ShoufengI See You local guides
Stand up paddleboarding on Liyu Lake a Hualien outing with friends
Originally published by I See You Taiwan Hostel AllianceEditor’s water-safety note: This historical account describes taking off a life jacket for a drone photograph. Do not copy that action. Keep a properly fitted life jacket on while paddleboarding and follow your instructor’s safety guidance. The original article’s prices, group size and operating arrangements require confirmation with the operator.
Last year I joined the Wilds Qingshui Cliffs sunrise kayaking tour and discovered how enjoyable water activities can be with experienced instructors, suitable equipment and everything organised. This year, I got a few good friends together to try Wilds’ stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP: balancing on a board and moving it with a paddle. The pandemic put our plans on hold, but as soon as things eased, we headed to Liyu Lake in Hualien. Before long, even the first-timers were handling their boards and paddling happily across the lake. Such fun...
▼The Wilds team had laid out a fleet of beautiful STARBOARD SUP boards in the car park. Don’t underestimate these boards: with their little figure logo, they’re the BMW of SUPs! I find their stability and speed far better than the ordinary mainland Chinese brands. That’s why I choose Wilds for water activities in Hualien: good equipment makes such a difference to the experience. Once we’d chosen our boards, we pumped them up. Even that was fun, with the instructor explaining things and checking our gear. And, of course, we each needed a life jacket that fitted properly.
▼Swimsuits on, life jackets fastened, boards ready: let’s go!
▼The moment we picked up our boards, we all looked like professionals, striding off with confidence.
▼The instructor showed us how to paddle forwards and backwards, turn, and, most importantly, get back on after falling off. Basic skills, but essential ones. Get those right and you can enjoy being out on the water.
▼Before getting in, we stopped for a group photo. Everyone had their best paddleboarder pose ready.
▼We followed the instructor to the dock and got onto the water one at a time. With help all the way, we felt less worried about falling in before we’d even started.
▼Most of my friends had never tried SUP, but after the lesson they were zipping across Liyu Lake, looking quite at home.
▼As we paddled, we beginners gradually found our balance and stood up. The broad STARBOARD decks helped. So did the conditions that day: mountains surround Liyu Lake, and there was little wind or wave action. It was a lovely place for our first go, in those conditions.
▼The instructor knew what to do in front of a camera too. Full marks for that pose!
▼Of course we wanted an aerial photo. (For the photograph, we took off our life jackets and left them together with the instructor!) I hadn’t expected our boards to make such an impressive flower. This is what happens when a group of good friends gets together.
▼The instructor even did a headstand, while 蔡小妞 managed the splits on her board. Everyone was getting into it!
▼Naturally, we finished with a big group photograph.
▼I’m glad I brought the drone to capture all these memories. Blue sky, green water and paddleboards: it felt wonderful. With no wind or waves that day, we all had a good time. The first-timers loved Liyu Lake, where they didn’t have to worry about big waves. The activity runs throughout the year, giving you another way to enjoy Hualien. Who says a visit to Liyu Lake has to mean a swan-shaped pedalo? Try a SUP instead!
- Activity: Wilds Liyu Lake SUP Experience
- Price: NT$2,000 per person
- Season: available throughout the year
- Duration: a half-day trip in the morning or afternoon
- Other notes: trips run with four or more participants; groups of fewer than four can arrange a trip for an additional charge
- To sign up, contact the Wilds Facebook page for details
- Official website: https://www.wilds.com.tw/
