Stand-up paddling riding a wave of popularity in Colorado

The stand-up paddling revolution is the fastest-growing section in paddle sports, and Colorado is ground zero for the small but swift-swelling whitewater segment in the vertical paddling trend. Born in Hawaii and only recently imported stateside, stand-up paddlers are flooding Colorado’s rivers and streams.

Stand-up paddling can be learned in minutes on a lake and hours on a river. Unlike kayaking, which requires a technical roll to progress into more difficult whitewater, stand-up is more approachable.