I've been on a lake for the last few days basically starring in my own YouTube ultimate fail video trying to use a SUP board (Stand Up Paddle board). They are fun and surprisingly light considering their size. Getting on one is basically how you'd expect it to be. Jump into ice cold water and scramble on top of it while trying not to over turn it or ramming your fins into the shore's bottom. Once you get squared away it's a humorous balance of nerves trying to get yourself onto your knees while trying to avoid any exaggeration of weight or counter balance less you want the board to tip to the side spilling you off. If you're smart you've got a life vest on just for these dumb noob moments. After pulling yourself back onto the board cursing you will attempt this feat again while some ten year old girl goes flying by you on a SUP board reminding you of your unskilled and embarrassing attempts to at least get up on your knees and use the paddle you are holding onto for dear life are to be mocked accordingly. Now with that you have drifted far out into the middle of the lake rumored to be 900 feet to the bottom. There you are on your board hoping to god none of the pontoon boats send you to your watery grave to feature in some future lake side Scooby Doo campsite fire tale of terror. Out of sheer hatred and desire for life you stand upon your board and drive that paddle into the water and on cue to the Eye of the Tiger song playing in your head you proceed to fall right back in as summer boaters drive by highly entertained by your failures. Given to water death you are about to experience you once again drag your water logged and frozen corpse onto your coffin lid of foam and begin the long slow doggy paddle to the shore where jagged rocks and slimy bottom waits ringed with tree branches and what must a breeding ground of intestinal parasites awaits with the glorious return of shore that you can tippy toe back to safety. This was my first experience in Paddling boarding. And I paid for it. In many ways.