I woke up Tuesday morning to cloudy skies, the smell of rain and an alarming text from my fellow surf sister, Megan.

If you haven’t heard, sharks were spotted this week in Newport Beach. I know, WILD. Who would have thought there would be live fish in the ocean?!

Using my best judgment, I decided to skip out on my morning beach sesh and find some safer waters to explore. My quests for adventure had me to longing to revisit one of my favorite activities: Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP).

Simply put for all you young kooks, SUP-ing is a hybrid between surfing and kayaking. A full body workout, SUP will challenge your balance, your patience and your ability to check out boys, while simultaneously learning the art of paddling over choppy waters. However, SUP-ing is much more than just a way to embarrass the average Joe. SUP-ing teaches you to relax, enjoy the outdoors and most importantly, feel totally at peace with the world around you.

Not only is it one of my favorite things to do in the summer, it’s also one of my favorite things to do in the fall because of the discount prices for SUP rentals. You see, a solid SUP can cost you anywhere from $600 to $1,200. If that’s not enough to convince you to spend the money elsewhere, the discount fall prices will make you even more eager to hop on board.

I called up a friend and we made our way over to Huntington Harbor to get some SUP in this chilly weather.

Despite the temps dipping dangerously low for Southern California (60 degrees), we stripped down to our suits and headed out to explore. Like any local would know, the sun eventually came out, which is why I ended up with my first gnarly sunburn of fall.

If the mansions around Huntington Harbor fail to impress you, the boys will. Unfortunately, Tuesdays are a bit lackluster in the male department. However, during the summer, you will definitely be able to spot the man bun of your dreams going out for a quick paddle sesh with his mutt who he adopted earlier that week (a girl can dream!)

We eventually made it back to our rental destination. The guys always say they will charge you for extra time you spend out on the water, but they will most likely be goofing around in the back to notice that you two hours late. You’ll save some change and be able to run across the street to grab some milkshakes or maybe some actual soup at the Harbor House Cafe.

Also, if you’re still salty that you didn’t get to surf this week, check out this rad video of surf in Tahiti.

Sincerely,

Shell

(Photos taken by yours truly.)