing especially when you take big deep breaths in. Press both hands evenly onto the board and imagine lifting up and out of the chest rather than simply leaning backwards. Depending on...
Tack Off The Foil
Today’s the day, Ladies and Gents! Your first foray into the world of tacking. If you’re unsure what a tack is, think of it as changing direction 180 by steering up into and through the wind. It’s the opposite of the gybe. The tack has a few advantages over the gybe: if you’re trying to make ground upwind, you won’t...
Shavasana / Corps Pose
This is the easiest Yoga pose you can do on a SUP. The corpse pose doesn’t require you to do much apart from lay still, so even those with poor balance can do this one! It’s important to lay in the middle of the board with the middle of the back positioned over the handle, so there is even weight...
Utthita Parsvakonasana / Extended side angle pose
This pose is about extending the arm, legs and stance. Already a challenging pose on land, on a SUP it’s even more of a challenge, so it’s important to take the time to get the foundations right. Start by positioning the legs even distance from the central handle of the board. Front toes pointing forward, back toes at 90 degrees....