Advent Calendar 22

This year I finally tried stand-up paddleboarding — riding an inflatable board with a paddle.

I first saw a board like that about 15 years ago in Safaga, Egypt. I was windsurfing there, getting on the board every morning and heading out to sea. At the same time, there was some foreign guy who every morning would get on a board without a sail, take a paddle, and head out to sea for half a day. Once we were sailing to an island by boat and met that same guy on the way — he had gone veeeery far from shore. It impressed me back then, but I was not hooked.

The first time I tried a board myself was on the Nerka River, where I was also handed three kids to manage, so controlling the board felt awkward and a little intimidating. The second time, though, we went to a SUP festival in Suzdal, where hundreds of dressed-up, happy people were floating down a scenic river on boards. There were no rental boards left, so we just watched, but then came back in the evening, rented two boards, and went out. I absolutely loved it, and the very next week I bought two brand-new SUP boards. After that I rode them on our Nerka and on Lake Pleshcheyevo. Next year I plan to ride them even more. Definitely one for the 2025 highlight reel.