"SUPerior Insights" - Part One
Why do you invest so much time and focus on SUP? With all your knowledge and experience, shouldn't you be working in a more capital-intensive field? Probably one of the most common questions and comments I get.
So, how do you answer that? My work and at the same time my passion is about understanding us humans and our performance potential. If I were introduced to something that gave me as much insight as StandUpPaddle (SUP), I would definitely consider it, but not for financial reasons. Of course I need to support myself but what determines that is what I can learn.
After almost 14 years in this activity, I am still amazed at how much I discover daily about myself and others by studying this phenomenon. Until now, I have not encountered anything as rewarding and stimulating as SUP.
How I actually got hooked on this seemingly trivial form of recreation is a story in itself. Before SUP was even a common term, I was tasked with finding out what "stand-up paddling" was and what physiological effects it could have. During this study, I accidentally realized that there was something much more interesting than I could have guessed.
What emerged was not what was expected; this was physiology but on a whole new level. Something I had been looking for but hadn't quite found. One of my missing pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Here appeared an optimal tool for - behavior analysis! Neither I nor any of the skiers studied in this case were aware of or able to control their movements on the water. Why?
This question is what has driven me ever since and will certainly continue to do so. The discovery not only opened my perspective on how we can ensure desired behaviors but also on what governs our functioning.
This soon became one of my primary tools for understanding human trainability and adaptability. Something that is useful both in my ongoing search for understanding and in my work to drive the development of SUP. Today, as the test and performance manager at one of the most innovative, progressive and genuine brands, Swedish Kona Sports.
For me, SUP has become an excellent way to both learn and validate how well we have automated a movement or behavior. I find it challenging to see a simpler and more effective method to "stress-test" our abilities. SUP is, in many ways, exemplary for inducing and studying reflex-controlled behaviors. Yet, I have not seen anyone successfully hide their reactions while standing on a SUP board.
So, apart from this, what makes SUP so interesting and special in itself? In many cases, I would argue that the training and health benefits of stand-up paddling are both unique and revolutionary. Something that probably requires further explanation.
We'll stop here for now, but some of the answers and much more will come in "SUPerior Insights" - Part Two.
"Stand up for your health and functionality"
/Magnus R Lindstedt