Join the Bend, Oregon Stand Up Paddle Group

Yesterdays Bend Bulletin featured a Standup Paddler on the front page! Many of us Bend, Oregon stand up paddlers have been getting out and enjoying the mild weather and SUP paddling this spring already.

I've heard from Tim Walston that Wickiup reservoir is totally clear of any snow or ice and open for paddling now. April and May are the best months for stand up paddling down-wind runs at Wickiup. The trip from Gull Point boat ramp to Wickiup Butte boat ramp is 8.33 miles and you definitely get wind-wave rides along the way. Later into June the water level recedes and it's not as good.

I'll be sending out a notice when it looks warm enough for our usual Friday at 4:30 gatherings.  We launch from the paved parking lot just south of Alder Creek Kayak by the Bend Outrigger Canoes. We stand up paddle upstream past the Healy Bridge to the rapids and back. Newcomers are welcome on this casual, social gathering. Bring your own beverages for afterward.

New this year will be free Tuesday and Thursday morning Fitness stand up paddles at 7:30 a.m from the new River Bend Park (the PPP launch).  This will involve a ten minute warmup in the park before speed-paddling the Old Mill Stretch. Various fitness instructors will direct the warmup,  including me. My sessions will be featuring Jack Gillen's Wave Chi Hawaiian Surf Clubs.  If you would like to direct, e-mail me back and we'll  schedule it (hey Jen!).

There will be a lot of stand up paddle races scheduled this year around Bend, Oregon, and we want to get in shape for them. The big races to plan for are the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup, July 31st and the Tahoe Nalu, Aug 21, 22. We're also planning fun races at Elk Lake and on The Old Mill stretch.  There will be a number of races in The Gorge this summer too.

Please e-mail me if you had any adventures this winter you want to share for our blog.

See You on the Water,
Randall Barna




www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Perfect "I Only Have an Hour" SUP Paddle in Bend, Oregon

Our new favorite place to launch from for a quick stand up paddle session of about an hour is from the new Riverbend Park across from the Old Mill District and up river from the Colorado Bridge. The sandy beach launch is at a wide and slower place in the river that makes it easier to get on the board and get going. 

If you want a workout, start with a warm up downstream, the fitness part upstream, then a cool down going downstream:

• Go downriver first to the Colorado Bridge, turn around at the danger signs and floats then continue back upriver past the Riverbend Park and continue to the Healy Bridge (you'll go under several walking bridges on the way). You'll know you're at the Healy Bridge because the river narrows and gets small rapids. Just upriver of the bridge is a nice wide spot for turning around. 
• Turn around and go back to the half-way mark (Riverbend Park). Some paddlers will do laps of the river with this system.

During Summer when the water is much warmer, a lot of SUP paddlers like to play in the riffles upriver from the Healy Bridge. It's a great social and fitness paddle. Here's what the Bend Parks and Rec has to say about the new park:
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Riverbend Park, on the Deschutes River in Bend, OR
13.1 acres
799 SW Columbia Street

Completed in 2009, Riverbend Park is a special community gathering place that celebrates the Deschutes River, provides a special events venue, provides public river access and conserves the native riparian landscape. This riverfront park features large open lawn areas, a sandy beach, public restrooms, a picnic shelter and fully accessible walking trails. Riverbend Park is also home to BPRD's district office and community room. The park was designed to accommodate larger events and can be reserved for a variety of uses.
The Deschutes River Trail connections traveling through the park include a 10-foot wide paver path and an adjacent soft surface running trail.  From here, connections can be made to Farewell Bend Park across the river and upstream to the south canyon walking trails (From the Bend Parks and Rec website)

Buy Your SUP boards and paddles from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

NW Cabin Fever Relief - Watch this Chuck Patterson SUP Piece

The Standup Project has a video interview of Chuck Patterson that Judy Shasek sent to us. Take a moment to watch it. Maybe you'll get excited enough to get out on your stand up paddle board and brave the Deschutes River this time of year.

Last weekend was unusually warm (in the upper 50's F) for February in the Northwest, so a bunch of us took advantage of the sun and promising ourselves superior balance (the water was 42F) we launched at the new park and paddled the Deschutes river stretch between the Colorado and Healy bridges.

Gary Yoder paddled the river his first time. Kudos for Gary for sticking with us for the paddle loop and staying dry!

Photos:
Group photo L - R: Cristina Acosta, Isabella Barna, Gary Yoder, Ed Shasek, Judy Shasek
Gary Yoder and Cristina Acosta on the Deschutes. Cristina has a new hat!!! (Let's see how long this one lasts.)

Remember to buy your SUP Standup Paddle boards, paddles and gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com