Three Reasons Standup Paddling is Big in Bend, Oregon

Whats going on in Bend, Oregon to create such a standup paddle attraction? Paddle boarders are seen everyday on the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District. (And ending up in tourist's photos). Trips to the different Cascade Lakes like Elk Lake, Hosmer Lake, Cultus Lake, Sparks Lake and others (all within an hour of Bend, Oregon) are easy to do and a great way to hang with friends while you get a great workout. Here's why I think Bend, Oregon is only going to get more popular as a stand up paddle boarding destination:

1. The dignitaries, Gerry Lopez Surfboards and Kialoa Paddles call this place home.

2. The places to paddle. In town we have the huge gathering spot to see and be seen paddling the Deschutes river through the Old Mill District. It's a beautiful 3 mile loop and daily workout. Fifteen minutes upstream on the Cascade Lakes Highway we have two stretches of wilderness paddling, one 3.5 mile loop and the other a 4.5 mile loop. In another direction fifteen minutes south of Bend on Hwy 97 we access 35 miles of the Deschutes river flatwater with easy access to many take-outs and car shuttles. The natural scenery, flora and fauna are amazing. The Cascades Lakes Hwy is a National Scenic Byway, also known as Century Drive, a 100 mile loop with nine lakes that are notable for standup paddling. Everything from moonlight mirror to big wave downwinders.

3. The people. Bend is full of athletes and endorphine junkies. Everyone lives here because they love it, not just because. They care for the environment and are always looking for a way to enjoy nature without motors. And we're a very friendly bunch!

Come to Bend, Oregon for your summer SUP paddle boarding vacation. Drop by to join our Friday 4:30 paddle at the Bend River Outrigger Club grassy area (on the South side of the Colorado Bridge). You'll meet new friends and get the best local knowledge about where to paddle that week. And buy a Deschutes Paddle Trail River Guide and you'll have the best paddle trip information at your fingertips.

See you on the water!

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

Jack Gillen's New Video Trailer for Wave Chi Hawaiian Clubs

Jack Gillen, owner of www.WaveChi.com, is a teacher, thinker, athlete and entrepreneur living in Kona, Hawaii. He helped us get our local Bend, Oregon crowd stoked on stand up paddle boarding a couple of years ago. We love Jack and are always fascinated by the places his curious intellect takes him. His latest enthusiasm is a training method combining ancient Indian Clubs (from the same country that brought us Yoga) and Hawaiian surf based movements in exercises that benefit stand up paddling and most any other sport where your arms and shoulders are getting worked.

Jack sells Wave Chi Hawaiian Surf Clubs you can order from him at canoe@hawaii.rr.com.

Take a look at Jack's video


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

Windsurfing on Elk Lake

Jerry Lear is one of the pioneer windsurfers in Central Oregon. He raced long boards for decades and was often king-of-the-lake. He sails regularly as soon as the high Cascade lakes open up for the season.

Elk Lake, is about a 35-40 minute drive from Bend, Oregon and though the Elk Lake Lodge is open year round, the lake and road are usually open from Memorial Day weekend til the first snows in the Fall. Typically the lake is flat in the morning and the winds kick in during the middle of the afternoon. Most windsurfing happens after 1 p.m. If you paddle and/or windsurf this lake, be sure to tuck some ice cream money in your board shorts and stop by the Elk Lake Lodge on the West side of the Lake (opposite Sunset Beach). The bouys are set up as a race course. It's fun to windsurf big boards or paddle.

Despite the snow patches that hang on the shore, Jerry is on the water. Here's his report from yesterday.
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I sailed at Elk Lake today. There are 6 buoys that I could locate as follows: 2 in Sunset Cove (one is the rock buoy). A buoy at about the usual location of the rock buoy. The upwind buoy which has moved a bit North and 2 buoys at the south end of the lake. I rigged in a thunder storm and sailed when it was over. I stayed out a bit too long and had to stay on the lake during much of the next T storm which was very dramatic with hail, rain and very close lightening. I could definitely smell the ozone in the air. Before I got off the lake I remembered the Bulletin article last week saying that any one individual has about 1/3000 chance of being hit by lightening during their lives. I thought that my chance while sailing in this storm might be a bit higherJ. Here is a question for the experts. What is the risk of a bad result from a lightning strike for a sailor with carbon fiber boom, mast and board but wearing rubber booties and gloves? Jerry
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www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
Thank you for buying your SUP and windsurf crossover gear from us, we appreciate your support.

Cleaning Up the River

Photo: Eddy Miller found some trash when he was paddling the Deschutes River and carried it for miles until he got to a public trash can. Way to go Eddy!! Thanks for setting such a great example!

Some people just don't get it. They throw something away and forget that "away" is just another way of saying "somewhere-else-other-than-next-to-me". And that attitude is really annoying when I'm on the water and see trash either floating, sunk or on the shoreline. Throwing anything into the water that isn't easily biodegradable (like your apple-core is) only results in pollution.

A side effect of getting on the water regularly, is that we are becoming more aware of water quality. Things that we never really paid much attention to before we stepped into the water regularly, like toxic algae blooms (a natural phenomenon on some of the Cascade Lakes) or agricultural water pollution (a big deal in the Columbia Gorge, Oregon) are now personally important.

And, considering the effects that Global Climate Change is having and predicted to have upon our planets fresh water systems and seas, becoming sensitive to water quality issues is important. Water purity and healthy freshwater rivers and lakes are fed from rain and snow. In North America (and other countries whose latitude puts it closer to the poles) global climate change is already resulting in changes to the snow pack.

This past winter 2009, our daughter Isabella competed in the Cross Country Skiing Junior Olympics, held in Truckee, California. Allison Gannet, founder of Save Our Snow Foundation spoke eloquently about the interconnection of the snow packs around the world and the effect on water. Take a moment to look at her site and learn about how to shrink your own carbon foot print. Shrinking your carbon foot print is a pro-active and personal way to support our water ways.

Stand up paddle boarding has not only changed our lives by being such fun and introducing us to cool and interesting people, standup paddling is awakening us to our intimate human connection with the water system. See you on the water!

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

How to Carry Your Stand Up Paddle Board

There's no way around it, stand up paddle boards are lunkers. Through out decades of making windsurfers, the holy grail of big board weight is to be under thirty pounds. That big board building technology has crossed over to SUP stand up board manufacturing.

Here's the thing about board weight. A short stand up paddle board is not the answer to getting a lightweight board that will work for you as well as be easy to carry. Short SUP boards are meant for surf wave riding and are not the best choice for flat water stand up paddling. They may be stable (due to width), but they aren't long enough to get the glide you need on flatwater.

If you're going to spend most of your time stand up paddling on lakes, rivers, and flat(ish) ocean (bays or in the Caribbean) you're going to want a board that is at least eleven feet long. And carrying that long board between your rig and the water or portaging it if you're on a river becomes more of a workout with every step.

There are five ways to carry your SUP stand up paddle surf board a significant distance by yourself:

• Shoulder Carry -- Bend your head to one side and balance the width of the stand up paddle board on your shoulder as it leans against your head. For some of us this too much of a kink in the neck.
• Head Carry -- Balance the deck of the paddle board on your head. Having the deck of the SUP pointing down to the earth is best for wind resistance. This is the best carry for one person if it's windy because you can keep the SUP paddle board sideways to the wind.
  
• Handle Carry -- Slot handles (included in most new SUP boards) or an after market attached handle we call the
  
  Easy Handle allow you to hold the standup paddle board against your side and under your arm. The slot handles require a lot of grip strength. The Easy Handle is much easier for long carries.
• Big Board Schlepper -- Shoulder strap-sling harness gives you both a easy way to carry your paddle board and paddle.
• Paddle Shaft Handle Carry-- Attach a tie down at the front and back of your paddle board and put a loop of rope in it. Starting with the handle end of the paddle, hook the paddle into the loops and use the shaft of the paddle to carry the SUP board.

Note: In high winds have 2 people carry each board, keeping the deck flat and facing the ground and the board low.

Of course, if it's too hard to carry your stand up paddle board alone (or you enjoy company) enlist the buddy system and share the load.

Photos: 1. Isabella Barna demonstrating the head carry and Ed Shasek demonstrating the shoulder carry while portaging their paddle boards around the Tetherow Log Jam on the Pringle Falls section of the Deschutes River, Oregon. Thanks Judy Shasek for this photo.
2. Randall Barna demonstrating a side carry and Isabella a head carry at the Oregon coast.

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

Coolers on Board

The guys in our very casual stand up paddle boarding group have taken casual to a new level, they now paddle board with coolers! This is a new thing for them. On the morning of our 35 mile paddle down the Deschutes River, Oregon, three of the four guys in our group showed up with coolers. It seems as though they simultaneously and independently came up with this brilliant idea (or none of them are taking credit for it).

They claim that to rest a tired back or nurse a shoulder injury, the cooler is a useful seat that coincidentally stores a six pack of beer. Though there were a few of us non-cooler carriers that may have smiled or made the occasional possibly snide inquiry about the coolers, by the 25th mile when the guys were sharing their beer and treats, we were all grateful for their ingenuity.

Here's a few things we learned about putting coolers on top of your stand up paddle board:

• Don't tie a strap around the bottom of the board. As slim as the strap may be, it creates too much drag.
• The cooler makes your board much more tippy when you sit on it.
• The cooler may require a second trip if you have to portage your paddle board.
• Though none of our guys or their coolers fell in during the 35 mile trip as they tested their cooler-on-board idea, it seems a good idea to get a cooler with a locking lid that floats.
• To strap your cooler to your board, be sure to order a set of attachment tie-downs for your stand up paddle surf board.

Note: Thank you Judy Shasek for the cooler photos

Cooler Guys: Eddy Miller, Al Paterson, Eddie Shasek

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

Time Change for Tomorrow's Deschutes River Trip!!

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

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

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

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

35 Mile Paddle from Pringle Falls to Benham Falls.

This weekend, May 30, 2009 several of us are talking about meeting and doing this 35 mile stand up paddle down the Deschutes River about a 30 minute drive south of Bend, Oregon. This is a buddy-system type of event. No one is in charge or responsible, (Just like many of our other events!) Anyone is welcome to paddle this stretch of the Deschutes river. This is not a paddle boarding adventure for the in-experienced or out-of-shape. You need to have developed some endurance. Even though it's a downstream paddle, you'll be standing a long time. Carry your own snacks and water and have an emergency plan if you think you need one.

It would be great if we had a volunteer to ferry our lunches and act as a sag wagon. If anybody wants to do that, let Randall know and he'll tell you the approximate times. His office number is 389-4547.

There are three take-out points along the way if you bonk or want to do only a portion of the paddle boarding trip.

The take-outs are: Lapine State Park, Big River Campground, and Harper Bridge.

35 Mile Stand Up Paddle from Pringle Falls to Benham Falls on the Deschutes River, Oregon.

• Date: May 30, 2009 (Saturday)
• Time: Meet at Benham falls takeout (Lava Lands turn-off from Hwy. 97) at 7:00 AM. to car-pool shuttle cars.
• Departure time: At Pringle falls 8:00 "ish" am
• Downriver paddle time: Expected to be 6-8 hours including breaks.
• First stretch- Pringle Falls to La Pine State Park 7.5 miles
• Second stretch- LaPine State Park to Big River 9.75 miles Stop here for Lunch
• Third Stretch- Big River to Harper Bridge 7.75 miles
• Fourth Stretch- Harper Bridge to Benham Falls takeout 9.5 miles

If you need a life jacket (now required), rubber edged safety fin (nice if you hit a rock) or tie-downs for your SUP (to stow gear), or a waterproof map of the Deschutes River Trail, check out our website, or call Randall at 541-388-5157 and arrange a time to pick up what you need for the paddle trip.

Note: Photo is of last years 10 mile Benham Falls trip. What a blast! Hope to see you there!

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

Stable Standup Paddleboards: Laird 12'1" and Amundson 11'6"

I paddle board all winter. My rule is to go winter paddling when its above freezing and no ice forms on the deck of my standup paddle board. I also have one rule - DON'T FALL IN.

Actually, the chance that you could fall off your paddle board at any time is one of the things that makes stand up paddling challenging and exciting. When the water is cold you don't want to get wet, particularly when hypothermia is a factor. This is when a very stable stand up board is important. Also, the more weight you put on a paddle board the less stable it is.

Two outstanding boards for stability are the Laird 12'1"Stand up Paddle board and the Amundson Aquaglide 11'6".

The Laird SUP board, shaped by Ron House, comes in two versions: The Soft top and the Glossy (free deck pad included). Both have the same stability. The Aquaglide Amundson, shaped by John Amundson, comes in a Soft top and is priced very comparably with the Laird Softtop. Both boards are an excellent choice so which one for you?

A combination of design factors make a SUP paddle board what it is and it's the reason to value a good board shaper. The length, width and thickness are only a starting point when considering SUP surf board design. For example, the Amundson is 7" shorter than the Laird yet it has a lot more volume and flotation.

I've paddled both of them many times and here's what I think of the two SUP boards. I rate the Laird SUP board slightly more stable than the Amundson 11' 6" on side-to-side tippiness. I rate the Amundson SUP board a lot more stable on the fore and aft trim. Fore and aft stability is less sensitive to your stance position and better for extras on-board like kids, dogs and stuff.

The disadvantage of fore and aft stability is that doing hot dog maneuvers where you sink the nose or tail takes more weight.

Both stand up boards have excellent glide and tracking so check them out at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com and buy one of these super stable stand up paddle boards -- you'll love being out on the water whatever the time of year.
Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com
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Fin Hits Rocks in Shallow Water

Hi - I normally SUP surf on Long Island, but also flatwater SUP on the Hudson River. This morning I took my stand up board to a local creek, but found that it was too shallow for my fin. Do you sell very shallow (short) fins? Or can you tell me how an SUP handles in flat water with no fin?
Interested in your thoughts.
Great to hear that Bend is a SUP meca. I lived in Vida, OR when I was a kid and went to Three Sisters, lava house, etc... love it up there.

Mark

Hi Mark,
The smaller the SUP fin the less tracking you will have. That's OK for maneuverability but not for going straight. If we're expecting to hit bottom a lot, we use the Super Flex Fin on our accessories page for $56. It's 9" and is also available in a 7" on special order for $52. Hitting rocks is no-problem with this fin, you'll barely notice.

Aloha, Randall Barna

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

We Ship Aquaglide Stand Up Paddle Boards!!

Big News! Aquaglides are available for shipping AND no tax in Oregon! This is your chance to get a great board for summer adventures.

Amundson 11'6" Soft Top -- VERY STABLE board.

Amundson 11'3" Soft Top -- Lightweight and maneuverable. All around paddle board for guys and girls.

Amundson 11' Soft Top -- Great board for women on flat water and guys in the surf.

Purchase your stand up paddleboard gear from us at http://www.standuppaddleflatwater.com/
We appreciate your support. Thanks!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Beginner Tips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater

• http://www.standuppaddleflatwater.com/
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Places to Paddle: 38 miles from Bend, Oregon - Hosmer Lake

Paddle Season: Memorial Day (end of May) to Late Fall

About 38 miles (50 minutes) from the heart of Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway.

Paddling Hosmer on a still early morning can be a religious experience. The lake is about 160 acres with a depth of 2 - 12 feet, mostly 2 smaller lakes connected by about a mile of channel.

The views are the usual beauties. The amazing view is looking down into the water. Light colored sand in the shallow channels is a contrasting background to the dark colored bodies of hundreds of landlocked Atlantic salmon, and trout. The channels are lined with cat tails, water lilies and other aquatic plants. Families of Otters and raptors including Osprey and Bald Eagles are the only fishers not doing the catch and release thing.

When you first park, you'll see what looks to be a small pond, and wonder why you drove so far. Suck down your latte and take your paddle board off the car, you're going to really like this. Launch your SUP and travel North into the channels. The only motors allowed are electric, so you mostly pass fly fishers in their float rings or on canoes. It's quiet. If the wind kicks up you can't see the fish, so get here early.

Thanks Judy Shasek for the photo.

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

Places to Paddle: 70 Miles from Bend, Oregon - Crescent Lake

Paddling Season: Spring, Summer, Late

Fall

About one and a half hours south of Bend about on Hwy. 58.

This lake has a ton of beach! The water is used for irrigation so late summer the water is down about 15'. Practically, that just means that there is more beach! You can get some distance stand-up paddling on this lake. It covers 4,008 acres and ranges from shallow to 258' deep. There is a lodge, camping and private homes on the lake. It's close to the tiny town of Crescent where you can stock up on picnic supplies.

In 1993 someone caught a 30 pound trout out of this lake. It's been awhile, so by now there must be a few more big trout. If you decide to try trolling off the back of your SUP, send us a photo.

Photos of Gunner Oliphant and Cole Ortega doubling up on the board.

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

SUP Windsurf Crossover Boards

Here's the deal about SUP Windsurf Crossover boards. Stand up and windsurfing are two entirely different sports. Windsurfing is very technical, and compared to SUP paddle boarding, very difficult to learn. You can learn to stand up paddle board in about 20 minutes. Becoming comfortable on a windsurf board may take an entire summer. To become an accomplished all around windsurfer can take years.

Many stand up paddle boards are designed to be windsurfed. You'll know that they are windsurfer SUP crossovers because you'll see a mast track on the center of the deck. It'll look like a 10"-12" slit.
Experienced windsurfers that want to SUP on both flat water and surf along with windsurfing their SUP board will find that Amundson Aquaglide paddle board is perfect for certain conditions:

• Small wave SUP surfing (head-high and below)
• When the winds are too strong for SUP.
• When the winds get really high you need to be on a short board. The window that these WIndsurf SUP crossover boards work is between approximately 8 to 18 mph.
• The SUP windsurf crossover boards on a lake are good for close reaches, beam reaches and broad reaches.
• Amundson Aquaglide SUP boards are great in surf.

When you purchase a stand up paddle board from Randall he will guide you to the gear that suits your needs.
PHOTO: Randall rippin' it up on the Pacifico Mistral on Lake Yellowstone, in Mary's Bay.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: In Bend, Oregon - Mirror Pond

Season: Year around. Can be iced over in the winter depending upon weather.

Weeping willows, Canada Geese and flocks of wild ducks looked on as Judy and Ed Shasek along with Al Paterson enjoyed their evening paddle in Mirror Pond in Bend, Oregon. Putting in at McKay Park they floated downstream and across Mirror Pond to the Newport Avenue Bridge.

Mostly shallow and slow-moving water on this stretch of the Deschutes River is damned at Newport Avenue by a very old and small hydro-electric dam. Drake Park on the East side and Harmon Park on the West side edge the pond along with some lovely vintage Bend, Oregon homes. The Galveston Avenue bridge (on the up-stream side of Mirror Pond) requires a crouch.
This is a lovely short paddle in the middle of the town of Bend, Oregon. During the summer Munch 'n Music concerts on Thursday evenings (July 10th thru Aug 14th, 5-8 p.m) you can listen to musicians and people watch at a safe distance from the crowds of thousands.

Thanks Ed, Judy and Al for the photos.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: 35 miles from Bend, Elk Lake

Elk Lake: On the Cascade Lakes Highway, Elev. 4,884
Paddle Season: Summer only. Highway is cleared of snow in May to open Memorial Day.

About 35 miles (45 minutes) from the heart of Bend, Elk Lake is a 480 acre lake approximately 70 feet deep. Motorcraft are limited to 10 miles per hour and personal watercraft (jet skis) are prohibited. Elk is the home of Oregon's 2nd oldest Yacht Club.

On the West side of the lake is a lodge with a small store and cafe and lodging. It's a great place to get an ice cream cone and look at the sailboats docked by the lodge. Neighboring the lodge to the South, is a USFS campground. Also on the south end is a very nice beach that tends to be out of the wind.

If you're windsurfing, put in at Sunset Beach (follow the Elk Lake Loop forest service road to Sunset View) to take advantage of the prevailing winds. The winds usually kick up in the afternoon and stop at sunset. Winds tend to be light and shifty. It's the perfect place for a early morning paddle and a simple breakfast at the cafe. Sunset Beach is the place many paddlers and windsurfers meet. We often have picnics and meals toasted over a campfire. See our Events page for our schedule of paddling and windsurfing events. During 2008, Sunset Beach was closed due to too many standing dead trees (due to beetle kill). Don't know yet if it will be open 2009.

There are usually a couple Standup Paddle Boards and Paddles at Elk Lake Lodge to rent. If that's your intent, call the Elk Lake Lodge before you go.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Places to Paddle: 48 Miles from Bend, Oregon, Cultus Lake

Cultus Lake: On the Cascade Lake Highway, Elev. 4,668

Paddling Season: Late Spring, Summer, Early Fall

Forty eight miles from Bend, Cultus is a good size lake (792 surface acres) with a mix of watercraft. Eighty to over 200' in depth, the water is cool and clear. In the morning it is often mirror smooth. There is not a lot of beach, so you may have to crowd in, especially at the beginning of the summer when the water level is high due to snow melt.

Fishers in powerboats and wake boarders stay to the middle of the lake and paddlers hug the shoreline. Most afternoons the winds pickup and windsurfers rig up. There is a little lodge with a restaurant and cabins and lots of camping. This is a favorite lake to stand up paddle surf behind a boat.

Photos: Gerry Lopez and Dennis Oliphant catching the endless inland wave from Dennis' boat.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Jack Gillen Shares the Stoke

Standup paddle season in Bend starts with a party. And Ed and Judy Shasek shared the aloha with the first party of the season at their home on the Deschutes River. We were lucky enough to get another visit from Jack Gillen, owner of Wave Chi Hawaii. Jack visited Bend last year and inspired our then-new paddling group with his stories of inter-island crossings. Jack recently returned and gave us an excuse to kick off our party season.

Jack talked to our local Bend, Oregon, Standup Paddle group about his physical conditioning and awarness business, Wave Chi Hawaii. It was a great time. Judy made her famous Florida-Style Pulled Pork and the rest of us added our potluck favorites.

Captain Sawdust shared his new handmade wood Stand up Paddles. Jack included a new physical fitness option for paddlers (or anybody using their arms and shoulders - all of us!) in his presentation. He demoed a few moves with Indian Clubs that are specific to paddling. You can contact Jack Gillen to order a pair of Indian Clubs. He's working on a video to share his Indian Club exercises.

Jack Gillen was recently featured with a 10 page article in Surf and Sail Standup Journal. If you live Bend, Oregon, stop by and see Randall to pick up a copy.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

1st Annual Deschutes Wooden Boat Gathering

Capt. Sawdust brings us the news of the 1st Annual Deschutes Wooden Boat Gathering on Capt. Sawdust's fine handmade wood-strip SUP stand up boards will be on display along with his new line of wooden paddles. Be among the first to see the Captain's craftsmanship and sample the new Silver Moon Brewery handcrafted beer, Trail Ale, made on location in Bend, Oregon by Silver Moon Brewery. Part of the proceeds from sales of Trail Ale go to the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance.

WHEN: Sat. May 2nd, 3:00PM to 6:00PM
WHERE: Alder Creek Kayak store - grassy area behind the store on the edge of the Deschutes River.
Bend Store
Phone: 541.317.9407
Address:
805 SW Industrial Way Suite 6
Bend, OR 97702

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Whitewater Slalom Event on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon

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

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

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

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

Places to Paddle: 60 miles from Bend, Oregon - Prineville Reservoir, Oregon

Paddling Season: Year Around (Not usually iced over in the winter)

Prineville Reservoir is about an hour drive from Bend, Oregon. Jerry Lear, a pioneer windsurfer in the Central Oregon area is well known for both his knowledge of the local lakes and his sailing ability. Jerry sent us this note and a Google map image with his windsurfing course mapped.
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April 6, 2009: Here is the image of my Prineville Reservoir sail today. It is only 9 miles but it took me almost 4 1/2 hours. The wind was east initially and switched to west at the dam. That, of course, caused a huge dead area between the east and west winds so it took a bit to get home - even got a rescue offer from a nice guy in a boat. Whole lake turned to mirror just after I got back so good to be home.

See you soon, Jerry
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NOTE: Prineville Reservoir is very popular with motorboats and jet skis, so unless you are on the water during the off-season, like Jerry (it can be VERY cold in April), you are usually going to be breathing a lot of engine exhaust. During the summer months, if you visit Bend, Oregon and are SUP Stand up Paddling, we recommend you stay to the Deschutes River and the High Cascade lakes that have 10 mph. limits. Check out our Places to Paddle titles for suggestions and stories about SUP standup paddling on the local central oregon high cascade lakes.

www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

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