On board: Marble Falls lake-goers are the latest to try out 
a popular paddling sport that originated in Hawaii

MARBLE FALLS — Lake Marble Falls doesn’t have the surf Hawaii boasts, but that doesn’t mean a person can’t slip across the water’s surface on a long board.

Welcome to stand-up paddle boards, a Hawaiian sport that’s come to Marble Falls.

“It’s basically standing up on a surf board,” said Erika Burnham of Go Paddle Down rentals. “It really gives you a unique perspective on the water. But it’s very stable.”

Burnham said stand-up paddle boarding is the next wave in recreation.

The water craft looks like a typical surf board but doesn’t require waves to propel it. Instead, a person stands up on it and uses a paddle.

“It’s a mix between kayaking and surfing in many ways,” she said. “But it’s not near as restrictive as kayaking, because you can stand up — or just jump off into the water when you want.”