I somehow missed the Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) craze last summer in Sydney, but I’d always wanted to try it. So when the boys behind Anchor Shapes offered me the chance to take a few of their boards out, I jumped at the chance. Based out of Bondi Beach in Australia, Anchor Shapes is headed up by Rich and George who have been shaping boards since way back. Made specifically for the Sydney lifestyle, their SUPs are just as comfortable getting around on Sydney Harbour as they are tackling the waves on the beaches.
After deciding that North Bondi was far too exposed and precarious for my first time on a SUP, we headed to Rose Bay Beach where the water is calm and the scenery nautical. We took out a 9’6 and a 10’6 and weaved our way in and out of the boats bobbing around the bay. Having never been on a SUP before I didn’t have much to compare the Anchor Shapes boards to, but according to my SUP friends they’re really light and easy to manoeuvre. They also look pretty good – the bamboo detail on the board is super slick and you can pimp it out with a matching bamboo paddle.
Their SUPs are currently on sale on their site, but if you want to try one out first, follow Anchor Shapes on Facebook and look out for their next demo in Sydney. You can also hire (non-Anchor Shapes) SUPs down at Rose Bay Beach near the RSL all day, every day.
Brazilian neoprene bikini bottoms by N.L.P Women and neoprene bra bikini top by Trangl.
Photography by James Page.
