The perfectly calm waters off Seven Mile Beach may be a boon to swimmers and snorkelers, but makes it impossible for surfers to have fun on the strip. Yet a relatively new sport, or actually an old one rediscovered, is managing to go where surfers have not.
 
Although paddleboarding might be new to most, the art has been around for centuries. It is believed to have started with the Polynesian culture. For them, paddling was a way of life and it is believed that standing on a board, using a paddle to propel themselves was one of the ways in which they travelled. Of course, the standing position provided a much better view of the surrounding ocean or nearby coastline.
 
Thanks to the efforts of modern pioneers of the sport like Rick Thomas, stand up paddleboarding had been gaining adherents around the world.
 
The boards tend to be between nine and 12 feet long, which make them much bigger than standard surfboards.
 
“Modern materials have led to a wide variety of board styles and shapes, and there are events and competitions with hundreds of paddlers,” says Mike Minichiello of Kitehouse in East End.
 
“You can see people paddleboarding just about anywhere; in the ocean, lakes, rivers, on waves, in the sounds and in the mangroves,” he continues.
 
The position on the board, along with the crystal clear waters that surround Cayman, makes paddleboarding the perfect way to observe marine life as well.
 
In spite of the size of boards, or maybe because of it, paddleboards are very versatile. The big boards are able to use small waves, which makes it much easier to catch the smaller waves that characterise Cayman than it would be on a traditional surfboard. Of course, the paddle allows the rider to match the speed of the wave easily as well and also makes it much easier and more fun to paddle out to a break.
 
Although paddleboarding may seem challenging at first, most people get the hang of it in about 30 minutes. It is an excellent non-impact form of exercise, as it works the core muscles as well as the arms and legs – a great all-over workout while enjoying a relaxing stroll on 
the water.
 
There are a number of operations around the Island from whom paddleboards can be rented. Ocean Frontier's Kitehouse offers paddleboarders of all levels great paddling activities. There are hourly, daily or weekly paddleboard and kayak rentals in East End and at Kaibo. The company also runs daily tours to the mangrove forest of the North Sound and to the glowing waters of Bio-luminescence Bay. There is no better way to see all the magically glowing marine life than by standing on top of a paddleboard.
 
Depending on the quality of equipment, boards can range from CI$700 to CI$1,200, with paddles ranging from CI$60 to CI$300.   WH