Black Dog Brings Stand-up Paddling to the James

Bryan and Camille Smith want you to get out of your day-to-day grind and hop on a paddleboard. That’s right, thanks to their business Black Dog Paddle, stand up paddling (also known as SUP) is possible in RVA.

Thanks Bryan and Camille Smith, Richmonders can be spotted these days propelling themselves through the James River with smooth, alternating strokes. Offering an alternative to core workouts with a cadence similar to swimming and cycling, Black Dog Paddle leads a variety of fitness classes on stand up paddleboards.

In fact, if you were at Dominion Riverrock recently, you likely saw a handful of enthusiasts practicing yoga in the canal on paddleboards. As the perfect combination of canoeing, kayaking and surfing, the sport involves the use of a canoe-like paddle while standing atop a stable and balanced long board.

Thanks to the Smith duo, Richmonders can be spotted these days propelling themselves through the James River with smooth, alternating strokes.

“In a short time you will become one with water, finding yourself living in the moment,” says Bryan Smith. “Paddle boarding offers a new perspective of our natural surroundings and an escape from your daily stress.”

“Paddle boarding offers a new perspective of our natural surroundings and an escape from your daily stress.”

Offering an alternative to core workouts with a cadence similar to swimming and cycling, Black Dog Paddle leads a variety of fitness classes on there is a body of water, though the James River is their clear favorite. “The James River is a fantastic place to paddleboard. . .there are plenty of flat water put-ins,” explains Camille Smith. “If you want to do the whitewater sections, definitely go with an instructor. Take a class, even if you’ve gone down a million times in your kayak, this is a new sport with different techniques.”

The duo, who are both American Canoe Association Level 2 certified instructors, are experts in water rescue techniques, CPR and first aid. In addition, they always keep a 5:1 (maximum) student-to-instructor ratio. When needed, they often bring in other trusted instructors for larger groups.

“We both really fell in love with this sport,” concludes Camille Smith. “It gave a new perspective of the water than what we had in kayaks, and I didn’t have to wait to go to the beach to get up on a board.”

If you’d like to try stand up paddle boarding and also like the idea of kayaking, then take a look at these kajak aufblasbar (inflatable kayaks) that can also be used as an SUP board.

Article from Issue #16