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.
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.
A SUP board is more stable than a kayak, and there’s less risk of rolling and getting your head stuck underwater!