EDITOR FIRST MICHAEL LETENDRE THE DAILY VOICE, FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2013 h) SUP Yoga instructor Kristy Wright shows her class the upward facing dog pose. Board with yoga? Then try this Yoga and paddleboarding combined into one unique experience Rattals 1 Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak 352 Lynn Ave, North Vancouver 2 Ecomarine Paddles- port Centres 1700 Beach Ave, English Bay 3 Windsure Adven- ture Watersports 1300 Discovery Street, Jericho Beach By JAMES MCLAUGHLIN Ihere’s a new trend expected to make waves at local beaches this summer called SUP Yoga, a com- bination of yoga and paddle- boarding. Both paddleboarding, which involves standing on an oversized surfboard and moving along the water using a long paddle, and yoga have been in- creasing steadily in popularity over the years, but the marriage of the two is something new. “It’s a great way to build strength and stability and really just have fun on the water,” said Kristy Wright, owner and instructor of Standup Paddle Van- couver. Wright teaches SUP Yoga out- doors from May to September. The rest of the year she teaches at indoor pools. For those con- cerned about pos- 66 sible dangers of > reaching a medita- It’sa tive state on open water, Wright said 9g reat way there’s no reason to build to be afraid. “We choose loca- streng th tions in general and stabil- that are out of traf- ity and fic of boats. It’s ° usually in a calm really just environment, usu- aque fun on ally early morn- ings,” said Wright. the water She uses anchors filled with beach sand to station the paddleboards as she teaches. Jeff Hunt, manager of Ecomarine, KRISTY WRIGHT SUP Yoga instructor Photo courtesy of Standup Paddle Vancouver said the company’s rental fleet of pad- dleboards has tripled in the past five years as a response to the sport’s grow- ing popularity. However, he sees SUP Yoga as just another fad. “If I do a handstand on a paddle- board, it doesn’t automatically make it yoga,” said Hunt, who has a_ back- ground in competitive gymnastics.“It’s just another way that people can pack- age something to make it easily mar- ketable to the masses. It’s a branding exercise, you know?” Regardless of how some feel about the idea, parks board chairwoman Sar- ah Blyth said any watersport that gets people out so they can enjoy the city’s beaches during the fleeting sunny sea- son is probably a good thing. “Tm for people getting out there and getting exercise and having fun.” Less Is more for this year's swimsuits Bright colours and animal prints are still in-style this summer, but the suits are getting smaller and smaller By KELC] NICODEMUS shorts are getting shorter. Swimwear trends are staying the same or similar this season, with neon colours, animal and floral prints, and bohemian crochet looks dominat- ing the fashion scene. Anna Kosturova, a local swimwear designer, said trends from a year or two ago are still going strong in popu- larity, and that no particular style is trending this season. “There are so many different people out there that they just stick with [their own] look,” she said. Kosturova’s designs are solely cro- chet inspired, but she said she supplies a variety of different trends. “It’s a strong look,” said Kosturova. Tribal prints have also been big in fashion this year, according to Kos- turova. “Anything that inspires travel around the world,” she said. Another hot style is lingerie-type looks, and according to Kosturova, the only big change from last year’s trends is there is less coverage in swimsuits. “Bathing suits are definitely getting skimpier and skimpier,” said Kosturo- va. But Kosturova isn’t complaining about the not-so covered looks coming up this season, she said they are more flattering. “T hate full coverage. It just make the butt look bigger,” she said. Eden Rousch, designer of Cuche Bi- kinis, agreed that swimsuits are defi- nitely getting smaller and smaller. “There’s a lot more skin this year,” said Rousch, who also says it would be hard to find designers now a days, who use more fabric. According to Rousch, swimsuit styles in women are “really girly” this year. Photographic prints are a popular trend right now, Rousch said. “Like a one piece suit with a bear on it, or something,” says Rousch. Rousch and Kosturova both agreed that colour blocking is a strong trend in swimwear this season. “Using neutral colours and hitting block patterns of florescent, you see that in everything,” Rousch said. As for men’s swimwear styles, trends are generally staying the same, said Rousch. T: days are getting longer and the Bouldering climbs to new heights There is a new way for Vancouverites to climb indoors, and it is done without ropes or a harness By NIALL SHANNON high in the air. He has no gear, no rope or harness to keep him secure so high above. With the utmost concen- tration, Villarosa looks left and right and gingerly reaches out for the near- est ledge. Villarosa is in the middle of boulder- ing, a high action sport that inolves rock climbing without a harness or ropes. While bouldering can be done Fe: Villarosa grips onto the wall outside, the sport is growing with a number of indoor climbing gyms, where boulderers climb with the luxu- ry of safety pads. “TBouldering] is a lot of fun, you get to meet new people and get a good workout too. After an hour I’m ex- hausted,” said Villarosa, who has been bouldering for over a year alongside friend and spotting partner Michelle Nguyen. Villarosa and Nguyen got into boul- dering after a mutual friend who was into climbing told them about the thrill of bouldering. The pair frequent the Hive indoor climbing gym, which is the only boul- dering gym in Vancouver. The Hive was started last March and is already at its 2,000 member limit. “Tt can be dangerous, you know, you have nothing to secure you,” said Nguyen. “You need to know how to fall properly because otherwise you could pop out your shoulder.” Though there is an element of risk, Nguyen said the benefits far outweigh the dangers. These include a good, fun workout with the chance to meet new people, according to Nguyen. “If I was single, I would go here to pick up peo- ple,” said Nguyen with a grin. Scott Zacharias, a business consul- tant, loves the chance to do a sport with his daughter Brielle, and said it is the best kind of workout possible. Zacharias is a decade-long fan of bouldering and climbs four to six hours a week at the Coastal Climbing Centre in Surrey. NIALL SHANNON photo Michelle Nguyen finds a thrill in climbing without a rope.