Standup Paddle Bend Open Challenge

Notice of Open Challenge Race for the Record.

Anyone, at any time, on any standup paddle equipment, may challenge the record!

All records will be posted on the StandupPaddleBend.com(StandupPaddleFlatwater.com) website and the Standup Paddle Flatwater (standuppaddle.blogspot.com) blog.

The Course:
The stretch of the Deschutes River known as "Colorado to Southern Crossing". The start/finish line is the imaginary line from shore perpandicular to the first (downstream) HAZARD sign near the Bend Outrigger Canoes and Alder Creek Kayak launch. The turn-around line is the imaginary line across the river indicated by the Mt. Bachelor Villiage fence line.

Start from a standstill position, nose behind the line, and a timing person will give the start command with ready, set, go. The stopwatch begins on go. An independant, impartial timing person, with stopwatch, is required as witness and official timer.

The upstream paddle is approximately one mile and you may choose your channel. You must cross the turn-around line with the whole board, and paddle back to the start/finish line. The official finish is when the nose of your board crosses the start/finish line.

Classes and Categories

Categories
Each record will include the Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) that the Deschutes river is running that day, as published in the Bend Bulletin (on the weather page). As records begin to fall due to reduced current we will start another "CFM" category.

Classes will be as follows:
BOARDS- Unlimited, 14' and under, 12'6" and under, 11'6" and under, 10'6" and under. Rudders, foils and multi-hulls are only allowed on Unlimited.

AGE & GENDER- Men and Women, 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-83, 84-86, 87-89, 90 and over.

Record Submissions

Submissions must include: Date, CFM, Name and address, gender, age, Witnesses/timers name, board brand/model and length, paddle brand/model. And, last but not least, TIME. Send to randall@footform.com

Be the first in your class to take the challenge, you're guaranteed to set a record!

Randall Barna StandupPaddleBend.com

Halloween Costume SUP Paddle

Our local SUP group's first annual Halloween Costume Paddle on the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon was a chilly success. Deschutes River water temperatures in the 40's seemed friendlier when the sun poked through the clouds between squalls, and the winds made for a welcome workout for those of us who had already visited the candy bowl.

Everyone agreed that Lucy Thompson (the Jack Russel Terrier) in her strawberry costume was the cutest. She ran off before the paddle to sneak up on a local cat she regularly chases. Despite her strawberry disguise, the cat saw her coming and the chase was on. Lucy lost her "stem" in the tussle, but none of her attitude. Her "dad" Ron Thompson was a Predatory Lendor -- certainly the most politically appropriate costume of the paddle.

Paddlers from L - R:
Isabella Barna, John Weishaupt, Ron Thompson, Randall Barna and Cristina Acosta

Photos: Ron and Lucy dog are on a Laird 12'1" gloss stand up paddle board.

Thanks to Capt. Sawdust and Kathy Southwick for the photos.

NOTE: Put in at the Central Oregon Outrigger launch
(just south of the Colorado Bridge) to turn around after going under the Healy Bridge to return to the start. About 1 hour.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com