Novice paddlers stand up for cause

Paulina Lange and Hanna Nedgeard might have got dunked but loved the chance to learn stand up paddle boarding at Pilot Bay. Photo / George Novak

Tauranga Community Foodbank and people who donated in exchange for stand up paddle boarding reaped the benefits of a "give it a go" day on offer at Pilot Bay.

The Give Stand Up Paddling a Go event offered people the chance to enjoy a 30-minute lesson and experience of paddling yesterday in exchange for a tin of food or gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the foodbank.

The opportunity was hot property among crowds of people who gathered at the beach to take their turn to learn the modern water sport. It was part of an initiative of Sport Bay of Plenty, which has helped organise "give it a go" days for other sports in previous years.

Organiser Tinikai Rolleston said this was the third time paddling has been on offer.

"It's always a good turnout," he said.

"Last year was crazy. This year, it's a little cooler but there's still a good number of people giving it a go."

Mr Rolleston said the "give it a go" day worked well as an introduction for people who might not have had the opportunity to try paddling before. If people wanted to learn more, the opportunity to do so was made available by Hoe Aroha Waka Ama Club, which helped run the paddle boarding.

"The whole idea is to get people trying it out.

" These sorts of events are pretty important to get people out and into water sports," Mr Rolleston said.

"In general most people have a really good time. Most people look at it and think 'it's too hard' but with the right instruction and equipment, it's pretty easy."

Mr Rolleston said most of the people who took part were families and groups of friends.

"The feedback has been real positive, just with the opportunity to go out and try something different. Most of them are pretty impressed and quite happy with how they got on."

German exchange student Paulina Lange said she loved the experience.

"We wanted to know what to do this weekend and we found this. It's my first time."

Miss Lange said she had seen stand up paddle boarding in "magazines and stuff" but had not considered trying it herself until she saw the "give it a go" day on offer.

"The part when you have to stand up was hard. My legs were shaking. I thought 'what am I doing here?'. Then I fell in. But it's not that cold."

Miss Lange said she would love to try stand up paddle boarding again.

• More information on the give it a go days can be found at www.sportbop.co.nz.

Play in the Bay
Play in the Bay is a calendar full of beginner "give it a go" style activities and events to help you get active, have fun and try something new. Each month is themed and activities are held all over the Bay of Plenty for all ages, fitness levels and abilities. Sports include bowls, underwater hockey and windsurfing.