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


Sixty "Shasek Style" is the New Forty

Who has time for stand up paddle board racing, SUP surfing, hiking, biking, traveling, exploring, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, inventing, whipping up wonderful parties, sailing, marketing, being an entrepreneur, best-grandma-ever, wife and friend?

Judy Shasek, does all of these things and does them well. And this year, everyone that knows Judy from around the country is part of her birthday celebration, including the readers of Bend's alternative newspaper, The Source Weekly.

Judy is celebrating her sixtieth birthday year 2009 with a bucket list of adventures and a blue tote bag she holds for the camera for at least one photo documenting each adventure she pursues this year.

Stand up paddle surfing this summer in Tofino, Canada, in this photo Judy is about to change paddle hands and do a drop-knee cutback. We love this girl!!! We can hardly wait to see how Judy redefines seventy!

Note: Judy is on a Amundson Aquaglide 11'3". This stand up paddleboard has great trim for surfing and isn't bad on flatwater paddles. Judy came in 2nd (first on a surfboard style board) at the 2009 Tahoe Nalu Stand Up Paddle Race at Lake Tahoe, California last weekend in her age group - 60 and up!

Group Photo: The Bend, Oregon, Stand Up Paddle Flatwater crew after the 2009 Tahoe Nalu race. Judy has her blue tote bag along with bragging rights for coming in 2nd for women age 60 and up. L-R: Randall Barna, Isabella Barna, Judy Shasek, Cristina Acosta, Ed Shasek

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.

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!

Women Friendly Boards

Women have many stand up paddle board options with the new boards that have built in handles and are in smaller sizes. Concrete and steel can float (in the shape of a ship) because volume displaces water. With that in mind, most any SUP board will work for a woman paddler once it's on flat water. The challenge for most women is getting the paddle board from their vehicle to the water's edge. If you're woman stand up paddling in rough water or surf, you'll need to choose a standup paddle surf board that is easier to handle in those conditions.

Here's what women should look for in a SUP stand up paddle board:

• Thin rails because they are easier to grab.
  
• Handles - the Mistral Pacifico has detachable nose and tail handles. You can also purchase from us a Stand up paddle board handle kit if your SUP doesn't have a handle.
• Hand Slot - the Surftech Infinity and Takayama have one in the center of the board.
• Choose a lightweight board - for example: the Amundson 11' Superlight. These stand up paddle surf boards come with plastic handles in the mast slot area of the SUP board.
  
• Choose a smaller stand up paddle board because less volume is lighter. You'll sacrifice glide-factor when paddling, but maneuverability is better.
  
• Be sure to look at our StandupPaddleFlatwater on line store for board suggestions.

To make it easier to carry your board. We're selling a shoulder-strap carry device called The Big Board Schlepper for $24.50. You're going to love it.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Senior Standup Paddling - You're Not Too Old for this Sport!

Do an internet search on Standup Paddling and you'll find plenty of photos of gorgeous guys carving big waves and battling the surf. What you'll have a harder time finding is pictures of seniors getting water-time on a stand up paddle board. Well, don't think your time is past for learning to paddle. Stand up paddling on flat water is easy. You can learn in less than thirty minutes if the water is smooth and your board is stable. A stable board is long and wide with a lot of flotation.

If you still have doubts, here's a photo of Janelle Willett, 67 yrs. young. She's enjoying her first stand up paddle boarding lesson from her son Matt Willet. Thanks Matt for the photo.

Here are a few of the benefits of Standup Paddling:

• Standup paddling is a low impact exercise.
• Wear a heart monitor and you'll know when you're paddling fast enough to get an aerobic workout.
• Falling is safer in this sport than many others.
• Whether you're social or solitary you'll love this sport. Paddle with friends or find solitude on the water.
• Buy a board with built-in carrying handles so it is easier to handle.
  

. . . . and best of all -- get on a stand up board and you'll make friends of all ages!

If you're interested in getting a friendly standup board for your conditions and abilities, contact www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com for board sales advice.

If you're visiting Bend, Oregon be sure to read our blog entries of the Places to Paddle Circa Bend, Oregon.