Overcome your fears, Patrick
13.8.2018
Translation: machine translated
Video: Manuel Wenk
Today I'm doing sport with Sarah Missiaen from Windsurfing Silvaplana and paddling across Lake Silvaplana. Sarah teaches me the basics of SUP. Stand up paddling - three words I keep hearing this summer. Time to pick up the paddle myself and get to the bottom of the hype.
But before we get started, I have a confession to make. Once again. I don't particularly like water, on the contrary. I have great respect for water, sometimes it even scares me a little. I must have inherited this slight aquaphobia or hydrophobia from my mother, who never learnt to swim. Thanks mum. So, now it's out. Whew!
It's only fitting that today I'm supposed to be standing on the rather cold Lake Silvaplana, which is almost 80 metres deep. For the first time in my life, I'm standing on one of those plastic things that's filled with a bit of air. Experts call it an "inflatable" because it is inflated and disappears into a bag without air after use. That's even more practical. In contrast to the "hardboard", which, as the name suggests, stands around hard. So, enough product knowledge.
What was I thinking? I must have been influenced by all the chatter around me. "You, SUP is all the rage right now, you absolutely have to try it. It's so relaxing." Yeah, relaxing my arse, SUP my arse ...
Thank you Sarah
Ok, enough grumbling. After all, no one is forcing me to do this. Besides, the incredibly beautiful scenery of the Upper Engadine makes up for all the little fears. And then there's Sarah Missiaen from Windsurfing Silvaplana. Her calm, upbeat manner helps me to relax. Sarah shows me a few basics while I'm still on land and after these dry runs, we head out onto the lake.
My board
To the entire Fanatic range at Galaxus
Overcome your fears
What is a pretty wobbly affair at the beginning develops into a very stable ride over time. Sarah and I paddle comfortably around 300 metres out onto the lake and back again. Dip paddle left, dip paddle right, dip paddle left, dip paddle right. We talk about God and the world, which takes my mind off the cold, deep water beneath my feet. After just under an hour, we're back on the shore. And dry!
Time to have another chat with the surf instructor about her passion.
The conclusion after my first SUP ride
There's definitely something about it. Your whole body works on the board and your mind calms down. No wonder stand up paddling is all the rage. As a stressed-out city dweller, I can really understand the need for physical activity and mental and emotional relaxation at the same time. Nevertheless, the element of water remains foreign to me and I feel much more comfortable with both feet on solid ground.
And next time on "Patrick does sport with ..."
Video producer Manuel Wenk and I stay on Lake Silvaplana and swap the SUP for the kite. Haha, I'm going kitesurfing. A nasty little lump is forming in the pit of my stomach.
Can I do this challenge too? Subscribe to my author profile and take the plunge with me. <p
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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