Stand Up Paddle Karmathon

Bend SUPer aims to complete 10 laps from spillway to the Healy Bridge rapids and back on a stand up paddle board to celebrate 10^th anniversary as a cancer survivor.

At dawn on September 21^st, treasured member of the SUPBend family Judy Shasek will begin paddling from the spillway to the rapids just upstream of Healy Bridge and back. To celebrate her 10^th anniversary of being cancer-free, Judy aims to complete this circuit 10 times before the day is done.

Judy calls her endeavor a “karmathon.” She invites others to participate by writing names of loved ones on ribbons that she will wear during the event. “If you would like to remember a special person, celebrate a life, send forward a prayer or otherwise recognize someone in your life who’s gone through a struggle or is in the midst of one, write his or her name on a ribbon and I will wear it on the day of my paddle,” she says.

Judy expects to complete her roughly 33-mile journey at about 4.00p.m. Supporters are welcome to cheer her on along the way or gather at the finish to celebrate.

A lover of the outdoors, Judy celebrated her 5^th anniversary as a cancer survivor by completing a 100-mile Livestrong bicycle ride in Portland. Having been a SUPer for the last few years, she decided to honor her 10^th anniversary by “setting out on the beautiful waters of the Deschutes right here in my home town. There is nothing quite like the moving meditation of doing some sort of physical activity outside – enjoying all that nature and life have to offer,” she says.

Ribbons are available at the shop (Stand Up Paddle Bend, 550 SW Industrial Way, #115). For further information, call 541.639.2655 or email Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.

Judy in 1967 and Judy now.

The Gathering Rogue Longboard Results

"The Gathering" Rogue Longboard Classic was interesting, to say the least, with the giant swell rolling through on Saturday. Sunday was smaller and barely manageable but a few of our Bend SUP borders and surfers managed to make it to the podium! Judy Shasek in the SUP womens class, Tom Burke in the SUP mens class and Peter Miller in the grand dukes longboard class. Congratulations to all of our Stand Up Paddlers from Bend, Oregon. Read here for more about the Gathering.
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Here's what Ed Shasek had to say about the 2009 The Gathering event:

"Swells were 14 feet on the face Saturday, frightening. It looked like "Victory at Sea" The waves were crashing all the way over the jetty. Randall and I didn't go out. The SUP guys that did were getting smashed. Tom Burke went out and got at least one good ride inside the big stuff, still overhead, Peter Miller went out and decided to stay out of the big stuff and came back in, although he did get 4th in the Grand Dukes prone surfing class (over 60) with several great rides on Sunday. Tom said it was very difficult to get out and he had to turn-turtle several times. He got a lump on his cheekbone when his paddle clocked him. There were very few rides by SUP on Saturday, I think I saw two, and these guys were good SUP surfers. Tom made the final six for Sunday finals, but did not go out as he was tired and wanted to get back to Bend with his wife to paddle the river and rest. He had just returned from Maui the day before. Randall picked up his 6th place trophy for him. For the Sunday finals, it was overcast and cold on the beach. The swell subsided to about 6-8 face, but it looked like a washing machine. Judy's Saturday heat was postponed to the Sunday finals, as there were only two SUP women. She did great. I was so proud of her. She got all the way out and got one up-and-down ride and one ride across the face on the outside break. The other woman couldn't get out and road the foam a bunch of times to take 1st. This woman was good enough to get 3rd in the woman's prone over 25 class. She was 48 years old from Alaska and thought the weather and water was balmy. Judy got the second place trophy. She was 1st in our minds as she had the strength, steel ovaries and determination to get outside. She is a much better woman than I am a man. If she was a man they would clang when she walked. In fact, I thought I heard them when she was walking up the beach after her session. We all paddled the Bay at Newport on Saturday afternoon and had a beautiful paddle. Had to paddle against a strong wind to get back to the put-in."
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Click here to view these pictures larger

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Local Bend, Oregon SUP Paddle Surfers Head South to the RainBow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle

This weekend, Oct 3,4, is the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez "Battle of the Paddle" It's a long way down to So Cal for this event, but I'll guarantee Gerry's going!

Here's a link with the info: http://www.rainbowsandals.com/battleofthepaddle/
This is the ultimate SUP Stand up paddling event to attend and everyone can participate too! Karen Wren, from Portland and an occasional contributor of information to our blog, is entered with the Elite group and paddling for Hobie. Good luck Karen!

Tim Henion, of Bend, will be at The Battle of the Paddle via Arizona and doesn't have a way to get his SUP board there.

• If anyone is going and has room on their roof racks to take his SUP board to him contact Tim: thenion@bendbroadband.com or call Tim @ 503-519-8591

Otherwise, our Friday @ 4:30 gatherings are still on! Just bundle up if it's cold. Meet at the paved parking lot by the Bend Outrigger canoes and Alder Creek kayak. Newcomers are welcome and bring your favorite beverage for afterward. I've missed a few Fridays lately due to weekend get-a-ways for surfing at the coast. I've got some great stories to tell this Friday so hope to see you there!

Aloha,
Randall Barna
www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Ready for a 13 mile Race? Register for the Round the Rock Stand Up Paddle Race in Mercer Island, Washington

Got a note from Mike Mudd telling us about this new stand up paddle board distance race circumnavigating Mercer Island on Lake Washington. Their are two courses offered, a 13 mile full course or a 2 1/2 mile short course.


This race sounds like a lot of fun. Remember to get your gear or any last minute accessories from us at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater, we appreciate your business and support. www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

WHEN: September 27, 2009
Registration: 8 a.m., Race Time: 9 a.m.
WHERE: Mercer Island, Washington
WHAT: Stand up paddleboard distance race of either 13 miles or 2 1/2 miles
WHO TO CONTACT: info@roundtherock.com
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We got this note from the race founder and organizer, Jeff Underwood telling us more about how the first annual race is shaping up:

Randall,

As a SUP-addict, I check out your site frequently. I'm organizing a SUP event for the end of September on Mercer Island, WA. I'm wondering if you can give a plug or provide a link to our site on your blog?

I hatched this event with the idea that it would be a small fun 13 mile paddle around the island, and the mansions that line its shores. Seemingly overnight, it has ballooned to be a big event, with corporate sponsors jockeying for position! Our site only went live on Wednesday and we already have competitors pre-registered from SoCal and Florida!

Anyway, all proceeds are to benefit Surfrider Foundation, and it should be a terrific event.

There's a shorter race of 2.5 miles for those who may be intimidated by the 13 miler.

Please feel free to forward this info. anyone who may be interested.

Paddle on,

Jeff Underwood,
Organizer
'Round the Rock Stand Up Paddle Race

Rogue 7th Annual Longboard Classic and SUP Surf Contest in Newport, Oregon

This is a last minute reminder for anyone who is planning on either long boarding or stand up paddle surfing in this fun contest. Save room for lunch. The Rogue Brewery serves hot coffee and snacks in the morning and gets the BBQ grill going for lunch. Non-alcoholic beverages are available as well as Newport's finest hand crafted ales.

Note: If you need help getting your gear to the beach, volunteers run trucks from the jetty to the surf venue.

WHAT: Rogue Brewery's "The Gathering" 7th annual Longboard Classic Surf and SUP Surf Contest
WHEN: Sept 12th and 13th,
WHERE: South Jetty, Newport, Oregon.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: August 28th. NO Beach entries, no exceptions.

CONTACT: e-mail contact is: Stacey@rogue.com

WHERE TO CAMP: The campground at South Beach State Park in Newport is almost full so get your site ASAP.

Read about last year's contest on our blog entry. We posted a video of the conditions, let's hope this year is sunny and no 30 mph winds!! (Like the photo from the 5th Annual Rogue Gathering Surf contest.)

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

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.

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!

Women Love the Core Workout of Stand up Paddleboarding

Laying on your floor doing crunches is no fun compared to the core workout you get when you stand up paddle board. And, engaging your core while balancing and paddling improves your overall fitness and balance skills for other sports.

Stand up paddling is a low impact core workout that is great for men and women. I love to go paddling with my friends and chat while getting a great workout in nature surrounded by water.

So how do you maximize your core movements while paddling? When first learning to paddle it's natural to think of paddling as an arm exercise. To get the most power as you paddle you must engage your core.

Here are some ideas to help you maximize your core strength when stand up paddleboarding:

1. Bend slightly at the waist when you paddle and be sure your knees are soft or slightly bent.
2. Pretend there is a small ball at the top of our diaphragm and in your imagination start compressing that ball so that your core crunch starts at the top of your abs.
3. Because you will be paddling on different sides, your obliques will also be part of the movement. Paddle both sides of your body as evenly as the conditions allow.
   

The photo above is of two Bend, Oregon athletes paddling at Elk Lake, Oregon: Dagmar Erickson, a world title holder Nordic skier and Susan Hopkins, an all-around athlete. Susan is on a Laird 12'1" gloss stand up board. Dagmar is paddling her kayak.

You can rent stand up paddle boards near Bend, Oregon at Elk Lake Resort, Oregon, about a 35-40 minute drive from Bend on the beautiful Cascade Lakes Highway. Read more about Elk Lake and other Places to Paddle near Bend, Oregon.

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

Amundson Stand Up Paddle Board Rocks Surf and Flatwater

Judy Shasek loves her new Amundson Aquaglide 11'3" SUP paddle board. Here's a photo of her rippin' down a wave at Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda, Oregon.

The Amundson is a sweet paddleboard. Thin rails carve in waves and make this SUP board easier to handle from your car to the beach. Fast in flatwater, great in ocean waves, picks up wind-driven lake waves. Fiberglass construction is tough. The Amundson is a great all around paddleboard for anyone weighing under 170 pounds.

The soft deck of the Amundson paddleboard saves you the cost of deck pads. If windsurfing is your thing, you can attach a rig in the center slot of the Amundson paddle board and have another way to play! The Amundson Aquaglide is a favorite SUP paddleboard because it's easy to handle both off and on the water. Thank you John Amundson for shaping such a great stand up paddle board.

FREE SHIPPING AND NO TAX IN OREGON Aquaglide Amundson length: 11'3" width: 29.5" weight 27" volume 180L. Compare this board with the Laird Gloss 11' 6" and the Soft top Laird 11' 6". Windsurfable (has a center slot for the mast).

Check out our Stand Up Paddle Boards.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com.

Sarong Sailing SUPs

Flatwater stand up paddling on lakes usually involves wind of some sort if you're out past noon. My friend, Judy Shasek and I were playing around on Hosmer Lake last week and came up with a lot of things to laugh about while we experimented with our SUP boards.

Memories of catching the wind on windsurfers inspired Judy and I to take advantage of a tail wind and try some sailing. Since I often travel with sarongs (as SPF, clothing, mosquito distractor, etc.) I was ready.

I whipped my sarong into the air with a gust and Judy and I made a jib sail between us. It worked so well that we returned the next day with two sarongs and caught downwind puffs singly wherever we could. We even convinced Judy's husband, Ed to give it a try.

I painted these sarongs on silk and cotton and was totally grooving on how they looked filled with air and lit through with sunlight. Silk was definitely the material that won the day as a sarong sail. Silk is strong, lightweight and catches the wind easily. It also looks good on.

Judy and I got so caught up in sarong sailing that we almost re-invented the windsurfer!

Judy's husband, Ed Shasek took the photos (unless he was in them).
www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

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

Meg Chun Passes on Some Paddle Tips

Meg Chun, co-owner of Kialoa Paddles and a seasoned paddler passed on a few tips to me. When I asked her if I could make her post public she responded, "These are just things I have learned after being coached and coaching and reading and watching videos, etc. for the past 21 years. I do not consider myself an expert." Though she may not consider herself an expert, I certainly have learned something from her. I'm passing on her advice to me after I asked her the following question:
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Hi Meg -- While SUP paddling past your outrigger this week, I heard you mention the word "whirlpool" in reference to paddling (you were teaching your crew). I looked down at my paddle and saw not just one but 3 whirlpools! Yikes! Are whirlpools good or bad? I was playing with seeing what I could do to eliminate them, but before I get too into it, I thought I'd check with you to see what's up with whirlpools.

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(Meg's response)

"As for whirlpools, I need to look at this while I'm on a SUP board but here are some thoughts: The goal is to sink the paddle before you pull yourself to it. This is the catch phase of the stroke. If you begin the pull phase of the stroke before you have total catch/adhesion, air can catch behind the blade thereby causing slippage of the blade in the water and creating whirlpools.

Whirlpools are an indication of a less than perfect catch.

HOWEVER, other things do come in to play here - in particular speed of craft. Let's talk about race starts in an outrigger for a moment. When the boat is at a dead stop, well that's some low boat speed - none in fact. So when we go to do our race starts, we think of our first four paddle strokes as short and deep.

Because the speed of the boat is nil there is great, great resistance and our paddles cause big whirlpools. They have to slip through the water a bit. The paddles have to slip because we are not strong enough to propel a 400 pound boat PLUS six people forward without some slippage. As the boat speed starts to pick up, within the first ten strokes or so, we can now fully submerge our paddles and get full adhesion without slippage because the boat is up and running.

This is why it is important NOT to have a paddle that is too big. In a perfect world we would use a smaller paddle going upstream and a bigger one going downstream. Stand up paddle boards are SLOW and upstream there can be great resistance on top of that. So, you want a paddle that you can submerge and have a good clean catch with but that won't overpower you and cause you to paddle inefficiently. When I go out next time I will look to see if I have whirlpools while SUPing."
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Looking for a Kialoa Paddle? Check out our shopping cart.
Photo: Isabella holding our 2 favorite Kialoa Methane paddles with the very hot looking custom aloha print.

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.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Beginner Tips

Stand up paddle boarding is much easier to do than it looks. You'll be surprised how easily you'll be able to balance on the paddle board your first time. Of course the type of stand up paddle board you try your first few times must be a stable board that is the proper size for your weight for you to have a successful paddleboarding experience.

Here are some examples of the types of paddleboards that are easy to stand and balance on:

Paddlers over 170 lbs. will be most stable on a SUP Board that is 11'6" to 12'6".
Suggested boards are: Generator 11'6" by Surftech , Hobie 12' ATR, Aquaglide Amundson 11'6, Randy French Softop by Surftech.

Paddlers under 170 lbs. will be especially stable on a larger board, but also can get a smaller board in the 10' 6" to 11' 6" range for maneuverability and ease of handling.
Suggested boards are: Hobie 11' 2", Aquaglide Amundson 11' 3", Hobie ATR 10'6".

Here are some SUP stand up paddle boarding safety and technique tips:

Safety-First be honest with yourself about your swimming ability. Outside of surf zones the Coast Guard is requiring life jackets on all paddlers. We recommend this waist pack life jacket.

• Never leave your board, if you lose the paddle you can paddle it with your hands easier than swimming, also the wind can blow it away faster than you can swim. Always paddle up-wind first, it is way more difficult than down wind. Do not get caught a long distance down wind, you may not make it back.

• Stay attached to your board with an ankle leash if you are on a lake or ocean. DO NOT use a leash on a river as it may snag and hold you down.

• Your paddle is your friend – keep it in the water as much as possible. You can push the blade forward or back to keep from falling, and even lean on it or pull up on it momentarily to keep from falling. Never let go of your paddle.

• Foot position – Stand in the middle of the board, too far forward will sink the nose, too far back will drag the tail and be slow. You generally want to stand centered with both feet about shoulder width apart and facing forwards for long distance paddling on flat water. But when the surface is choppy or you’re in waves you’ll want to adopt surfer's stance with your dominant foot forward just as in normal surfing.

• Buy our new Coiled SUP Leash so that it stays on top of your SUP board, reducing the chance you'll snag anything under the water. Attach your surf safety leash to your rear foot.

• Paddling – reach forward with your paddle and put the blade in almost vertically, close to the board. Stroke back, visualizing pulling the board forward in the water. Don’t try to extend the stroke too far past your legs, that angles the blade too much and pulls the board edge downwards. Your blade is angled forwards for two reasons–to make the blade more stable in the water (as you’ll see if you try to stroke with the blade backwards) and to improve the release of the blade as you pull it up. Stroking too far backwards defeats that smooth release.

• Happy feet – You need to learn that your feet are not bolted to the board. As your balance improves you can move around the board more. In flat water paddle boarding you need to imitate this learning by forcing yourself to move your feet around. Shift from centered to fore and aft stance. Move your back foot more towards the tail then back centered again. In chop your learning will be automatic–when you master sideways chop you’re bound to be moving about on the board.

• Turning and Spinning–Initially you’ll be turning the board slowly by stroking away from the board, but this is the slow way around. Fine for flatwater, but too slow to surf. The faster way is to put weight on the back of the board and stroke with the paddle to pivot the board. Once you are in a fore and aft position you can start practicing this by just putting weight on your back leg. This works even better if you take a step backwards. You need to lean on the paddle a bit to optimize these moves. Once you can spin the board 360 you’re ready to surf.

Photos: Top: Isabella demonstrating a turn on the back of the board. She steps back to slightly sink the tail of her board and uses her paddle to pivot.
Bottom: Randall demonstrating an across bow turn. He's bent forward and sweeps his paddle in an arc around the front of his board.

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater

• http://www.standuppaddleflatwater.com/
  We appreciate your support. Thanks!

SUP Tips From Flatwater to Surf

When you can't get on the water, you can still pickup a few Stand Up Paddle surf tips from the comfort of your couch. Stand Up Paddleboarding Instructional DVD from REAL has been a popular pick with members of the Standup community. Randall viewed this DVD and says that it's great for beginners. We'd love to hear some of your comments about this DVD. Here's what the DVD covers (according to the producers):


"GEAR Board Types, Board Constructions, Fin Choices, Paddles, Deckpads, Wax, Leashes, Wetsuits, Booties, Sun Protection. GEAR SET UP Proper Wax Choice and Application, Installing your Standup Deckpad, Installing Leash and Fin, Choosing your Paddle, Paddle Sizing. THE BASICS Standing Up, Proper Stance, Holding Paddle, Paddling Technique, Using Paddle to Balance, How to Fall. FIRST SESSION Flatwater Session, Basics Review, Finding the Sweet Spot, Advanced Paddling Techniques, Turning Techniques. WAVE SESSION Flatwater Review, Paddling over Whitewater, Waiting for Waves, Catching Waves, Riding Waves, Exiting Waves, Falling in the Surf. BONUS SECTION Standup Etiquette, Jimmy Lewis Surf and Standup Paddleboards, REAL BVI Slideshows, Cape Hatteras Bonus Footage."

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Stand up Paddle Board Size: 3 Things to Know

This photo of Jack Gillen only shows part of his quiver and he rides them all! The luxury of a standup paddle board quiver assures that you always have the perfect board for the site and conditions of the day and for who you are. Men, women, kids and seniors, everyone buying a standup paddle board has different needs. Make sure the first board you get suits your expected needs, here's three things you need to know.

1. Size for your weight.
Study the dimensions of the boards you're considering and make sure you don't go too small. The general rule is that once you're up to paddling speed you don't want the tail to drag. Stepping slightly forward will smooth-out the water release at the tail but if the board is too small your nose will dig in. Watch other paddlers of similar weight, note the tail turbulence and trim of their board when underway. Ask for the dimensions or at least the length of their boards and size yourself accordingly. Board makers generally agree on certain dimensions. For example, 11' boards that are around 29" wide and 4 1/4" thick, or 12' boards that are 30" wide and 4 1/2" thick. The flotation is a combination of the length, width and thickness of the board. If you can't test a board or are inexperienced, listen to the advice and experience of others.

The division between light and heavyweight in windsurfing is 170# and I think it's a good reference weight for standup paddle board flotation. Heavyweights should have the biggest boards around 12'. Paddlers right at 170# do well on 11' boards and very-lightweights can go as short as 10'.

2. Size for your water conditions.

There are three basic water conditions: flatwater, roughwater, and surf. Flatwater is the ideal condition to check for tail turbulence and trim. You can see your wake and actually hear turbulence. You will even be able to trim a board that is too small but don't get cocky and think this will work for you in all conditions. The size and weight recommendations above work well in flatwater.

Roughwater will not be forgiving. The board seems much less stable and the nose will dig into the chop. The board that seemed fine in flatwater will seem too small. Get a bigger board for roughwater, approximately six inches to one foot longer. For all of our paddle adventures around our home in Bend, Oregon we are often on longer boards for stability so that rarely fall in the cold water.

Surfing has contrasting demands. You want speed and stability for paddling-out and catching waves, which favors bigger boards. Once you are riding a wave you want maneuverability and high performance, which favors smaller boards. Beginners in the surf should stick to the same board they use in roughwater. It will catch the waves easier and you won't fall so often. Better surfers will prefer smaller boards. They've learned the nack and timing for paddling out and catching waves so the performance when riding the wave is primary. 11' and 12' boards work fine in the surf for occasional surfers. High performance surfers are using 9'6" to 10'6" standup paddleboards. Stand up paddle boards we love in the surf are all the Paddle Surf Hawaii boards and the Hobie 10'6".

3. Size for your convenience.
There are many other things you do with your board other that riding it. You carry it to the water. You hoist it up on top of your head to load it on your vehicle. You store it someplace.

It's no good to set your heart on a certain 12' beauty if you cannot physically handle it, especially when the wind blows! Try picking it up and carrying it, hoist it over your head. If you have trouble, look for a board with a hand slot or buy our handle kit to attach a carrying handle. Smaller boards like the Amundson 11'3" and Hobie 11'2" are lighter weight with thinner rails and are easier to handle when out of the water, making these boards especially popular with women stand up paddle boarders. It's worth sacrificing some paddle glide by choosing a smaller board if it means that you can carry and load it. Also, check where you have to store it. If it needs to fit into the locking personal storage in your vacation condo, you better test this before you purchase. Having a smaller board in the locker is better than having a big board stolen from the carport rafters!  Easy carrying, loading and storing is part of the love affair with your first board.

About Gear - Ron House and Laird SUP Boards

Surftech manufactures the Laird Hamilton SUP boards. These Stand Up Paddle boards are shaped by Ron House with Laird's endorsement and are available in full gloss deck or soft deck. The first size available was the 12'1" x 31" and it was immediately in high demand and hard to get in 2007.

New 2008 additions to the Laird line include an 11'6" x 29", a 11' x 27" and a 10' x 27". I raced the Laird 12'1" SUP board in the 28th annual Odell Lake Pioneer Cup and loved it in the five mile downwinder. I also rode it in The Gathering-Rogue Longboard Classic. The 12' 1" Laird Stand up Paddle board was my choice for confidence and stability, being my first surf contest. The big 12 footer stand up paddle boards are also great in cold water because they are so stable on flat water that an experienced paddler will rarely fall in. I'm on this board every winter when I paddle places around Bend, Oregon (snowy and cold for about 6 months).

The new 11' 6" Laird Stand up board has a narrower tail that's more responsive when you step back. The 11' 6" Laird SUP board is smaller and therefore more popular with women paddlers. This makes flatwater pivot turns faster and makes for better surfing. The 11' and 10' Lairds are high performance surfing boards. Their narrow width requires more skill.

Ron House recently shaped and introduced his own line of production SUP boards built the traditional surfboard way only lighter and stronger with eps core and epoxy fiberglass. Ron House's SUP boards also feature a 1/4" wood stringer and full gloss finish. The two models we'll feature are the 12' x 30" and the 11' x 29".

I talked with Ron about these stand up paddle board models and he's really enthusiastic about these boards because they reach a different customer than the Surftech Laird models. Thin-skinned wood-stringer boards feel different under foot. It's subtle and comparable in other sports. In biking it's the feel of a steel frame vs aluminum, in skiing its a wood core ski vs foam core. It comes down to personal preference and we're excited to offer a great selection from Ron House!

See our featured boards at: StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Buy Boards on our Website

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

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

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.