Dan's Papers - June 27, 2008 - Gondoliers Watch Out

A sport with less than humble beginnings has taken the Hamptons by storm. Stand up paddle surfing, or Beach Boy surfing, started in Hawaii during the early 1960s, when the Beach Boys of Waikiki went in the water using outrigger paddles to take pictures of tourists learning to surf. Now, tourists and locals alike have taken a liking to this surface water sport.

"The number one reason is that we're surrounded by great bodies of water," Lars Svanberg of Main Beach Surf and Sport said. "You can do it all year-round on any body of water." That's because stand up paddle surfers don't need waves to enjoy their rides. These surfers can paddle in oceans, harbors, lakes or rivers.

One major advantage of Beach Boy surfing over standard surfing is visibility. Since the surfer is standing high over the water on the board it allows for the surfer to see deeper into the water and farther across the surface of the water. "The view on a paddleboard is amazing," Svanberg said. "The horizon opens up and you can see waves forming that you couldn't have seen on a surfboard or a kayak."

Stand up paddle surfing also allows surfers to stay in shape when the surf is flat. "All of the muscle groups are getting a workout," said Svanberg, who started Beach Boy surfing four years ago. "The cross-training aspect, the core strength - there's no better way to work out the abs." In fact, big wave surfer Laird Hamilton brought popularity to this sport by using stand up paddle surfing in his training regiment.

On the East End, Paddlers for Humanity has helped popularize this sport. The organization's volunteers go on paddling adventures and receive donations from sponsors. This non-profit East Hampton organization donates funds and raises awareness for other non-profit organizations that focus on community, education and health.

"It was started with a group of paddlers who wanted to make a difference," Svanberg said. "We go out, have fun and raise money while we're at it." The group started in 2005 and has so far raised around $300,000 for charity.

The first event of this season is Along the Waterfence, a 9.6-mile paddle from Fresh Pond in Amagansett to Eddie Ecker County Park on Fort Pond Bay in Montauk. The two to three hour Along the Waterfence paddle is Saturday, July 19 at 2 p.m. All paddlers must raise a minimum of $500 to take part.

The Paddlers for Humanity main event continues to grow, and up to 50 paddlers are expected for this year's 18-mile, Montauk Lighthouse to Block Island, open ocean paddle. The event will take place on September 13 or 14, depending on weather conditions. The paddle is expected to be about five hours, and each participant must raise a minimum of $3,000.

This year the three charities that will benefit from the Paddlers for Humanity's two major events are the East Hampton Day Care Learning Center, Miracle House and the Montauk Playhouse Community Center.

Newcomers are more than welcome to join Paddlers for Humanity on both trips. Participants must raise the minimum for each event and be 18 years old (or have a parent or guardian sign a waiver). Kayaks, paddleboards and outrigger canoes are the required means for transportation, and kayaks and paddleboards can be rented for the events.

More information and registration forms for the Paddlers for Humanity events can be found at www.p4h.org.