What Type of PFD to Use for Stand Up Paddling

Because the Coast Guard applies the same rules to stand up paddle boards as they do to small boats, Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)/Life Jackets are required for stand up paddling in most places across the U.S.  Here, elite racer and Surftech SUP team rider, Kerri Stewart talks about how to choose one that won't get in your way while paddling: 

Technically, you're supposed to carry a whistle as well.  The Quiksilver PFD Belt Pack comes with one.  Or you can purchase one separately, like the orange Water Safety Whistle by NSI that works even when wet.

Wow! What a summer!!

Wow! What a summer! Our biggest one yet. It was so jampacked with introducing new paddlers to the sport, supporting local events, and hooking customers up with awesome gear, that we barely had time to do any paddling ourselves, let alone blog about it!

But now that summer is winding down, we’re back at the blog! And we have lots to tell you about. Many new products will be added to the online store shortly, all of which have been test-run and identified as winners by our discriminating local paddling community. We’ve even added a new board brand to the lineup (BIC SUP), a process we’re super selective about. And there are quite a few equipment selection tips and musings about that sport we’re looking forward to sharing with you. Also, this season we were stoked to have the opportunity to work with our friends at KIALOA Paddles on a series of videos about their creation process. We can’t believe we haven’t posted them here yet! Coming soon…

Happy fall paddling, everyone!!

Stand Up Paddle Etiquette, part 1

Irony.  Feigned ignorance.  I am constantly confronted by conflicting thoughts on the sport of stand up paddling.  On one side, as a traditional surfer that spent my whole life trying to abide by and sometimes enforce the rules of the lineup and on the other side, as a relatively recently landlocked waverider that would rather stand up paddle than canoe or kayak on the many lakes and rivers close to where I reside.  Many of my friends on the front lines of the surf v. sup battle are decisively anti-stand up paddle.  Janitors, sweepers and oarons are common terms used to describe stand up paddlers.  And I understand their argument.  In fact I side with them a lot of the time.  But I also find SUPing enjoyable on my local stretch of the Deschutes river and have met many new friends because of the sport of stand up paddling.

At the dawn of this new sport I had an encounter with one of the icons of the sport.  In fact, it was at a time that there were only a handful of SUPers on the planet and the equipment was borrowed from the tandem surfing or sailboarding world.  The encounter was probably one of the first confrontations of the type that now happen every day at surf spots all over the world.  Here is the scenario, on a big day at a very crowded and very famous surf spot, a spot that I had spent years and years earning a coveted place in the lineup, I had to deal with a "traveling pro" using a paddle and a BIG board to his advantage.  The waves were fairly big by Southern California standards so the adrenaline level was high.  One of the big sets came and I had put myself in position to take whichever wave I wanted.  But at the regular takeoff spot.  I had never had to deal with another surfer, on a 14 foot board with a paddle, taking off 100 yards outside and using the paddle to make the closeout section.  I made a quick decision that this was MY wave no matter who and what was on it and I did a pretty cool late drop behind the guy as he flew by.  It was a good wave.  It was not as much fun riding this wave as it would have been if I had it to myself but the real bummer was that the other guy cut back three times into me, twice colliding rails and the last time banging my shins with his board.  If you know me, you would understand that this wasn't going to go without a discussion regardless of whether he was paddle surfing or just surfing.  Traveling pro surfers should know better than to force themselves on a crowded contentious lineup and that day wasn't the place to introduce his new version of the sport.  He chose to use a paddle to better his chances.  The paddle was THE reason that he had gotten the wave.  I have enough skills to have put myself in a better position to catch the wave than the other 200 surfers in the water but the paddle allowed one to take off where nobody else could.  This is the crux of the problem between surfing as we traditionally understand it and paddle surfing that is growing exponentially in popularity by the minute; using a paddle to take an advantage over others that don't.  A heated discussion ensued.  And then two weeks later he did it again to another member of that lineup that didn't deserve that form of disrespect.  So the sport did not get off to a good start at this particular surf spot.

I'll get straight to the point.  Using an unfair advantage to get more waves than you would have otherwise is wrong.  It can be a longboard at a shortboard spot or it could be a paddle and a SUP board but the result is the same.  It is totally disrespectful to the others if you are using this advantage to up your wave count.  And the old argument that the ocean is a free place so anyone can do what they want doesn't hold weight in my opinion.  There has been a long history of surfers policing themselves to ensure that there is some sort of order in the lineup.  Some places have a pecking order that is ruled with an iron fist and others are free-for-alls.  It is the duty of the individual to understand how the order is settled BEFORE you force yourself on a lineup.  Take the time to learn how to integrate into the lineup that you seek.  I promise, going out and trying to take as many waves as you can to prove your skill level will not get you the respect that you desire regardless of how good you think you are.  Letting good ones go will gain you far more resect in the long run.  The surf spot should dictate the level of skill needed to catch a wave.  Better waves will have better surfers.  If you are just starting out, find a spot that is known for learning how to ride.  The same applies to stand up paddle surfing.  Find out which spots are more amicable to SUPers and then ease your way into catching a few waves.  Going back to the original point, you don't want to take an unfair advantage with equipment and turn that into a great day of riding waves at the expense of others.  It is just not proper surf etiquette and should be applied to SUP etiquette as well.

There is also a safety factor involved here.  The better surf spots are so because they offer a better wave for the experienced.  And this usually means more skill and knowledge in how to get out into the lineup as well as return to the beach.  There is also skill needed to keep out of the way of other surfers,  to deal with currents that move through the lineup and to know what to do when a clean-up set comes.  This is all part of surfing and the knowledge is needed to protect yourself, as well as others out there with you.  Before paddle surfing, your arms were the tool to get you out.  At quite a few spots in the world, the ocean will not let you even get out into the lineup without a certain level of skill and fitness.  That fact controls who is out there.  But now the type of equipment and the fact that you can use a paddle to help propel you has allowed some without the level of experience needed into places that they never would have in the past.  This puts those novices in danger of hurting themselves or others and presents a much bigger challenge to rescue personnel that are looking after all of us.  Again, the responsibility is on the individual to learn where they should or shouldn't be.  However I think it is also the responsibility of those with the experience and understanding of tradition to pass along that knowledge.  Educating the new participants of the sport of how things work will go a long way to making our lineups better for everybody.  New SUP enthusiasts should be open and willing to listen to those that are upholding those traditions.

The irony in all of this is that after being one of the original skeptics of stand up paddling I find myself owning a business that is dedicated to it.  Our business is located in a wonderful place on this planet far from the ocean.  We teach people everyday how to enjoy stand up paddling and get people equipped to enjoy all the fine waterways we have around here.  My whole life was spent at the beach surfing and SUPing has kept me connected to my board even though I now look at the sun setting into the Cascade Mountains and not the Pacific Ocean.  I think it is part of my job to inform people where the sport evolved from and the traditions and practices that have existed from the beginning.  It is my duty to let people know that the original form of surfing existed first and it and the people that practice it should be given the respect that comes with that.  Stand up paddle surfers should not use the paddle as an advantage over traditional surfers.  Finding a peak to yourself and finding new spots to ride have long been a part of surfing and should be a part of paddle surfing as well.  The freedom to enjoy the ocean is only restricted by the ability of others to enjoy it with you.  Don't use that freedom as an argument to do what you want.  Respect other's right to enjoy the freedom of the ocean and you will experience what only the Hawaiians have a word for.  Aloha.

Thanks to our friends at www.elder-sup.com for the cool story!

Suzie Trains Maui – and Eddie!

Back in the day – 1966-1970 to be exact – Ed and I were playing at surfing the mushy calf-high waves we had in balmy South Florida. We were the Beach Boys-era sweethearts. From 1970-2007 we didn’t surf, using our ocean time to sail, scuba, windsurf, fish, finish college and raise the family.  2001 found us moving life to Oregon, and by 2007 we discovered standup paddling and were back in the surf 4 decades later!

In the natural progression of things, two diverse events influenced our Summer 2012 activities.  One was Ed’s second rotator cuff surgery (yes, he was brave enough to go through that torture twice) and our trip to Maui to try the short version of the Ho’olaule’a event. Four days after the coolest downwind adventure either of us had experiences poor Ed went under the knife. But not before we were hooked on downwind, open ocean fun!

   

In the pictures above, it’s easy to see we are still the happy ocean-loving “kids” we were back in 1967 but it’s also easy to see that our abs are a bit worse for wear at age 63. Fortunately, just before the start of our event, Maui local and globally respected standup paddler/athlete, Suzie Cooney, provided a pre-race warmup. That gave us a chance not only to meet Suzie but to get to know a bit about her dedication to training a diverse group of clients from the casual paddler to elite athletes. As Ed went from wearing a sling to hefting the 3 lb weights he’s now using in PT we both made a commitment to getting into our best functional fitness over the next 8 months.

As much as we already know about exercise and nutrition, we realize that insights, motivation and programming provided by a respected professional is mandatory, especially as we embrace our seventh decade. Over the summer, Suzie Cooney has been kind enough to listen to our plan to follow her training “at a distance.” Nothing can replace actual time at her training facility with her customized training delivered face to face. Just the same, we have made a decision to glean as much as we can from her blog and conversations.  We have a solid goal in mind. We plan to be at the start line on May 11, 2013 ready to enjoy the full Olukai Ho’olaule’a downwind run from Maliko Gulch to Kanaha.

“Pie in the sky” – This Saturday I plan to join other hopefuls as I buy a couple of lotto tickets – would be cool to win $5000 or so. We’d probably jet off to Maui in November and prepare for Maliko at Suzie’s upcoming clinic. Meanwhile, training in Oregon is underway. The “training table” is becoming ever more healthful and an Indo Board is on its way to our home.  The digital age could very well allow us the best connection with our partner in preparation, Suzie Cooney. Most watched film this week – this training session from the Suzie Trains Maui blog. YES! We want endurance, core strength and balance. This is an excellent overview of some training options. Bring it, Suzie!

Story and Photos by Judy Shasek at Elder-Sup.com.