Aqua Marina SUP meetup

SUP Meetup Highlights – What a Day! 🌊✨

Last week, I had the absolute joy of hosting a Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) meetup—an event full of energy, smiles, and sunshine! Sponsored by Aqua Marina, participation was completely free, and the vibe was incredible.

Aqua Marina is a leading name in the world of inflatable SUP boards, recognised globally for their innovation and passion for watersports. Through continuous research and a love for the sport, they’ve built a brand that supports getting people active and connected to nature. In Greece, Unigreen S.A. is the exclusive representative of Aqua Marina, championing the growth of SUP through exciting events like this one.

A huge thank you to Giannis Liakakis and George Tzannis, two fantastic SUP ambassadors, trainers, and athletes based in Athens, who supported the event and brought amazing energy.

New to SUP? Here’s the Lowdown
SUP is one of the most accessible boardsports out there—and that’s exactly why it’s grown so fast in the past 12 years. You simply stand on a longboard and use a paddle to move through the water.

Its roots go way back to ancient Africa and South America, where tribes used similar boards and paddles for transport, fishing, and even stealth attacks during warfare. The modern version we know today started in Hawaii, with surfers riding giant boards up to 5 meters long!

Thanks to its easy learning curve, SUP has become one of the most popular first-time watersports around. If you’ve not tried it yet, chances are you’ve at least heard about it—it’s everywhere!

Here’s What Went Down at the Event:
We kicked things off by getting everyone familiar with the Aqua Marina inflatable SUP boards—lightweight, durable, and super easy to carry and store. One of the biggest perks of these boards is their convenience: they fit in your car or closet and inflate in minutes at the beach.

Next, we walked through the basics—how to stand properly, hold the paddle, and use an efficient stroke (catch, power, exit, recovery). We also covered how to paddle straight, switch sides smoothly, and stay safe on the water.

Then, the fun began!
Three groups of 12 participants each took to the water, accompanied by 3 coaches. Each group trained for 30 minutes before a short and playful race to crown 3 winners from each round. The final race with all 9 winners was brilliant—some participants were total beginners and yet managed to paddle out, loop around a buoy, and return like pros! That’s the magic of SUP: it’s simple, social, and satisfying from the first go.

We wrapped up with a 30-minute SUP Fitness session, led by me. It was a full-body workout with a focus on legs, core, upper body, and some fun cardio exercises—an energising way to end a beautiful day on the water.

Want to join free beach workouts in Athens? 🌞
Think windsurfing, SUP, fitness, yoga, and all things wellness.
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