(EDITOR’S NOTE: Alki Kayak Tours/Mountain to Sound Outfitters will offer stand-up paddleboard demos during Sunday’s Alki Summer Streets party. We asked WSB contributor Stephanie Chacharon to take a closer look at what this sport is about; she went out last Tuesday night, and tells the story first-person.)

Story by Stephanie Chacharon
Photos by Christina Chacharon
On assignment for West Seattle Blog

Conditions weren’t exactly ideal for my first stand-up paddleboard (SUP) experience. The north wind was blowing strong, waves crashed into the rocky beach, the sun was preparing for its descent behind the peninsula, and the temperature hovered just below 60 degrees.

Nevertheless, the group gathered at Seacrest Boathouse was visibly excited for Alki Kayak Tours‘ second Tuesday Night SUP’r of the season.

I found myself under the guidance of Alki Kayak Tours’ lead SUP instructor, Shoshannah Moxley (who also works on the other end of Alki at La Rustica). She selected a short, wide paddleboard for me — a stable model that’s ideal for beginners, women, and children.

Shoshannah showed me how to select a paddle (plant the paddle on the ground, and the handle’s tip should reach the wrist of your extended arm) and attach the leash.

We threw on our PFDs (personal flotation devices) and headed to the water’s edge. There she discussed stance, balance, and other critical logistics, like how to remount the board from the water on the off- chance of an impromptu swim.

Luckily for me she threw in that last one — I’d need it.

Shoshannah quickly demonstrated mounting the board, pushing off, and paddling out from a kneeling stance. She made it look incredibly easy, despite the rolling waves. And suddenly, it was my turn.

SUP lesson number one: They’re not lying when they tell you it’s much, much easier than you think.

To my surprise, I didn’t immediately fall in the Sound — in fact, I felt pretty stable on the board. We paddled away from shore and readied ourselves for the real test: standing up. Again, Shoshannah demonstrated the motion first, and it still looked effortless.

SUP lesson number two: Trust yourself.

Standing up was surprisingly simple. Once I got my bearings and my body started to adjust to the rhythm of the waves, we were off!

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We paddled south to the tune of harbor seals and gulls, taking in the alternate vantage point of the city skyline, the West Seattle Peninsula, and the boats anchored at the Port of Seattle.

It was pretty incredible.

SUP lesson number three: You might go for a quick dip.

At some point, my burning quads tired, and I briefly straightened my legs from the athletic stance that Shoshannah advised. And just like that, I was in the water. My guide instructed me to take a few deep breaths and reviewed the steps for getting back on the board. Again, surprisingly simple — crisis averted.

SUP lesson number four: Take full advantage of the unique perspective on otherwise familiar surroundings.

We continued on toward Jack Block Park — a hidden treasure near Terminal 5 that offers sweeping views of the city, the expanse of Elliott Bay, and for now, the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX). Heading back, and fighting against the wind, we crossed paths with the Sunset Sea Kayak Tour group:

SUP lesson number five: Pack a change of dry clothes. And some warm socks.

Back on shore, I wanted to collapse into a pile of wobbly arms and legs. Instead, I followed Shoshannah back to the rental shack and exchanged stories with other SUP novices who’d paddled on the west side of the peninsula. We all felt pretty hardcore.

Alki Kayak Tours, along with its sister store Mountain to Sound Outfitters, is operated by outdoor enthusiast and West Seattle resident Greg Whittaker.

The Alki-based rental shack (located next to the water taxi dock) rents kayaks, paddleboards, in-line skates and skateboards, bikes, and fishing boats. “This is a great starting point for people visiting Alki,” says Greg.

Stand-up paddleboarding is a relatively new sport for more temperate locales like Seattle, but it’s hugely popular in warmer climes, like its birthplace of Hawaii. According to Greg, the sport’s enthusiasts are an interesting convergence of two crowds: safety-conscious paddlers, and surfers.

Greg started paddleboarding four years ago. He brought the sport to Alki last season in the form of weekly demos and the sport was an instant hit. Now that spring is finally threatening to arrive, the weekly demos are back. Mondays are ladies night, and Tuesdays are co-ed demo nights (both $10) followed by a SUP race. Although Greg says attendance is directly proportionate to the amount of sunshine, he advises that cloudy days can be preferable. “You see a lot more wildlife,” says Greg, and the wind is gentler when it comes from the south.

Not quite convinced? “It’s easy, and it’s fun,” says Shoshannah. “If you can find your balance within, it’s a sport that you can do. I would encourage anyone to come out and try if for their first time. It’s great to be out on the water, and it’s an amazing vantage point.”

If paddling from the confines of a boat sounds more appealing, Alki Kayak Tours also offers a handful of guided kayak tours — including the daily sunset paddle — and sea-kayak instructional courses.