In Memoriam - Goodbye Eddy Miller

Charles Edmund "Eddy" Miller IV August 31, 1952 - June 20, 2009

Oh, the stories to be told. . . "Eddy lived life from his soul" Eddy's way on "Eddy time".

Celebration of Life for Eddy
Monday, August 3, 2009
4:00 pm
Aspen Hall, 18920 Shevlin Park Road, Bend, Oregon
Anyone who would like to come is welcome.

We are so sad that our wonderful friend and paddle buddy, Eddy Miller died this past week in a hiking accident on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. For details about the accident, see KOHD's short video about Eddy.

It's hard to say enough wonderful things about Eddy Miller or to say the right things that convey how important he was to everyone.

Eddy exuded happiness and kindness. He was an intellectually curious person whose bright blue eyes would spark with interest. He loved to talk about the metaphysical and natural world. He knew the names and nature of every plant, insect and animal in or on the waterways. He was a fearless athlete and outdoorsman, excellent skier and inland waterman. He was up for most any adventure.

Eddy picked up trash, kept an eye on people's safety (he'd be sure to round up stragglers when we were on river trips) and was in all ways a shining example of how a human could live his or her life,

not only in the details of his life but with the loving kindness of his attitude. Eddy leaves behind his wife Ann Miller and his large family of sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. He leaves the rest of us the richer for knowing him.

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The Bend Bulletin wrote about Eddy's accident. Here's an excerpt:

Body of missing Bend man found in remote Idaho

The search for a missing Bend man came to an end on Wednesday in a remote section of eastern Idaho.

Searchers organized by the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office found the body of Eddie Miller, 57, about 300 feet down a cliff side.

An avid outdoorsman, Miller was on a rafting trip along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with a group. Miller went on a Saturday afternoon hike along ridges of the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness and didn't come back, according to Sheriff Sam Slavin. Miller had lived in Bend, for more than 30 years, friends said.

The area Miller hiked was remote and technical, Slavin said. And the region had experienced an unusual stretch of rain, making the rocks slippery, according to Slavin. After about four days of searching by a group that included the Montana Army National Guard, searchers found Miller's body against a cliffside tree.

"We can only assume he somehow lost his balance and fell off," Slavin said. Friends of Miller described him as adventurous. Win Francis had been friends with Miller for 50 years, and the two spent endless hours on rivers across the Northwest. "There's nobody I've been through everything like that with."

Miller was a perfectionist in his work as a carpenter and log home builder. Francis said.

"He was a superb carpenter." Francis said. "he was a master. He was a craftsman. . . . . READ MORE

Photo of log building, Oregon: Left - Eddy Miller, Greg Steckler, Burt Hurst, Dean Rogers

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Obituary from the Miller family:

While on a rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, Eddy took an evening hike to get a view. This was one of his passions - looking for the perfect view that framed the day. It was to be his final hike. He slipped and fell off a cliff high above his river camp. The view from where he last stood was spectacular. Eddy lived as he died - doing something he loved to do.

Eddy and his twin sister, Jessie, were born in Portland, Oregon to Charles E Miller III and his wife, Mary. After graduation from Fountain Valley School in COlorado Springs, COlorado, Eddy took the road less traveled and attended the "University of Making a Life for Himself" in classic Eddy style - a curriculum that embraced his deep love for the outdoors and his life's work as a log home builder and gifted craftsman. He perfected the fine art of living, whether he was sheepherding, rafting, fly-fishing, building, skiing or standup paddling. Nature was his greatest teacher, both on the rivers and in the mountains.

His parents had prepared him and his three sisters well for the skills required to thrive in the great outdoors. Fly-fishing was at the top of the list, followed closely by spending summers in the British Columbia wilderness and working on the family cattle ranch. He also developed an insatiable appetite for reading.

Eddy worked magic with wood and tools. His eye for function, balance and beauty is apparent in the home Eddy created for Ann, the love of his life. Eddy and Ann Thatcher were married in September 1985. Their love, like his craftsmanship, knew no boundaries.

As a longtime resident of Bend, Oregon, Eddy made friends with everyone he met. His easy smile and infectious laugh are qualities that all who knew him will remember. Eddy's extraordinary life left a gift for every life he touched - the pure love and joy of being alive. His hug was the confirmation of life itself.

We will miss his "short little outings" that turned into all day adventures. We still do them because we can.

Eddy is survived by his wife, Ann: his twin sister, Jessie Opel of Whitefish, Montana; sisters, Wendy Johnson of Portland, Oregon and Cameron Kerr of Bend, Oregon: six nieces, two nephews and six grand-nephews.

Eddy's family thanks everyone for their love and sincere support. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Deschutes River Conservancy, 700 NW Hill St., Bend, OR 97701 or the Fresh Water Trust (formerly Oregon Trout), 65 SW Yamhill St., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97204.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Please post your comments by clicking on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post. If it's confusing (or you want to post a photo), send your photos/text to me and I'll post it. Cristina@CristinaAcosta.com

Rooster Rock Race Includes Standup Paddle Class

Over 200 racers are expected this Saturday June 27th at the west end of The Gorge. Primarily an Outrigger canoe race there will be a five mile division for smaller craft including Standup Paddle. Heres the link: http://www.maunahale.org/?q=Rooster_Rock_Race

Once you link to the site go to the Race Packet PDF at the bottom of the page for all the info. It looks like fun and adds another race to the Standup Paddle Race Schedule.

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Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Plan for the Odell Lake Oregon Pioneer Cup Race July 25, 2009

(July 22, 2009) NOTE From John Milandin: I understand that the Forest Service is going to post a warning today. The race is still on and participation is each persons call. You can rinse off at the east end if you wish. The lake has been turning since time immemorial and during my 11 years as manager of the east end lodge when algae turns were heavier, there were no problems. I have seen no clinical studies based on the current science.

Time to plan for the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup Paddle Race at Lake Odell, Oregon this July 2009. This downwind paddle race is decades old and originally was just canoes. The race now includes surf skis, SUP stand up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and most any other paddle powered craft. Janet and John Milandin will be running the race again this year.

The course is about 5 miles downwind, and at the end is a BBQ (additional fee - please support this effort by the lodge) on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. The race entry fee includes an official Odell Lodge Resort ball cap and a chase boat for those just-in-case situations.

The race is very non-intimidating and a good race for your first stand up paddle board race. It's a straight down-winder so even if you just stand there, you'll eventually blow to the finish line! Some years John has a special "Sightseers Award" for the last racer to cross the finish line. If you're an experienced paddle boarder you'll love the challenge of racing other seasoned athletes.

Please come join in this summer. If you're traveling, there are clean Forest Service Campgrounds both on the lake or nearby, or stay at the Odell Lake Lodge Resort.

Read our prior posts for more pre-race details. Remember that you can get your Stand up Paddle gear (maybe even FASTER gear) at www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

WHEN: Saturday July 25, 2009

• Registration 8 to 10 AM
• Race begins 11 AM
  
• Depending on the craft, the race is about 45 - 90 minutes. Most Stand up paddle board racers last year came in around an hour.
  

WHERE: Odell Lake, Oregon - Hwy 58 about 70 minutes from Bend, Oregon. Meet at the West end Shelter Cove Resort. The take out is at the East end, Odell Lake Lodge.

COST: Registration @ race $15/person (includes hat)

Odell Lake Race Classes: (If you need a canoe, let John know and possibly he can arrange a rental.)
canoe -open, local
kayak-solo, tandem
outrigger - solo, tandem
stand up paddle

BARBEQUE: This costs a little more, usually around $10.00 or so (I'm not sure). Barbeque following the race on the porch at the lodge! Be sure to plan to stay for the meal. We always take a group photo after the race.

WEATHER: Odell Lake, Oregon, is a high mountain lake. Summer paddling temperatures have been as cold as 49 F (note the photo of us in wetsuits and ski hats was an August day) and as warm as in the mid 90's F (the photo with Jason Bowerman - first place SUP paddle board race winner 2008). Come prepared with cold and warm weather equipment.

For further info call John or Janet Milandin at 541-782-2815

Note: Life Jackets are REQUIRED. We sell a waist pack life jacket perfect for stand up paddle boarding that doesn't get in the way.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Meg Chun Passes on Some Paddle Tips

Meg Chun, co-owner of Kialoa Paddles and a seasoned paddler passed on a few tips to me. When I asked her if I could make her post public she responded, "These are just things I have learned after being coached and coaching and reading and watching videos, etc. for the past 21 years. I do not consider myself an expert." Though she may not consider herself an expert, I certainly have learned something from her. I'm passing on her advice to me after I asked her the following question:
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Hi Meg -- While SUP paddling past your outrigger this week, I heard you mention the word "whirlpool" in reference to paddling (you were teaching your crew). I looked down at my paddle and saw not just one but 3 whirlpools! Yikes! Are whirlpools good or bad? I was playing with seeing what I could do to eliminate them, but before I get too into it, I thought I'd check with you to see what's up with whirlpools.

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(Meg's response)

"As for whirlpools, I need to look at this while I'm on a SUP board but here are some thoughts: The goal is to sink the paddle before you pull yourself to it. This is the catch phase of the stroke. If you begin the pull phase of the stroke before you have total catch/adhesion, air can catch behind the blade thereby causing slippage of the blade in the water and creating whirlpools.

Whirlpools are an indication of a less than perfect catch.

HOWEVER, other things do come in to play here - in particular speed of craft. Let's talk about race starts in an outrigger for a moment. When the boat is at a dead stop, well that's some low boat speed - none in fact. So when we go to do our race starts, we think of our first four paddle strokes as short and deep.

Because the speed of the boat is nil there is great, great resistance and our paddles cause big whirlpools. They have to slip through the water a bit. The paddles have to slip because we are not strong enough to propel a 400 pound boat PLUS six people forward without some slippage. As the boat speed starts to pick up, within the first ten strokes or so, we can now fully submerge our paddles and get full adhesion without slippage because the boat is up and running.

This is why it is important NOT to have a paddle that is too big. In a perfect world we would use a smaller paddle going upstream and a bigger one going downstream. Stand up paddle boards are SLOW and upstream there can be great resistance on top of that. So, you want a paddle that you can submerge and have a good clean catch with but that won't overpower you and cause you to paddle inefficiently. When I go out next time I will look to see if I have whirlpools while SUPing."
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Looking for a Kialoa Paddle? Check out our shopping cart.
Photo: Isabella holding our 2 favorite Kialoa Methane paddles with the very hot looking custom aloha print.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Places to Paddle: Eugene, Oregon, Fall Creek Reservoir

Mikael Carpenter came to Bend, Oregon last year to buy a SUP board. We paddled with him in Bend, and also at the Oregon Coast. He's a great guy, longtime surfer and overall great athlete. He recently posted this map of his training paddle at the Fall Creek Reservoir near Eugene, Oregon. This is about a three hour drive from Bend, Oregon.

Thanks for sharing your flat water training info Mikael. Hope to see you at the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup Race, July 25th, 2009.

Fall Creek Reservoir / SUP Flatwater / Training

Widget powered by EveryTrail: GPS Trail Maps

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Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Three Reasons Standup Paddling is Big in Bend, Oregon

Whats going on in Bend, Oregon to create such a standup paddle attraction? Paddle boarders are seen everyday on the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District. (And ending up in tourist's photos). Trips to the different Cascade Lakes like Elk Lake, Hosmer Lake, Cultus Lake, Sparks Lake and others (all within an hour of Bend, Oregon) are easy to do and a great way to hang with friends while you get a great workout. Here's why I think Bend, Oregon is only going to get more popular as a stand up paddle boarding destination:

1. The dignitaries, Gerry Lopez Surfboards and Kialoa Paddles call this place home.

2. The places to paddle. In town we have the huge gathering spot to see and be seen paddling the Deschutes river through the Old Mill District. It's a beautiful 3 mile loop and daily workout. Fifteen minutes upstream on the Cascade Lakes Highway we have two stretches of wilderness paddling, one 3.5 mile loop and the other a 4.5 mile loop. In another direction fifteen minutes south of Bend on Hwy 97 we access 35 miles of the Deschutes river flatwater with easy access to many take-outs and car shuttles. The natural scenery, flora and fauna are amazing. The Cascades Lakes Hwy is a National Scenic Byway, also known as Century Drive, a 100 mile loop with nine lakes that are notable for standup paddling. Everything from moonlight mirror to big wave downwinders.

3. The people. Bend is full of athletes and endorphine junkies. Everyone lives here because they love it, not just because. They care for the environment and are always looking for a way to enjoy nature without motors. And we're a very friendly bunch!

Come to Bend, Oregon for your summer SUP paddle boarding vacation. Drop by to join our Friday 4:30 paddle at the Bend River Outrigger Club grassy area (on the South side of the Colorado Bridge). You'll meet new friends and get the best local knowledge about where to paddle that week. And buy a Deschutes Paddle Trail River Guide and you'll have the best paddle trip information at your fingertips.

See you on the water!

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Jack Gillen's New Video Trailer for Wave Chi Hawaiian Clubs

Jack Gillen, owner of www.WaveChi.com, is a teacher, thinker, athlete and entrepreneur living in Kona, Hawaii. He helped us get our local Bend, Oregon crowd stoked on stand up paddle boarding a couple of years ago. We love Jack and are always fascinated by the places his curious intellect takes him. His latest enthusiasm is a training method combining ancient Indian Clubs (from the same country that brought us Yoga) and Hawaiian surf based movements in exercises that benefit stand up paddling and most any other sport where your arms and shoulders are getting worked.

Jack sells Wave Chi Hawaiian Surf Clubs you can order from him at canoe@hawaii.rr.com.

Take a look at Jack's video


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Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Windsurfing on Elk Lake

Jerry Lear is one of the pioneer windsurfers in Central Oregon. He raced long boards for decades and was often king-of-the-lake. He sails regularly as soon as the high Cascade lakes open up for the season.

Elk Lake, is about a 35-40 minute drive from Bend, Oregon and though the Elk Lake Lodge is open year round, the lake and road are usually open from Memorial Day weekend til the first snows in the Fall. Typically the lake is flat in the morning and the winds kick in during the middle of the afternoon. Most windsurfing happens after 1 p.m. If you paddle and/or windsurf this lake, be sure to tuck some ice cream money in your board shorts and stop by the Elk Lake Lodge on the West side of the Lake (opposite Sunset Beach). The bouys are set up as a race course. It's fun to windsurf big boards or paddle.

Despite the snow patches that hang on the shore, Jerry is on the water. Here's his report from yesterday.
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I sailed at Elk Lake today. There are 6 buoys that I could locate as follows: 2 in Sunset Cove (one is the rock buoy). A buoy at about the usual location of the rock buoy. The upwind buoy which has moved a bit North and 2 buoys at the south end of the lake. I rigged in a thunder storm and sailed when it was over. I stayed out a bit too long and had to stay on the lake during much of the next T storm which was very dramatic with hail, rain and very close lightening. I could definitely smell the ozone in the air. Before I got off the lake I remembered the Bulletin article last week saying that any one individual has about 1/3000 chance of being hit by lightening during their lives. I thought that my chance while sailing in this storm might be a bit higherJ. Here is a question for the experts. What is the risk of a bad result from a lightning strike for a sailor with carbon fiber boom, mast and board but wearing rubber booties and gloves? Jerry
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Thank you for buying your SUP and windsurf crossover gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Cleaning Up the River

Photo: Eddy Miller found some trash when he was paddling the Deschutes River and carried it for miles until he got to a public trash can. Way to go Eddy!! Thanks for setting such a great example!

Some people just don't get it. They throw something away and forget that "away" is just another way of saying "somewhere-else-other-than-next-to-me". And that attitude is really annoying when I'm on the water and see trash either floating, sunk or on the shoreline. Throwing anything into the water that isn't easily biodegradable (like your apple-core is) only results in pollution.

A side effect of getting on the water regularly, is that we are becoming more aware of water quality. Things that we never really paid much attention to before we stepped into the water regularly, like toxic algae blooms (a natural phenomenon on some of the Cascade Lakes) or agricultural water pollution (a big deal in the Columbia Gorge, Oregon) are now personally important.

And, considering the effects that Global Climate Change is having and predicted to have upon our planets fresh water systems and seas, becoming sensitive to water quality issues is important. Water purity and healthy freshwater rivers and lakes are fed from rain and snow. In North America (and other countries whose latitude puts it closer to the poles) global climate change is already resulting in changes to the snow pack.

This past winter 2009, our daughter Isabella competed in the Cross Country Skiing Junior Olympics, held in Truckee, California. Allison Gannet, founder of Save Our Snow Foundation spoke eloquently about the interconnection of the snow packs around the world and the effect on water. Take a moment to look at her site and learn about how to shrink your own carbon foot print. Shrinking your carbon foot print is a pro-active and personal way to support our water ways.

Stand up paddle boarding has not only changed our lives by being such fun and introducing us to cool and interesting people, standup paddling is awakening us to our intimate human connection with the water system. See you on the water!

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

How to Carry Your Stand Up Paddle Board

There's no way around it, stand up paddle boards are lunkers. Through out decades of making windsurfers, the holy grail of big board weight is to be under thirty pounds. That big board building technology has crossed over to SUP stand up board manufacturing.

Here's the thing about board weight. A short stand up paddle board is not the answer to getting a lightweight board that will work for you as well as be easy to carry. Short SUP boards are meant for surf wave riding and are not the best choice for flat water stand up paddling. They may be stable (due to width), but they aren't long enough to get the glide you need on flatwater.

If you're going to spend most of your time stand up paddling on lakes, rivers, and flat(ish) ocean (bays or in the Caribbean) you're going to want a board that is at least eleven feet long. And carrying that long board between your rig and the water or portaging it if you're on a river becomes more of a workout with every step.

There are five ways to carry your SUP stand up paddle surf board a significant distance by yourself:

• Shoulder Carry -- Bend your head to one side and balance the width of the stand up paddle board on your shoulder as it leans against your head. For some of us this too much of a kink in the neck.
• Head Carry -- Balance the deck of the paddle board on your head. Having the deck of the SUP pointing down to the earth is best for wind resistance. This is the best carry for one person if it's windy because you can keep the SUP paddle board sideways to the wind.
  
• Handle Carry -- Slot handles (included in most new SUP boards) or an after market attached handle we call the
  
  Easy Handle allow you to hold the standup paddle board against your side and under your arm. The slot handles require a lot of grip strength. The Easy Handle is much easier for long carries.
• Big Board Schlepper -- Shoulder strap-sling harness gives you both a easy way to carry your paddle board and paddle.
• Paddle Shaft Handle Carry-- Attach a tie down at the front and back of your paddle board and put a loop of rope in it. Starting with the handle end of the paddle, hook the paddle into the loops and use the shaft of the paddle to carry the SUP board.

Note: In high winds have 2 people carry each board, keeping the deck flat and facing the ground and the board low.

Of course, if it's too hard to carry your stand up paddle board alone (or you enjoy company) enlist the buddy system and share the load.

Photos: 1. Isabella Barna demonstrating the head carry and Ed Shasek demonstrating the shoulder carry while portaging their paddle boards around the Tetherow Log Jam on the Pringle Falls section of the Deschutes River, Oregon. Thanks Judy Shasek for this photo.
2. Randall Barna demonstrating a side carry and Isabella a head carry at the Oregon coast.

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

Coolers on Board

The guys in our very casual stand up paddle boarding group have taken casual to a new level, they now paddle board with coolers! This is a new thing for them. On the morning of our 35 mile paddle down the Deschutes River, Oregon, three of the four guys in our group showed up with coolers. It seems as though they simultaneously and independently came up with this brilliant idea (or none of them are taking credit for it).

They claim that to rest a tired back or nurse a shoulder injury, the cooler is a useful seat that coincidentally stores a six pack of beer. Though there were a few of us non-cooler carriers that may have smiled or made the occasional possibly snide inquiry about the coolers, by the 25th mile when the guys were sharing their beer and treats, we were all grateful for their ingenuity.

Here's a few things we learned about putting coolers on top of your stand up paddle board:

• Don't tie a strap around the bottom of the board. As slim as the strap may be, it creates too much drag.
• The cooler makes your board much more tippy when you sit on it.
• The cooler may require a second trip if you have to portage your paddle board.
• Though none of our guys or their coolers fell in during the 35 mile trip as they tested their cooler-on-board idea, it seems a good idea to get a cooler with a locking lid that floats.
• To strap your cooler to your board, be sure to order a set of attachment tie-downs for your stand up paddle surf board.

Note: Thank you Judy Shasek for the cooler photos

Cooler Guys: Eddy Miller, Al Paterson, Eddie Shasek

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!