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

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


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

Hobie ATR SUP Board is Ultra Stable for Cold Water Paddling

February 2010 has been a mild winter month in Bend, Oregon with many days to paddle the Deschutes River. Most popular is the Colorado Bridge to the Southern Cross Bridge loop (3 miles). Launching from the new Riverbend Park "beach" is easy. The gradual, sandy slope allows SUPers to mount their boards without getting wet above mid-calf (a good thing when the water temps are between 38 and 42 degrees F.)

Stand up paddling in winter on the Deschutes is a lot quieter than the summer time scene. During the summer there are hundreds of floaters on tubes, mattresses and every other inflatable imagainable. A city bus with a trailer for the floaties ferries floaters back up the river for $1.00. Not only is it a bargain for the floaters, navigating the crowd gives us stand up paddlers slalom practice!

For now, it's a quiet and serene time on the river (as long as no one falls in).

Photos:

• Tom Burke is heading under the old logging bridge over the Deschutes River toward the observation deck. Notice the clean glide on his 12' x 30" Hobie ATR SUP board (just so you know, we have this board in stock. No sales tax. Free shipping.)
• Tom Burke demos a pivot turn - pretty good in 42F degree water!!

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

May, 2012 Update
We now also have the new 12'2" Hobie ATR II boards in stock.  The 12'2" ATR II is even more stable that the original 12' ATR, making it an awesome family SUP board - super stable for kids and pets to ride on the front. We don't know of any other board that has such a combination of high volume, light weight and top quality construction.  Features updated colors and graphics, bamboo inlays, amazing finish, built-in tie down points and leash plug and the softest deck pads in the industry.  We also have the 11' Hobie ATR II and the 10' ATR II.

Colorado Bridge Over the Deschutes River is in Line for an Upgrade

After the Deschutes River stretch through the town of Bend, Oregon  was opened to swimmers a few years ago, the culture of the town took a turn towards the river. A vibrant culture of water lovers float the section of river from the Healy Bridge to the Colorado Spillway Bridge most every summer day, sometimes hundreds a day when the weather is warm.

Floaters will get out at one of the casual beaches before the Colorado Bridge, but sometimes, they don't. Though some people make it if they get pulled over the spillway under the bridge, two people died over the past couple of years and there have been quite a few near misses. Gather a group of regular river paddlers and someone will have a story about saving a floater from going over.

Well now, there is some good news -- for both the floaters and the paddlers.

The Colorado Bridge on Colorado Avenue in Bend, Oregon is being considered for a $1.7 Million dollar upgrade. The Bend Park & Recreation District board is considering replacing the Colorado spillway bridge and creating a channel for boaters, a whitewater channel and some wildlife habitat area. You can read more about the proposed project at the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation site.

Remember - Buy your Stand Up Paddle gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Oregon's New $5. Boat Tax (or $90. ticket) to Apply to Stand Up Paddleboards. This is Crazy!

Have you ever paddled your kayak, raft, drift-boat or canoe or sailed your boat over pristine freshwater lakes and rivers and felt really good about it? Not only are you having a great time, you know you're also not contributing to noise pollution, fuel consumption and the accidental petro-chemical pollution that can happen with motorized craft.

Don't rest on your laurels. There is another pollutant that is quickly becoming a scourge in freshwater inland waterways, the zebra and quagga mussels. An invasive aquatic species, they invade and clog power plants, industrial and drinking water intakes, foul boat hulls and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

The invasive mussels hitch-hike primarily from infested fresh waters on trailered boats. States with infested water bodies include: Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado.

To develop money to fight these species, the Oregon State Marine has implemented a $5.00 annual fee on all non-motorized boats over 10 feet long. You can read more about HB2220 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program on the government website.

It's not just $5.00 that is the issue. Think of the $90. ticket that is possible if you don't comply. Here's a quote from the Albany Democrat Herald.

"But HB 2220 calls for no criminal punishment at all. It calls for civil penalties for anyone knowingly bringing invasive species to Oregon. And as for being caught without the proper boating permit, the offense is a Class D violation, the least serious kind, for which the fine is $90.
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According to Bill Monroe, a writer with the Oregonian, bill HB2220 will include ANY Craft. Here's some of what he had to say in Bill Monroe's Column: A Surprise for Oregon Boaters and Marine Board -- A $5 Permit:

"The Oregon State Marine Board is dealing with a sneaker wave of the first order that came ashore in the hectic last few days of the recent legislative melee in Salem.

With just a few days' notice, and at the Legislature's request to consolidate numerous bill requests about fighting off aquatic invaders, the Marine Board helped draft a new $5 permit required of everyone in the state who operates a boat or floating craft classified at 10 feet or longer.

Pole, pedal, paddle or gas or electric motor, there are no exceptions to the fee that will be in addition to current boaters' permits, fishing licenses and motor boat registrations. Permits would last two years for motorized boats and have to be renewed annually for nonmotorized craft.

"It came to us late in the session," said Randy Henry, Marine Board policy analyst. "Some details are still to be sorted out."

Henry said the bill -- which late this past week was awaiting Gov. Ted Kulongoski's expected signature -- will raise an estimated $3 million per biennium to help protect the state from anticipated invasions of waterborne exotics. Zebra mussels and other unwanted plants and waterborne critters are spreading like bad viruses across state borders nationwide, and many believe it's just a matter of time before they get into Oregon waters.

Most of the money will go to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife for the costs of inspections, research, cleanup, boat-washing stations, education and other operations to keep Oregon clean.

Boaters already are asked to wash down their boats every time they use them to prevent transferring unwanted organisms between lakes, rivers and bays. However, out-of-state trailered boats have been confirmed to have entered the state with dreaded freshwater mussels on their hulls. Zebra and quagga mussels multiply quickly, eat up organisms at the base of valuable food chains, clog water intakes and hydroelectric systems and cake up on the hulls of boats and ships of all kinds.. . . READ MORE

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We think that there is a huge difference between a stand up paddle surf board and any of the other vessels this law is going to apply to. Unlike any of the other vessels, SUP boards do not have any hidden crevices or cracks where invasive species can hide. And, SUP boards are NEVER moored, a key condition that is conducive to mussels attaching to the hull of a vessel.

Also, we see no reason a manual craft such as a SUP, kayak or raft has to pay $5. per year when a motorized boat pays only $5 for 2 years. The permit goes with the person rather than the vessel, if you have a quiver of boards and loan one out while you're using another of your boards, the loaner will need a permit. This is ridiculous!

The other problem we have with this legislation is that it hassles honest citizens. It will make law-breakers out of good citizens who don't comply. When this law is active, the average Oregonian taking their SUP board out for a paddle now-and-then or as little as once a year, can be ticketed for not having a registration sticker.

And, what actual difference in our waterways can this legislation make when people are crossing state lines regularly with their powerboats and not getting them inspected? We have fruit inspection stops at state lines. Surely the nooks and crannies in a powerboat as well as the water intake areas in the motor are a more likely source of invasive species hitchhikers than an SUP surfboard.

This legislation seems like a unwise move and is similar in tone to news of a bicycle tax that was being considered by the Oregon legislature. Considering the pollutants avoided by the use of non-motorized water crafts, we would hope that our government would reward rather than regressively tax our non-motorized water toys.

If we need to be educated about an unsuspected danger our SUP boards can cause, we invite you to leave a comment explaining your opinion. We'd like to hear your thoughts about this issue.

To Contact the OR State Marine Board: Email: marine.board@state.or.us
Write: Call: (503) 378-8587
P. O. Box 14145
435 Commercial St NE #400
Salem, OR 97309-5065

Marine Board Members:

• Paul Donheffner, Director
• Wayne Shuyler, Deputy Director
• Randy Henry, Policy Planning Analyst
• June LeTarte, Assistant to the Director

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

Stand Up Paddle Magazine is the New Glossy in the Line Up

Growing along with the sport of stand up paddling are the magazines and websites about SUP. Standup Paddle Magazine is the latest gorgeous new glossy in the line-up. A quarterly magazine, it's available at your local surf shop, Barnes and Noble or by subscription on StandUpPaddleMagazine.com .

We met Mike Muir at the Tahoe-Nalu SUP race in August as he was handing out copies of the second issue of the magazine. We read the publisher, Reid Inouye's column, Publisher's Note and think that Reid makes an interesting point about Standup. Here's an excerpt:

"SUP has split into three directions: flat-water, surf and open-ocean. For the flat-water paddler, all it took was the sun to come out and burn off the cloud cover and the harbors were filled with men and women working out and breaking some serious sweat."

We think that Reid is right -- flatwater is a serious form of stand up paddle boarding and a direction the sport is taking that will only grow. We live in a Northwest flat-water mecca of freshwater lakes and rivers in Bend, Oregon. People of all ages and fitness abilities are learning to SUP paddleboard, a key component to nurturing the sport. If women and kids like the sport, it'll REALLY grow!

And that is the kind of growth we support through our efforts. We encourage everyone to try the sport and we also encourage activities that aren't only about muscle and fitness; like down-river paddles that allow the weaker paddlers to socialize and share the adventure with strong paddlers (the river current helps!).

So -- all of you SUP event and race organizers, be sure to include race categories and prizes for all ages and both genders whenever possible in a race or promo event. When you're creating marketing and sales publicity, be sure to have visuals that include women, kids and older people as well as the usual photos of muscular guys with great tans. Inclusion will win the sport converts. Guaranteed!

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

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.

Yellowstone and other Places to Paddle from Al & Kay

Click here for Al and Kay's Yellowstone Road Trip album

Bring your stand up paddle board on a vacation and add more adventure and fun to your trip!
Al Paterson and his partner Kay sent us photos of their trip road trip from Bend, Oregon to Yellowstone. In Yellowstone and along the way, Al got some time on his SUP paddle board, even finding a section of river rapids to experience.

Al said that this photo of his first time on river rapids should be depicting how challenging it is. But -- the light was flat so the water looks flatter than it was. Any of us that have tried even a few riffles on rivers know that current, rocks and water speed can make the experience scary.

Read more about other adventures Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

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

Sunriver Marina Closed to Public Launch

The Sunriver Marina launch on the Deschutes River, Oregon (next to the Trout House Restaurant in Sunriver) is now closed to the public. If you had the idea that you'd check out Sunriver Resort, going to the Marina and launching your stand up paddle board, now you can't.

We recommend that you launch at Harper Bridge and paddle to Benham Falls for an easy and beautiful Deschutes downriver ten mile paddle through the Sunriver Resort area. It's an easier shuttle. You don't have to wind through the traffic and circles of Sunriver Resort (it can be a zoo in the summer) and the Harper Bridge put in adds 3 miles more to the river trip.

The Harper Bridge launch does not require a U.S. Forest Service permit as it's Highway property. The Benham Falls launch area requires a parking pass. You can get a NW Forest pass for $25.00 at most any sporting goods store or National Forest office. Sometimes the parking area has a paid parking box where you can buy a $5.00 per day parking pass.

Read about how to get to the Harper Bridge - Benham Falls stretch of the Deschutes River and what to expect on our post Deschutes River, Oregon: Harper Bridge to Benham Falls.

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Here's the copy of the text from the Sunriver Resort paid advertisement/notice in the July 1, 2009, Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon:

Due to the severe environmental impact and the current conditions of the surrounding riparian areas, the private boat ramp at the Sunriver Resort Marina will be closed to the public as of 5 pm Friday, July 3 (2009). This includes motorized boats and all other flat watercrafts (canoes, kayaks, rafts and other inflatables). All interested boaters may either rent a watercraft through Sunriver Resort Marina and launch from the private doc or access the river via designated public launch sites. Information about access to lakes and rivers in national forests in Central Oregon is available at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon.

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

Places to Paddle: Eugene, Oregon, Fall Creek Reservoir

Mikael Carpenter came to Bend, Oregon last year to buy a SUP board. We paddled with him in Bend, and also at the Oregon Coast. He's a great guy, longtime surfer and overall great athlete. He recently posted this map of his training paddle at the Fall Creek Reservoir near Eugene, Oregon. This is about a three hour drive from Bend, Oregon.

Thanks for sharing your flat water training info Mikael. Hope to see you at the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup Race, July 25th, 2009.

Fall Creek Reservoir / SUP Flatwater / Training

Widget powered by EveryTrail: GPS Trail Maps

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

Time Change for Tomorrow's Deschutes River Trip!!

The weather forecast for tomorrow (Saturday, May 30th) is for a 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms. With the current weather pattern in Central Oregon this means that the possibility of thunderstorms is more likely in the late afternoon. Last year, Judy, Isabella and I got caught in thunderstorms during a 10 mile Pringle Falls stretch. It was so scary that we don't want to do that again. 

Therefore -- after consulting with the other paddlers that have confirmed they are going on this trip, we've decided to leave 2 hours earlier. 

NOTE: We are Leaving 2 HOURS EARLIER. Meet at the Benham Falls Take-out (Lava Lands turnoff) at 7 A.M. 

If you want to talk to Randall about this paddle, be at the 4:30 paddle (at the Outrigger Club grassy area in the Old Mill) or call him at 541-389-4547.

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!

Places to Paddle: In Bend, Oregon - Colorado to Healy Bridge

Paddling Season: Year Around. Can have ice floes in the winter.

Snaking through the west side of the heart of the town of Bend, Oregon, the Deschutes River is easily accessible from a variety of launch places -- Farewell Bend Park and Columbia street river access (Pole, Peddle, Paddle launch area).

This is a great stretch of river for a quick fitness paddle, or easy touring paddle. This is also a favorite section of the river to launch a floatie, so expect to see all kinds of craft. Overblown air mattresses, kayak classes, Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe practice teams and teenagers plopped in the middle of tire inner tubes share the water.

You''ll paddle past restaurant patios dotted with well dressed diners enjoying a meal near the shopping center and small islands of wetland filled with ducks and geese tending to their broods. If you're lucky you may even see a river otter.

Within a half mile paddle you'll pass under a few bridges -- high or low concrete and steel structures, and even an old wooden bridge built during Bend, Oregon's logging days. For most of the twentieth century timber mills dominated this stretch of river, stacks of fresh-cut logs floated in ponds carved from the rivers edge. Mill buildings now house trendy restaurants and shops, everything from chains like Gap and Victoria Secrets to more regional and local businesses like REI. West of the Healy Bridge (upriver) the river narrows and quickens. Fly fishers seek trout in view of runners and walkers enjoying the trail system looping between bridges.

Photos: Randall Barna, Group shot of L-R: Gerry Lopez, Isabella Barna, Mike McComb, Randall Barna, Dave Chun, Dennis Oliphant, Jeremy McKelry, Peter & Susie Miller.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Whitewater Slalom Event on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon

Jayson Bowerman is no stranger to whitewater but this is a first! Jayson is SUP Stand up Paddle surfing the Deschutes River. In March!!!! Brrrr!!

The Riverhouse Rendezvous Kayak Slalom Race on March 29th in Bend, Oregon was Jayson's public debut on a standup paddleboard in the Deschutes river rapids. Jayson is an expert kayaker and all-around water man. When he's not paddling he's a master craftsperson, making custom guitars for Breedlove Guitar. Click the Breedlove Guitar link to see a video with Jayson in the shop.

Good job Jayson, and what's with that kayaker hogging the course?

Thanks Al Paterson for the photo.
www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Fitness and Race Standup Paddle Boards

What's the difference between a race and a fitness standup paddleboard?

Most fitness paddling is done on boards that cross-over to surfing. Since the goal of the activity is "working out," it seems that any board will do the job. Well, not so! If you run for a workout do you wear hiking shoes! If you cycle on the road do you use a mountain bike? Of course not, you use the right tool for the job. For covering distance on flatwater what's important is glide. To get good glide on a board thats also designed to surf you simply go long, 11' to 12'6". For body weight over 170# consider 11'6"to 12'6". For under 170# consider 11' to 12'.

The ultimate standup paddleboards for glide are race boards. They are not good in surf, but if you don't surf, or if you are OK with a quiver (more than one board) then a race board is most pleasing for fitness paddling. The size of race board seems to be standardizing around the race classes, of 12'6"(and under), 14'(strictly 14'), and unlimited length (and design, including rudder steering).

Nate, editor of supsurfmag.com says, "14' is a race board class because they likely determined 14' to be the point where things start to get really FUN for full size or bigger riders on downwinders. It is a huge stoker to be getting longer, funner glides. So, if that is where the most fun is, and you are already riding that for max hoots, why not race that? It is not like a 14 foot board or even a 17 is much more $$$ than a race weight 12'6. At least from what I can tell, the difference in speed in going longer over a great 14' is pretty negligable, so deciding to go unlimited may be a tougher choice. But that is for downwind races. Things could be different for flatwater races."

Hard-core race boards use exotic materials like carbon fibers and hollow cores. They also can be narrow and tippy, sacrificing stability for speed. Citizen racers and fitness paddlers can consider less expensive constructions that still offer great performance. The board companies are labeling these boards with names like Distance, Expedition, or Touring.

For me, I can't wait to get a 14 footer. It will be a Joe Bark Expedition from Surftech and should be available in May '09. The other one I'm awaiting from Surftech is the Laird 14', available sometime this summer. Check www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com for their arrival.

Along with design changes in the paddle boards are changes in stand up paddles. The SUP paddle blade trend is towards a smaller blade in distance conditions. In a down winder, the blade size can be larger because of board speed. Check out the Kialoa Methane paddle for distance paddling.

Note: In Oregon, two distance races (so far) are the Outrigger Canoe Race in the Gorge (formerly The Gorge Games) and the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup Canoe Race (6 mile race). 

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Winter Paddling on the Potomac River

Winter stand up paddling in the Northern Latitudes is becoming a favorite with hardcore types (like my husband, Randall and his buddies, Ron Thompson and Eddy Miller on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon). I've written about water safety in the winter, and Randall has too and as you can see by reading his post and her post, we have different ideas.

Well, Randall and his buddies aren't alone in their hardcore attitude. Suggs Miller in Maryland gets his SUP board on the winter Potomac river and dodges ice slabs. Now that's hardcore!! Here's a note he sent with a photo.

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I have been paddling all winter. The Potomac has become a new river w/water levels rising almost 10 ft plus at times. I can't get to the usual play spots, so I make a paddle workout out of it. It has settled down a bit as of Jan 3rd. I tried to go out the other day, but too much ice made it risky for the Uli Inflatable. Also, huge ice slabs were flowing everywhere.

The kayakers have rolled out the welcome mat and have helped me learn the river. They even put me on the front page of their kayaking website. PotomacPaddlers.com. The attached photo is on Jan 3rd at Maryland Chute on the Potomac. Water temp was 34F and air was 35F.

Hope you are having a fun winter. I was snowboarding at Mt Baker last week and I saw that the Nooksack River has some great features for SUP. I might try to give it a go sometime this summer.

Aloha,

Greg"Suggs"Miller, Director
potomacboardrats.org
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Get your paddle gear -- and a good deal on last season's demo boards. Call Randall 541-389-4547.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Winter Standup Paddling

I broke my rule and went for a paddle in sub-freezing temperatures. I learned my lesson last winter that ice forms on the deck and if you move your feet, its all over. Balancing a standup paddle board is one thing but balancing the board while ice skating is disaster.

Eddy and I couldn't resist, it was the first sunny day in January and I'm sticking to my commitment to paddle in every month, and anyway it was a whopping 34 degrees! We decided to launch at Aspen Camp on the Deschutes River (near Bend, Oregon) and do the Big Eddy Rapids to Dillon Falls stretch. This is one of the "must-do" 5 kilometer paddles when you're on a paddle trip to Bend. The road was finally passable in four-wheel-drive after Decembers two feet of snow. A warm front did a rainy mush-meltdown to the current situation of icy ruts.

There's something special about being on the river in winter. There's snow on the banks and ice chunks floating down the river. The ice sounds a harmless racket on the bottom of your board as it slides underneath. The colors of the water, forest, and lava flow (this stretch is flanked by a lava flow) were dazzled by the sun, and truly amazing!

Winter paddling isn't for everyone so here's some tips:

Confidence - You need to have such a standup paddle skill level that you're confident you won't fall in. Falling is part of the risk that makes it exciting, but you don't take risks here. It's like riding a bike confidence. You know you're not going to fall off your bike yet there's always the risk you could crash.

Standup Paddle Board Stability - You use the most stable, predictable, comfortable cruiser, period. There's no sense being "The Duke" on your 10'3" Gerry Lopez in this situation. I'm paddling a 12'1" Laird soft top this winter and Eddys on a Mistral Pacifico. This emphasizes the point, you don't want to fall in. Only go on smooth water, waves/chop decrease the stability and are caused by wind, wind adds wind-chill and decreased visibility of obstacles just under the surface, you don't want to add these variables to the danger. Know your water!

Clothing To Wear - This depends a bit on your confidence. Eddy, and I were wearing cross country ski wear, including gloves and hats. Outer layers are wind resistant and breathable. Use base layers that are moisture wicking. We often shed our outer layer jackets during the work-out of upstream and put them back on for downstream. We both wear sealed-seam wetsuit booties over wool sox.

If you lack confidence and still want to paddle then an Alaskan Ocean Survival Suit would be a good choice. At minimum a 5 mil wetsuit or dry suit is necessary because if you think you might fall in then you definitely will and these suits keep you safe when wet.

Emergency Plan - Hypothermia is the big risk and it can happen even if you don't fall in. It starts with being cold and un-controllable shivering. It progresses to lack of judgement and drunken-like state so you can't paddle. You could croak and its very serious. Never winter paddle without a partner and an emergency plan. Your partner will know you're in trouble, they can tow you back to the car, crank the heater, give you warm fluids and get you to the emergency room.

We had no problems on our sunny day in January. The water was less clear than usual due to the rains and run-off. Eddy didn't see the rock he hit with his skeg. It gave him a jolt but he caught his balance OK. We were really tempted to play on a small standing-wave that's at the bottom of Dillon Falls, but common sense prevailed. We'll save that for summer and warmer days.

We paddled about an hour and were on our final stretch when we noticed the ice on our decks. The sun was lower in the sky, the hills and trees shadowed the river and the temperature had dropped. We got to the take-out and were stymied on how to get off our ice covered boards without getting in the water. Usually we sprint, paddle the nose up on the bank and walk the board up to the nose, stepping gracefully onto land. Eddy went first and with the nose stabilized on shore he literally ice skated up the board! I slipped off into shallow water and only got my booties wet, so it was OK for a few minutes while we loaded he boards. Our final challenge was stacking our two icy boards on the roof rack. The boards slip around so easily it's comical. This is another reason to have a partner, to hold the boards while you hook the rack straps!

Check out this stretch of the Deschutes River with the Bend Paddle Trail Deschutes River Guide. All 125 miles of the river in Deschutes County are charted in stretches that show every put-in, hazard and difficulty (even potty stops). Order yours at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com and receive a free Lakes Guide too.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Standup Paddle Bend Open Challenge

Notice of Open Challenge Race for the Record.

Anyone, at any time, on any standup paddle equipment, may challenge the record!

All records will be posted on the StandupPaddleBend.com(StandupPaddleFlatwater.com) website and the Standup Paddle Flatwater (standuppaddle.blogspot.com) blog.

The Course:
The stretch of the Deschutes River known as "Colorado to Southern Crossing". The start/finish line is the imaginary line from shore perpandicular to the first (downstream) HAZARD sign near the Bend Outrigger Canoes and Alder Creek Kayak launch. The turn-around line is the imaginary line across the river indicated by the Mt. Bachelor Villiage fence line.

Start from a standstill position, nose behind the line, and a timing person will give the start command with ready, set, go. The stopwatch begins on go. An independant, impartial timing person, with stopwatch, is required as witness and official timer.

The upstream paddle is approximately one mile and you may choose your channel. You must cross the turn-around line with the whole board, and paddle back to the start/finish line. The official finish is when the nose of your board crosses the start/finish line.

Classes and Categories

Categories
Each record will include the Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM) that the Deschutes river is running that day, as published in the Bend Bulletin (on the weather page). As records begin to fall due to reduced current we will start another "CFM" category.

Classes will be as follows:
BOARDS- Unlimited, 14' and under, 12'6" and under, 11'6" and under, 10'6" and under. Rudders, foils and multi-hulls are only allowed on Unlimited.

AGE & GENDER- Men and Women, 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80-83, 84-86, 87-89, 90 and over.

Record Submissions

Submissions must include: Date, CFM, Name and address, gender, age, Witnesses/timers name, board brand/model and length, paddle brand/model. And, last but not least, TIME. Send to randall@footform.com

Be the first in your class to take the challenge, you're guaranteed to set a record!

Randall Barna StandupPaddleBend.com