Paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport in the world.
To push the spread of the sport north Bodie Shandro was in town last weekend teaching new comers and experienced paddlers alike in the finer points of stand up paddle boarding.
Shandro, who has taught paddle boarding all over the world, taught four classes over the weekend to help people refine their technique introduce people to the sport he loves.
“It was like someone designed a sport just for me,” Shandro said of paddleboarding.
The classes consisted of an hour of on-shore training before hitting the water for the rest of the three hour class to put their training into action.
On land, Shandro took the students through the terminology and background of the sport before getting each member of the class to stand up on a board balanced on a pair of BOSU balls so they could get comfortable on the board.
Once out on the lake, Shandro stressed that everyone take their own time before standing up on the board.
Though it may seem like a difficult sport, Shandro said it is a sport for all ages, from small children to retirees, because the physical exertion of the sport can be tailored to different fitness levels, from simply paddling a calm lake to serious races or even yoga on the board.
The weekend classes were attended by adults and children alike, though windy weather on Saturday kept the children from trying out what they had just learned.