Land Paddling Sees Significant Rise in Popularity in St. Pete/Clearwater

Needing water to paddleboard is a thing of the past in St. Pete/Clearwater, Florida, with new craze land paddling offering a drier alternative.

The land-based version of stand-up paddling has a simple concept- instead of a paddleboard and oar; participants hop on an elongated skateboard and use a long stick with a rubber plunger on the end to propel themselves forward.

The popularity of this new sport has risen significantly in St. Pete/Clearwater due to the area's scenic downtowns, endless beachfronts and urban trails which provide the perfect settings for an afternoon paddle.

Land paddling affords both novices and experienced paddle boarders different opportunities: old pros can perfect their technique on land and get in a quick workout, while beginners can get a feel for the movement of the board and slowly develop the skills and coordination needed to take on the waterborne version. This is also a great way to tone the upper body and improve balance.

"We're quite excited to see that visitors and locals alike are finding new ways to enjoy everything that St. Pete/Clearwater has to offer and definitely encourage people to give this new trend a whirl as it is actually quite easy to do" says David Downing, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater's Deputy Director.

If you're looking to try out the new craze, Virgin Holidays is offering a seven night stay at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater which offers luxury beachfront accommodation, a full-service spa, sumptuous dining options including private dining and a lagoon style pool. Priced at £1,145 per person, the package is based on departures in September 2013 and includes return flights from London Gatwick to Orlando, car hire, all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges and is based on two adults sharing a bay view room on a room only basis.

To book; please visit www.virginholidays.co.uk or call 0844 557 3859

For more information on the destination, please visit www.visitstpeteclearwater.com

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Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater (VSPC) is the official destination marketing organisation of Pinellas County in Florida and covers 26 municipalities in the area.

The region is located on a beautiful peninsula on Florida's west coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to the east.

Just 30 minutes away from Busch Gardens and 90 minutes away from Walt Disney World, the area offers 35 miles of white-sand beaches and uniquely colourful communities to explore.

The destination is renowned for sunshine and currently holds the Guinness World Record for the longest run of sunshine days, a massive 768.

The Clearwater Marina is home to the famous dolphin, Winter, who featured in the smash-hit Dolphin Tale. The film dramatizes the real-life story of how Winter recovered from having her tail removed with the help of a prosthetic.

St. Pete/Clearwater is becoming a set-jetting hot-spot as films Magic Mike, Spring Breakers and Sunlight Jr. have all shot scenes at various locations throughout the destination.

Also home to the largest collection of Dali artwork outside of Spain, the county has culture, wildlife and beautiful beaches with a semi-tropical climate making it the perfect holiday destination for families, couples and singles.

Tampa International Airport is 30 minutes from St. Pete/Clearwater and many international airlines fly direct from the UK. Orlando International Airport is less than an hour's drive from St. Pete/Clearwater.

For more information: www.visitstpeteclearwater.com.