The calm waters of Pirappanvalasai Seaside alongside the Palk Strait often scream shades of azure below the unforgiving afternoon solar. On one afternoon in September, this stretch of white sand alongside the bay, noticed a bunch of spectators comfortable below a tent, breaking into loud cheers. They had been right here from villages in and round Rameswaram, to indicate help in numbers as younger rise up paddlers from the neighbourhood participated within the Palkbay SUP Problem 2024.
For these of us who are usually not used to the pristine blues and whites of the south-eastern coast, the problem was a sight to behold. The waters had been dotted by white and orange buoys and floats, markers of distance for a technical Stand Up Paddle (SUP) race. The third nationwide version, which noticed 120 individuals from across the nation, stretched SUP’s prospects of changing into the ‘subsequent huge factor’ in water sports activities.
Fourteen-year-old Arathi was one amongst them. Having simply gained within the Groms (U-16 ladies) class, she stated, “I’ve been paddling for the final seven years.” However what retains her within the sport? “Will probably be helpful for me sooner or later,” she declared. Later that weekend, the paddler from Pirappanvalasai went on to win the Girls’s Nationals and was ascertained one of many promising stars to have come out of the coast, an proof of Tamil Nadu main this sporting motion.
Paddlers at Mangrove Eco Bay Camp in Chidambaram
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Rise up paddleboarding, a much less intimidating cousin of browsing, makes use of a longboard and a paddle to glide throughout waves, or nonetheless waters. The difficult aspect of the game reveals itself when one’s stability is challenged by small waves or ripples. For greater than a decade, browsing’s homegrown revolution alongside the East coast — particularly in Kovalam and Mamallapuram — has produced athletes who signify India on a worldwide scale. Now, SUP follows swimsuit because the southern shoreline moulds athletes from villages alongside Puducherry, Chidambaram, Rameswaram and Thoothukudi, other than Kovalam and Mamallapuram.
Accessible to all
The game is taken into account way more accessible, each within the aggressive circles and for leisure functions. This decade is earmarked for its improvement, says Jehan Driver, founder, Quest Journey Sports activities Academy in Ramanathapuram.
“Arathi’s win goes to say that we have to encourage coastal youth with entry to gear and steerage to come back ahead and take part. They know their waters effectively. It has to start out with creating consciousness. When one 14-year-old sees one other 14-year-old competing, they might need to take part too,” says Jehan, who can also be her coach. He tracks a year-on-year development of SUP opponents at round 30%. Away from this circle, Jehan provides that there’s a 60% development within the variety of folks eager to be taught SUP as an attention-grabbing sport-based exercise.
Even for this competitors, a number of athletes arrived virtually a month earlier than the occasion to practise. “It reveals good camaraderie, and likewise opens up the game to different folks,” provides Jehan.
Additional up the coast, At Mangrove Bay Eco Camp in Chidambaram, 90% of the scholars come for recreation. “It’s a straightforward sport to select up. I picked up the paddle after I was 35,” says geologist-turned-stand up paddler Kumaran Mahalingam whose first brush with SUP occurred in 2014, in Kovalam.
There have been no devoted faculties for SUP then. He reminisces, “Whereas browsing was thought-about a pioneer sport, SUP was virtually a backup sport. Every time the ocean was flat, folks would do rise up paddling. Once I was enrolled in a browsing class, whereas the ocean was uneven, they took me to a quarry close by for SUP. That’s how I found it.” His preliminary pursuit of the game hinged on advocacy for clear waters. By means of a programme titled Uncover SUP which later turned Paddle for Future at Chennai in 2016, he took the game to the general public .
“In western international locations, it’s a billion-dollar sport. 1000’s of individuals paddle collectively in marathons. In one other 5 years, it will likely be enormous right here! So now, we’ve got gear, devoted faculties, water our bodies and a federation, in order that reveals nice promise,” says Kumaran.
Whereas the Arabian Sea is flatter, a uneven Bay of Bengal is very seasonal and never supreme for SUP newcomers, Kumaran takes his college students to the Kollidam river which is a part of the Pichavaram ecosystem. Kumaran believes that the situation is Mangrove Bay’s greatest win.
“It’s the largest estuary in Tamil Nadu. For first time paddlers, it’s best to start out with a flat sea or backwaters. However individuals who do ocean-paddling, can have a greater skillset and extra energy.” This works of their favour throughout competitions.
Participant on the Palkbay SUP Problem 2024
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The wheels are turning
SUP as a sport is ruled by the Worldwide Browsing Affiliation, and subsequently in India by the Browsing Federation of India, and on the State-level by the Tamil Nadu Browsing Affiliation (TNSA.
Whereas town is aware of Sekar Patchai for the breakout surf star that he’s, the surfer has now been entrusted with a process by TNSA: to develop SUP inside the State. Sekar is of the opinion that SUP is harder to deal with. He continues, “In browsing, after we trip a wave, there’s time for restoration. You’ll be able to loosen up and anticipate the following wave. SUP is sort of a dash, you can’t cease when you begin.”
The necessity of the hour is to hone younger expertise, says Sekar who has been the reigning nationwide SUP champion for the final seven years. Sekar additionally helms Cove, a browsing, kayaking and rise up paddle faculty in Kovalam. “In comparison with final yr, extra ladies are studying the game now,” he says. Most of his common college students are from Kovalam, whereas those that want to faucet into the meditative facet of the game, take weekend lessons for leisure.
Sekar Patchai, nationwide SUP champion from Kovalam
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Quest runs a free coaching programme for youngsters and youth across the villages in Rameswaram. The staff sees a daily turnout of at the least 15 kids each week from Pamban, Ariyaman, Irumeni and surrounding villages apart from Pirappanvalasai. Kumaran’s focus too is now on rising the game’s aggressive attain. Two-month-long free SUP camps, completely for athletes, are on the playing cards.
“If there’s a sport that anybody can do, it’s SUP. I’ve college students who’re as younger as three, and as previous as 70,” provides Sekar.
Again on Pirappanvalasai seaside, some nationwide champions have now plonked within the water, searching for respite from the blazing solar. Neck deep within the ocean, they flip spectators, as cheers resound each time a up to date takes lead. Their paddles are resting.
Solely till the following race.
Printed – October 12, 2024 01:09 pm IST
