Paddle Boarding Through The Grip of a Tasmanian Winter

When many people think of Tasmania, they may well picture a place of wild unsullied beauty. A land dressed in rugged splendour and vibrant greens, a land of cloud-bursting mountains and secret solitary beaches where the air is so clean it will make your lungs sing like they are on a Broadway stage. A paradise.

What many beyond the expansive landscape of this incredible place may not envisage however, is snow and the bitter bite of a chilling winter. Yet, the icy hand of the coldest season is as much a part of Tasmanian life as its sprawling sun-soaked rainforests.

And, when it comes to breaking the ice off the SUP and embracing the act of paddle boarding in temperatures that would have old Jack Frost second guessing, Cameron Douglas of ASI accredited school, Derwent Stand Up Paddle is something of an expert.

A true advocate of year-round paddling, Cameron enjoys nothing more than to share the life-affirming experience with others.

He describes the experience of a winter SUP session in Tasmania as being a place ‘You can really connect to the environment.’

Cameron’s Derwent school are fully equipped for the winter season with a range of programmes designed with the cold in mind. There are one-to-one lessons over six sessions, where learners can build their skillset as paddlers and improve that all-important technique. And, as it’s a little chilly, there is no downtime. Paddlers get straight out onto the water, warming up nicely under the steam of paddling exertion. As the connection to nature blossoms on the water, Cameron is at your side with encouraging tips on technique correction and ways to raise your SUP game.

Of the conditions, Cameron said, ‘Winter can be cold. Close to zero. But the conditions are often glassy and free from wind.’ Ideal for a marriage of glorious paddling and connection to nature’s incredible canvas that dominates every corner of the landscape.

It would seem there is no real reason not to keep paddling right through winter. Albeit, with a few additional extras that hark back to the old saying, ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.’ A typical outfit for Cameron during a winter paddle might include, wetsuit, booties, ‘long skins’ with shorts, singlet long sleeve shirt and a jumper. Oh, and don’t forget the gloves, because that’s an oversight you will never forget. Cameron talks from bitter experience.

Currently, Australia is about to enter its idyllic sun-drenched summer. A perfect opportunity to build those paddling skills with the ultimate goal of taking your journey deep into the heart of winter.

And let’s face it, there aren’t may cooler ways to keep the winter blues from the door, the fitness levels high, and the SUP skills soaring than becoming an all-year paddler!

To check out Cameron’s Derwent Stand Up Paddle School click here.