A click. A scroll. A text.
That’s all it takes. In the hustle and bustle of this technologically-fueled world, we can witness each other’s lives easily and often. We can drown in the images, the likes, the favorites.
But sometimes, Mother Nature is the only audience you need. She sets the stage…opens the curtain…and gives you the best damn views and lessons you never knew you needed.
Here at Be Alive, we’re all about both: chasing the passion-fueled outdoor experiences that get your heart beating and sharing those stories with the world. The foundation of our mission is in our name. Be Alive. We want you to go where the adrenaline flows and your eyes open to what exists outside of the cage we can trap ourselves in. The cages made of expectations. Limits. Uncertainty. Fear.
One of the best places to break through those ironclad cages? A place to fill up your lungs with air that tastes like straight-up adventure?
The wilderness of Alaska.
And if you’re going to Alaska, Stand Up Paddleboarding is a must.
Now, maybe you’re all about that SUP life.
Maybe you’ve done SUP once before.
Maybe you’re green to the whole thing.
In our experience, it’s not just about what you do, but where you do it. Half the experience is found in your surroundings, which is why Alaska offers a whole new way to SUP.
SUP is the fastest-growing water sport in the world. You’re on the water, but not in the water. You’ve got paddles like a kayak, but you’re standing on a board similar to a surfboard. You get an entirely new vantage point because you’re up higher, so can really take in the scenery surrounding the water. You feel like you’re in the center of it all.
SUP in Alaska takes the “epic experience” notch to a whole new level. The sport has been around for more than 10 years, but is still pretty new in Alaska. So what makes SUP so different in the Last Frontier?
Well, for one, it’s ALASKA. So yep—you guessed it—it can get cold. The air is cold. The water is cold. Most outfitters supply SUP clients with a dry or wet suit to keep you covered. The cold heightens your senses and makes it an entirely different way to SUP than, say, the warm waters in Cancun. You have to be more aware of cold water-related dangers that come with the territory, like hypothermia.
The water is not only cold, but it can get pretty wild. SUPing in rapids can give you an extra boost of adrenaline….and it’s a heck of a lot more challenging. Falling off the board is more of a given than an accident. The challenge of SUPing in Alaska rapids is what makes it so great. You’re surrounding by the beauty of Alaska while experiencing her strength at the same time. You’re falling so hard you can get black and blue, then you’re getting right back up again. It’s as much of a mental exercise as it is a physical one.
In Alaska, you get to stand tall near glaciers and paddle amongst icebergs. Look for bears, soak in the sky, and take a break on the ice-carved shore. It’s a whole new way to experience this wilderness in its purest, real, raw form. Rather than watching the great Alaskan outdoors, you’re a part of it.
SUP in rougher Alaskan waters is also a major balancing act, and heavy cardio exercise. Being in shape is necessary, especially if you plan on going on a lengthy SUP trip. Your heart will be pumpin’, your blood will be flowin’, and your body will definitely do the work to remind you that you are alive. And that’s what it’s all about.
This? This is living. This is being alive. What are you waiting for?
