Ask Randall: Are Wetsuits Needed?

Do you wear a wet suit all year long on the Deschutes and on the upper lakes?
Peter

Peter, I wear a wetsuit when its in the 30s or 40s. Otherwise just trunks and a quick-dry paddle shirt. You're working out so you stay pretty warm, like a runner would. The main difference from dressing like a runner is that if you did ever fall in, you want to wear something you can swim in, and not die from hypothermia when wet.
Randall

Party Time on the Beautiful Deschutes River Canyon

Our group loves a party! Thanks to Judy and Ed, we put together a potluck at their home near Bend, Oregon. They made delicious BBQ Pulled Pork and set the table for the crew (including flip-flop floating candles). The Deschutes River flows in a Northernly direction through the hamlet of Tumalo, Oregon in view of the party deck. The weather was warm and gorgeous.

We talked about doing some group paddles this summer on the Deschutes. Maybe we could put together a shuttle trip or try a few small rapids.
Send in your ideas and get out the calendar. It's party time!
www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Mirror Pond Standup Paddling

Weeping willows, Canada Geese and flocks of wild ducks looked on as Judy and Ed Shasek along with Al Paterson enjoyed their evening paddle in Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon. Putting in at McKay Park they floated downstream and across Mirror Pond to the Newport Avenue Bridge.

Mostly shallow and slow-moving water on this stretch of the Deschutes River is damned at Newport Avenue by a very old and small hydro-electric dam. Drake Park on the East side and Harmon Park on the West side edge the pond along with some lovely vintage Bend, Oregon homes. The Galveston Avenue bridge (on the up-stream side of Mirror Pond) requires a crouch.
This is a lovely short paddle in the middle of the town of Bend, Oregon. During the summer Munch 'n Music concerts on Thursday evenings (July 10th thru Aug 14th, 5-8 p.m) you can listen to musicians and people watch at a safe distance from the crowds of thousands.

Thanks Ed, Judy and Al for the photos.

GLS Soft top - No Worries, it's Kid Proof

Big, plus wide, plus soft adds up to safety for beginners and groups of kids piling on this board. This is the perfect board for a rental line-up or to have as the family board on the beach. It's inexpensive and practically indestructible. No worries when it gets hit, bumped or dropped. The GLS has 4 flexible rear fins so it tracks very well. It's soft and sort of bouncy, built for comfort not speed. Buy an aluminum shaft adjustable paddle to go with this board and you're ready to get most anybody on the water in no time.

The GLS Softtop is 12' long, 30" wide and 37lbs. Buy it from us for only $799.00
Note: The GLS comes in yellow, red and blue. We often don't have a choice about the color. Call us to find out which color is in stock (if that sort of thing interests you).

Ask Randall: Leash Length

Dear Randall,
I paddle a 12' board. Why do you sell 10' or 12' leashes when everybody else is selling 6' or 8' leashes? Doesn't the extra length cause drag in the water?
Tim

Dear Tim,
The only time I've noticed drag is when I get seaweed or lakeweed hung up on my leash. That's a small annoyance considering what can happen if your leash is too short. Besides, a little water weed shakes off easily when you jerk on your leash cord.

The purpose of the leash is to save your life or somebody elses, don't get hung up on drag. The three situation when you need a leash are:

• Surf
• Wind
• Current

Guess what happens when you're ready to nose ride your 12' board and your leash is only 6' long. Even if you're not in the surf, it's fun to try a nose-pivot turn in flatwater. Either way you need the length in your leash.

Even more important is the wipe out factor. How close do you want to be to your 12' board when you're tumbling with it in the surf? I'll take a long leash any day.

For the best stand up paddle leashes on the market, visit Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

Standup Paddle Edge Guard

Paddle protection is a good idea to prevent damage to your paddle, board and even your body!

• Black tape around the edge keeps from scratching the paddle.

Mastic tape is better and protects the board too. Mastic is rubber and about 1/16" thick.

The best protection I've seen is Paddle Guard (TM) from Surfco Hawaii.

Paddle Guard is specifically designed for paddle edges and is a molded shape for hydrodynamics. It's extremely durable and provides more protection than anything else. It slightly changes the balance of the paddle but barely noticeable in weight. The self installation kit runs $25 at standuppaddlebend.com

We think Paddle Guard is such a good idea that we're having a Paddle Guard party this Friday, May 9th, 2008 at our business location in Bend, Oregon. We're offering a special party price to introduce everyone to this new product. After this event, the price is $25.00 for the kit. Call us and let us know if you want to come so we can have enough Paddle Guards for everyone. 541-389-4547

Breaking Away from the Flatwater: More Gerry Lopez and Oliphant in Baja

Gerry and Dennis had a great spring break in Baja.

We're still waiting for more spring weather here in Bend, so I'm showing a tropical break. Dennis said the surf kept getting bigger, and bigger, and gnarly to the point that the only one out was Lopez. The last photo is a testimony.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Oliphant.