After about 5 years on the road Mike Tavares and his trusty sidekick Shredder have explored countless coastlines, rivers, and lakes from coast to coast. 

Amelia Island is to many a unique and somewhat secret gem along the Atlantic coast of northern Florida. The island has a long and rich history being ruled under 8 different flags including France, Spain and yes, a pirate.

When thinking of stand up paddling many imagine the warm, clear waters of somewhere tropical like Hawaii, Tahiti, or Florida as the perfect, most beautiful places to get on a SUP and explore.

Located in Australia’s north-eastern State of Queensland, the Gold Coast is home to prized surf breaks. But, it’s running through the green behind the gold where you’ll find a superb range of flat water destinations that are perfect for Boga and recreational paddlers.

Barbados or Bim, as it is lovingly referred to by its local inhabitants, is a perfect island paradise for the progressive adventuring paddle boarder. With its rich history, Barbados packs a real punch in its 166 square mile package.

Although small in size, Japan is one place that has no shortage of places to stand up paddle board (SUP). As a nation completely surrounded by water there are endless opportunities to grab your SUP and find the perfect place to get on the water.

If you’re interested in stand up paddle boarding or simply a fan of the outdoors, you’ll have a great time in Australia. The low population density has enabled much of the coastline to remain in pristine condition. You’ll come across national parks with native wildlife, and marine reserves with an abundance of fish species, dolphins and whales, situated close to all capital cities.

With over 1.2 million paddlers across the globe, it is clear to see why stand up paddling is popular among travelers. When planning the next ultimate paddling trip, SUP enthusiasts have their own favorite destinations to visit. The conversation usually talks of calm waters, stunning scenery, and pristine lakes– mainly across the United States. However, with so many places to visit for SUP travelers, why not take the path less traveled?

Planning on getting in a few trips in 2018? Well, lucky for you there are countless locations and destinations that are a stand up paddler’s dream. We’ve compiled a few places where you’re bound to have a blast at with beautiful scenery surrounding you.

British Columbia is Canada's most westerly province, and is a mountainous area whose population is mainly clustered in its southwestern corner. BC as it’s most commonly referred to as is Canada’s third-largest province after Québec and Ontario, making up 10 per cent of Canada’s land surface.

We all dream of an exotic vacation packed with relaxation, sunshine, and the warm water of the tropics. We see photos of crystal-clear water with beautiful mountainous backdrops and think to ourselves what it would be like to be in a place that perfect. Tahiti is a place where these dreams and thoughts are a reality. We here at Supconnect agree that Tahiti stands out as one of the ideal places to paddle board. Here are five reasons why:

If you don’t know, now you know – Southern California offers some of the best paddle boarding spots in the United States. From Coronado to Catalina Island, there are an abundance of amazing places to cruise on your SUP. Lucky for you, we picked out the best five.