My sister Lisa and I have had a summer wishlist for two years, so we decided to start knocking off the activities we've been dying to try: top of the list - SUP (stand up paddleboarding). This sport combines everything I love: surfing, kayaking, ocean, Malibu. What really also attracts me to this sport is you are on the water, but you are not really wet, and you are working out so much you never get cold. When Mad and the nephews came we tried it for the first time and we were hooked. We drove up to the Malibu pier, parked on PCH to avoid the rip-off parking lot, rented at the surf shack across the street from the pier. They are really great at this shop -- they will hold your phone, credit card and keys in a drawer so you don't have to leave any valuables on the beach. They give you paddles, then across the street at the truck they unload the boards, which you bring down to the beach. They look like they are light but do not be fooled -- they are heavy as all get out. Once on the water, the board is free to glide. You float out either lying down or kneeling as you paddle out away from the shore. The ideal conditions are glassy. Today we started out glassy, and wound up with slightly choppy water. I didn't mind it at all -- it's a great workout because you are constantly engaging your core to stay centered and balanced and not have a Three Stooges moment of physical comedy as you plotz on your ass. Both times we tried it, first with the nephews and my two boys, and today with Abby, we paddled out west, then north of the pier toward the surfers, then south and one or two more circuits. I love the serenity of being out on the glassy water. Malibu seen from out there looks green and hilly and beautiful. If it were a little greener and hillier you would think you were in Maui. After my first attempt, I thought I looked so cool. Then I got a look at the photos and ran to ZJ Boarding House to get myself a sporty mom water outfit, which consists of a mom rashguard and hot Hurley short shorts. It was awesome having Abby as our tour guide today. She gave us important tips: don't get too close to the pier as you don't want to get tangled in fishing lines. Hold your paddle the correct way, so it angles out slightly in an arc in front of you, which for me meant the letters and logo faced the shore. She said narrower boards are harder to balance on -- the ones we rent are perfect because they are nice and sturdy for us beginners. Today we made another beautiful discovery -- after returning the boards, thirsty and ravenous, we treated ourselves to kick-ass fish tacos from the fish shack underneath the surf shack. We toasted our new discovery with cold bottled water and I managed to wolf down a few bites with my sister before zipping home to pick up my kids from camp. Today, I took a mini-break from my kids, squeezed in a little me time -- balance was achieved in more ways than one.
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