Whale Watching Up Close!

Dennis Oliphant is one of the founders of our original SUP paddling group in Bend, Oregon (he's 4th from the right and Mike McColms is the guy in the white tank top on our blog header photo). Dennis sent us these photos and story about SUP stand up paddling in Mexico:
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While in San Jose we spent a few days going out and paddling with the whales. A cow and calf had been out most mornings so I paddled out with Mike and Judy McColms to hung out with the pair as the past mornings we seemed to observe without much disturbance.

They were swimming around with us for about 30 minutes when the mom suddenly swam toward me and when just a few feet away she turned and dove. With her tail straight up in the air, she shook it twice (lobtailed) and slapped it just few feet from me. Boom!

The water shot into the air and I bounced around on the board and was totally immersed in water!! Mike got a couple of photos but missed most as he had sat his camera down on his board, still you can see the splash and how close the whitewater ring was to me and my board! I was just a few feet from the epicenter.

It was one of the most exciting experiences EVER! Her tail was about 10 feet across and I was looking right at it maybe 15 feet away. The strange photo with the paddle was when I was
covered/underwater. I tried to take the photo just as she lobtailed but theshutter was slow and I was just hanging on when the photo was taken. You can see the splash and turbulence in the underwater photo. A once in a life time experience!

See you on the water!
Best Regards,
Dennis Oliphant

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Harrison RV Park in the town of Harrison on the South East side of the lake, about an hour drive south from the town of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Harrison RV Park is on the waterfront, next to the town’s public marina. The Rails-to-Trails bike path called Trail of the Coeur D’Alenes borders the east side of the RV park. Lake Coeur d'Alene is 30 miles long and 1 to 3 miles wide.

RV Park info: The park isn’t big, so contact them regarding availability before making the drive. First come, first served “free” boat mooring for RV park campers. 208-689-3212 or 208-689-3393, cityofharrison@smgazette.com

Bike trail info: Coeur d’Alene Tribe Trail Manager, 208-686-7045. The trail is 73 miles of 10 foot wide asphalt that is perfect for the cyclist, walker or in-line skater. Certified handicap wheelchairs are allowed.

Bike Rental and Repair: Pedal Pushers, 208-689-3436. Open in the summer and some Spring and Fall hours. Call first.

This place is great! The town of Harrison numbers 267 citizens. The Harrison Trading Co. general store rents DVD’s and Ruby’s ice cream shop sells bathing suits. Founded in 1891 and past its heyday by the 1930’s the tiny town is filled with historic buildings, many of them shuttered. The RV Park is a minute walk into town where you can get an espresso, a banana split or a pub dinner in a town filled with friendly people.

Rent a bike or bring your own and ride on the paved Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. It's part of the Rails to Trails cycling complex. Travel south towards Plummer and you’ll ride along the river before crossing the only bridge over the lake, a 3,100 foot long railroad steel trestle bridge built in 1921. From the RV park it’s about 8 miles to the end of the bridge to Heyburn State Park, the Northwest’s oldest state park.

The lake is surrounded with low mountains and a forested shoreline that ranges from steep to shallow and marshy. We launched in the marina and headed north into the shallow marshlands. We turned into the wide mouth of the south fork of the Coeur d’Alene river and paddled upriver for 20 minutes. Head high bamboo-like grasses and shorter aquatic plants thickly trim the rivers edge. We saw turtles, bald eagles, bear sign, deer, rabbits and fish. The lake water is clear, though because of past land use practices the lake has heavy metal contaminants. Placards in the marina advise showers after being immersed in the lake. This doesn't put a damper on the locals as they seem to swim and boat regularly.

Photos: Isabella Barna riding the bridge trestle on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene. The view of the town of Harrison and including the RV Park (on right) & the boat dock on left. (From the jetty.)

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Fitness and Race Standup Paddle Boards

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Lake, Wyoming

Where: Wyoming. 25 miles north of the town of Jackson, WY and 12 miles south of Yellowstone National Park.

Where to launch: Many places on the lake are accessible. We launched at Colter Bay.
Contact Info: 307-543-2811. Colter Bay Visitor Center - 307-739-3594
Note: Purchase a boat permit at Bridge Bay. Price is $10.00 a week for each non-motorized craft. This permit is good for Yellowstone also (You’ll need an additional sticker (free) when you check in at the marinas on Yellowstone Lake.) Life jackets are required for all ages and all watercraft including windsurfers. Check with the Parks service for the most recent regulations.

On the west side of Jackson Lake the Grand Teton’s Mt. Moran juts straight out of the water and up 12,700 ft. The roughly 3 miles wide and 16 miles long expanse of water is garnished with small islands and many inlets teaming with wildlife. A mixed forest of pine and a few aspen with shrubs of willow and other plants edge the shoreline. The water is cold, clear and ranges from shallow shorelines to over 450 ft. deep. We saw bald eagles, many waterfowl and a family of otters. We paddled out of Colter Bay, though any of the marinas offer a great place to start. We like to paddle in mid-morning when the lake is glassy. We paddle towards the direction the wind will most likely originate from and adjust our course as needed. If the wind does pick up we surf the wind-chop back.

The weather can change very quickly. The glassy surface of a still morning can become whipped to white caps within 8 to 10 minutes. (This happened to us.) The wind-chop became swells within 30 minutes. High clouds on a sunny day can turn into a sudden mountain storm, complete with lightning and thunder. Jackson Lake supplies water for Idaho farm irrigation, so the water levels can vary year to year and within the season. Check with the marina staff for the weather report and current water levels.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: 25 miles from Bend, Oregon - Sparks Lake,

Judy Shasek Sparks Lake, Oregon SUP slideshow

Paddling Season: Memorial Day (late May) till early Fall. (Road is closed after first snows.)

Pristine views of the Cascade mountain range, clear shallow waters and intimate volcanic canyons spotted with wild flowers are a few of the reasons that Sparks Lake was one of Oregon's late Photographer Laureate Ray Atkeson's favorite places.

Inspired, Ed & Judy Shasek took these great photos of their SUP trip on Sparks Lake during a warm summer's day.

Sparks Lake is only about a 30-40 minute drive from Bend, Oregon, and about the same distance from the Sunriver Resort.

Our Local SUP group likes to go on a few outings together. If you'd like to suggest a trip (and help Randall and Cristina organize it), contact Randall at 541-380-4547 or Randall@Footform.com. Buy your Stand Up Paddle Gear from us -- we have boards and paddles that are perfect for our local waters and will work for you on the oregon coast as well - Call Randall.

Here's an excerpt of the U.S. Forest Service report on Sparks Lake:

The lake was formed about 10,000 years ago when lavas from the Mt. Bachelor Volcanic Chain blocked the upper Deschutes River. Sparks Lake is a large, shallow, trout lake located on the northwest edge of Mount Bachelor, and is the first of the high lakes you see from the Cascade Lakes Highway west of Bend. The views of South Sister, Mount Bachelor, and Broken Top are breathtaking. Prior to 1997, Sparks Lake was a brook trout fishery and, although brookies may still be available, the lake's featured species will be introduced cutthroat trout.

Sparks Lake covers 400 acres and has a maximum depth of 10 feet. Fascinating lava formations surround the lake. At several points along the shore, the lake's water disappears into the edges of the lava, producing exotic noises as the water drains out. The deepest area of the lake is the far south end.

Brook trout average 11 inches with a few to l 8 inches, but numbers are small. The main (northern) body of the lake is very shallow, and the extremely clear water requires long, light leaders and stealth.

A narrow channel about a half-mile long connects the north and south portions of the lake. Smaller fish are usually caught in the channel and larger fish in the lower lake. A 2.5-mile trail leading to the southern portion of the lake starts near the highway. This lower portion of the lake is almost completely surrounded by lava flows, making shore access difficult except by the trail. Sparks Lake is most easily accessed by boat.

Sparks Lake is open to fly angling only. Debarbing hooks helps reduce injuries to released fish. Streamers are frequently fished during the day and dry flies in the evenings, with bucktails and Mickey Finns popular for trolling. The brook trout often prefer the brighter colors of yellow and orange. Favorite patterns include tied-down Caddis in sizes 8 to 14X, Royal Wulffs, Royal Coachmen, Adams, and Humpys in sizes 12 to 18. Sometimes realistic nymphs are more effective. Mornings and late afternoons usually provide the best results, and during some late afternoons, there are often some good hatches.

At an elevation of 5,400 feet, access to Sparks Lake can be blocked by snow until quite late in the year, and like most of the high lakes, some of the very best fishing is right after ice-out. Some fly anglers will don snowshoes or skis in order to take advantage of early hungry trout.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

The Disciplines of Paddling by Dave Chun

Artisan paddle maker and owner of Kialoa Paddles (with wife, Meg Chun), Dave Chun wrote this piece to help make some sense of the variety of answers a person may get from the seemingly simple question, "What kind of SUP paddle should I get?"
We think Dave's paddles are wonderful. Buy a Kialoa paddle from us by calling Randall at 541-389-4547 or emailing him at Randall@Footform.com. Here's Dave's advice:

SUP Surfing:
Paddles used for surfing should be small. Surfers need quick short bursts of speed to catch waves, and small blades excel at this. Resistance is greatest on the surfboard when it is not moving, a common situation while waiting for a set. A small blade will allow for a high stroke rate and get the surfboard up to speed more quickly. The higher stroke rate facilitated by the smaller blade, also aides in balancing and maneuvering in the rough conditions associated with surfing. Performance surfboards are also getting smaller and less buoyant. Because these surfboards sink deeper in the water, they are inherently slower when paddling. As a general rule, the slower the watercraft, the smaller the blade. Good choices in the Kialoa line-up are the Methane, good for most surfers, or the Shaka Pu’u, if you are a big strong paddler like Mel Pu’u.

SUP Racing:
SUP race paddles should be chosen based on the length of the race, type of board, and fitness and strength of the athlete. In very short sprint races, a larger blade may be of benefit. Less paddle slip will occur with each paddle stroke, which in theory should translate into a more efficient transfer of energy. However, this must be balanced with fatigue. Race boards are faster than a pure surfboard, so this should allow for a larger blade. The most important factor in choosing a distance paddle is the physical condition of the athlete. Strong fit paddlers have greater potential for high hull speeds and can use larger blades. A good choice for long events and most mortals is the Methane. For general use by a fit experienced paddler, the Shaka Pu’u is excellent. (The Shaka Pu’u is the paddle that was used by Chuck Patterson, to win the $10,000. first place prize in the 2008 Rainbow Sandal “Battle of the Paddle”). For an aggressive downwind racer who is able to link swell after swell and prefers a larger blade, the Nalu can be a good choice. Water conditions (the board moves fastest when it is flat on the water and not bouncing up and down), wind direction, the conditioning of the athlete, and type of surfboard, are all “moving targets” when trying to pick the optimum blade. Just keep in mind; if you are moving more quickly, you can use a larger blade, if you are moving more slowly, you need a smaller blade.

Fitness paddling:
SUP Surfing and Racing are both great fitness activities, but there are a number of SUP paddlers who do not use their boards to surf or race. Fitness paddlers generally use boards which cross over from surfing. Because of this, we recommend that paddlers use equipment similar to that used in surfing; with the first choice for most paddlers being the Methane for women, and the Shaka Pu’u being a good choice if you are stronger and/or more fit.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Winter Paddling on the Potomac River

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

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

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

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

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

Aloha,

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

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Winter Standup Paddling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Standup Paddle Christmas

I got a Kialoa all-carbon paddle for Christmas two years ago. I hadn't even tried standup paddling but I was obsessed with it. I'd seen the first article about "beach boy paddling" in Surfers Journal and my friend and now the Kialoa Paddle sales rep Peter Miller had shown me his paddle on a surf trip several months earlier. He never got out and used it that weekend but even without seeing the action, I was hooked.

My wife Cristina called Meg at Kialoa and Meg hand delivered it to her studio in time for gifting. Of course there was two feet of snow on the ground, just like there is now, which brings me to the point of this story. The timing of Christmas sucks for standup paddlers. In all the cold- weather parts of the country our sport is forgotten at gift giving time. Its great for skiers and snowboarders, with all the snow, skiing and riding is all people think about at Christmas time. Of course, excepting crazies like me.

I wish we could initiate a gift-giving tradition on fourth of July weekend and then we could surprise our loved ones with SUP gifts. Start planning now and here's a few suggestions:
1. A paddle. (Its the first thing I got, the board came later)
2. A self inflating PFD. (they are small like a fanny pack and it's now the law)
3. A new board. (best gift in the world, makes you feel like a kid again)

Happy Holidays from Randall, Cristina and Isabella at StandupPaddleBend.com

Nelscott Reef Oregon

It looks like the Nelscott Reef pro surfing contest for 2008 had another epic swell! JB apologized for the photo quality, are you kidding? Although you can barely see the tiny surfer at the bottom it's the wave!

Congratulations to the surfers brave enough to go out there and escecially those that paddle-in.

I haven't heard of any standup paddlers in this wave yet. If so, send photos!

www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Standup Paddle Bend Open Challenge

Notice of Open Challenge Race for the Record.

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

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

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

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

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

Classes and Categories

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

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

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

Record Submissions

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

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

Randall Barna StandupPaddleBend.com

Halloween Costume SUP Paddle

Our local SUP group's first annual Halloween Costume Paddle on the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon was a chilly success. Deschutes River water temperatures in the 40's seemed friendlier when the sun poked through the clouds between squalls, and the winds made for a welcome workout for those of us who had already visited the candy bowl.

Everyone agreed that Lucy Thompson (the Jack Russel Terrier) in her strawberry costume was the cutest. She ran off before the paddle to sneak up on a local cat she regularly chases. Despite her strawberry disguise, the cat saw her coming and the chase was on. Lucy lost her "stem" in the tussle, but none of her attitude. Her "dad" Ron Thompson was a Predatory Lendor -- certainly the most politically appropriate costume of the paddle.

Paddlers from L - R:
Isabella Barna, John Weishaupt, Ron Thompson, Randall Barna and Cristina Acosta

Photos: Ron and Lucy dog are on a Laird 12'1" gloss stand up paddle board.

Thanks to Capt. Sawdust and Kathy Southwick for the photos.

NOTE: Put in at the Central Oregon Outrigger launch
(just south of the Colorado Bridge) to turn around after going under the Healy Bridge to return to the start. About 1 hour.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

14' Standup Paddle Boards - Racing & Touring

Take a look at a 14' foot paddle race boards and it challenges the usual definition of an SUP. Is this 14' long surfboard a watercraft, surfer, racer or adventure touring board? These SUP boards certainly have the heritage of a surfboard, like a giant "big gun," but the intention is open water and ocean racing and touring. In the old days surf contests were all about prone paddling, so now the sport is returning to it's island roots. Then, the fastest glide and speed would get you between islands and to next surf break before the tide turned. I can't wait to paddle one of these beauties!

The legendary paddle board shaper, Joe Bark has shaped a new 14' stand up paddle board racing / touring design for Surftech and it will be available next spring. The above flyer has the information and specs. The boards have a glossy white bottom and yellow or red decks.

The trend in SUP paddles has been towards the smaller blade (depending on your stand up paddle board speed). Pair this board with the Kialoa Shaka Pu'u paddle. For women paddlers or small (less muscular) men paddlers, I suggest you buy the Kialoa Methane paddle.

Another good reason to buy  your racing SUP boards at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater in Bend, Oregon is because Oregon doesn't have sales tax. To be guaranteed to get a Joe Bark Expedition 14', let me know now so I can set one aside for you.

Call me: 541-389-4547
www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

SUPs and PFDs

This is a follow-up to my post August 12,'08 "Hassled About PFD?"

The US Coast Guard recently made a determination:

"Based on the information available, the Coast Guard has determined that, when beyond the narrow limits of a swimming, surfing or bathing area, the device known as a "paddleboard" is a vessel under 46 U.S.C. 2101, and therefore subject to applicable regulations administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and its Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, unless specificallly exempted."

In essence, if the paddleboard is being used for transport on lakes, bays, or rivers, a PFD is required.

I guess we're responsible for national policy on this. I doubt that
anyone making this decision has ever been on a paddleboard (maybe never
even seen one) and certainly didn't get any input from the paddling
community. If so, the paddlers could easily explain that the PFD
requirement will not increase the safety of the sport in most cases.
Granted, a paddler could get struck by lightning or hit-and-run by a
boat and knocked unconscious. But then, the PFD would only save them if
they were wearing it and the rule says it just needs to be on-board.
Paddleboards are unsinkable. A more common sense safety rule is to wear
a tether-leash attaching you to your board and this is widely practiced
without the need of regulation.

Paddleboarding is a healthy, low-impact and environmentally friendly new
sport. The enthusiasts do it because they are so un-encumbered by
standing on top of a board instead of sitting within a boat. The feeling
of freedom and experience of the outing is incomparable. Some paddlers
choose to wear PFD,s and my point is that it should be a choice. The
expectation is that it will not be required to have a PFD because
everybody knows a board is not a boat.

The reactions from the few people that were already warned by marine patrols were brought to my attention immediately, disbelieving, distasteful, even calling it harassment.

I'm requesting that the Board consider rule making and adopt rule
language to exempt "paddle boards" from the PFD requirement. I will be
glad to testify and could provide many others to testify if it would help.

Randall Barna

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com Thank you for purchasing your SUP gear from us. We appreciate your support.
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Surf Photographer Grant Myrdal's Beautiful Photos

Most all of us have cameras and take photos. Sometimes a photo is so good, we even surprise ourselves. But even then, the photos don't usually transcend the medium. Last month I went to Grant Myrdal's slide show presentation of his work including all types of work that we normally don't see of his. I was so blown away. His work has a mystical, transcendent beauty. What he can do with water is astounding. He doesn't use digital, he's still a film artist. Please take a moment to look at Grant's website. Along with his surf photos you'll see gorgeous landscapes including some of the Deschutes River in Oregon.

Grant is a famous surf photographer and an amazing artist. We are so lucky that Grant decided to move to Central Oregon. He set up a fantastic slide show September 3rd that was hosted by Pine Mountain Sports in Bend, Oregon. Here is a recent photo of his that was published in Surfer's Journal. Click here purchase Grant Myrdal's prints and see more of his work.


www.StandUpPaddleBend.com

Gerry Lopez Interview on SUP Surf Mag

Hometown hero, Gerry Lopez is interviewed about his elite Stand up Paddle event, Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle race. It's a great interview with Barrett Tester and Gerry Lopez on SUP Surf Mag.com Here's the link to the page with the interview.

Gerry has a lot to say about the resurgence of SUP as a exciting sport. He has a lot to say about standup paddling as well as mentioning our local Stand Up Paddle Bend group of river and lake paddlers. Thanks for the mention, Gerry! One thing Gerry said that was news to me was this bit about the history of surfing: "Surfing contests in the beginning were all paddle races and they evolved into what people see now with people riding waves. . ." Lopez explained that this SUP contest is not the average "surf" contest. "We could have a wave contest, but a race would be a lot more fun and easy for the people watching it to understand."

The Battle of the Paddle event includes a $25,000. purse. That's enough to motivate a fitness program! Maybe we'll see some of our local group at a race like this next year!

Randall is ordering 14 foot Joe Bark SUP race boards and getting them in stock. Let him know if you want to order one. 541-389-4547

www.StandUpPaddleBend.com

Riding River Whitewater Standup Paddle Surfing

Greg "Suggs" Miller, the Director of the Potomac Board Rats, a Washington D.C. based SUP group sent us this note:

We now have a video on our potomacboardrats.org site. Check it out and if you want to put it on your site, you can.
We are getting a lot of attention from out kayak friends. We always offer to let them try it. Some do and think it's awesome, even if they struggle at it.
Do you or your SUP pals use leashes for your boards and paddles?
If we fall and loose our boards and paddles, it can be a long and dangerous swim for the gear. I have been lucky so far. Cobra wore a short leash today and got a bit tangled up, but also said it saved him a retrieve ordeal.

Hope all is good out West,

Greg"Suggs"Miller
potomacboardrats.org
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Well, Suggs, members of our local Standup Paddle Bend group have been having discussions about using a leash on whitewater. I got mine caught around a submerged tree branch on calm flat water and with one paddle-stroke sent myself slamming face first into my glossy Takayama board. I'm ambivalent about wearing a leash in the river, and tend not to. Randall said that "telephone cord" style leashes are available now to keep the leash mostly on the deck of the board, rather than dangling. We'd love to hear any reader's ideas and experiences with leashes on rivers.

Noll Longboard Classic SUP Event Storms-On

The first-hand report from Peter Miller is that the SUP class of the Noll Longboard Classic was held Oct. 4th 2008 as scheduled. The unpredictable part was the weather and surf. Earlier in the week the surf forecast was for a 25' swell at 16 sec. interval! As the week progressed the swell dropped and the weather set-in.

Friday morning was raining sideways with the strong winds buffeting South Beach, the normal contest site. The standup event was moved to the sheltered side of Pt. St George where the wind was offshore and waves around shoulder-high. The surf was fairly smooth considering the storm seas on the other side of the point.

Results of the top seven as follows: Rhyn Noll, Ken Wilson, Jeff Corning, Spike Richardson, Ollie Richardson, Luke Matheson, Peter Miller. For the complete story check out the link to the local paper: http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=10366

www.StandupPaddleBend.com

Stinky Bootie Solution

I thought something had died under the seats in our van. The smell was vaguely sweet, slightly meaty and fetid. I looked everywhere, and finally had to resort to cleaning out the vehicle. Starting with the spaces under the front seats I looked for the culprit and found nothing but a few ice cream sticks and a baggie full of last week's baby carrots. (Hey -- I thought my kid was eating her vegetables!)

I moved aside a pile of SUP gear to look under the floor mat and then I found it. The smell was terribly strong. And worse, it was coming from the wetsuit booties! I envisioned the gushy corpse of a mouse that had crawled into the booties and died. I shook the booties over the bushes near where we had parked, but nothing came out. Then, I did what any woman does in this situation, I gave the reeking footwear to the nearest man.

Randall didn't blink or even sniff. His face barely moved except for the slight smile he always gets when I'm grossed out about something like big spiders or dead mice. It was time to up the drama. "R a n d a l l, I think there's something dead in the wetsuit booties," I said.

"Oh, that smell?" He finally said, "Don't worry about it, I've been putting the booties in the board bag on top of the car so you wouldn't notice."

Ok -- Here's how it works for any other guys thinking that a board bag is the solution to stinky booties. I did notice. I just didn't say anything because I figured his feet are far from his head and as long as he stands on his board, I'm not close enough to care.

Then Randall hit me with the big news. "It's OK Honey, I couldn't get the smell out of your booties with wetsuit soap, but I have another idea that I'm sure will work."

My wetsuit booties?? How could that be? My feet don't stink. Really.

Then I looked carefully at the booties and it was true. They were mine. Dang it.

I headed for the bleach but Randall cut me off at the pass. I guess neoprene and bleach aren't a good combo. He did have a solution and it worked, Dawn Dishwashing liquid. He swirled a few drops into the booties full of hot water, rinsed and put the boots in the sun to dry.

What a guy!
______________________________________________
Get your SUP gear from Randall at www.StandUpPaddleBend.com. You'll find Dawn Dishwashing liquid on the soap aisle of most grocery stores.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

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