Paddle With a Pro: Coastal Urge Wrightsville Beach SUP Clinic Featuring Karen Wrenn

Article by Karen Wrenn.  Photography by Tyler Hustrulid.

SUP novices and veterans alike take instruction at Karen Wrenn's Stand Up Paddle Clinic. Photo by Tyler Hustrulid.

The recent stand up paddle clinic I taught for Coastal Urge while visiting Wrightsville Beach, NC for the 2nd Annual Intracoastal SUP Cup had a great turnout and was a ton of fun.  It made me feel great to see so many smiling faces and people excited to get out in the water and paddle.  There was a broad range of abilities that signed up including first-time SUP’ers and some racers. I tried to cover the basics and then get a little more technical for the advanced paddlers who were looking for some tips in training and paddling stroke technique.

The weather was amazing which was a nice change from the rain I left in Oregon. So, with the sun shining and 20 or so smiling faces we headed out into the Intracoastal Waterway in front of the Blockade Runner Beach Resort to give it a go.  Everyone did amazingly well and were all very determined to figure it out.  The look on their faces when they start to feel comfortable and connected is why I love to do clinics.  The wind picked up which made it challenging to keep everyone together and for the first-time paddlers to make it back to shore in strong winds.  They all felt accomplished when I told them if they could paddle in the wind like they did that they would be surprised how easy it would be in calm conditions.  Everyone made it back and had a good time.

Karen Wrenn leads as SUP'ers apply what they have learned. Photo by Tyler Hustrulid.

It’s always nice to hear later that people had fun and learned something.  I have received a few emails from people from the clinic who are now hooked and ready to buy the right board for them.  I haven’t met anyone yet that has tried stand up paddling and hasn’t gotten hooked.  If you haven’t tried it… I strongly suggest you do! It is easy, it is fun, it can be a great work out or a great way to cruise with family or friends. Get out there and paddle!

Cheers,
Karen

Hailing from Oregon, Karen Wrenn is one of the SUP scene’s leading ladies hitting the water with Naish SUP boards and Kialoa paddles. Recently she took first place in the Women’s Elite division of our 2nd Annual Intracoastal SUP Cup.  Be sure to check out her account of the SUP race at the Karen Wrenn Stand Up Paddle blog.