Ankle surgery has kept Grant Begley out of the water for three months, but that did not stop him from getting on a board and prone paddling his way to the finish line at the annual Race the Lake of the Sky in Lake Tahoe on Saturday. Since being injured Grant had to find another route to get on the water, he got into prone boarding and since then, he has competed at the Carolina Cup, Key West and 14 miles at the Emerald Bay paddle this past weekend. “After being on the prone board I was blown away by how much fun it actually is. I learned how to read the water better."
3 Reasons why you should try prone paddling:
- True Waterman- To round out your lifestyle as a true waterman on the water you need to know what to do in case your paddle breaks. A great tool for surf and sup training.
- Cross-training- It’s a great way to keep paddling if you are injured. You can either knee paddle or paddle on your stomach, great for core strength or back.
- Community- “There is a whole underlying community in the sup world who train on prone and race standup” says Grant.
“Within the 3 months I have been prone paddling I have had a bunch of people inquiring about it; people are excited because it is something different to do than standup that is also a great workout on the water and it is the only way to board if you have any lower body injuries."
Another cool thing is how close to the water you are. Surf + kayak and you are even closer to nature. (On right): Grant paddling with the local wildlife in Florida.