King and Queen of the Lake Practice Race

The practice and tune-up race for the King and Queen of the Lake Race series takes place this Sunday, July 4^th at Elk Lake, Oregon.

This is a fun, family race series that includes stand up paddle boards, prone paddleboards, OC-1 outriggers and windsurfers.

There are no entry fees and no prizes… just bragging rights and great “schwag” for finishers.

The scored races take place on July 11, August 15, and September 26 (all Sundays). The best two scores of the three races will be combined to determine the “King and Queen of the Lake”.

There are many classes, including a Sport Class with a shortened course so everyone can participate and have fun!

Elk Lake Resort is hosting a Luau on the evening of the final - September 26th.

The schedule is the same for each race day:

9:30-10:00am Registration at Elk Lake Resort*

10:15am Paddle Race Skippers Meeting

10:30am Paddle Race Mass Start

1:30pm Windsurfing skippers meeting, at Sunset View Beach

2:00pm Windsurfing Start

*Registration is mandatory as is compliance with all laws regulating watercraft.

For more information, check out the flyer.

Race Director: Randall Barna
randall@footform.com
541.389.4547

Sponsored by: Stand Up Paddle Flatwater, Kialoa, & Elk Lake Resort

Fighting U.S. Coast Guard "Vessel" Classification for SUP Boards

In October 0f 2008, the Chief of Boating Safety for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) officially classified stand up paddle boards outside the surf zone as “vessels”. This means all stand up paddlers are legally required to wear or carry a personal flotation device (PFD).

The Human Powered Watercraft Association (HPWA) believes the ruling is seriously flawed because, although PFDs are appropriate in certain conditions, in most cases they are unnecessary and may actually hinder a stand up paddler’s safety.

A stand up paddle board has at least ten times the flotation of a PFD, keeps the paddler out of the water, and allows the paddler to remount after a fall and continue on. PFDs restrict movement and make paddling more difficult. Hence, most stand up paddlers choose to strap their PFDs to the board. In conditions of wind, waves, and tidal flow, PFDs make it more difficult to swim and recover the board. Firmly affixing a leash to both the paddler and the board achieves the highest level of safety.

The HPWA is petitioning the USCG to reconsider the classification and grant stand up paddle boarders the PFD exemption that windsurfers, surfers and prone paddlers enjoy.

To sign the petition and for further information, go to the HPWA website.

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater carries comfortable,  unobtrusive life jacket
belt packs (like a fanny pack) as well as a variety of leashes.

Crossing the English Channel by SUP!

A group of four surfers are set to cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais on stand-up paddleboards in an effort to raise money for clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage.

The group aim to break two world records; one for becoming the first relay team to make the 21-mile crossing and secondly for the fastest solo crossing. The current solo record, set by American stand up paddler Michael O'shaughnessy in 2006, is five hours and nine minutes.

The relay team includes last year's UK stand-up paddleboarding champion Jock Patterson, chairman of the British Stand-Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) Matt Argyle, and head coach for BSUPA Simon Bassett. The solo paddler will be longboarding champion Elliot Dudley.

To learn more about this story, visit: www.sas.org.uk.

Columbia Gorge Blowout Includes SUP!

The Columbia Gorge Blowout is taking place this weekend in Hood River and this year it includes stand up paddlers! Our very own Randall Barna is among them!

The Blowout is a classic Central Oregon windsurfing event that’s been ripping up the Gorge for 28 years. It’s a big event, with lots of great activities surrounding it.

The festivities will be held at the Event Site in Hood River, Oregon.

Activities will run from 10am until dusk on Saturday, June 26th, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, June 27th.

Exact race times are dependent upon weather, so go to http://www.vmgevents.com/gc/schedule.htm or call the Blowout hotline (541.386.5137) after 6.30 am on Saturday, June 26th for further information.

Up and Running!

Stand Up Paddle Bend is up and running! We definitely still have lots to organize but we welcome you to stop by and check out the new digs.

We’re sure you’re eager to get out on the water and enjoy the great weather we’re finally having so come on in and pick up the paddling gear you need to do that. We offer the most affordable, high-quality SUP rentals in town! If you’ve never tried SUPing, we offer free demos. Call or email for further information.

Over the coming weeks (and years for that matter) you’ll see the shop continue to grow. Because rentals are proving so popular, we’re expanding our fleet of high-quality rental SUPs. We also have more of the latest boards, paddles and accessories on the way.

We invite you to be a part of our growth by stopping by to say hi whenever you drive by and letting us know if you have any comments or suggestions.

We want to be the center of the Central Oregon stand up paddle community so let us know your desires and we’ll do our best to fulfill them!

Stand Up Paddle Bend has found it’s new home!

We’ve secured our location! The new home of Stand Up Paddle Bend (also known as Stand Up Paddle Flatwater) is close to downtown, the Shops at the Old Mill, and most importantly, the river!

We’re stoked to have found such a convenient spot for you to pick up all your paddling needs, meet fellow paddlers and check out the latest boards, paddles, and accessories.

The new hub of stand up paddling for the Pacific Northwest is situated at:

The Old Mill Marketplace

550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 115

Bend, Oregon 97702

We’ll begin painting and moving inventory in tomorrow (feel free to stop by and say hi) and be open for business within days!

Stay tuned!

Paddling Weather Central Oregon Style

Summer's almost here! It was great to see so many local stand up paddlers on the river today!

As the new owners of Stand Up Paddle Bend, my wife and I would like to say hello. We're excited to build upon the fantastic work Randall, Cristina and Isabella have done, keeping people stoked and equipped with their SUP gear.

One of our first steps will be to open a retail location – the only shop dedicated solely to stand up paddle gear in the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned for more info! Plus, we’re expanding inventory to include a wider variety of stand up boards, paddles and accessories.

You can count on us to provide the most up-to-date info on stand up locations and equipment. We’re committed to being the leaders in flat-water paddling – right here in Bend, Oregon!

We’d love to hear feedback about our site, learn what your needs are, hear about your Central Oregon paddling adventures and see pictures and video of you on the water so please feel free to drop us an email or give us a call!

See you on the water!

Chip Booth

Lainey Booth

StandUpPaddleBend.com

StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Things are changing, including the weather!

Hi Everyone,

I think Summer will finally offer a sample this weekend! Please join in for our routine paddle gathering this evening @ 4:30 at the paved parking lot by the Bend Outrigger Canoes and Alder Creek Kayak. It's near the Colorado Bridge at the North end of the Old Mill stretch of the Deschutes. Newcomers are welcome, just ask around for the evenings host (today it's Me) and I'll introduce you to folks and explain the route and any submerged hazards. If you're late, no problem you'll catch the group on the way back and be there at the finish for an adult beverage and "talk story."

The big news is today I will introduce everyone the the new owners and operators of StandupPaddleFlatwater, StandupPaddleBend, and StandupPaddle.blogspot.com. They will continue to honor the heritage of this sport as Hawaiian. Created on the volcano islands, yet there's a strong link to us in Bend as we do it here on the lava-formed rivers and lakes. Chip Booth and his wife Lainey will take the helm and the seamless transition will offer the same great products and service as before. Chip and Lainey have more stoke and enthusiasm for Standup Paddling than I, and that's saying a lot. Chip has surfing in his soul and has lived the lifestyle. His other company Booth Pacific Films has taken him around the world filming surf films, snowboard films and off-road racing, both auto and motorcycle. Chip also builds his own Standup Paddleboards and will show them in the shop along with other new and exciting merchandise. Lainey has a variety of business skills and is newer to the sport, Chip and Lainey were recently married, but she's gained the knowledge quickly and will certainly empathize with other women and newcomers in understanding how to negotiate a SUP board! Their SUP board shop will be the first and only specialty Standup Paddle Board shop in the Pacific NW, they will have a strong internet presence and you can bet there will be a lot of video embedded as well! You will get notices soon of the location and a bunch of events and gatherings. Also, the schedule of new arrivals of long awaited boards, like the Hobie Race 12'6" and the Surftech Bark 14'.

Cristina, Isabella and I appreciate all the kind words we've gotten from you local paddlers. Also, the loyalty and support getting the whole SUP thing going around here. You'll still see us paddling as much as ever, we'll help Chip and Lainey with all their promotions, and we'll be having fun! As Always!

Aloha,

Randall Barna

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

www.StandupPaddleBend.com

www.StandupPaddle.blogspot.com

Friday SUP Paddle Winds and Rain (maybe) are Great Paddleboard Training

Hi Everyone,
Green light for todays Friday @ 4:30 stand up paddle gathering. The forecast is for mild and breezy with showers ending by afternoon in Bend, Oregon. (It looks like they've already ended as of 7:00AM - maybe) It's looking better for paddle boarding this weekend and high 70's by early next week!

Newcomers are welcome. We launch by the Bend Outrigger canoes from the paved parking lot near the Colorado Bridge (by Tumalo Creek Kayakand Bikram Yoga) we paddle upstream to the rapids by Healy Bridge on the Deschutes River and back. Enjoy your adult beverage and talk story afterwards. Cristina, Isabella and I'll be there to greet newcomers and explain the Deschutes river channels, should be interesting after last nights heavy rain!

Aloha,
Randall
www.StandupPaddleflatwater.com