Attending the World Series on a Stand Up Paddle Board!

With ticket prices for the first two games in the World Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco costing upwards of $400, fans are coming up with inventive ways to get close to the action... We like this one!

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Stand Up Paddling Provides Landlocked Surfers a Temporary Fix

A couple of weekends ago Stand Up Paddle Flatwater introduced members of Central Oregon Community College’s newly formed surf club to stand up paddling on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon. All participants agreed that, although less intense, flatwater SUP provides a connection to nature akin to that experienced surfing.

“It’s like you’re walking on water,” says club president Shelby Merrick. “The world of deadlines and trivial concerns that our society amplifies -- being out on the water removes you from all that.”

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater will support the COCC Surf Club by providing discounts to members. The shop is also a place for surfers to pick up gear they’ll need when they do get to go surfing like booties, ear plugs, and wax.

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for a limited time only!

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Danny Ching Stand Up Paddle Technique DVD Review

We’re receiving tons of positive feedback about the Danny Ching DVD (Mastering Stand Up Paddle Technique with Danny Ching)! Although the instructional portion isn’t that long, it’s high on killer and fairly low on filler. Even experienced SUPers report shaving minutes off their times after just one viewing… which isn’t surprising considering they’re employing tips from a dude who not only won both Battles of the Paddle and the Ta-hoe Nalu race this year, he’s also an OC-1 world champion, the first non-Hawaiian to win the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu race, and a former member of the US Olympic kayak team. He spends a minimum of 4 hours in the water 360 days of the year and grew up surfing in Redondo Beach. Oh, and his father founded California’s largest outrigger canoe club. Yup, if he’s willing to share his technique, I’m in. Everyone who’s bought the DVD says it’s way worth the money.

We like the interview with shaper Ron House that’s included as a bonus feature. In it, he mentions that race boards are great for cruising and needn’t be looked at as a competitor-only item. He says if you’re not doing much surfing, a race board is a better choice than a surf/all around board. We second that! The rocker that’s a primary feature in most surf-optimized boards is unnecessary on flat water where maneuverability is much less of a priority than it is on a wave. On flat water, excessive rocker just slows you down. Who wants to push water?

Click here to buy the Danny Ching DVD now.

We're offering special fall pricing on our premium race boards right now! Click here to check them out.

Here’s the Ron House interview if you want to check it out…

And here's the full Danny Ching Stand Up Paddle DVD Trailer....

Convinced? Click here to start learning from Danny Ching ASAP!

Surftech Blacktip Now Available Online and In Store... $749 out the door with a paddle and a leash!

We searched high and low for a stand up paddle board in the $700 range we’d feel comfortable selling… and we finally found one.

The Surftech Blacktip is a great intro board. It performs well. It’s super-durable. And most importantly, it’s extremely affordable - $749 out the door with a paddle and a leash!

The Blacktip is a board we can feel good about selling… and you can feel good about buying. Here’s why:

• It’s manufactured by Surftech, a company known for its fine craftsmanship, revolutionary construction methods, and overall commitment to excellence.
  
 

• It has a stiff core and three stringers to prevent the buckling and flexing that's a big problem with other soft boards.
  
  
• With its damage-resistant bumpers and water-barrier seal, the Blacktip is ultra-durable.
  
  
• The thoughtfully designed shape delivers very good stability and speed for the price.
  
  
• The strength and durability factor make it a fantastic choice for the rapidly growing number of whitewater SUPers.
  
  
• With its smooth nose rocker, the Blacktip is a blast in small surf.
  
  
• It’s great for kids – very difficult to damage.
  
  
• It’s nice to have on hand for family and friends.
  
  
• It’s super-light and very easy to transport. 


We’re thrilled that Surftech has released a quality board at such a friendly price point! Come on in and check it out. Or buy the Surftech Blacktip now at our secure online store. Free shipping. No sales tax.

Family Access Network’s Fall Harvest at Anjou Spa on Thursday!

Please join us on Thursday for a special family-friendly evening promoting art, music, and well-being. All proceeds benefit Family Access Network (FAN)!

Hosted by the wonderful Anjou Spa and Salon, the Fall Harvest will feature:

delicious hors d’oeurvres and a no host bar by Typhoon!

work by local artists Sarah Mikolowsky, Kaycee Anseth, and K. Cyr

music by DJ Lucius

coupons from Stand Up Paddle Bend

much more.

All attendees will receive a $10 gift card to Anjou and be entered into a raffle for prizes donated by CHOW, Angelina Organic Skincare, Lone Pine Coffee Roasters, Stand Up Paddle Bend, and other great local businesses. You need not be present to claim your prize, which means even if you can't make it to the event you can still win something great! Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door – available at Anjou, Typhoon! and Bo Restobar. Ask about group rates.

FAN is a network of community partners dedicated to ensuring that all children in Deschutes County have access to basic-need services so that they can attend school ready to learn. FAN is unique in Oregon in that it provides Family Advocates in all Deschutes County Public Schools.

What: Fall Harvest for Family Access Network

Where: Anjou Spa and Salon, 225 NW Oregon Ave, Suite 3

When: Thursday, October 7th, 6:00p.m. - 9:30p.m.

Why: a great cause, wonderful food and drink, a chance to win awesome prizes from fantastic Bend businesses!

Contact: Anjou Spa, 541.382.1138.

Click here for more info.

Battle of the Paddle 2010, California - Results & Video

Danny Ching of Redondo Beach defeated 159 of the world’s top SUPers in the Elite Race at the Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point, California yesterday – a 5-mile, 4-lap buoy circuit in and out of the surf that included 100-yard beach sprints between laps. With a time of 57 minutes and 45 seconds, Ching beat out last year’s winner, nine-time world paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell of Australia. Mitchell came in second with a time of 59 minutes and 36 seconds. 15-year old Slater Trout of Maui came in third with a time of 1 hour and 39 seconds. Ching won $5000, Mitchell $3500, and Trout $2500.

In the women’s division, Candice Appelby of San Clemente came in first (on a Joe Bark race board), with a time of 1 hour and 31 seconds. Brandi Baksic, also from San Clemente, took second with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 3 seconds. Jenny Kalmbach who grew up in Costa Rica and currently lives in Kona Hawaii, came in third. Appelby won $2500, Baksik $1250, and Kalmach $1000.

The Open Age-Group Race highlighted the accessibility of SUP to people of a wide variety of ages and skill levels. The 340 entrants included paddlers as young as 6 and as old as 73.

In today’s Distance Race – a scenic but challenging 10-mile paddle from Doheney State Beach to San Clemente Pier and back, Danny Ching was victorious again (as he was in the Battle of the Paddle, Hawaii in June). Rob Rojas of Laguna Beach took second. In the women's division, Brandi Baksic was the winner, followed by Rachel Brunton and Andrea Moller.

Bend local, Battle of the Paddle co-founder and surfing icon, 61-year old Gerry Lopez competed in every division, placing first in the Distance Race in his age group and second in the 60-69 Age Group Race.

Both Gerry Lopez and Danny Ching have been known to ride boards by their friend, master- shaper Ron House. Want one? Check out the ultra-sleek Ron House Race Board by Riviera.

Elite Race Results

Rank	Name	Hometown	Age	Time
1	Danny Ching	Redondo Beach	27	0:57:45
2	Jamie Mitchell	Currmbin, AUS	33	0:59:36
3	Slater Trout	Lahaina, HI	15	1:00:39
4	Travis Grant	Palm Beach, NA	27	1:00:39
5	Andrew Logreco	Honolulu, CA	26	1:00:43

Rank	Name	Hometown	Age	Time
1	Candice Appelby	Honolulu, HI	24	1:10:31
2	Brandi Baksic	San Clemente, CA	38	1:11:03
3	Rachel Bruntsch	Honolulu, HI	26	1:12:59
4	Jenny Kalmbach	Kailua Kona, HI	27	1:13:20
5	Gillian Gibree	San Diego, CA	24	1:14:35

Click here for complete results.

Check out this video of the start of the Elite Race, taken from a competitor's helmet:

Battle of the Paddle this Weekend!

The 2010 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle takes place this weekend, October 2nd & 3rd in Dana Point, California. The entire event will be webcast live both days.

One of the world’s biggest SUP events, this year’s battle will feature more than 700 competitors from all around the world, an exposition of more than 80 diverse vendors, and a series of races and demonstrations for paddlers of all ages and skill sets.

The multi-lap Elite Race on Saturday offers the sport’s largest cash purse of $25,000. More than 300 challengers are entered, including Battle of the Paddle Hawaii champions Danny Ching of Redondo Beach and Candice Appelby of San Clemente.

The Open Age-Group Race also goes off on Saturday. It’s a fun, moderately challenging buoy course in which entrants can paddle any board they choose. Last year’s Open Age-Group Race had what organizers estimated to be the largest SUP field ever assembled - more than 390 SUPers.

Sunday’s events include a scenic but challenging 10-mile Distance Race and a SUP Surf Relay Race.

Check out this gorgeous SUP surf board by Battle of the Paddle co-founder, Bend-local, and surf legend Gerry Lopez.