When thinking of the cold and sometimes challenging weather conditions in Greenland, Stand Up Paddleboarding in Arctic waters may seem like an unexpected challenge – but it is totally possible!
SUPing in Greenland embraces a whole new world of inner peace where body and soul are in close contact with the stunning Greenlandic nature.
The short history of Stand up Paddling in Greenland
Standing Up Paddling is a very recent activity introduced in Nuuk in mid 2018, by the founders of Nuuk Adventure (Nuuk Adventure has closed down since 2021). The initial idea was to develop a complementary activity to kayaking already widespread in Greenland, by importing a popular and accessible sport, that people would never imagine practising here. And when you look at the soaring number of (both tourist and local) leisure practitioners in Nuuk and in Sisimiut, it is easy to say that the sport has taken off.
The possibilities for SUP in Greenland are extensive. The lightness and handiness of the board offer a wide range of activities, and is quick to set up and easy to access. The only limits are imagination and safety. Some operators even offer custom-made tours, thereby allowing the customers to take an active part in designing their own adventure.
Investing in or renting boards is easy, but what really makes a difference is how you will use the equipment. While the debate rages whether the best way to see Greenland is from the sky or the sea, Stand Up Paddling definitely enhances the sensation of being on water and allows a special perspective of Greenlandic cities and landscapes. Indeed, listening to the cracks of a rolling iceberg, approaching whales and seal in their natural environment, lightly touching the fjord’s ice while slaloming between the chunks, feeling the refreshing drops of Nuuk’s largest waterfalls on your skin, or simply discovering the colourful city of Nuuk from the sea, will immediately make you realize that sceneries truly make Greenland such a special and unforgettable place to SUP.
How hard is Stand Up Paddle boarding?
Even when the activities are attractive, the question “Am I able to physically do this?” may still turn reluctantly in your head.
Be reassured, Stand Up Paddle Boarding is a very inclusive activity. No matter your size, your weight or your balance, every member of the family can do it! No experience is needed before booking your tour. For beginners, 10 minutes of guided balance exercises are usually enough to make you stand on the board. The best way to realize this is by going out of your comfort zone to give it a try, while remembering that your guides will make your experience unforgettable.
SUP activities in Greenland
Greenland and its operators can accommodate a large range of possible activities in different locations. Guided Sightseeing while Stand Up Paddling around the cities for a few hours is a classic offering. However, the possibility to customise a trip is endless: evening or midnight sun tours in the summer, whale watching or doing yoga while on paddleboards, and even watching the northern lights dancing while sitting on your board can be arranged in many different towns in Greenland including Nuuk, Sisimiut and Ilulissat.
SUP for all experiences
For those who are beginners, SUP on a lake gives the comfort of calm waters. It can also be combined with a nice easy hike, picnic or camping in the wilderness in Greenland.
For the more experienced, SUP expeditions can be customised. You can rent a SUP, navigational and safety equipment and choose camping experiences for several days.
For example, a team of 4 SUPers from Greenland, France, and Denmark, traveled 55 kilometers in 3 days from Natsilik to Nuuk in June 2019, with a crew from Nuuk Adventure.
In 2019, two experienced women SUPed 15 kilometers in the Icefjord to reach a bird cliff.
It is possible to celebrate important events such as birthdays or bachelor parties with SUP, or to do it as a team building activity.
Safety precautions for SUP
More than anywhere else, safety is crucial to ensure a magnificent SUP experience in Greenland. Because SUP is easy, but if you are not an experienced SUPer choosing a guided tour including suitable equipment like drysuit, boots, life jackets, and radios, along with experienced guides, will ensure a completely safe and breathtaking adventure.
The weather conditions and the water temperature could represent a risk if suitable safety equipment are not properly used. Being attached to the board by the leash is not enough. Should you fall into the water, the board can deflate – therefore, a life jacket is a necessary precaution in case of accidents.
Furthermore, you will be practicing SUP in a water temperature below 7°C. Due to the cold your body will burn an important number of calories. It is therefore imperative to keep your body heat by wearing a drysuit, gloves and proper boots. The latter will additionally prevent water from entering the drysuit and will give extra protection to the latex feet part of the suit.
Also consider the importance of a follow boat with a certified skipper in case of currents, tiredness, or changes in the weather conditions. Your guides must be experienced in exercising watersports in various and sometimes harsh conditions to ensure a safe execution of these outstanding experiences.
Dry safe fun in Arctic waters
Full of your newly gained self-confidence and protected by your drysuit, you will soon start reconsidering your approach to cold water. Falling and even jumping in the water surrounding you can be fun and risk free. Do not miss the chance to take a unique swim in the Arctic waters in the middle of icebergs. Jump from your board and challenge your friends and family knowing that you will remain dry at all times, and will only and very lightly feel the cold through the suit. Being in the water is fully part of the excitement. Challenge yourself, test the equipment and expend the field of possibilities, for this experience to remain as no others.
Greenland is a unique place in the world offering a wide range of activities with water and ice – and you just have to try it.
