Group Paddling on the Deschutes and Fitness SUP paddling.

Hi Everyone!
What happened to our weather? I've been watching till the last minute to notify for the Friday @ 4:30 paddle and it's a green light for the hardy. I paddled yesterday with winds an snow flurries! I don't expect any newcomers on a day like today but Tom Burke will host tonight to welcome and explain the routine and route. Chip Booth will be there, we rarely saw him last summer 'cause he was busy making surf films and building his own SUP boards, you'll recognize him by his colorful board and "Lava Bear" stature.

The other news is races, races, races!    June 12th is the final of a three race series "Race Around Ross Island" in Portland. Registration at 9:00 Race at 10:00 costs $30 includes t-shirt.  Check out www.gorge performance.com for details. There will be eight races on the "Old Mill Stretch" every Weds eve July and Aug. The Odell Lake Pioneer Cup July 31st. The Oregon Open Ocean Paddleboard/SUP race, (Beverly Beach to Newport downwind) August 28th.  And our "King and Queen of the Lake" series at Elk Lake - July 11th, August 15th and September 26th, free and open to everyone including all boards.  Surfboard/Sport class and  Raceboard  class.

I've had many inquiries about the Paddle Fitness outings Tues-Thurs AM @ 7:30. Watch for the green light depending on consistent, warm AM weather. Count on this for training for all these great races.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater will soon have the Hobie 12'6" Race boards which are proven to be one of the winning-est SUP boards on the water! Also the Surftech Bark 14' wow!  Other secret stealth boards are in testing. Attached is a photo of John and I yesterday testing fast boards for the up-coming races.

Aloha,
Randall Barna
www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com


Race Event: Tahoe Nalu Stand Up Paddle Race - Bend, Oregon Award Winner!

The Tahoe Nalu stand up paddle seven mile race event this past weekend on Lake Tahoe, California was fantastic! There were 188 boards on the starting line for the mass start. The chop created by that many paddlers as they churned over the start line was enough to make the start more challenging that expected.

This inland flat water SUP paddle race truly was a trend-setting event and great experience. Two Oregonians were called up for trophies, Karen Wren from Portland, Oregon was second in the open race-board class and Isabella Barna of Bend, Oregon, (wearing the pink rash guard in the race photo) was first in the stock surfboard class. Good job!

Our local Bend, Oregon paddle company, Kialoa Paddle owners Dave and Meg Chun, had a booth on the beach at the Tahoe Nalu race event with examples of their gorgeous carbon fiber stand up paddle line. All of the Bend, Oregon stand up paddle racers were using Kialoa paddles during the race event. Thanks Dave Chun!!!

The race conditions were good with a very light, warm wind. The race started at 9:30 AM. The top winners were in at 57 minutes and our paddlers ranged from about 1:27 to 1:36. There was a lunch and a paddle shirt included in the race fee as well as some very lucky raffle tickets that won most of our group some awesome gifts. (You are lookin' good in those glasses, Eddie!!)

We highly recommend you give this paddleboard race a try -- it was a lot of fun and really worth the trip.

Photo: L-R Judy Shasek age 60 (2nd in women, stock boards age 60-70); Isabella Barna, age 15 (1st in women's stock surf boards); Randall Barna, age 59; Cristina Acosta age 49 (3rd in women's age group 40-49, stock surf board); Ed Shasek, age 59.
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Get your race gear at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com, and remember to bring a life jacket if you're going to be doing any other paddling on Lake Tahoe as it's required. We appreciate your support! Thanks!

XTERRA Adventures Filmed Bend, Oregon Stand Up Paddlers

The XTERRA crew visited Bend, Oregon for an adventure race and shot some stand up paddle boarding footage on the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District. Thanks to everyone who made it to the XTERRA Adventures photo shoot last fall. We were scheduled to be out of town that weekend and after putting the word out, were relieved to know that many of you local paddlers hit the water for the camera crew.

Some of the local paddlers in the film include: Dennis Oliphant (and his dog), Ron Thompson (and his dog, Lucy), Kerie Raymond, Jason Bowerman and Cptn. Sawdust (aka Bob Jumper). If you see anyone else you know, let me know and I'll put their names on this list.

This stretch of the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon is a favorite fitness paddle for local paddlers. From the Colorado Bridge upstream to the Healy Bridge and back is about a 45-60 minute paddle, just enough for a quick trip on the water. For more information about other great places to stand up paddle around Bend, Oregon, see our places to paddle listings.

And remember -- Buy your stand up paddle boards, paddles and accessories from us. Every purchase helps us to spread the word about this great sport. We appreciate your support.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Three Reasons Standup Paddling is Big in Bend, Oregon

Whats going on in Bend, Oregon to create such a standup paddle attraction? Paddle boarders are seen everyday on the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District. (And ending up in tourist's photos). Trips to the different Cascade Lakes like Elk Lake, Hosmer Lake, Cultus Lake, Sparks Lake and others (all within an hour of Bend, Oregon) are easy to do and a great way to hang with friends while you get a great workout. Here's why I think Bend, Oregon is only going to get more popular as a stand up paddle boarding destination:

1. The dignitaries, Gerry Lopez Surfboards and Kialoa Paddles call this place home.

2. The places to paddle. In town we have the huge gathering spot to see and be seen paddling the Deschutes river through the Old Mill District. It's a beautiful 3 mile loop and daily workout. Fifteen minutes upstream on the Cascade Lakes Highway we have two stretches of wilderness paddling, one 3.5 mile loop and the other a 4.5 mile loop. In another direction fifteen minutes south of Bend on Hwy 97 we access 35 miles of the Deschutes river flatwater with easy access to many take-outs and car shuttles. The natural scenery, flora and fauna are amazing. The Cascades Lakes Hwy is a National Scenic Byway, also known as Century Drive, a 100 mile loop with nine lakes that are notable for standup paddling. Everything from moonlight mirror to big wave downwinders.

3. The people. Bend is full of athletes and endorphine junkies. Everyone lives here because they love it, not just because. They care for the environment and are always looking for a way to enjoy nature without motors. And we're a very friendly bunch!

Come to Bend, Oregon for your summer SUP paddle boarding vacation. Drop by to join our Friday 4:30 paddle at the Bend River Outrigger Club grassy area (on the South side of the Colorado Bridge). You'll meet new friends and get the best local knowledge about where to paddle that week. And buy a Deschutes Paddle Trail River Guide and you'll have the best paddle trip information at your fingertips.

See you on the water!

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Coolers on Board

The guys in our very casual stand up paddle boarding group have taken casual to a new level, they now paddle board with coolers! This is a new thing for them. On the morning of our 35 mile paddle down the Deschutes River, Oregon, three of the four guys in our group showed up with coolers. It seems as though they simultaneously and independently came up with this brilliant idea (or none of them are taking credit for it).

They claim that to rest a tired back or nurse a shoulder injury, the cooler is a useful seat that coincidentally stores a six pack of beer. Though there were a few of us non-cooler carriers that may have smiled or made the occasional possibly snide inquiry about the coolers, by the 25th mile when the guys were sharing their beer and treats, we were all grateful for their ingenuity.

Here's a few things we learned about putting coolers on top of your stand up paddle board:

• Don't tie a strap around the bottom of the board. As slim as the strap may be, it creates too much drag.
• The cooler makes your board much more tippy when you sit on it.
• The cooler may require a second trip if you have to portage your paddle board.
• Though none of our guys or their coolers fell in during the 35 mile trip as they tested their cooler-on-board idea, it seems a good idea to get a cooler with a locking lid that floats.
• To strap your cooler to your board, be sure to order a set of attachment tie-downs for your stand up paddle surf board.

Note: Thank you Judy Shasek for the cooler photos

Cooler Guys: Eddy Miller, Al Paterson, Eddie Shasek

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

35 Mile Paddle from Pringle Falls to Benham Falls.

This weekend, May 30, 2009 several of us are talking about meeting and doing this 35 mile stand up paddle down the Deschutes River about a 30 minute drive south of Bend, Oregon. This is a buddy-system type of event. No one is in charge or responsible, (Just like many of our other events!) Anyone is welcome to paddle this stretch of the Deschutes river. This is not a paddle boarding adventure for the in-experienced or out-of-shape. You need to have developed some endurance. Even though it's a downstream paddle, you'll be standing a long time. Carry your own snacks and water and have an emergency plan if you think you need one.

It would be great if we had a volunteer to ferry our lunches and act as a sag wagon. If anybody wants to do that, let Randall know and he'll tell you the approximate times. His office number is 389-4547.

There are three take-out points along the way if you bonk or want to do only a portion of the paddle boarding trip.

The take-outs are: Lapine State Park, Big River Campground, and Harper Bridge.

35 Mile Stand Up Paddle from Pringle Falls to Benham Falls on the Deschutes River, Oregon.

• Date: May 30, 2009 (Saturday)
• Time: Meet at Benham falls takeout (Lava Lands turn-off from Hwy. 97) at 7:00 AM. to car-pool shuttle cars.
• Departure time: At Pringle falls 8:00 "ish" am
• Downriver paddle time: Expected to be 6-8 hours including breaks.
• First stretch- Pringle Falls to La Pine State Park 7.5 miles
• Second stretch- LaPine State Park to Big River 9.75 miles Stop here for Lunch
• Third Stretch- Big River to Harper Bridge 7.75 miles
• Fourth Stretch- Harper Bridge to Benham Falls takeout 9.5 miles

If you need a life jacket (now required), rubber edged safety fin (nice if you hit a rock) or tie-downs for your SUP (to stow gear), or a waterproof map of the Deschutes River Trail, check out our website, or call Randall at 541-388-5157 and arrange a time to pick up what you need for the paddle trip.

Note: Photo is of last years 10 mile Benham Falls trip. What a blast! Hope to see you there!

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

Stable Standup Paddleboards: Laird 12'1" and Amundson 11'6"

I paddle board all winter. My rule is to go winter paddling when its above freezing and no ice forms on the deck of my standup paddle board. I also have one rule - DON'T FALL IN.

Actually, the chance that you could fall off your paddle board at any time is one of the things that makes stand up paddling challenging and exciting. When the water is cold you don't want to get wet, particularly when hypothermia is a factor. This is when a very stable stand up board is important. Also, the more weight you put on a paddle board the less stable it is.

Two outstanding boards for stability are the Laird 12'1"Stand up Paddle board and the Amundson Aquaglide 11'6".

The Laird SUP board, shaped by Ron House, comes in two versions: The Soft top and the Glossy (free deck pad included). Both have the same stability. The Aquaglide Amundson, shaped by John Amundson, comes in a Soft top and is priced very comparably with the Laird Softtop. Both boards are an excellent choice so which one for you?

A combination of design factors make a SUP paddle board what it is and it's the reason to value a good board shaper. The length, width and thickness are only a starting point when considering SUP surf board design. For example, the Amundson is 7" shorter than the Laird yet it has a lot more volume and flotation.

I've paddled both of them many times and here's what I think of the two SUP boards. I rate the Laird SUP board slightly more stable than the Amundson 11' 6" on side-to-side tippiness. I rate the Amundson SUP board a lot more stable on the fore and aft trim. Fore and aft stability is less sensitive to your stance position and better for extras on-board like kids, dogs and stuff.

The disadvantage of fore and aft stability is that doing hot dog maneuvers where you sink the nose or tail takes more weight.

Both stand up boards have excellent glide and tracking so check them out at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com and buy one of these super stable stand up paddle boards -- you'll love being out on the water whatever the time of year.
Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

Places to Paddle: Bend, Oregon is THE Place for Flatwater SUP Paddling

The surf is up in Central Oregon! And, the Bend Bulletin is helping to spread the word about the great Stand up Paddling scene in Oregon. That day was also a Surftech demo day. People tried out all types of Surftech SUP boards on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon: Laird, Takayama, Infinity and more. When you're ready to buy your board for the Deschutes River and High Cascade Lakes, or where ever you live, call Randall at 541-389-4547 for Standup Gear. And if you don't live in Oregon, don't worry, Randall can have the Stand up Paddle boards and gear shipped anywhere in the U.S.A.

Note: This aerial photo of the Deschutes River by Buck Heim shows the area of the river that goes through Sunriver, Oregon. It's a SUP paddle boarding dream of easy downstream flat water paddling that's accessible for most anyone of any age who is willing to stand on a board.

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Surf’s up in C.O. The sport of stand-up paddle boarding is growing locally
By Katie Brauns / The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, Published: September 16. 2008 4:00AM PST Katie Brauns can be reached at 541-383-0393 or at kbrauns@bendbulletin.com. ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more articles are available only to E-Edition members. Sign up today! Link here for the entire Bend Bulletin article.
Surfboards in the High Desert?

Yes, and in high demand. Not long ago, few Central Oregonians had even heard of these surfboards called stand-up paddle boards. Now, stand-up paddling is growing rapidly in the area. Saturday’s Stand-up Paddle Boarding Family Fun Extravaganza at Sunriver Marina on the Deschutes River attracted more than 30 curious participants who joined an instructional clinic, relay races and a downriver tour.

Most first-timers said they would like to do it again. Some even mentioned buying a board (cost ranging from $700 to $1,700). “It’s a good activity for all ages,” said Mandy Baker, 27, a youth adventure camp leader in Bend and one of Saturday’s participants. “In one minute you get your wobbles out. Really, anyone that can hike or walk can do this. “I’m going to try it again for sure.”

Slice of history The ancient sport of stand-up paddle boarding was revived in the 1940s by surfers in Hawaii, according to www.AdventuresNW.com. By most accounts, stand-up paddle boarding originated in Polynesia. The AdventuresNW site also suggests that archaeologists digging for ancient artifacts have found 7-foot-long, single-bladed paddles throughout the Hawaiian Islands on several occasions. The upright method of paddling is an efficient way to break through the water’s wake, rather than lying down and stroking with the arms.

Upright paddling also makes it easier for surf instructors to keep track of their students — and to take pictures of them for mementos.

Moving in Stand-up paddle boarding recently began to spread inland, and Central Oregon has enthusiastically welcomed the sport. “We got the word out that we had stand-up paddle boards and we were busy all year,” said Tom Hamilton, Sunriver Marina manager. “What’s happening is, the sport is mushrooming inland to lakes and rivers. So we have an obvious connection there, because we have a really nice resort right on the river with almost countless lakes surrounding us.”

The marina has a fleet of about 15 rental stand-up paddle (or SUP) boards and has an order in for twice that number for next year. Lessons are also available at the Sunriver Marina. Randall Barna, a spearhead of paddle boarding locally, began selling the boards last year through his Web site, www.standuppaddleflatwater.com. Then, about a dozen interested paddlers joined in, mostly paddling flat stretches of the Deschutes River in Bend and Sunriver.

This summer, more than 50 paddlers are part of the stand-up paddle flat-water group. A few dozen of them meet every Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Alder Creek Kayak in Bend (near the Colorado Avenue Bridge) and paddle up the Deschutes to Farewell Bend Park and then back down to Alder Creek.

In addition, Barna organizes gatherings to Cascade Mountain lakes and to different segments of the Deschutes, providing a shuttle service so that paddlers can always be traveling downstream or downwind. The assembly is a good excuse to socialize, but apparently it’s a great workout as well. “When I got out on that board for the first time … it was such a good CORE workout that I was totally hooked,” said Susan Shannon, a mother of three from Bend. “The paddling is easy for me because I was a canoe instructor, but it was the core workout that I really liked.”

“You have to keep moving your legs to balance and then twist when you paddle,” said Tim Henion of the core workout paddlers get while SUP boarding. “And you use your shoulders. You get it all over.” Henion had just returned from a four-mile paddle going downstream on the Deschutes and back up, starting and ending at Sunriver Marina.

Novice participants swarmed the Sunriver Marina dock on Saturday and learned about paddling while standing up. Along with learning how to hold the long paddle and stroke most efficiently, participants soon discovered that it was easy. Balance is key, and most of the paddlers got the knack of it right away. Youngsters and adults of all shapes and sizes tooled around on the river, splashing strokes, gracefully turning or clumsily falling off their board.

Only a few lost their balance and dumped into the cold, weedy water of the Upper Deschutes. The flat-water attraction “As the summer went on last year, there was more and more people getting interested (in stand-up paddling),” noted Barna. “And this summer it has increased 10 times.” Barna measures the growth by the number of paddlers who have purchased boards in the last year. “The big deal is the flat-water opportunities that we have here,” explained Barna. “Anything other than coastal paddling is called flat-water paddling. And Bend is a destination resort for flat-water paddling and is probably the first one in the U.S. that has taken off.”

Not only are paddlers getting a workout, they also are outside enjoying nature, even viewing the aquatic life beneath the surface of the water. “I like to paddle in the mornings here,” said Alex Zarganes, who teaches paddle-board lessons for Sunriver Marina. “I come in when it’s calm and serene. I saw wildlife. Within an hour I saw a beaver, a great blue heron, an osprey fishing, and a mom and a baby deer, all within an hour on the second day that I have paddled in the morning. … You really do get in a zone. I paddled in a lake one weekend at 6 o’clock in the morning. … It was the most peaceful I’ve ever felt. I was in the middle of Crescent Lake, all by myself.”

Paddle boarding attracts all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts, from mellow river floats to the extremists. “It seems like any sport that you are standing on something and you are in motion automatically kind of has an edginess to it, like skiing or skateboarding or snowboarding,” noted Hamilton on Saturday as he watched paddlers snake through the water for their first SUP boarding experience. “It has that edgy element to it.” Some Central Oregonians have taken SUP boarding to the extreme: They have run whitewater. . . . READ MORE at the Bend Bulletin

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

GLS Soft top - No Worries, it's Kid Proof

Big, plus wide, plus soft adds up to safety for beginners and groups of kids piling on this board. This is the perfect board for a rental line-up or to have as the family board on the beach. It's inexpensive and practically indestructible. No worries when it gets hit, bumped or dropped. The GLS has 4 flexible rear fins so it tracks very well. It's soft and sort of bouncy, built for comfort not speed. Buy an aluminum shaft adjustable paddle to go with this board and you're ready to get most anybody on the water in no time.

The GLS Softtop is 12' long, 30" wide and 37lbs. Buy it from us for only $799.00
Note: The GLS comes in yellow, red and blue. We often don't have a choice about the color. Call us to find out which color is in stock (if that sort of thing interests you).

SUP Paddle Trails in Bend, OR

The Bend Paddle Trails Alliance will soon publish two guides. One for the Deschutes River and one for the Cascade Lakes. We will supply them here at standuppaddlebend.com as soon as they are available.

The scope of the river trail guide was defined to include all of the Deschutes River within Deschutes Country, including stretches of the Little Deschutes River. The Cascade lakes guide includes nine of the high Cascades Lakes including Hosmer Lake, Wickiup Reservoir, Crane Prairie Reservoir, Paulina Lake, East Lake, Cultus Lake, Sparks Lake, Lava Lake, and Elk Lake.

The guide will show suitable water levels for paddling, the put-ins, take-outs, portages, hazards, parking, toilet facilities, points of interest, camping sites and safety and environmental issues. Yahoo!

Photo credit: Thank you Buck Heim for aerial photos of the Deschutes River. See more of his photos at
Buck Heim's River photos:
http://kbuck.smugmug.com/gallery/3249063_WThZh#P-1-12
Buck Heim's Boat photos:
http://kbuck.smugmug.com/gallery/3396707_w7pQe#189929829_4qjmU

Are Women & Families the Future of SUP?

Photos of sleek watermen charging down overhead waves dominate the photo galleries on most stand up paddle sites. Though standup paddling originated with the ancient Hawaiians, stand up paddling (or SUP) was re-invented and popularized during the past decade by Laird Hamilton and his compadres. Riding 50' waves and paddling across the English Channel, Laird got SUP into the minds of other watermen and women. Despite his amazing accomplishments, unless a person follows surfing, most people didn't know stand up paddle boarding was anything other than another form of macho surfing until last August when actress Jennifer Aniston caught the camera lens while stand up paddling in Hawaii.

For standup paddling to really grow, the word needs to get out that Flat water SUP stand up paddle boarding is fun, easy and a great sport for women, kids, and ordinary guys whose first thought when hearing the term "six-pack" is a cold beer. Stand up paddling isn't just a sport for the macho elite athlete. Put the board on flat water and SUP is so easy that most people can learn in less than 20 minutes. And with the move to flat water, anyone near a lake or navigable river can stand up paddle. New paddles and boards out this season that is especially user-friendly for women.

Not only is Stand up paddling gear simple and elegant, the sport is pretty detail-free. Strap the board on top of the car, tuck the paddle between the seats and head to the water's edge.

Most women with families are constantly running a mental multi-tasking list that would stun a NASA project manager. Food, beverages, sunscreen, towels, first-aid supplies, extra clothes and bathroom breaks are just a few things on the mind of any parent trying to get the family out the door and onto the water. With very little extra effort and (after production) no extra fossil fuel, a few SUP paddle boards in the garage give families and friends the opportunity to play together on flat water waterways around the country.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Kids On-Board Safety Tips

Paddling as a family develops great friendships and healthy kids. Kids love the freedom of paddling. When we first hit the beach my daughter and her friends first priority is getting out on the Standup board. They put on their life jackets and make sure they have enough money for ice-cream cone trips to the lodge across the lake, then they're off playing for hours. They even bring the dog!

Here are a few safety ideas before you give your kids the paddles:

• Soft-top or padded decks are best for families. The surface is softer and not slippery for wet feet or dog claws.
• Choose a lake or body of water with a speed restriction so they won't be in danger of being hit by a jet-ski or fast boat.
• Put life jackets on them.
• Make sure one of the kids keeps the leash on at all time. When they jump in the board can shoot away from them. The leash keeps the board closer to at least one of the kids.
  
• Teach them paddle safety. If they drop the paddle and the board goes away from them, swim to the board first. Don't try swimming with the paddle.
• If the water temp is at all on the cool side, put wet suits on them. Their little bodies lose heat quickly. A wet suit will keep them in the water for hours.
• Keep them fed, hydrated and sun-protected.

http://www.standuppaddlebend.com/

Sup Bend OR Group slideshow #1 2007/8

Photos of members of our Standup Paddle Bend group: On the Cascade Lakes, Deschutes River and the Oregon Coast.