Water like glass, sun just coming over the mountain, a light breeze, and warm temperatures on a Friday morning. With porpoises travelling nearby. Sounds like a tropical place, but this is Victoria. And this was my latest excursion out on a two hour paddle board excursion with Brian and Gina of South Island SUP (stand up paddle board). I, along with 3 others were exploring the shoreline of Cordova Bay on a picture perfect morning.
Our group randomly is all over 55. As we got ready to head out, Danielle, a face I hadn’t met before since my paddling started with Brian in late March, chatted and I asked her what got her started paddling. Danielle tells me she is turning 65 this month and decided that, instead of looking at people and envying them, this was her birthday gift to herself. This reminded me of why I started.
I had paddled a few times in Maui and enjoyed it, but had spent quite a bit of time off the board as well as on. I had been trying to decide, now back in Canada, whether I wanted to kayak or paddle board in the much cooler waters around Vancouver Island. For some reason I thought I had to choose.
In 2020 I was going to get out and do something, but kept coming up with reasons I couldn’t: weeding/gardening, guilt that my husband, due to some pain issues, couldn’t join me. And the big ones: who would I go with and what would I wear? The last one being the silliest, but it seriously kept me from getting out there. Then, in March of 2021, I saw Brian post about his group. I picked up the phone and called him. I think three times before making a commitment and asking everything including “what do I wear?”
He explained he does lessons, rents all the equipment needed, does tours on a regular basis, and has an annual membership where you get 50 percent off of all of the above. I said sign me up for that and book me into the lesson this weekend. And that was that! He has a TNT (Tuesday Night Tour) that is an hour tour of different areas of Victoria, depending on winds. I have missed only one since late March. As well, I have joined full moon paddle nights, a sunrise tour, bioluminescence tour, and other so many others including the one above.
Brian has listened to me tell him I feel like we are on magic carpets in this amazing part of the world. Having lived in Victoria again for 30 plus years, my time on the water has been very limited. Probably a handful of times for whale watching over the years and that is about it. Since March I have lost count as I have been going once or twice a week and am thoroughly hooked.
So is Marissa. She was always attracted to paddle boarding, had a lesson with Brian four years ago and has never looked back. She said it is healing on so many levels. Oscar, a semi retired doctor looking younger than his 71 years, started lasted last year when COVID closed the gyms. He bought a rowing machine for home but it wasn’t enough. He heard about South Island SUP and has never looked back. Mary Kay, a retired doctor and friend of Oscar was persuaded to give it a try and also says the health benefits for the core and beyond is what keeps her out there. “It is easy going and helpful for the brain and so much more.”
And Brian, the owner of South Island SUP had tried paddling in Hawaii and was hooked. He had back and other issues that prevented him from doing other types of fitness including biking — paddling was the answer . He was looking to retire from his government job and realized this was something he could do and make a living doing it. Now our waterways are his office.
And love came through as well: Gina is a marine biologist who loves scuba diving but wanted something that was more accessible. She contemplated paddling for a couple of years. She started on a lake with a friend and met Brian, and love blossomed. She has been paddling ever since and provides some educational knowledge to our paddles.
Stand up paddle board is a misnomer: as Brian says, with a board you can sit, kneel, stand, even lie down. And they are much easier to get back on than into a kayak or canoe. As well, if you join Brian’s group, or others, you show up and they have everything you need. Brian also rents everything from dry bags to dry suits for when the weather is cooler. A one hour paddle, with the annual $120 membership, is as little as $15. He offers paddles all year round in all weather. If a location is scheduled and the weather conditions not good for that location, he will choose a different location and you will receive a notification. Brian and his team have non-swimmers, very beginners, to experienced out there. He is one of the most patient people I know and makes sure no one is far out of their comfort zone.
Instead of waiting for a vacation to try something new, with this amazing place we live in, it might just be time for you to also stop envying what others are doing and getting out there yourself.
For more information, contact Brian at www.southislandsup.com
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