Nice SUP Downwinder in Tahiti

 

 The clear waters of Tahiti are perfect for an epic SUP downwinder. 

First posted on  supboardermag.com

Also founded on  playak.com

Ladies, want to paddle? Get Out Girl Paddle Jam set for Oct. 26

 

An all-women’s paddle event to benefit the Flatwater Foundation is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 26. Participants at the Get Out Girl Paddle Jam will kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle distances of 2 to 10 miles to raise money to provide support for families coping with a cancer diagnoses.

The event begins and ends at Steiner Ranch Lake Club. Paddlers can bring their own kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards or rent one at registration.

“As women who love the outdoors and water, we understand the mental health benefits of getting out and getting active and we see this event as an opportunity to connect with others while spreading that positive message,” organizers said in a press release.

The course will be an out and ...more

Exercise is the wonder drug for people affected by cancer

On November 1st New Zealand’s largest stand up paddle board event, Starboard Paddle For Hope, and The PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Trust will come together to raise funds for people affected by cancer in New Zealand.

The Starboard Paddle for Hope festival is a fun family fundraising event now in its four year, which aims to raise $100,000 for the PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Trust, and will take place at the newly-developed St Mary’s Bay in Westhaven, Auckland.

Teams and individuals can enter the event here (http://www.paddleforhope.co.nz/get-on-board/register/) and take part in have-a-go lessons, yogaboarding, hula workshops, sprint racing and a teams SUP relay on November 1st.

The PINC & STEEL Cancer Rehabilitation Trust works with people affected by cancer to help them improve their strength, flexibility, quality of life and general wellbeing through rehabilitation and exercise.

Founder of PINC and STEEL, Lou James, says there is a large amount of international research now showing compelling evidence that rehabilitation and physical exercise can have a dramatic effect on a person’s life when affected by cancer including reducing the ...more

World’s fastest growing watersport beams Sligo into 50 million homes

 

SUP has been growing apace in Ireland, and is now offered by adventure companies throughout the country - but it’s set to receive a major boost in early 2015.

That’s when 'Facing Waves', a US TV series beamed into over 50 million homes in 25 countries around the world, will go live with an episode recorded in Sligo.

Sligo was chosen as a top SUP destination by the paddle-sports TV show, which broadcasts on the Outside Television and NBC’s Universal Sports channels in the US.

The 'First Lady' of Stand Up Paddle Fitness, Nikki Gregg from Ohio, has been filming in Ireland with SUPForAll, a company operating along the Wild Atlantic Way.

"There is not a parish in Ireland that does not ...more

Redondo Beach hosts second annual Beyond the Shore Paddlefest

 

On Sunday, Oct. 12, Redondo Beach welcomed the vibrant Southern California 

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) community to the Seaside Lagoon for

 the second annual Beyond the Shore Paddlefest. 

An extensive array of vendors from local and regional businesses lined the

 lagoon against the backdrop of continuous live music and 

on the water excitement as paddlers participated in a Guinness World Records 

 attempt for the largest SUP yoga class and a 4.5 mile SUP race.

 “Jeremy and I run Beyond the Shore as a nonprofit partnership 501c3 public charity. 

We've been official for over two years. 

The movie "The Cove" is what really set us in motion to take action and try and do something. 

We are trying to help teach the local community about ocean awareness, 

education and how our local community can make a difference,”

 said Michelle Gierst, one of   ...more

2014 SUWS Finals: Long Distance Race Highlights

 

Kai Lenny and Fiona Wylde came out victorious from Saturday’s Long Distance race at the 2014 Standup World Series Finals on Oahu. With heavy surf along Oahu’s fabled North Shore, competitors battled the conditions as well as one another for 13 miles from Turtle Bay Resort to the finish line at Haleiwa.

With the Men’s SUWS Title already secured by Connor Baxter in Huntington, the boys battled for top finishes to count towards event rankings as well as the overall World Series Rankings. Local paddler Riggs Napoleon came in second to Lenny after an impressive race where he took down Mo Freitas, Jake Jensen and numerous other top racers.

On the women’s side, with the Title still up for grabs, Angie Jackson and Sonni Hönscheid rounded out the second and third places behind Wylde, overtaking strong racers including Halie Harrison, Talia Gangini and Lina Augaitis. Check out 2014 Standup World Series Long Distance race ...more

Paddlesurfers stand up and be counted for new event

 

Hundreds of people flocked to the beautiful countryside for the UK’s first SUPBIKERUN event, sponsored by Surfdome.com.

Originating in Hawaii and California, this new breed of triathlon saw ompetitors of all ages from all over the British Isles take on a 3k SUP course, 30k off-road bike ride and 5k trail run.

Out of the 162 entrants, around 40 per cent of were women. SUP brands Fanatic and Specialized were on hand to demonstrate their boards to all those who caught the SUP bug while the Surfdome shop offered the perfect opportunity to get on board.

Every competitor left with a medal, goody bag, a Vita Coco drink and was offered a free sports massage.

Following the huge success of the event, SUPBIKERUN plans to roll out the event to various locations in ...more

Novice paddlers stand up for cause

 

Tauranga Community Foodbank and people who donated in exchange for stand up paddle boarding reaped the benefits of a "give it a go" day on offer at Pilot Bay.

The Give Stand Up Paddling a Go event offered people the chance to enjoy a 30-minute lesson and experience of paddling yesterday in exchange for a tin of food or gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to the foodbank.

The opportunity was hot property among crowds of people who gathered at the beach to take their turn to learn the modern water sport. It was part of an initiative of Sport Bay of Plenty, which has helped organise "give it a go" days for other sports in previous years.

Organiser Tinikai Rolleston said this was the third time paddling has been on offer.

"It's always a good ...more

Stand Up World Series Finals Long Distance race win for Kai Lenny

 

...they then used the trade winds to head south towards the finish line at Halewia, running parallel past some of the best surf breaks in the world along the North Shore of Hawaii. Today tested paddling ability to the max, not only contending with the 13 mile course but also the conditions and paddlers used them to their advantage to show their true waterman ability. The tough course provided the perfect platform to show just how testing this sport is and just how good a waterman you need to be to race in these ...more

Anderson, Ching Win 2014 SUP Champions Tour

 

The inaugural season for the The SUP Champions Tour has come and gone with Annabel Anderson and Danny Ching taking overall titles. The Tour released a presser yesterday. Here’s the gist:

Six months ago several of the top male (Travis Grant, Connor Baxter, Danny Ching, George Cronsteadt, Lincoln Dews, Jamie Mitchell, Casper Steinfath, Chase Kosterlitz, Matt Becker, Chuck Patterson and many more), and female sup racers (Annabel Anderson, Jenny Kalmbach, Lina Augaitis and others) sat down with the goal to unify professional SUP racing around the world.

There are currently at least three entities that claim to crown a world champion: the WPA, World Series, and ISA. However, none of them have the support of all, or even most, of the athletes. And all are restricted to a particular board class and racing style.
The Champions Tour athletes wanted to support the biggest and best events (in the sport), events we felt deserved our support. (And we posed these questions to our panel): Does bringing top competitors to an event help grow the sport? When professional paddlers show up to events, does it help grow the event and make it better? Where do athletes rank at the end of the year based off race results at the best events, against the best racers?
The Champions Tour picked seven races that encompass a wide range of styles and board classes. The men were scored for their top five races and women for their top four results. Here are the seven:
Carolina Cup, Graveyard elite result, winner Danny Ching
Olukai Ho’olaule’a, line honors, winner Connor Batxer
Lost Mills, distance race, winner Eric Terrian
Ultimate SUP Showdown, race side final result, winner Kai Lenny
Gorge Paddle Challenge, combined 2 day result, winner Connor Baxter
BOP elite, line honors, winner Kai Lenny
BOP distance, 14′ elite division, winner Danny Ching

The tie breaker this year was a count back to next best result (sixth result for men, fifth for women) to reward consistent finishes.

So that’s the meat of it. Here’s where the racers that made enough starts to qualify ended up:

 

1 Danny Ching
2 Travis Grant
3 Connor Baxter
4 Georges Cronsteadt
5 Kai Lenny
6 Jake Jensen
7 Chase Kosterlitz
8 Eric Terrien
9 Slater Trout
10 Beau O’Brian
1 Annabel Anderson
2 Lina Augaitis
3 Sonni Honscheid
4 Candice Appleby
5 Jenny Kalmbach
6 Angela Jackson
7 Fiona Wylde
8 Andrea Moller
9 Kelsa Gabehart
10 Talia Decoite

A quick takeaway before we get into more analysis for the upcoming season, The Champions Tour was a really solid first stab at trying to unify a severely ...more

Controversy ensues at the world’s largest SUP race

 

Stand Up Paddleboard racing rules are suddenly a hot topic for conversation on the beach and online after following last weekend’s Battle of the Paddle. 

The BOP saw a few false starts, missed buoys and other rule infractions that have become common at races around the world.

The main controversy of the event surrounded a wave ridden by Connor Baxter and 

Kai Lenny during the elite race final.

 Both paddlers were on the same wave and exchanged fouls back-and-forth to the point that

 they fell off of their boards. 

Kai and Connor were not given any penalties after the race. 

We are not implying that this was the right or wrong decision, we simply want 

your feedback so we can improve our rules to cover similar incidents. 

This particular incident would currently fall under ...more

Racers Brave Big Surf in Paddling Contest

 

Hurricane Simon brought relentless overhead sets to Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point last Saturday and Sunday, turning the seventh annual Battle of the Paddle into a wild free for all, as hundreds of men, women and children of all ages and skill levels battled the breakers to compete in the world’s largest stand up paddle event.

“It was kind of crazy,” said Kristin Thomas, Laguna Beach resident and ...more

Beyond the Shore Paddle Fest this Sunday

For the second annual beyond the shore paddlefest and 

help us set the Guinness World Record for the Largest SUP Yoga Class. 

(World Record Attempt for the "Largest Stand Up Paddle Yoga Class" will start promptly loading on to the water at 8:30 am.)

Never tried SUP Yoga? 

Feel free to sign up for an Olympus SUP Fit SUP Yoga class any time before or after the festival. See their entire SUP activity schedule on Meetup.

The festival also includes a 4.4 mile SUP race, a relay fun SUP race,the kids’ Seaside Lagoon race,

 live music, a kid's activities, slack line demonstrations, aeriel yoga demonstrations (think Cirque de Solei!) raffles, silent auction items, and a ton of family fun!

Each registered participant will be entered into ...more

Opinion: Kai vs. Connor at BOP 2014

 

If you were at the 2014 Battle of the Paddle Elite Race last Saturday at Salt Creek Beach, 

or if you read a recap or talked to anybody about it, 

you inevitably heard about “The Wave,” where now-two-time champ Kai Lenny and 

2011 winner Connor Baxter played an aggressive game of 

bumper boards until they both went down. 

Lenny was able to regain his composure and go on to win the race. 

The beach was alive with chatter. Was it fair? 

Do there need to be rules in place for this sort of thing? Who’s at fault? 

Now that we’ve received press releases from every conceivable source on the matter, 

read page upon page of forum posts and heard all sorts of industry insiders opine on the hot topic, 

here’s our take:

An episode of this magnitude has been brewing for some time. 

Baxter and Lenny have been at the forefront of racing for a couple of years now and there’s a lot of insider talk about how these two ...more

Q & A With SUP Instructor Nikki Johnston Beaudoin

 

Q: How did you get introduced to SUPing?

A: I first  stepped onto a paddle board about 4-5 years ago on Lake Champlain in Vermont. I really started to get into paddling over two years ago. I grew up kayaking and sailing, and I like to surf, (or at least try to), so I loved the ability to stand on the board and paddle and the vantage point it gives you above the water, the full body workout, and the sense of freedom and peace that comes with it. It really is a great and fun way to travel and explore.

 

Q: Tell me about your most epic SUP adventure.

A: My husband and I have gone on some fun SUP missions. One fun paddle that stands out in my mind was our little adventure over to Thormanby Island on the Sunshine Coast. We paddled across the Strait in the morning from Secret Cove, paddled around the island along its white sand beaches and stopped to picnic looking out at snow-capped mountains. So beautiful. We paddled back in the ...more

Also posted on playak.com

The 2014 SUP Awards, Four Konas Deep

 

The thing that makes the SUP Awards so special is that everyone is there—minus Laird (inside sources say he was busy inventing another sport last Thursday). That night the greater standup community is not racing, not surfing, not paddling, they’re just hanging out with each other, having a good time eating free food and drinking free alcohol. As a journalist, it’s a great time to watch everyone mingle. What did we learn? Well, after four cold ones from Kona Brewing Co., everything starts to get interesting.

Connor Baxter owns a collared shirt. It’s true. We have photographic evidence. The Most T-shirts Worn to SUP Awards for the Most Consecutive Years award winner finally gave up his reign tonight by wearing a button-up shirt. With a collar. We can’t confirm if he has more than just that one.

Caio Vaz is the most stoked-est. The first Brazilian male to break into the SUP Awards, Vaz was unusually smiley—even for himself. Seriously, the guy always has a grin on his face whether he’s winning Standup World Tour events, free-surfing in Indonesia or just hanging on the beach with his family. When I asked him if he’d thought about racing in the BOP he gave me a “hell no” look and told me he was going to surf in Mexico for a few days. Then he smiled.

Mickey Muñoz lives the good life. He’s is one of the happiest guys you’ll see. He was truly stoked to win the Lifetime Achievement award, even more stoked to get sandwiched between Izzi Gomez and Annabel Anderson backstage for a photo op and even more stoked than that to get to surf Salt Creek alone all weekend as he “refereed” the Battle of the Paddle. The spoils of being a living legend.

Izzi Gomez is still fourteen. She’s taller, more well-spoken and ...more

Fifty two hope for world record on stand up paddleboard

 

A group of 52 stand-up paddleboarders from Auckland are waiting to be confirmed as Guinness World Record holders.

The record attempt for the most people on a stand-up paddleboard happened last Saturday at the On Water Boat Show in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

Charles Winstone, general manager of Lancer Industries, came up with the idea as a way to demonstrate the stability and durability of their Airodock.

With Winstone's strong ties to the Child Cancer Foundation it quickly became a fundraiser with four children from the foundation taking their place at the front of the board.

Winstone then approached Troy Huston, the ...more

Local trio claim Irish surfing titles

 

They were among a range of winners in all categories that were largely dominated by competitors from the north west.

Bundoran’s Shauna Ward claimed the women’s title in top class conditions on her home waves, while fellow Bundoran local Emmet O’Doherty claimed his first national tile in the longboard event and backed up this with a second place finish in the Stand Up paddle (SUP) category.

Shauna dominated the Women’s final, with some high scoring waves leaving Rebecca Pigot 2nd, Ayesha Garvey 3rd and Grace Doyle 4th.

Rossnowlagh’s John Britton took top spot in the senior division beating Mayo’s Robin Keating, Kerry Larkin and Derek Parle.

Competitors were treated to some of the best surf experienced for a contest at the Irish Championships held at the famed reef break known as “The Peak”.

With over fifty heats and finals in ...more

2014 SUP Awards Presented by Tommy Bahama Celebrates Standup Paddling

 

Standup paddling’s greatest athletes, philanthropists and filmmakers came together for an historic night with SUP Magazine at the 2014 SUP Awards presented by Tommy Bahama. With hundreds of guests gathered at the Casino in San Clemente, Calif., SUP Magazine and industry pros celebrated the top male and female paddlers, expeditions, philanthropic efforts and films of 2014. Returning hosts Sam George and Dave Boehne passed out the hardware as California’s Izzi Gomez received top honor as Female Paddler of the Year, while Connor Baxter of Maui was
 awarded Male Paddler of the Year.
“I’m so grateful to share this sport with all of you,” Gomez said.”It means a lot.”
“I’m so stoked to be in the situation I am,” said Baxter.
Also receiving commendation for their athletic achievements in standup paddling were Nicole Pacelli and Annabel Anderson, who were voted second and third in the women’s category, as well as Maui’s Kai Lenny and Caio Vaz of Brazil, who came in second and third respectively on the men’s side.
Check out all the video acceptance speeches here.
“I’m super honored,” Pacelli said.
“I’m excited to be here tonight—this is super exciting,” Lenny said. “Without the support of everyone in this sport I wouldn’t be where I am.”
Acknowledging the outstanding young guns breaking into the sport, Fiona Wylde was awarded Female Breakthrough Performance of the Year for her top finishes in SUP racing, while Travis Baptiste took home Male Breakthrough Performance of the Year for ...more

Supplements for Standup Paddlers

 

The supplement industry continues to go from strength to strength–if you’ll pardon the bad intentional pun–and may reach $60 billion by 2021. The trouble is that there’s an increasingly baffling array of products to choose from, many of which have insufficient scientific evidence behind the lofty claims their manufacturers make. Some might even damage your health.

So should you just avoid all supplementation? Certainly, it’s best to eat a well balanced diet based on organic, non-GMO foods. This will not only supply most of the nutrients your body needs, but also limit your exposure to environmental toxins. But beyond this basic premise, there are several supplements that have been shown to safely promote exercise performance and recovery. Here are four you should consider:

ZMA

For the longest time, doctors and physicians swore up and down that taking high levels of vitamin C was the best way to ward off a cold. But recent studies call this claim into question, and suggest that zinc is actually the micronutrient you need if you want to prevent and shorten the duration of a cold. The trouble is that intense exercise can deplete zinc levels, making it hard to get enough from natural sources such as citrus fruits. Enter ZMA, a natural supplement that not only gives you a  ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Local racer debuts in 2 Dam Days

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2 Dam Days is one of the biggest paddling events in the world with events spanning the length of the Lake of the Ozarks.

This will be Lake Ozark resident Anthony Arauz’s first time participating in the ...more

Battle of the Paddle Welcomes Prone Paddlers

 

With all eyes fixed on the action at the 2014 Battle of the Paddle on Salt Creek in Dana Point, California this weekend spectators will notice a new paddlecraft at the start line on Saturday. With a solid south swell in the forecast for the 7th Annual Battle of the Paddle, prone paddlers for the first time will charge the pounding shorebreak at Salt Creek along with their stand up counterparts. If it wasn't evident that prone paddleboarding's popularity is on the rise, it is now!

"We added prone paddling because it's a natural to the Battle of the Paddle," commented Barrett Tester, Battle of the Paddle race director. "We have seen the growth of the sport the past several years and know that many athletes enjoy both sports."

Indeed it looks like many of stand up paddling's most notable athletes will be leaving their paddles on the beach and racing alongside some of the world's top prone athletes this weekend. Jay Wild, Morgan Hoesterey, Alison Riddle and a number of ...more

Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam - Reno SUP Challenge begins

 

 With light winds continuing to dominate on day six of the Davidoff Cool Water Sylt PWA Super Grand Slam, the decision was made to begin the Reno SUP Challenge during the afternoon, which saw twelve teams battling it out in heats of two for a place in tomorrow’s final, to keep the crowds entertained.

The opening heat of the Reno SUP Challenge saw Team 11 - consisting of Sarah Bibby (Simmer), Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails), Julien Quentel (RRD / NeilPryde) and Antoine Albeau (RRD / NeilPryde) - take on Caroline Weber (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg), Björn Dankers (Patrik / GA Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), Ingmar Daldorf and Jordy Vonk (F2 / Point-7) of Team Five. However, Team 11 were able to claim an emphatic victory after leading from start ...more

Battle of the Paddle hits Salt Creek Beach

 

 

Hundreds of elite athletes will compete in the seventh annual Battle of the Paddle on Oct. 4-5, held for the first time at Salt Creek Beach. Hosted by Rainbow Sandals and surf legend Gerry Lopez,

the two-day event is expected to attract 20,000 spectators with a slew 

of stand-up paddleboarding races, kids’ events and expo vendors. 

Needing more space after last year, event organizers decided to move 

from Doheny State Beach to Salt Creek, which adds room for a 

bigger expo and crowd, not to mention a more challenging surf. 

The elite route will move in and out of the surf and requires participants 

to catch a wave and ride it to a point, which means ...more

Surfing on SUP raceboards is FUN!

 

Surfing on raceboards is a lot of fun and a great skill to practice if you want to get faster on downwind runs, since it's all about surfing the bumps. Surfing these big, long boards also allows you to catch and surf waves that others can't, which opens up all kinds of uncrowded spots and smaller waves that are barely breaking that you can catch from way outside,surf and ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Was SUP paddler too close to blue whale?

 

Paddler captures remarkable blue whale footage during close encounter off Laguna Beach, but some are suggesting that this was illegal harassment

 A standup paddler has captured incredible footage of his close encounter with an endangered blue whale off Laguna Beach, California.

At times, Rich German seems only a few feet from the majestic creature, and his underwater shots reveal beautiful closeups of the mammal’s face, body, and fluke.

It must have been a surreal experience; one the SUP paddler is likely to remember for the rest of his ...more

Sup Surfing on Downwind Race Boards Is Fun

 

Surfing on raceboards is a lot of fun and a great skill to practice if you want to get faster on downwind runs, it's all about surfing the bumps.  Surfing these big long boards also allows you to catch and surf waves that others can't, which opens up all kinds of uncrowded spots and smaller waves that are barely breaking that you can catch from way outside,surf and ENJOY.

 These two videos are from our ...more

Also posted on playak.com

How to Stand Up Paddle Through breaking waves

In this video ACA SUP Instructor Trainer Jimmy Blakeney gives detailed instruction for getting back out through breaking waves while surfing.

Post founded on  standupjournal.com

Stand-up guys

 

There will be women.

It is, after all, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.

But it's also an end-of-summer party for the guys. They made it. Their first season in business in Annapolis as Capital SUP (stand-up paddle boarding).

Three buds — they're 26. And they spent all summer building tans and muscles paddling Spa Creek.

October begins breast cancer awareness month, so they decided to marry their party Saturday with a fundraiser — a date auction.

Chris Norman is 6 feet 2 inches with ...more

A guide to standup paddleboarding in South Florida

 

The breeze is light, the water is still and you stand quietly, paddling just enough to glide along the water.

More standup paddleboarders are discovering how easy it is to enjoy South Florida's plentiful waterways, making for a boom in the activity that is often referred to as SUP.

"People see other people out there paddleboarding, and the curiosity gets to them," says Brian Galton, owner of Sunrise Paddleboards. "It becomes contagious."

Galton began renting and selling paddleboards in 2010, thinking it would be more of a tourist activity. But he says he found a large number of South Floridians enjoy it as a way to connect with the water. He says he has trained more than ...more

Auckland On Water Boat Show: SUP record attempt Saturday afternoon

 

An attempt will be made on Saturday afternoon set set a new Guinness World Record mark for the most people on a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)
The SUP used for the record attempt will be supplied by leading New Zealand inflatable manufacturer, Lancer Industries, and the SUP uses Lancer's AirDock technology..
The AirDock is an inflatable semi-rigid platform, typically used to form temporary docks for all manner of purposes from off the sterns of superyachts to being used off a beach or a lake. Any use that requires people to walk on water!  

The course for the record attempt will be 100metres long and located in ...more

Laguna Beach sup Blue Whale close encounter

Posted by: Adam Champagne 

 

I recently captured this footage of blue whales from my paddle board with my GoPro. I was about 2 miles off the coast of Laguna Beach CA. This is some of the rarest footage you’ll ever see of these mystical, sublime creatures. Watch at 2:00, 3:36 and 5:04 in as I put the camera underwater.

There used to be appx 300,000 blue whales on ...more

Why surfers should try paddle boarding

 

In our Adventures on your Doorstep series, Alex Wade, an accomplished surfer, discovers just how fun and accessible paddle boarding can be...

It’s a hot and humid afternoon in London’s Docklands. I’m looking out on the flat water of the Royal Victoria Dock. Away in the distance is the Excel Centre. In front of me is… a beach.

“Ready?” The speaker is Jason Bergin, a professional watersports coach. Jason’s Urban-Recovery business works all over London; today he’s at the WakeUPDocklands centre in Docklands. Lean and fit, he is standing on the white sands that have been imported to the western waterside of the dock, clutching what looks like an oversized surfboard.

But it’s not a surfboard. It’s a stand-up paddle board, a watercraft first practised by Hawaiians and ...more

Ferry master doubles as paddleboard instructor

 

Marybeth Ray leads a double life – and she loves both of them. Every other week, she is the ferry boat master on the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry, putting in 12 ½ hour days for seven straight days. That gives her the alternate weeks off, or at least it did until she and her husband, George, decided to “do something together.”

The perfect “something” became clear last summer. They would start a paddleboard business. Marybeth's introduction to stand-up paddleboards (SUP) was as unique as ...more

Kona to Sponsor 2014 SUP Awards, Battle of the Paddle

 

Kailua-Kona, Big Island of Hawaii and San Clemente, CA — Liquid Aloha will be flowing at two of the highest profile events in standup paddling.  Kona Brewing Company announced it will once again sponsor the 2014 SUP Awards and Battle of the Paddle, to be held October 2 and October 4-5, respectively.  At both events, Kona will pour its signature Longboard Island Lager, Big Wave Golden Ale and Castaway IPA, newly available on the mainland and the first time it will be served at both events.

Now in its fourth year, the SUP Awards recognize the best paddlers, films, expeditions and philanthropic efforts in the standup paddling industry. Online votes have been pouring in to the SUP magazine awards site since July and the results will be announced at the awards ceremony at Casino San Clemente. The historic casino was once the stomping grounds of Hollywood entertainers and ...more

Viaduct Harbour to hold Guinness World Record attempt

The Viaduct Harbour will play host to a world record attempt for the most people on a stand up paddle board, played out in front of visitors to Aucklands On Water Boat Show.11/09/2014

For immediate release.

Viaduct Harbour to hold Guinness World Record attempt.

The Viaduct Harbour will play host to a world record attempt for the most people on a stand up paddle board, played out in front of visitors to Auckland’s On Water Boat Show.

• Stand up paddle board (SUP) world record attempt to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation.

On Saturday 27th September Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour will play host to a world record attempt. At 20- metres long, the SUP will hold 52 brave paddlers, led by Quiksilver SUP team rider, Troy Huston. Huston was the first person ever to SUP to Great Barrier Island, and will be on hand to ensure everyone onboard, stays onboard.

The attempt will see the team of paddlers make their way up the Viaduct in front of the Auckland On Water Boat Show’s visitors. Their ride for the world-beating attempt is a 20-metre long, 1.4-metre wide SUP made using Lancer Industry’s drop stitch technology, which is ...more

Also posted on voxy.co.nz

Boardworks SUP to Debut at 2014 Paddle Expo with System X Distribution

 

“SystemX is a major player in the European Paddle Sports market, and we were looking for a distributor that could reach the canoe/ kayak market in Europe. One of our top performing brands is Badfish, it is the only River specific SUP brand, and it needs to be sold through specialty retailers that understand whitewater. SystemX distributes some of the top brands in whitewater, and we are lucky to have our logo on their “brands” page.” Says Boardworks’ National Sales Manger Ryan Guay.

“We have some new models for 2015 that will continue to push the level of River SUP. Since the day we launched our website we have had consistent interest from Europe about our products. Europe has a long tradition of river sports and whitewater paddling and Badfish boards are a natural fit for the European market. We have been shipping individual boards to European customers over the past few years, but we are really excited to ...more

Luke Hopkins: First SUP to SUP Board Transfer On A Wave

 

Story: Sometimes to surf a wave on the board you want to surf on is really hard and you have to be creative. Here is a sequence showing one of the first times I have done a board transfer on a wave.

This wave, known as the “perfect wave” is really hard to catch at low water on a short river surfing SUP but easy on an 11-footer. So it made sense to me to just take my short board with me and do a transfer mid surf.

Pretty fun move to pull off and pretty rewarding when you ...more

Preparing your SUP Paddle for Night Trips

 

 Here in the Pacific Northwest summer is waning and fall is around the corner.  Days are getting shorter and very soon it'll be dark at 5pm.  Many of us don't stop paddling just because its colder, we just wear a wetsuit.  Shorter days means doing a few night paddles, or in my case as a SUP guide, I offer a bioluminescence night tours through early October.

Night paddling is fun and can be quite an experience but is even more satisfying when your gear is ready for it.  A technique I learned a few years ago is ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Boardworks SUP to Debut at 2014 Paddle Expo with System X Distribution

 

Boardworks Surf will be using System X Distribution to distribute Boardworks Inflatable SUP’s and Badfish SUP products to the European Market. System X is based in the UK and distributes to retailers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Norway and Finland. This will be the first time Badfish SUP will be available in Europe.

“System X is a major player in the European Paddle Sports market, and we were looking for a distributor that could reach the canoe/ kayak market in Europe. One of our top performing brands is Badfish, it is the only River specific SUP brand, and it needs to be sold through specialty retailers that understand whitewater. SystemX distributes some of the top brands in whitewater, and we are lucky to have our logo on their “brands” page.” Says Boardworks’ National Sales Manger Ryan Guay.

“We have some new models for 2015 that will continue to push the ...more

Doing Good: Stand-up paddle board race raises education program funds

Lake Lanier’s Olympic Paddle was the go-to place for stand-up paddle boarders on Sept. 6. One of the fastest growing sports, SUP participants took to the water for the Amazing Atlanta SUP Race to benefit Wildnerness Works, a local organization that works with inner-city youth to enhance their lives with enriched educational programs connected with nature.

“I took this sport on a year ago, and thought it would be a fun way to introduce the sport and raise money for a good cause,” said Emily Cook, vice president of the board. Cook directed the race along with Kayla Boys of Mountain High Outfitters.

The Saturday morning race invited 75 participants who participated in a three-, six-, or nine-mile race which raised over $5,000 for Wilderness Works. The money will send 25 kids to various summer camp programs hosted by the organization next summer.

Taking on the ideas of journalist Richard Louv and his theories of nature deficit disorder, William Mickler founded Wilderness Works in 1997 to help children become active and get involved in their outdoor surroundings. This became even more ...more

September Week Feels Like August; a Look at Recent SUP and Bodyboard Bans

So this is it? September? That magical month that everyone yammers on and on about, the month of endless swell and cool nights?
I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’ll take that summer back. For one thing, the temperature in August barely got over 80. Did you go outside last weekend? Sweltering! You barely had to use the AC this summer, but September has been hot enough to melt your good mood.
From the way we talk about September on LBI, you’d think New Jersey was some kind of surf Valhalla. But so far, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes have made us look silly. I went up to the beach one morning and it was flat. Like, totally flat. Lapping up on the shoreline flat. It was kind of striking because the ocean hadn’t been that calm all summer. May through August, there was always something breaking, and more often than not, you could at least ride a longboard.
“It’s better in September.”
First off, that doesn’t rhyme. Second of all, it’s not – at least not this year.
And thus far, the tropics have not danced at all for us this month, the historical height of hurricane season. Meanwhile, we had a significant hurricane swell in July and two in August.
But let’s not be too hard on September. The lines of humans and automobiles have subsided. And despite the humidity and lack of surf, there ...more

Sup 11-City Tour 2014 Official Recap, Results and Photos

 

The non-stop SUP 11-City Tour paddlers continued their 220-kilometer mission through the dark night of Friesland while the 5 day-stage participants gathered some rest in preparation to their last stage Dokkum-Leeuwarden. Due to ‘glassy’ (no wind) weather conditions, the non-stop paddlers continued their fast past and barely slowed down through the night. Arnaud Frennet from Chile, the champion of the non-stop 2014, reached the finish line around 6:30am in 26 hours 20 minutes and 31 seconds.

Ike Frans from the Netherlands came in second with a total time of 27 hours, 7 minutes and 12 seconds. Richard Grazei from Austria came in third with a total time of 28 hours, 31 minutes and 53 seconds. The non-stop turned out to be an ultra extreme experience for the heroic participants. “It was very special and also very painful” was a common quote of the participants. It was a first time the organization combined the ultra endurance non-stop category with the 5 day-stage SUP 11-City Tour already existing 6 years now. The non-stop category will ...more

Also posted on playak.com

Stand up for paddle challenge

 

A BARRY-BASED sheltered scheme co-ordinator is to do battle with the elements to celebrate her employer’s milestone birthday and raise funds for charity.

Sara Reid-Danks, a sheltered housing scheme coordinator at Elis Fisher Court will be raising funds for Alzheimer's Research at Cardiff University by doing a stand up paddle during the week of Newydd housing association’s 40th birthday.

Sara will navigate a 40km course around Cardiff Bay in a gruelling effort expected to take her around eight hours to complete on Sunday, September 14. 

 Sara said: "I was inspired to take on the challenge to support Jon Hussey, another member of staff who is raising vital funds through a 'Series of unfortunate events' during 2014, a total of 18 physical and testing fitness challenges.

"Jon lost his grandmother to ...more

2014 AWSI: 3 Minutes Of Pure Epic Sup Footage

2014 AWSI SUP Brand of the year videos (all brands) from AWSI 2014 on Vimeo.
Posted on standupjournal.com

Finally a Paddle Designed For Smaller Stand UP Paddlers

 

Werner is the innovator in fit options in paddles. Starting with blade sizes and then shaft sizes; we are confident through our experiences that performance starts with a great fit. This led us to our 2015 product launch, Small FitTM SUP. With the help of some amazing female athletes and manufacturing technologies, we matched our small or mid-sized blades with a new small shaft and small grip. Haley Mills, nominated in SUP the Mag’s “Paddler of the Year Awards,” was on the test team and had this to say. “It’s way more comfortable in my hands. I have less fatigue and more control of the paddle, I am SO stoked on small fit.” Considering the smaller stature of the female paddlers, we’ve also softened the flex of the paddle slightly, for a gentler feel without sacrificing performance.

Small Fit will be an option on our Grand Prix, Nitro, Soul and Carve models, in small and mid-sized blades.
With 60% of the SUP market being female paddlers, marketing manager Danny Mongno is excited about the upside. “We’ve seen the benefits first hand in ...more

Something Different: Mo Freitas Israel Sup Experience

Mo Freitas in Israel Experience from Focus SUP Hawaii on Vimeo.

A short surfing documentary featuring Focus SUP Hawaii team rider Mo Freitas in his recent trip to Israel in summer 2014.
Mo Freitas is a SUP surfer from Hawaii and is considered one of the top riders in the world.

While surfing in Israel mo got to experience the best of this country, he traveled to the Jordan River where Jesus walked on water in the north and all the way down to the Dead Sea, the lowest sea in the world. And the ...more

Bart de Zwart Wins 6th Annual SUP 11-City Tour

 

An international field of over 100 paddlers from over 15 countries lined up at the start on Day 1 of the 6th Annual SUP 11-City Tour. Although it’s a five- to six-hour race every day, the start is as explosive as a 500-meter sprint, and this year was no different.

Jay Hasley and Peter Bartl started strong, but Bart de Zwart and Martijn van Deth caught up shortly, leaving Jay in their wake to form a three-man lead group. After only 15 minutes into the race, Peter surprised the competition by making the move to sprint ahead of Bart and Martijn, where he continued extending his lead with every kilometer up to the day’s halfway point. Upon reaching the ...more

2014 Surf Expo Board Demo

 

Surf Expo’s board demo day at The Orlando Watersports Complex was a great opportunity to check out a lot of boards in a small amount of time. Anyone on the west coast looking to demo SUPs should plan on making it out to Camp SUP at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, Sept. 13-14, 2014. Here are some photos from Surf Expo’s Demo Day  ...more

SUP 11-City Tour Update: Day 5

Sunday the 7th of SUPtember, the final day of the Sup 11-City tour 2014.

The non-stop SUP 11-City Tour paddlers continued their 220-kilometer mission through the dark night of Friesland while the 5 day-stage participants gathered some rest in preparation to their last stage Dokkum-Leeuwarden. Due to ‘glassy’ (no wind) weather conditions, the non-stop paddlers continued their fast past and barely slowed down through the night. Arnaud Frennet from Chile, the champion of the non-stop 2014, reached the finish line around 6:30am in 26 hours 20 minutes and 31 seconds. Ike Frans from the Netherlands came in second with a total time of 27 hours, 7 minutes and 12 seconds. Richard Grazei from Austria came in third with a total time of 28 hours, 31 minutes and 53 seconds. The non-stop turned out to be an ultra extreme experience for the heroic participants. “It was very special and ...more

The common sense rules of stand up paddleboarding

 

Stand up paddleboarding is not always welcome in the line-up. There are many reasons behind this suspicious attitude towards SUP fans and their gear.

Stand up paddleboards are weapons, especially the rigid models. If shortboards can seriously hurt someone, a ten-foot SUP ship may quickly kill if it hits someone in the head. That is why inflatable SUPs have been gaining supporters.

SUP enthusiasts are compelled to respect the basic rules of surf etiquette, but they should also know that special guidelines apply to their sport.

In several nations and states, stand up paddleboards are considered watercraft. This means that riders must follow rules that don't usually apply to classic surfers. For example, the use of personal flotation devices (PFD) by children under 12 years old.

The U.S. Coast Guard classifies stand up paddleboards as vessels because they operate "beyond the narrow confines of a surfing, swimming or bathing area." As a result, they ...more

Roger Cox: Don’t bring aggro to the waves

 

FOR the last few days of August, the attention of the surfing world was focused on the coast of Southern California, as a monster swell from Hurricane Marie lit up such fabled breaks as Malibu and The Wedge.

At the former spot there were dramatic scenes when big-wave specialist Laird Hamilton picked off one of the biggest waves of the week and rode it right through the middle of Malibu Pier, calmly slaloming between giant wooden pilings while being chased by a rumbling freight train of whitewater.

Meanwhile, over at The Wedge – a heaving, warping freak of a wave which gets its distinctive shape from swells rebounding off a breakwater and suddenly doubling in size – the acts of derring-do were almost too numerous to mention. Chief clown in this particular carnival of lunacy, however, was pro surfer Jamie O’Brien, who paddled into a clean 15-footer with one surfboard balanced on top of another, hopped to his feet on the larger one, tucked the smaller one under his arm, surfed along for a while, then casually stepped off the larger board onto the smaller one and rode the rest of the wave on that.

Any Scottish surfers watching video footage of either of the above events (almost instantaneously uploaded to YouTube) will probably have had the same two thoughts at about the same time: nice waves; pity about the crowds. O’Brien’s wave is a beauty, but as he takes off you can see in the wave face directly beneath him not one, not two but six surfers all scrambling to get out of the way, with a further four or five paddling frantically just to his right, trying to make it to safety before the wave breaks on their heads. Aerial footage of Hamilton’s second wave at Malibu, meanwhile, shows more surfers than I’ve got time to count strung out across the length of the bay.

The first time I saw Malibu in real life, from a moving car on the Highway, I thought there was some kind of insect swarm in the water – my best guess was flying ants. It was only when I got down onto the sand that I realised the little black dots I was looking at were surfers, hundreds of them, all jostling for waves.

That’s the trouble with Southern California: yes, it is blessed with some heavenly surf geography, but it also has an enormous ...more

SUP 11-City Tour Update: Day 4

Today Saturday the 6th of SUPtember, we had 2 starting times. 

One start took place at 4:15 when the non-stop paddlers left Leeuwarden. 

The conditions were windless but foggy which offered a little challenge. 

 How ever, the paddlers took of fast and may arrive earlier than the organization expected. 

How ever… they paddle now through the night and we have heard of some athletes mentioning ‘the man with the hamer’. 

We wish them the best of luck.
In Franeker, the 5th day stage (42 kilometers) of the “normal” SUP 11-City Tour started at 10am; 

one hour earlier than we normally start due to activities in Dokkum,

 the finish city number 10. Today we received more paddlers 

who signed up for the “Weekend Stage”. 

They choose to paddle the last 2 stages and perhaps test 

the waters to see weather they can paddle the entire Tour.

With ideal paddling conditions again, meaning no wind or bad currents,

the athletes headed in a fast past towards Dokkum. Most athletes had their best day today. 

Every year it is remarkable how the atmosphere grows after day 3 “hump day”. 

Once day 4 is completed, the participants can already ‘smell’ the finish line

 that is awaiting them tomorrow in Leeuwarden.

Bart de Zwart, Peter Bartl and Martijn van Deth have been

 the front fighters of the event in the male competition. 

Today Peter Bartl tried to get away from the group many times and gave Bart and Martijn 

a run for their money to even keep up with ...more

More SUP'ers navigating whitewater rivers

 

SHADY COVE, Ore. — Running the Rogue River's Rattlesnake Rapids while standing erect on a glorified surfboard with a long paddle in his hands used to elicit strange comments to stand-up paddleboarder Jake Baracker from rafters, kayakers and other traditional whitewater runners.

"There were some snickers, for sure," Baracker says. "I'd get ... 'Do you know what you're doing here?' 'Don't you understand this is a river?' 'Are you lost?' "

Now he's getting, "Where can I rent one of those?"

A year after taking off in Southern Oregon lakes and starring in extreme whitewater shows, stand-up paddleboards are becoming the watercraft du jour for a more pedestrian crowd enjoying suitable stretches of the upper Rogue on their feet instead of their behinds.

"We've seen them on the lakes, and now we're seeing them on the river, and it used to be just us," says Pete Newport, a 21-year SUP veteran and owner of Sawyer Oars and Paddles in Talent, Ore. "We're probably another season away before it really takes off. But it's here. It's exciting."

Rafting liveries and sporting-goods stores are offering SUPs for daily rentals for around $40 and steering paddlers to waters like the seven-mile stretch of the Rogue from Rogue Elk Park to Shady Cove, and the water-playing public is responding.

Some outdoor stores and programs are now offering SUP seminars, and Baracker is now a licensed SUP guide offering tutorials and guided floats on stretches of the river best suited to a paddler's individual skills.

Casual weekend rafters with a decent sense for navigating the upper Rogue can find these surprisingly stable boards easy to become ...more

SUP 11-City Tour Update: Day 3

 

This morning the start took place in Workum on Aloha Friday. 

The top 20 paddlers started in the front of sthe starting area, since the waters 

were too narrow for the entire field. 

The weather was also great today. 

Light winds and partly sunny – cloudy moments made up for ideal paddling conditions. 

The currents were also in the favor of the paddlers the first half of the day 

and the paste was fast; up to 11 k/hr.

The day-stage Workum-Franeker, offered mainly smaller channels through the country side. 

The biggest body of water was “het Van Harinksma Kanaal”, 

where commercial big ships drive through. 

The paddlers need to pay attention here.

After Workum, the athletes had to ‘ring the bell’ and call their number 

in Bolsward, city nr 7 and Harlingen, city nr 8. 

The mid way point – and the mandatory break of 15 minutes – was in between these 

two cities in the place called “Witmarsum”.

 I was stoked to paddle my stage for Team Starboard today and I saw

 Bart, Peter and Martijn (the first 3 guys again) paddled away as soon as 

I had reached the rest area. Since the waters were smooth, 

the paddler  were much closer than the previous days 

when big lakes were ...more

Turtle Bay Resort to Host Third-Annual Stand Up World Series Finals in October

 

Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore will host the third year of the Stand Up World Series Finals, the world’s premier championship event for stand-up paddle racing, from Friday-Sunday, Oct. 10-12, 2014.

Situated at the start of the “seven-mile miracle” of legendary North Shore surf, Turtle Bay’s 840 acres and 5 miles of oceanfront have served as the home to the Stand Up World Series Finals since its inception in 2012. The resort is also home to the world headquarters of ocean-sports organization the Waterman League, the official organizer of professional competition for stand-up paddle surfing (Stand Up World Tour) and stand-up paddle racing (Stand Up World Series).

In October, the 2014 Stand Up World Series, which kicked off with the Brazil Pro Grand Slam in April, closes with the Stand Up World Series Finals at Turtle Bay. This three-day event will feature a lineup of free public activities including surf demonstrations, awards presentations and a youth clinic, in addition to competition by the ...more

Oahu’s SUP Ban Proposal Withdrawn

 

Eighty-plus people showed up to discuss the possibility of a partial ban on SUP surfers in Honolulu lineups at a Hawaiian state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) meeting last night. The proposed ban was officially withdrawn during the meeting.

Surfer and lawyer Timothy MacMasters brought the proposal forward for the DLNR’s consideration because he believed SUPs caused danger in lineups as well as standup paddlers catching more than their fair share of waves. The initiative would have banned standup paddlers from three surf spots between Ala Moana Harbor and Kewalo Basin from 3-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

According to local news station KITV, there was lively discussion from both surfers and standup paddlers on the issue, but because no consensus could be ...more

Also posted on playak.com

SUP 11-City Art in the make

Charmaine Walsen and Anne-Marie Reichman are currently 

working on their Flower Power SUP 11-City Tour Art exhibition in The Hague.
During the event next week, the participants find their home in “SUP City”,

 a tent that gets rebuilt and broken down every morning and every

 afternoon traveling from town to town like the athletes on their SUP. 

With their art exhibition in “SUP City”, Charmaine and Anne-Marie like to

 ad some Aloha and color for the entire SUP 11-City Ohana. Perhaps some 

extra inspiration for their paddle prestige. 

Charmaine Walsen is an artist who graduated in 1996 at the Royal Academy of Art, 

The Hague in Fine Arts (ba). She is locally at Scheveningen well know for 

her “Aloha Art” with (surf) waves en Hibiscus flowers. 

It’s her dreamworld and creates happy tropical scenes for herself and others. 

It’s her longing for warm and bright colors when days in The Netherlands can be cold and grey. 

She also makes self- and other portraits. Lately she found the passion for pen drawings again. 

With little strokes and fine lines she makes sketches from people and scenery from travel or her own sphere.

You can see more art work via her facebook https://www.facebook.com/charmaine.walsen?fref=ts 

Her personal website is under ...more

ZEMgear Participates in 2014 Stand Up Paddleboard Race

 

ZEMgear recently took part in the 2014 Paddle Stars Race, participating both a vendor and sponsor. The Daytona Beach-based 2014 Paddle Stars Race is known as a hugely popular stand-up paddle boarding event, featuring paddlers from all over the world – including top-level athletes like Danny Ching and Slater Trout.

The growth in Paddle Sports is reflected in the new products by ZEMgear geared to the Paddle Sports demographic and the specific performance requirements in and around various types of shores and beaches. The ...more

Last Chance to Vote in 2014 SUP Awards!

 

 SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (August 29, 2014) 

Last chance to vote in SUP magazine’s fourth annual SUP Awards 

presented by Tommy Bahama and win an awesome prize pack. 

Visit www.supthemag.com/sup-awards/vote/ before voting closes 

on Monday, Sept 1^st at 11:59 pm PDT to make your 

choices for the Top 3 Male and Female Paddlers, 

Movie of the Year, Expedition of the Year and ...more