Stand Up Paddle > SUP Advocacy
Cultural Shock - SUP Paddling in France
photofr:
Wow -
That's how I see paddling in France after living here for 4 years - but there's good and bad.
THE BAD (because it makes you want to read this)
- Where are the paddlers? People tell me that the sport of SUP is booming in France. Sure, I'll bite, but where? Cote d'Azur, Brittany - during one month of the year???
I live in Lille (France's 5th largest city). There are about 230 000 people who live here. Meanwhile, there's only one SUP club (as of a week ago) and now just two of them. On a gorgeous Sat or Sun afternoon, dead flat water, no wind, I counted a grand total of 5 paddlers.
- Arthur Arutkin is from the city, and still hardly any one paddling.
- For the most part, the paddlers I meet are powerful paddlers, with horrible techniques.
- I don't think they have ever fallen in the water - because I have been told that it would be nearly impossible to get back into an Ace.
- They work about 35 hours a week, most have a 2-hour lunch, and most have at least 5 weeks of vacation a year. Meanwhile, most do not realize that they could be paddling before and/or after work.
- While people do not go to church, there are churches everywhere, so I don't understand why more people aren't paddling on SUNDAYS.
- Outdoor sports isn't really in the culture. Although you have known athletes who do very well, the majority of French people aren't very active at all. The percentage of Hawaiians or even West Virginians enjoying the outdoors is far greater than what I am seeing in France.
THE GOOD
- Remarkably, France is producing some very good athletes in the SUP World.
- Almost all high ranking French paddlers have extensive training sessions over seas.
- Average body mass (smaller bone structures of the French) make them great contenders for SUP paddling.
- SUP clubs in France provide free gear for you to paddle your hearts out. Clubs are either free or totally reasonably priced.
- There's a French shaper - who travels a lot - willing to shape any custom board you want. He's fairly priced, and actually creates beautiful boards.
- France (seemingly) has more water than pretty much any other European country (including amazing inland flat water).
All in all, it's a cultural shock to me - and I still don't really understand WHY.
addapost:
This response kinda applies to your "kids and SUP" post too. You might be suffering from what I call the "enthusiast syndrome". That's when someone gets interested and excited about something thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and can't understand why everyone else doesn't feel the same way. I've been selling boards, renting out boards, and teaching SUP for 8 years now and find that most people really don't give a crap. If you step back and think about it objectively it really is a weird activity. Plus it is ridiculously expensive. Just enjoy yourself and be glad you like it. The other 43 of us who share your passion are right here for you.
Ichabod Spoonbill:
BIC is a French company, no?
warmuth:
I live in Florida and while you will see Sups here and there Im frequently the only one on the water when I'm out. Sup is super laborious and slow. A lot of people probably try it looking for a fun relaxing time on the water and find it's anything but that. It also has an expensive entry and requires a fair bit of planning for a lot of people to just get their boards to and from the water. You're lucky you have clubs, there's nothing of the sort anywhere near here.
photofr:
@ADDAPOST
You killed the buzz :(
Seriously though, it's a sad day - but it goes to perhaps explain why video games are so popular.
Looking on the bright side, FRANCE doesn't have:
- Alligators while paddling
- Crocodiles to eat you alive before you get on your board
- Sharks that will have you wondering
- Snakes that will make you flip out
- Grizzly Bears that will chew on your stuff while you are out paddling
WHAT FRANCE HAS:
- About 25% of its coastline provides water that's warmer than Hawaii (11 out of 12 months of the year)
- Access to more water than all of California put together - inland and seaside.
- Clubs everywhere - that do not offer SUP because for the most part, they are living in the past.
- and yes, BIC is a French company.
But perhaps, when it comes to water sports - France is no different than CA, FL, GA. Seemingly, humans are just afraid of the water.
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