So, ahem, what’s-SUP?
Stand-up paddle surfing, or SUP for the initiated, is pretty simple to wrap your head around.

Basically it is surfing with a long paddle chucked in for good measure.

The paddle allows you greater control over the board.

You can head onto the deep blue even when there are no waves or carve down the face of the wave like a long-time beach bum.

Is it on a normal surfboard?
Sort of. There are different varieties of boards for normal surfing, one of which is the old school long board that you will see riders taking to in grainy beach boy videos.

SUP is on one that is similar to those long boards, they give greater buoyancy.

Who invented SUP?    
Aloha! SUP comes from Hawaii and the translation is ‘Ku Hoe He’e Nalu’, which apparently means to stand, to paddle, to surf, a wave.

The famed ‘beach boys’ (not the band) of Waikiki would paddle out with outrigger oars on their long boards to take pictures for tourists that were learning to surf.

Is it easy for a first timer?
Relatively. After a short jog on the beach and stretches to warm-up, the instructor helps you onto a balance board where you practice the basics you are going to use out on the sea.

These included bending the knees, how to go from kneeling to standing and making sure you don’t cross over the paddle as you go.

Did you take any wipeouts?
I fell off a couple of times, but fewer than I expected. After getting used to the rocking of the board, we were paddling up and down Jumeirah beach.

The instructor then gets you to try some turns where you shift your weight further back on the board so the nose rides up and then you can turn it smoothly and quickly. This sent me head over heels a few times.

Will it get you ripped like a surfer?
You feel it in your shoulders, arms and core after a few minutes, so yes it’s a great work out. We did it on a calm day, it would be a lot tougher if you had big waves to conquer.

Haven’t I seem some celebs doing that in the magazines?
SUP has become really popular in the US with many a celeb spotted perched on their board.

Jeremy Piven, who most will know as Ari Gold from ‘Entourage’, is a huge fan of SUP as part of his exercise and well-being routine.

Girls also get on board too with Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson both making waves.