Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get into better shape, and I heard water sports are a good way to do it. I’m no athlete, but I figured, why not give this “citizen marine sport” thing a shot? I don’t even know if that’s the right name for it, it’s just what popped into my head.
First, I had to figure out what I wanted to do. I live near the coast, so I had some options. I thought about kayaking, paddleboarding, maybe even trying to learn to surf (though that seemed… ambitious). I watched some videos, looked at some pictures, you know, the usual procrastination disguised as research.
I decided to start with paddleboarding. It looked chill, like you could get a decent workout without, you know, dying. Plus, I figured balance would be a good thing to work on.
Gearing Up
Next up: I needed a paddleboard. I didn’t want to spend a fortune on something I might hate, so I looked for used ones. Scrolled through some online marketplaces, found a few that looked okay, messaged a couple of sellers.
Ended up finding a pretty decent inflatable one for a reasonable price. It came with a paddle, a pump, a leash, the whole shebang. I picked it up, pumped that bad boy up in my living room (which was a mistake, it took up way more space than I expected), and felt… surprisingly accomplished.
Hitting the Water
Okay, so, first time on the water. I chose a calm day, went to a sheltered bay, and… wobbled. A lot. Getting on the board was a challenge in itself. I fell in. More than once. The water was…refreshing.
I finally managed to stand up, and for a few glorious seconds, I felt like a paddleboarding god. Then I fell in again.
But, you know what? It was fun. Even the falling. I spent a couple of hours just paddling around, getting used to the feel of it, trying not to look like a complete idiot (probably failing, but who cares?).
The Aftermath
- Muscles I didn’t know I had: Sore.
- Sunburn: Yep. Forgot sunscreen. Rookie mistake.
- Overall feeling: Tired, but good. Like, “I actually did something” good.
I am planning to do paddleboarding again, I found it fun. And probably invest in some waterproof sunscreen. And maybe a hat. And possibly lessons. But hey, I’m out there, I’m doing it, and that’s what matters, right?
This whole “citizen marine sport” thing? I think I might be getting the hang of it. Or at least, I’m not drowning. Yet.
