
My love for the water began with swimming and lifeguarding lessons.
Then I got into canoe camping and would disappear into different provincial parks on long paddling trips.
When water conditions were choppy, I’d pop on a skirt and hop into a kayak.
Racing with 20+ people in a dragonboat? Count me in!
As someone who is happiest around water and enjoys all kinds of paddling sports, it was while I was surfing in Hawaii when I first discovered SUP, the water sport I now can’t live without. While I was exhausted and lying down on my surfboard, I watched a stand-up paddleboarder catch waves effortlessly, paddling back out to the line-up and—checking in on other fellow surfers scattered around—standing up the entire evening!
When I returned home to Toronto, I was thrilled to find SUPGirlz, one of the first stand-up paddleboarding companies in the city! After taking my first lesson six years ago, SUP is now not only my passion that I feed all year long, but it’s (in my opinion :-) the best way to connect to nature, unwind and relax, explore new waterways… the list of all the things I love about SUP is endless!
So, to give you a highlight of that epically long list, here are some of my recommended ways to experience stand-up paddleboarding that will make you fall in love with this sport (if you haven’t already):
1. Sunrise / Sunset SUP

No two sunrises or sunsets are the same. Being on a SUP allows you to be so close to the water, you can feel the sun energizing you as it rises! Even if you’re not a morning person, you have to experience at least one sunrise SUP session, then you’ll know what I mean.
Sunsets are equally as breathtaking, and paddling out from Cherry Beach to watch the sun set behind the city is my favourite way to unwind from a busy work day.