The 6th Rogue Gathering Longboard Classic Results on the Oregon Coast

A group of us SUP surfers from Bend, Oregon traveled to Newport, Oregon to compete in the annual longboard classic and Stand up Paddle surf contest called The Gathering, hosted by the Rogue Brewery every September. The weather was windy and sunny and sometimes foggy in the early morning. The surf was small to overhead. Handcrafted brew, hot coffee and BBQ burgers kept all of surfers and audience happy. The announcers and judges did a great job making this 6th annual event, The Gathering a friendly, fun event for everyone from novice to expert.

This past Sept. 6 and 7th at The 6th Annual Rogue Gathering the SUP standup paddle class grew in one year from six to sixteen entries! This was enough for three heats, two for men and one for women. The two men's heats led to the top six for the finals heat. It was a really fun event.

The gals were all beginner SUP surfers from Bend: Judy Shasek, Susie Miller, Isabella Acosta Barna and Cristina Acosta. With the exception of Isabella (who won first), they mostly got stomped in wind gusts in the 24 mph range and the biggest waves this group of gals had ever been in. The good news is that they showed up and filled the top 6 places, so they all got a plaque!

For camping and other info, check out our prior blog entry.

Thanks to Michael Carpenter and Randall Barna for video footage and Isabella Acosta Barna and Randall Barna for editing the movie.

Thanks to Ron Church's estate for the photo art and Penny Murie of Medusa Design for creating a cool & groovy poster with Ron Chruch's surf photo. Penny Murie is also the Rogue Brewery label artist.

The Results for the 6th annual The Gathering Annual Longboard Classic surf contest hosted by Rogue Brewery, Newport, Oregon are:

Stand Up Paddle SUP Gals (all ages, which happened to be 14 to 59): 1st - Isabella Acosta Barna; 2nd Cristina Acosta; 3rd Judy Shasek; 4th Susie Miller
Longboard Gals:
Menahunes w/Parent (12 & under): 1st - Kaya Linn Remmers; 2nd Izzy Martinez-Ybor; 4th Savannah Russo
Gals Under 25: 1st - Olivia Schroeder, 2nd Haley Richards
Gals Over 25: 1st - Carly Dye, 2nd Kristin Lovett, 3rd Nelly Daanslow; 4th Skylar Bieraugel; 5th Lisa Field; 6th Jessica Dumoulin

Stand Up Paddle SUP Guys (all ages): 1st Tony Stein; 2nd Ken Wilson; 3rd Mike Field; 4th Ollie & Bella (the dog) Richardson; 5th Randall Barna; 6th Peter Miller
Longboard Guys:
Menahunes w/Parent: 3rd Woodrow Mayer; 5th Wynslow Mayer; 6th Joey Swan
Gremmies (13-19): 1st Travis Cockcroft; 2nd Kevin Sennewald; 3rd David Klistoff; 4th Laird Tuel; 5th Brandon Cotte
Boys (20-29): 1st Ollie richardson; 2nd Patrick Mason; 3rd Mattie Starr; 4th Jedi Jonny Knape; 5th Louie Golar; 6th Jeff Guggenheim
Hot Shots (30-39): 1st Nathan Smith; 2nd John Bieraugel; 3rd Tor Rockness; 4th Travis Prince; 5th Larz Richardson; 6th Ken Wilson
Mid Life Cruisers (40-49): 1st Patrick Crotty; 2nd Rob Russo; 3rd Mike Tuel; 4th Nolan West; 5th Brad Miller; 6th Joe Stoops
Dukes (50-59): 1st Bill Bourdon, 2nd Phil Rovai; 3rd Ray Benner; 4th Tony Stein; 5th Spike Richardson; 6th Bill Delanty
Grand Dukes (60-69): 1st Danny Anderson; 2nd Nick Parry; 3rd Peter Miller; 4th Bix Weir; 5th Michael Harrington; 6th Fred Sickler

REMEMBER -- Buy your Stand up Paddle Surf gear from us at www.StandupPaddleBend.com Whether you're paddling the inland flat water, wind waves or getting in some ocean surf time, we have the SUP gear for you!!

Running Whitewater on a SUP

Getting a good stand up paddle surf ride on inland waters takes some ingenuity and guts. Suggs Miller director of the Potomac Board Rats, based in Washington, D.C., is into riding the rough water on the rivers. Here's a photo of him and the note he sent us:

Hello ,
You have a great site. Me and some friends have started going on the Potomac River with our inflatable SUP's. It is an unreal experience. We are learning the river and getting better every day we go out. It is too much fun running the swift water and chutes.

Hope you enjoy the pics that my kayak friends took of me. We will send you more when we get them.

All the best to our Western Friends!

Greg"Suggs"Miller www.PotomacBoardRats.org
director
301-442-6864

www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Thanks John for the Great Report

John and Kathy of PaddleSurf.net visited Bend, Oregon this summer. They were paddling on the Deschutes River on a Friday afternoon, the same time our local Stand up paddle group meets for a 4:30 evening paddle. Randall and I (Cristina) were paddling upriver and introduced ourselves to them. We got to chatting and discovered that we were both SUP bloggers, and we read each others blogs! What great luck. John and Kathy are fun people and we enjoyed our time with them. We also discovered that if you're planning any kind of surf trip or SUP trip south of the border, the PaddleSurf.net blog is the place for the info you need for a safe trip. Here's an excerpt from John Ashleys report about his visit to Bend, Oregon:

It's so beautiful in Bend that you begin to take it for granted. You're cruising the highway along a clear, running river there's sapphire lakes everywhere- each one harboring ridiculous paddling potential. The weather's warm, there's blue skies and the great silent openness that seems to wrap up big pine forests.


Give yourself a couple of days in Bend, Oregon and you just start to expect that there'll be something miraculous around that next curve in the road. Like I said, you started to take it for granted. Until, once again, Bend serves up something deliciously unexpected (bacon covered dates... maybe?) that takes your breathe away again. That's the kind of place Bend is and that's why you need to go there with your board and paddle in hand. Bend is enchanting, it's truly a flat water, stand up paddling playground. READ MORE. . . .

Free Stand-up Paddle Board Clinic in Sunriver

Do you want to try SUP Stand up paddleboarding for FREE?! If your answer is, "Yes!" Sunriver, Oregon is where you want to be on Sept 13th. Surftech boards, including Laird boards will be provided first-come-first-served to anybody who wants to try standup surfing. Sunriver, Oregon is a beautiful place to paddle the flatwater of the Deschutes River. This section of the river is included on the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance map. Click here for info about how to buy a Bend Paddle Trail Alliance Map.

Here's what you need to know:
When: Saturday, Sept. 13th, 2008, 1 to 5 p.m
Where: Sunriver 
Who: all ages -- men, women, kids -- almost everyone can learn to SUP.
SUP activities are FREE!
Activities will Include:

• Paddle board demonstrations and lessons
• Fun races including a relay race
• 6 mile downstream paddle at 4 p.m.
  

This is a great time to call Randall Barna (541-389-4547) and ask him if a board that is right for you will be demoed at this event. Try out the board then buy a new board from Randall. Autumn is the best time to surf the Oregon Coast and any of the West Coast from Northern California through Tofino in British Columbia. Randall is also selling a Lopez SUP board that was very lightly demoed this season. Call him for details. So get your Standup Paddle gear from www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com and we'll see you on the water.

The Nation's First Inland Destination Stand Up Paddle Waterways

We're on the map! Literally! The Bend Paddle Trail Alliance published the first ever Deschutes Paddle Trail River Guide. This is a SUP dream come true. Visit Bend, Oregon and you can paddle up to 60 miles of downstream flat water on the Deschutes River with a single short portage. Or choose a segment of 6 to 10 miles for a fun 1/2 day trip.

Roll the River Guide into a pocket or stuff sack (it's on tear-proof / waterproof paper) and you'll have detailed information on every take-out, log jam, riverside campsites, hazard, portage and short-cuts the river has to offer.

Available for $15.00 in Bend or contact us (541-389-4547, or Randall@Footform.com) and we'll mail you the guide along with a free Lakes Guide for $20.00 including postage.

We've been going out every weekend and exploring each section of the river. When the weather turns to cold, we'll post our slide shows and stories of our adventures.

If you're visiting Bend, Oregon or Sunriver, Oregon (15 miles South of Bend, Oregon), you can buy your SUP Standup Paddle Boards from us at www.StandupPaddleBend.com and remember, you don't pay sales tax in Oregon!!!

Hassled About PFD? - ask Randall

Hi, I was paddling on the Nehalem River estuary the other day and imagine my suprise when the Tillamook County Sheriff stopped me and gave me a warning for not having an approved PFD and whistle (like I was a boat)! Do you guys have any experience or advise you'd like to share? I called the director at the State of Oregon for water activities law enforcement and he said there was a policy that seemed vague about requiring a PFD and whistle if I was in flat water, though not requiring them in a surf zone. I'm puzzled and irritated that I was singled out for this application of a silly rule (I don't see any adults wearing PFD's and whistles on your website. Is Dechutes County more enlightened than here on the coast?). I've been surfing in Oregon for 43 years and boating longer than that and this is the first I've heard about any rule or policy like this. Your comments please.
Regards, David, Manzanita, Oregon

Hi David, This subject is like de-ja-vu all over again. We went through the same thing in the 80's with windsurfing. We windsurfed for years without PFDs and then someone decided that they should be required so they started enforcing it. Finally enough windsurfers complained to the marine board and maybe even the legislature and they changed the rule. I believe it states that anything considered a water toy and that you are on top of, opposed to sitting within, is exempt from the PFD rule. In Bend there are thousands of people floating down the Deschutes through downtown and the Old Mill district. City buses shuttle them back to the start. If they're on an air mattress, PFDs aren't required. If they're in a $10 toy raft PFD is required. Inner tubes are another grey area since your butt is in, however, technically you're on top since it has no floor. In the old windsurfing days, the ironic thing with the old PFD law is that you didn't have to actually wear the PFD, you just needed to have one "on board". We would bungee cord a PFD to the nose and be legal, which was absolutely ridiculous!

Real safety is a concern but this PFD requirement gets into a human rights and freedom issue like requiring adults to wear bike helmets. This helmet issue recently came up and was proposed to go to the legislature and was immediately squashed by a huge outcry in objection.

This is my opinion on safety and the PFD issue:

1. PFDs should not be required on standup paddle boards. They should be treated the same as surfboards, windsurfers, air mats, etc.
2. In open water with current or wind use a leash. When wearing a leash you are always tethered to a personal flotation device, the board! Every board has way more flotation than any Coast Guard approved PFD.
3. Respect the elements and water, assume risk, and use good judgment. Regardless of flotation, sh-- happens!
Randall Barna
standuppaddleflatwater.com

Building a Quiver of Boards

Dear Randall: I am looking for a SUP. I weigh 240# and am 5'10 tall. I surfed for 30+ years and was very good at it but have not been in water for several years. I am a little out of shape but up to the challenge. I am 58 years old. I am looking for a good paddling board that I can also surf smaller waves on. Some shops are saying I should get a 11'+ to 12' board. One guy showed me a 10'3" Lopez and told me that a 11' board was way too large and that the Lopez would suit me much better. He seemed to be experienced. The people selling the larger boards looked more like typical sales people... What are your thoughts? Thanks....John

John,
If you own a quiver of boards a 10'3" Lopez is definitely sweet. I'm also 58 yrs old and I have a Lopez SUP board, but I also have a 12' Ron House that I paddle every day on flatwater and an 11'6" Takayama Surftech that I surf most of the time. I pull out the Lopez when its glassy and fast. If you're building a quiver I recommend starting with the biggest board first. You'd be surprised by the capabilities of a 12' board in the surf and with a bigger board you have fewer unexpected falls and a much faster glide.

Another way of looking at my board quiver is that they're not just mine! My wife Cristina paddles the 11'6" Takayama and my daughter the 10'3" Lopez as their everyday paddlers. When we do get a rare trip to the beach, the surfs up and I often have my choice of the whole quiver!

If your heart's really set on the Lopez, I have a 10'3 Lopez in stock, its got a custom North Shore deck pad and goes for $1579. Plus freight down to San Diego. NO sales tax in Oregon! All the pricing is on the StandUpPaddleBend.com website.

Aloha --- Randall Barna

Buy paddles
Gloss and Soft top boards
Accessories like deck pads, surf leashes, board locks, etc.

Photos: Isabella, Cristina and Randall with our quiver of boards.
Jack Gillen with his quiver in Hawaii.

Jack Gillen with part of his quiver

Gorge Games Race: And the SUP Winners Were . . .

The 2008 Gorge Games Outrigger Canoe race was a big event. This July 18th, 19th and 20th the race included a Stand Up Paddle division. Read our earlier post with event details. Because this was the first year for Standups, and really an experiment for the Gorge Game organizers, events altered with the circumstances.

Randall Barna attended the race and sent back this report:
I had a blast paddling for three days in the glorious Gorge! All and all this is an event that can't be missed next year and in my opinion should be considered a Northwest Championship Standup Paddle Race!

The first day I teamed up with Michael Carpenter for the unofficial down-wind event. This isn't a race, but a gathering, where everyone arranges their own shuttle back and watches out for each other in case of emergency. I guess there's safety in numbers, and when you calculate all the risks in The Gorge you need to plan for anything: Wind, waves, current, barges, boats and obstacles. We went from Stevenson to Home Valley (about five miles). Winds were 20 mph and waves around waist high, what a blast! As first timers paddling in Gorge conditions we had no trouble, but definitely got schooled. The main thing I learned is how to judge the huge bends in the river. The one mile long bend around Wind Mountain is deceiving and kept pushing us to the northern shore. We had to paddle on the left side (without switching) for at least a half hour.

The next day (Saturday) Michael Carpenter, Al Paterson and I went out to test the race course and make sure we could handle the upwind legs. We had a great view of the 6 man outriggers racing and enjoyed the workout. We committed to do the race on Sunday.

Sunday, race day, was sunny and warmer with lighter winds in the 15mph range. It was exciting to line up at the start with all the outriggers and only seven Standups. We were doing one lap on the approximately three mile course and the outriggers were doing two. The two upwind legs (one at the start and one at the finish) seemed endless with a short break in between for the downwind. The fact that the current was going our way didn't seem to help much. This race is a true test of paddling technique and endurance. Also board design is a big factor in these conditions. The only Standup Paddler on a true race board was Dan Gavere and he finished in only 37:26 minutes a full sixteen minutes ahead of me! Everyone finished in less than an hour except for Michael Carpenter who had to drop out when his arms cramped.

The whole weekend was great for many reasons. The people are number one. The whole outrigger community is friendly and welcomed us standups with aloha! The venue at the Skamania Fairgrounds couldn't be better and the entry fee included free camping for the whole weekend. JD Davies ran the event, races and awards with skill and grace.

The 2008 Gorge Games Stand Up Paddle Race Winners:

Women: 1st Gold - Karen Wrenn (3rd overall! There were no other women.)














Men: 1st Dan Gavere; 2nd -Rick Graves; 3rd - Randall Barna;
4th - Al Paterson; 5th - Troy Butcher; dnf - Michael Carpenter
Dan Gavere, 1st Gold
Rick Graves, 2nd Silver
Randall Barna, 3rd Bronze

Thanks to Randall Barna for the photos and to the Gorge Games for the course map and event.

Buy your Gorge racing gear from Randall at www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Odell Lake Race 2008: And The SUP Winners Are. . .

Nine Standup Paddle Racers entered the Odell Lake 28th Annual Canoe Race last weekend (July 26, 2008). Blue skies overhead, old growth fir and pine edging the cool waters and a light wind set the tone for a great paddle race on Odell Lake, located on the Willamette Pass off of Hwy 58. Six miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Odell Lake is known for the big winds that regularly blow through most summer afternoons.

This race has divisions for canoes, surf skis, kayaks, outriggers and stand up paddlers, so bring all of your paddling friends. The race is a lot of fun. The course is 5 miles downwind, and at the end is a BBQ (additional fee - please support this effort by the lodge) on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. The race entry fee includes an official Odell Lodge Resort ball cap and a chase boat for those just-in-case situations.

Please come join in this race next summer. If you're traveling, there are clean Forest Service Campgrounds both on the lake or nearby, or stay at the Odell Lake Lodge Resort.
Read our earlier post for more pre-race details.Remember that you can get your Stand up Paddle gear (maybe even FASTER gear) at www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Here are the names of the SUP entrants and their finishes:

• Women: Judy Shasek, 1st; Cristina Acosta 2nd; Isabella Barna 3rd; Marcy Boren

• Men: Jason Bowerman 1st and 1st Overall SUP; Michael Heidenreich 2nd; Randall Barna 3rd; Eddy Miller; Ed Shasek
  

Thanks to Anne Miller for the Photos.
In the top photo with all of the boards, the racers are L to R:
Marcy Boren, Jason Bowerman, Michael Heidenreich, Isabella Acosta Barna, Cristina Acosta, Randall Barna, Ed Shasek, Eddy Miller, Judy Shasek.

Standup Paddle Board Construction

Hi Randall, I have a couple of questions. The Ron House and Lopez has a fiberglass coating. Should I be worried about the gunnels (rails) getting beat up from the paddle? Why are sandwich boards shunned by surfers?


There is validity to both construction methods. Even if a new technology is better, it doesn't always mean that people will adopt something new if the old way works "well enough". Surfers are often depicted as wild renegades but actually they are quite conservative and resist change when it comes to their boards.

With traditional surfboard construction the board feels solid under your feet and you feel the water texture as you ride along. Sandwich construction feels hollow and less connected with the water.

Other than the traditional "feel" there are many advantages to the sandwich construction and many top surfers have embraced them. These boards are more resistanst to dings and are duplicated very exactly from board to board. If a pro surfer loses a board on the airlines they can get another at a local shop and it's the same board.

Because traditional surfers are used to traditional fiberglass boards, they have developed the habit of treating their boards carefully so that they don't get too many dings in the fiberglass. I put Paddle Guard edge-guard on the paddle blade edges to avoid paddle dings. If you do get dings, surfers also know how to patch them. It's a high-maintenance thing if you're not a surfer.

Most people new to standup paddling, with no experience in surfboard ownership, should get a sandwich construction board such as our Surftech-Lairds, Takayamas, and Infinitys. Also, Pacificos and Amundson Aquaglides.

Check out the Stand Up Paddle gear that's right for you at http://standuppaddlebend.com/Standuppaddlebend/Standup_Gear/

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

Learn to SUP surf at age 40, 50, 60. . . .

If you've ever dreamed of surfing but thought that maybe you were just a tad too old to go through the tough learning curve, give Standup Paddling a try. Surfing is one of those sports with the reputation of being only for young(er) people. Most of the older surfers have been at the sport for many years and have the skills to make up for any slow spots in their joints.

I had my first surf lessons last summer in Tofino, Canada at Surf Junction. At age 47, though generally athletic, I'd never surfed. Growing up in the small Southern Californian hamlet of Playa del Rey, I spent a lot of time playing in the water, so I had some level of familiarity with ocean waves. Nonetheless, my first time on my standup SUP board in the ocean waves I was freaked. Standing and surfing on a wave seemed almost impossible at first, then I caught my first wave. I was standing in waist deep water with a Laird 12'1". I jumped on, paddled and caught a wave. I glided into shore, the wave foam somewhere around my ankles. I was so stoked!! Compared to regular surfing, it was much less work for a ride. Within the hour I was regularly catching little waves. I was hooked!

And, as is my way -- my enthusiasm bubbled over. My friend, Judy Shasek tried my board last summer at the South Jetty in Newport, Oregon and got just as hooked. Here's a photo of Judy this July in Pacific City, Oregon. She's all focus on the wave. She's also a lot of fun. I asked her to share her thoughts about surfing and aging. Here's what she had to say:

"From the Summer of 1966 through most of 1968, Ed and I surfed every day we could at Hollywood beach FL. Our BIG WAVE DAYS were in the 2-3 foot range and we mostly had chop, never long lines or well formed waves. We transitioned to Hobie Cat sailing to catch waves and eventually switched to sailing, with some windsurfing when the kids were growing up. To re-discover surfing 40 years later – with good waves – is amazing. We feel very much the same as we did waaaay back in 1968 and are loving the experience of west coast surf. Being older – zoning in on age 60 next year – is a non-event in this surfing process. If you love the ocean, love the exhilaration of speeding over water, and simply have a ton of fun with very cool paddling/surfing friends then the surf experience is awesome at any age. Celebrating our recent 38th anniversary by catching some of our first Oregon Coast waves will go down as a favorite memory."

This month my friend Gary Yoder (age 54) was surfing with us in Crescent City, California on the North Coast. He recently bought a 9'6" Surftech Soft Top and was learning to surf for the first time ever. He hadn't been out much more than a time or two, so he was a beginner. I convinced him to trade me time on a Laird 12'1". (I thought it'd be fun to try traditional surfing.) By his second hour of board time on the Laird, Gary was regularly catching waves!

As for the traditional surfing, it's too much work. I'm back on my Standup, a Takayama 11'6. I LOVE that board. At first, I fell off it a lot in chop, but by the 2nd day I was much steadier. The Takayama picks up waves so easily. When my husband, Randall Barna rides it, he carves shoulder high waves with ease.

The first time I did Stand up Paddling last summer on flat water, my feet were practically frozen to the deck (but, I didn't fall in). Now, I'm practicing moves on the flatwater and every month or so getting a couple days at the beach to SUP surf. With less time in my schedule and tolerating less of a margin for the physical abuse learning a new sport often entails, Standup Paddling has opened a new world for my friends and me. See you out there!!!



Photos: 1. Judy Shasek on the wave. 2. Gary Yoder 3. Cristina Acosta (red hat) on a wave 4. Cristina Acosta and Gary Yoder on the Beach. Thanks to Ed Shasek and Katy Yoder for the photos.
Contact Randall and Get the Standup Paddle Gear that's right for you. Email him at randall@footform.com or 541-389-4547

Do You Need to Demo a SUP Board?

Different industries have different protocols regarding the "try-before-you-buy" philosophy. In the surf industry the short answer to the question -- "Can I demo a board?" is "No." If a person wants to try the sport, they rent equipment or borrow something from a friend.

Purchasing a board you have no experience with can be a bit daunting. The tradition in surfing is to rely on the reputation of the shaper and to get very good advice during the sales process. Buying a board on price alone is not the best choice. In many cases, purchasing a stand up paddle board on price alone may leave you with a board all wrong for you and your experience of the sport will be off to a bad start. And, if you're near the beginner end of the spectrum, you really won't know if the SUP board is good or not when you paddle -- you don't have the experience and skills to judge the board.

So how do you decide which Stand Up Paddle Surfboard to buy? Here are some ideas:

• Buy boards shaped by reknowned shapers like Gerry Lopez, Ron House, Donald Takayama, etc. If you buy a "generic" board, do so only on the advice of an experienced salesperson.
  
• Identify the conditions in which you will most use the board and discuss them with the sales person. For example - flatwater, surf, river running, racing flatwater, combination boards, etc. Randall wrote about board size, read more.
• Be clear about your expectations. Don't buy a gloss board if you're going to let the kids and dog play on it and you tend to freak out when you see a mess of scratches.
• Don't buy a board for specific conditions that you'll rarely be in just because it's cool. Shorter SUP boards are designed for the short amount of time they are powered on a wave. They are inherently unstable in flat water.
• For women, Randall wrote a list of ideas on women friendly SUP boards.
• Read more of our gear blog suggestions at About Gear.
• On our StandupPaddleFlatwater.com website we have lists of boards divided by size and gloss/soft-top categories.

You can trust Randall Barna to sell you the best board for your needs. And, we can ship most anywhere in the U.S. http://www.standuppaddlebend.com/

If you live in Bend, Oregon, the Deschutes river a great place to SUP paddle! Get a great workout going upriver or plan a shuttle with your friends and take your time floating the gorgeous and serene sections of the Deschutes River 15 miles south of Bend, Oregon. Contact Randall at 541-389-4547 to buy a waterproof Paddle Trail Alliance Map of the Deschutes River. It's only $15.00 and full of great info about the put-in and take-out river spots, any portages around hazards like log jams and waterfalls.

If you're wondering why Randall is standing by his van with bison in the background, read more.

Event: The Rogue Gathering, Newport, Oregon Sept. 6th & 7, 2008

(Click Here for RESULTS for the 6th Annual Rogue Gathering Surf Contest)

Surfing and beer (in that order) are a natural combo. And in the Pacific Northwest, the land of great beer, it's only natural that a brewery would sponsor a surf contest. If you're a fan of either, we recommend you show up for the Rogue Gathering surf contest sponsored by the Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon. Even if you're not a surfer, the beach scene is fun, and the Rogue Brewery will be on the beach serving refreshments and food.

Randall Barna and Peter Miller entered last year (2007), the first year for a Standup Paddle class. Peter is holding up 2 trophies because he's an awesome guy and entered (and won) in both the Longboard and SUP classes. The weekend was sunny and in the 80's (not always the case)! Hope to see you there!!

The Rogue Gathering - Sponsored by the Rogue Brewery
When: Sept. 6, 7, 2008, 7 A.M. start both days. Check in Sept. 5th.
Where: Newport, Oregon
Check in at the Rogue Brewery, Friday 6 -7 pm, Sept. 5th, below the Yaquina Bay Bridge at the Port of Newport, South Beach Marina. 2320 OSU Drive, Newport, OR
Contact info: 541-961-0142 email: stacey@rogue.com
Registration: is Limited. NO Beach entries, Aug. 20th DEADLINE, no exceptions.
What Else: Contestants receive t-shirt and other gifts. The trophies are hand made with beautiful images.
Where to Camp: South Beach State Park, South of the Jetty,
Oregon Parks and Rec Dept., 800-452-5687 www.oregonstateparks.org
The campground is paved roads with bathrooms and showers and is very clean. Walk from the campground and over the sand dune and you are on the beach by the contest venue. Ask for a site near the 1/3 mile trail near the "C" Loop to the South Jetty. This is a busy weekend, so don't wait too long to reserve a spot.

Get your gear at StandupPaddleBend.com

Pacific City - Surfing SUP

The familiarity you develop with your Standup Paddle surf board on flat water is a big head start if you decide to learn to ocean surf (or switch from long or short-board surfing to SUP).

The Bend, Oregon, Stand up Paddle community is a fun-loving bunch -- and they love to travel. Here are some photos Judy Shasek sent from a recent trip to Pacific City (Cape Kiwanda), Oregon, (about a 4 hour drive from Bend, OR).

Pacific City has a wide beach and cars are allowed to park on the sand in front of and to the north of the Pelican Brew Pub. If you don't want to walk with your board like Paul VanCamp is with his Big Board Schlepper, you can drive your car onto the beach like Ed Shasek. Judy is a new SUP surfer. I love the attitude she's got on for her photo, crouched down and ready for action!!

Note from Judy Shasek: "I got some of the coolest rides of my life and thank you ALL for the SUP support from my first shaky day on the river. Ed scored some rides and turns – so did Peter and Suzie and Paul. We enjoyed pure sunshine on Sat and enjoyed 4/5 neoprene on 55 degrees and foggy Sunday – yet both days the waves were small but fun!"
We've blogged about Pacific City before. For details about where to stay, Read More.

Get your Standup gear on our website. You may already have a board and want to add another for specific types of paddling. Randall Barna can tell you the best gear to buy for your conditions and skills whether you're a flat water to surf paddler, or mostly a flatwater paddler.
Photos of paddlers include Susie Miller (green on wetsuit), Ed Shasek, Judy Shasek and Paul Van Camp.

Event: Noll Longboard Classic, Oct. 4th, 5th 2008

A long, gentle slope and sandy bottom makes for great long board waves. Combine that with the renowned sunny autumn days on the California North Coast and the conditions for a surf contest are half-way perfect (the ocean can be overhead or knee-high, each year it's different). Noll Surf and Skate, owned by Rhyn Noll, the renowned shaper and son of Greg "The Bull" Noll, debuted the annual Noll Longboard Classic in 1996 in Crescent City, California.

Members of our local Standup Paddle Bend community are heading to the beach for this years' Noll Longboard Classic contest which will include a stand up surf category. There is no age limit and a division for every age group. If you're going to bring a surfboard, it has to be 9ft or longer - not a problem for the SUP crowd. They encourage beginners to join, so a few of us beginner SUP women are going to give it a try. (That should be an interesting blog!)

Here are the particulars. For more info, go the Noll Surf and Skate website.

• When: October 4th & 5th, 2008
• Where: Crescent City, California
• Cost: $40. includes a t-shirt and goody bag. Late entries are $45.00, but you take a chance that your division will be filled.
• Who to Contact: Noll Surf & Skate 707-465-4400
  

We just spent 5 wonderful days in Crescent City and checked out places to stay and eat. The waves near the jetty were small and perfect for beginners. Randall and the other experts paddled south a hundred yards or so for bigger waves. The largest waves were in front of the Crescent Beach Motel.

Places to stay:

• Harbor RV: 707-464-1724, 159 Starfish Way, Crescent City, CA -- A paved, flat rv site with gravel central medians. Clean bathrooms and showers. It is across a paved road from the beach, and near a good restaurant, a diner and a surf shop. This is the nearest RV park to the surf break. It's not a beauty, but the management is nice, it's clean and the location can't be beat. You can take walks on the beach or down the jetty towards Whaler's Rock or the Harbor. Space numbers that are closest to the beach are 11 thru 19 (looking at the beach through the trees) or 1 - 10 (on Anchor Way looking across the harbor). They don't have a website.

• Anchor Beach Inn: 800-837-4116, 880 Hwy. 101 South, Crescent City, CA -- next door to the Harbor RV. It's a good place to stay if you want to socialize with your RV buddies. Check out the Anchor Beach Inn website for details.

• Crescent Beach Motel: 707-464-5436, 1455 Highway 101 South, Crescent City, CA -- about 1/2 mile from Harbor RV and the Anchor Beach Inn. This is the only hotel actually on the beach AND right in front of the contest surf break. The hotel looks clean (I didn't go into a room, just the lobby).

Places to eat:

Bistro Gardens, 707-464-5627, 110 Anchor Way, Crescent City, CA -- a short walk from the RV park and Anchor Beach Inn, this restaurant is owned by a restaurateur from Beverly Hills. The locals raved about it and the menu has something for everyone. I asked, and the server said they only saute in olive oil.

The Beachcomber Restaurant , 707-464-2205, 101 South Beach, Crescent City, CA -- next door to the Crescent Beach Motel: The vinyl sign outside says "voted best restaurant on the coast". I don't know what year that was. Five of us ordered meals and paid about $23. to $30.00 for dinners that included a foil wrapped baked potato and dehydrated chives alongside Texas toast. The tarter sauce had a clear yellowish glaze (the sheen that usually means the sauce was left too close to a heat source). When I inquired, the server had to check with the kitchen about the fry oil. They use the standard hydrogenated cooking oil. The sauces where uninteresting and the fish entrees were over-cooked (very dry). None of us liked our meals and considered the experience over-priced.

Need some new gear for the Standup Paddle Surf contest? Check out our website at www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Wood Standup Paddle Boards by Captain Sawdust

Imagine yourself paddling the pristine river on a natural wood board or surfing likeThe Duke on a wood plank. A beautiful moment out in Mother Nature on a handmade wood surf board might evoke visions of Duke Kahanamoku slicing through the waters of the Hawaiian archipelago. This dream can now be a reality. Captain Sawdust (aka Bob Jumper) of Bend, Oregon, puts nature and soul into his beautiful, handmade wooden standup paddleboards, a craft rooted in the Hawaiian tradition of wood surf boards.

Before he moved to Bend, the Captain lived and surfed on Kona for 20 years. Inspired by a lifetime love of wood and water, Captain Sawdust builds wood hollow cedar-stripped Stand Up Paddle boards. After building a cedar-stripped canoe and kayak, he began making SUP wood boards. The first SUP crafted by the Captain is a 10’6” board; he’s working on two 12’ boards that should be on the water by August.

The boards are hollow with an internal stringer and frames (think airplane wing). The cedar planks are milled down to 3/8 inch in thickness and glued together to form the deck and bottom. The rails are made of laminated cork. Once everything is put together and shaped, a layer of 6 oz. fiberglass cloth and multiple coats of epoxy are applied. Fine artisan touches distinguish each board so no two are the same; from the unique grain of the wood used to the custom koa or purpleheart tail block design.

Watch for the Captain on Friday afternoons on the Deschutes River or at Elk Lake this summer when the snow melts. Commission a board from him and your dream will become a reality. Contact the Captain at captsawdust@clearwire.net.

Buy stand up paddles and accessories for your board at

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

If you're traveling to Bend, Oregon to pick up you stand up paddle gear (Oregon doesn't have sales tax), buy from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com we appreciate your financial support. It helps us finance the blog.

When visiting Bend, Oregon and looking for places to paddle flatwater, be sure to read about our Places to Paddle Circa Bend, Oregon.

Heat and UV Damage to Your Board - It's in the Bag

UV light and heat can damage your surfboard and stand up paddle board. Don't worry about the exposure your board is getting when you're in the water. The usual UV protectants added to high quality surfboard clear coat resins are adequate for the typical gloss board. (Soft top board coverings are especially durable.) Most people have problems arise because of the way they are storing and transporting boards. The UV light isn't the only culprit, the heat of the sun can cause unforeseen issues.

Here are some tips to remember for safe transport and storage:

• Long trips on the top of your vehicle add up to hours of unrelenting sun exposure, purchase a board bag designed for travel. Not only will your board be protected from the sun, excessive heat and flying road gravel, you won't have to scrape dead bugs off your board before you can paddle.
  
• Do not wrap the board in plastic or bubble wrap -- The greenhouse effect created by the sun can cause the temperature to build up to a point that the board may delaminate.
• Store the board inside, under cover and dry. Big temperature fluctuations from hot to freezing temperatures (for those of us in the colder climes) stress the materials.
  

We sell board bags for your SUP for $180., $190., or $200. depending upon the length of your board. Check out our Accessories page on our website www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: In Bend, Oregon - Moon Paddle on Mirror Pond

Pam Stevenson recently sent out the invite for a moonlight paddle. The usual venue is in the High Cascade Lakes, but with this year's heavy snows and a cool Spring, Pam hosted the paddle warm-up party at her home on the Deschutes River. Paddlers of all types made the date and paddled on Mirror Pond, a damned part of the Deschutes River that is in the center of Bend, Oregon and edged with historic homes and city parks.

Judy Shasek sent in this picture. She's bundled up and dry. The white light spot on the right is the moon.

Thanks Judy and Pam! Send us your ideas for events or any events you'd like us to list. Summer is short -- let's paddle!

Get your Standup gear at www.StandupPaddleBend.com and get on the water -- you'll love it!

Event: Gorge Games Stand Up Paddle Race, July 18-20

New this year, the Gorge Games is including Standup Paddling. SUP racers will be grouped with the outrigger canoe paddlers. Though the focus is on outrigger, anyone that pays the entry fees can tag along and take advantage of the safety boats and other race infrastructure. Because this is the first year for this event, information isn't complete and things aren't planned to the inth degree. You can read more about the games on the Official Gorge Games website. And also on the Bend Outrigger site. Thanks to the Bend Outrigger site for the photo of the canoes. The Gorge is about 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive from Bend, Oregon.

When: July 18th, 19th and 20th
Where: Stevenson Fairgrounds on the waterfront in Stevenson, WA in The Gorge
Cost: $40 includes entry fee, paddle shirt, insurance and camping
Required: Life jackets and board leash

Standup Events at Stevenson Fairgrounds:

• Friday, July 18th, 1:00 p.m.: un-official downwind event. From Stevenson. . . . (we don't have more info, yet). Aprox 10 miles. Note: You MUST team with a partner for safety AND have a life jacket. There are No chase boats and the water is knarly.
  
• Saturday, July 19th (after completion of the team outrigger event is over. It begins at 11:00 a.m.): Standup paddle head-to-head, one-design race. Sponsors provide Laird boards and adjustable paddles so that all of the racers are on the same equipment. This is the first time for this race, so that's all we know.
• Sunday, July 20th, 9:00 a.m.: Up and downwind course race, 2.75 miles total.
  

We think this is going to be a super-fun thing to do this summer and urge everyone to come to the Gorge and join in this event. There were about 300 competitors last year. Let's get the standup group numbers up in this outstanding traditional outrigger event.

Note: photo of the Gorge at twilight is from the 3 Gorge net blog.

Stand up Journal - The Fire Inside Gerry Lopez

Standup Surf & Sail Journal is a must to add to your coffee table quiver of magazines. Each issue is a Photo journal rich with images and articles that are sure to add to the buzz that's building SUP into the next big worldwide sport.

Published by Clay Feeter, Standup Surf & Sail Journal features our local surf icon, Gerry Lopez. Gerry wrote the article, The Fire Within, on page 94. It's beautifully illustrated with photos including a portrait of Gerry with Kialoa paddle maker, Dave Chun (also from Bend, Oregon). Some of the local Paddlesurf Bend crew have their picture in a group shot with Gerry taken by Meg Chun on the shore of the Deschutes River near the Healy Bridge.

Gerry's article will whet your appetite for his new book, Surf is Where You Find It. We highly recommend this book.

SUP Bend Group (photo Meg Chun): L to R - Gerry Lopez, Isabella Barna, Mike McComb, Randall Barna, Dave Chun (red shirt), Dennis Oliphant, Jeremy McKelvey (farthest back), Peter Miller, Susie Miller