Go Jack!

Honorary member of the Stand Up Paddle Flatwater family Jack Gillen is competing in the 14th annual Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race tomorrow, Sunday, July 25th.

A true SUP pioneer, Jack has crossed every major channel in the Hawaiian islands on an SUB and is responsible for introducing SUP to Stand Up Paddle Flatwater founder Randall Barna as well as many others.

Your friends in Bend are rooting for you, Jack!

Stand Up for a Clean River!

We’ve noticed quite a bit of litter lining the shores of the Deschutes lately, especially following the weekend… so we’re taking action!

Please join us on Monday night at 6.30 at Riverbend Park for an SUP Clean Up!

Let’s give back to the river that gives us so much – and have fun doing it. Enjoy stand up paddling with friends and stop to pick up litter along the way.

WHAT: SUP Clean Up

WHERE: Meet at Riverbend Park, 779 SW Columbia Street

WHEN: Monday, July 26^th, 6.30 p.m.

Rental stand up boards are available at Stand Up Paddle Bend.

Call 541.639.2655 to reserve one.

Group SUP Tonight

Join us for a group SUP tonight!

We’re meeting at 6.30 at "the beach" (Riverbend Park).

If you have any questions, please contact Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.

WHAT: Group Stand Up Paddle

WHEN: 6.30 tonight, Friday, June 23rd

WHERE: Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia Street

Rental SUBs are available at Stand Up Paddle Bend.

Call 541.639.2655 to reserve a board.

Full Moon SUP on the Deschutes River Tonight!

Watch the sun set and the moon rise while stand up paddling the Deschutes River tonight!

Join us for a full moon (or close to it) SUP! We’re meeting at 8.00 at Riverbend Park.

If you have any questions, please contact Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.

WHAT: Full Moon Paddle

WHEN: 8p.m. Tonight, Thursday, June 22^nd

WHERE: Riverbend Park

Bend’s Best SUP Spot

People are always asking us where the best place is to launch for a Deschutes River SUP. Our answer is always Riverbend Park (799 SW Columbia Street).

The sandy beach there has the vibe of a surf spot. It’s not uncommon to see an assortment of stand up boards lining the shore. The gentle slope makes it easy to carry boards to and from the water and provides plenty of room for several paddlers to launch at once. There aren't any rocks to navigate around or reeds to get tangled up in and it’s at a wide spot in the river so the current’s not too strong. The parking lot is nice and big and has a friendly atmosphere. In addition to the sandy beach, there’re also large grassy lawns to hang out on before and after paddling. Clean bathrooms are also located right there in the park.

Our favorite time to paddle is around 6.30 in the evening, when the heat's eased off a bit and most of the floaters have cleared out. It’s a very peaceful, rejuvenating way to end the day. Beavers and otters often pop up to say hi.

If you want a workout, warm up by going downstream first, then turn around near the Bend Outrigger Canoe Club (well before the spillway) and paddle upstream to Healy Bridge, then turn around and cool down by paddling (or floating) back to Riverbend. Another option is to just paddle up to Healy Bridge and back as many times as you wish.

We’re there almost every night and often bring extra boards for people to try. There’s no need to wait for a designated night to paddle, just show up at the spot and you’re very likely to meet fellow SUPers to paddle with.

See you at the “beach”!

Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race

The annual Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race takes place this Sunday, July 25th. Considered by many to be the world championship of paddleboard racing, the event includes both SUP and prone paddleboarding champions from around the world. The athletes' skills will be tested by the 32-mile crossing of the Ka'iwi Channel. At its deepest point the channel is over 2300 feet deep. This creates a funnel effect that shoots billions of gallons of seawater between the islands each hour. Combine this with trade winds and the channel creates seas that can range anywhere from 8 feet to 15 feet on an average day and upwards of 20 feet on an extreme day. Because of the danger the Ka'iwi presents, each athlete is required to have an escort boat and support crew to accompany them across the channel. The first stand up paddleboard and prone paddleboard athletes across the channel will be crowned champions.

For more information, visit the Molokai2Oahu website.

Stand Up Featured in the New York Times & Wall Street Journal Today!

Today's editions of both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal featured prominent articles about the explosive growth of stand up paddling. The New York Times article focuses on Bend, Oregon local Gerry Lopez and includes a picture of the surfing icon stand up paddling on the Deschutes River right here in town.

Check out the articles by clicking the links above.

Find all your SUP gear at:

SUP Group Update!

In response to feedback, the Friday SUP group will meet at 6.30 instead of 4.30 at Riverbend Park today, to accommodate for those of you who work until 5.00. As a bonus, this way we may be able to listen to the Steve Miller band while we paddle! Again, if you have any questions, please email Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.

We hope the last minute change doesn't inconvenience anyone and, of course, you're more than welcome to do your own thing!

New Launching Spot for Weekly Friday Group SUP!

The weekly Friday SUP group will start at Riverbend Park, today, Friday, June 16th at 4.30 pm.

We'll paddle downstream to Bend Outrigger Canoes (the usual put-in spot), then turn around and go upstream to Bill Healy Bridge, then turn around and go downstream to where we started. Riverbend Park is where the new Parks and Recs building is. The "beach" there provides a nice, easy place for several paddlers to launch at once.

Let's see if we like this new route. Your feedback is welcome.

The weekly group SUP is a great opportunity to socialize and exchange tips and techniques with fellow paddlers.

Hope to see you all there! Please email Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com if you have questions.

Stand Up Paddle Bend Shop-warming Party

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate the opening of the Pacific Northwest's only dedicated SUP shop!

Results of the First Official King & Queen of the Lake Paddle Race

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the first official King & Queen of the Lake race at Elk Lake on Sunday. Click here to see the results!

King & Queen of the Lake Race Series

The first official race in the King & Queen of the Lake Race series at Elk Lake takes place tomorrow (Sunday, July 11th). Registration begins at 9.30 am.

We had a great turn out for the practice race last week and have heard even more stand up paddlers are planning to come tomorrow!

For more information, check out the flyer.

The King & Queen of the Lake race series is sponsored by:

Stand Up Paddle Bend Grand Opening

Stand Up Paddle Bend is hosting a shop-warming party on Tuesday, July 13th from 4pm to 8pm in conjunction with the Mill Quarter Design District's Annual Block Party.

Come on in and check out our new digs! We'll be offering refreshments and discount coupons.

We're located at:

The Old Mill Market Place

550 SW Industrial Way, #115

Bend, Oregon 97702.

View Larger Map

Odell Lake Pioneer Cup

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup! The Pioneer Cup started as a canoe race and now also includes almost every other paddle-powered craft you could think of. Stand Up Paddle Flatwater founder Randall Barna convinced the race organizers to add stand up paddle boards in 2007.

The race is a five mile down-winder from the Shelter Cove Resort at the west end of the lake to Odell Lake Lodge at the east end. A barbecue is offered after the race on the deck at the historic Odell Lake Lodge. All entrants will receive T-shirts.

The Pioneer Cup is a great race for first-time racers as well as seasoned athletes. It's a nonintimidating, nonhazardous course that goes straight downwind so even if you just stand there, you'll eventually blow to the finish line! And if you're an experienced stand up paddler, you'll enjoy the challenge of competing against other skilled contestants.

If you want to stay overnight, you can stay at the Odell Lake Lodge Resort or the nearby Forest Service Campgrounds.

WHEN: Saturday, July 31st.

WHERE: Odell Lake, Oregon. Highway 58. About 70 minutes from Bend, Oregon. Click here for a map.

WEATHER: Odell Lake is a high mountain lake. Summer paddling temperatures have been as cold as 49 degrees and as hot as 95 degrees. Be prepared with both cold and hot weather gear!

RACE CLASSES:

Canoe - open, local

Kayak - solo, tandem
Outrigger - solo, tandem

Stand up paddle

For further information, contact John Milandin at 541.782.2815.

Life jackets are REQUIRED. You can find compact life jacket belt packs that are perfect for racing at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

For everything you need to enjoy the race, check out

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

King & Queen of the Lake Practice Race Results

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the King & Queen of the Lake practice race at Elk Lake on Sunday. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic way to celebrate America’s Independence.

Even though the results of the practice race don’t count towards determining the King and Queen, you may be interested to know that in the Race Course, Randall Barna smoked the other stand up paddle boarders on his Joe Bark 14’ SUP board. Jaye Arney led the pack in the Sport Course on her Aquaglide Amundson 11' Superlight. One of the most exciting parts of the race was watching couple Judy and Ed Shasek approach the finish line neck and neck. Ed beat his wife by a nose on a Laird 11’6”. Judy rode an Aquaglide Amundson 11’3”.

Don’t forget that the first official race in the series is next Sunday, July 11^th at Elk Lake! For more information check out the flyer.

Race results are posted below.

Overall Results

Race Course

STAND UP PADDLE

Randall Barna (Super 50)

Jen Kjellesvik

Michael Heidenreich

Win Francis (Super 50)

Ed Shasek (Super 50)

Judy Shasek (Super 50)

Cristina Acosta (Super 50)

Hannah Olson

Jennifer Seelye

OC-1 OUTRIGGER

Cynthia Hahn

Rachel Mavis

Sport Course

STAND UP PADDLE

Jaye Arney

Captain Sawdust (Super 50)

Pam Stevenson

Steve Landry

Steve Morris-Reade (Super 50)

Kerie Raymond

SURF SKI

Craig Mavis

Results by class:

Race Course

STAND UP PADDLE

Women 14’:

Jennifer Seelye

Men 14’:

Randal Barna (Super 50)

Win Francis (Super 50)

Women Race board 12’6” or less:

Jen Kjellesvik

Cristina Acosta (Super 50)

Men Race Board 12’6” or less:

Michael Heidenreich

Women All-Around/Surf 12’6” or less:

Judy Shasek (Super 50)

Hannah Olson

Men All-Around/Surf 12’6” or less:

Ed Shasek (Super 50)

OC-1 Outrigger

Cynthia Hahn

Rachel Mavis

Sport Course

Women:

Stand Up Paddle

Jaye Arney

Pam Stevenson

Kerie Raymond

Men:

Captain Sawdust (Super 50)

Steve Landry

Steve Morris-Reade (Super 50)

Surf Ski

Craig Mavis

Surfing a 14' Bark

I was a bit nervous paddling the Surftech Bark 14' stand up paddle board into the chest-high surf at Pacific City. I had visions of the nose pearling and sending me into the rinse cycle.

We have two other SUBs in our family - a Hobie ATR 11'2" and an Aquaglide Amundson 11'. I'd prefer to surf on one of those but when we're all out at once, the third board in our quiver is the Bark 14.

Actually, on the very first wave I was pleasantly surprised. I stepped back quickly so it wouldn't pearl and it responded beautifully. It angled beautifully on the little beach break wave and rode like a fast cadillac!

Jumpin' up in length to 14' was like de ja vu, reminding me of my first experience surfing a stand up paddle board 11'6" after the 7'11" Gerry Lopez surfboard that I was accustomed to.

It seemed really long and I had to watch out not to catch the nose on anything but there were some really nice features that made it super-fun! It paddled out super-fast and easy, punching through waves better than the wide-nose boards. It also caught waves super-easy and crusing up and down the shoreline was no work at all.

The coolest part is Cristina, Isabella and I were all out at once having a great time!

Aloha,

Randall Barna

Click here to check out the Bark 14'.

Paddle for Cancer (SUP4C)

The second annual Paddle for Cancer takes place on Sunday, July 11th at the Hood River Waterfront Event Site in Hood River, Oregon. Demos and clinics will be given on Saturday, July 10th.
For more information, visit the Stand Up Paddle 4 Cancer website.

King and Queen of the Lake Practice Race

The practice and tune-up race for the King and Queen of the Lake Race series takes place this Sunday, July 4^th at Elk Lake, Oregon.

This is a fun, family race series that includes stand up paddle boards, prone paddleboards, OC-1 outriggers and windsurfers.

There are no entry fees and no prizes… just bragging rights and great “schwag” for finishers.

The scored races take place on July 11, August 15, and September 26 (all Sundays). The best two scores of the three races will be combined to determine the “King and Queen of the Lake”.

There are many classes, including a Sport Class with a shortened course so everyone can participate and have fun!

Elk Lake Resort is hosting a Luau on the evening of the final - September 26th.

The schedule is the same for each race day:

9:30-10:00am Registration at Elk Lake Resort*

10:15am Paddle Race Skippers Meeting

10:30am Paddle Race Mass Start

1:30pm Windsurfing skippers meeting, at Sunset View Beach

2:00pm Windsurfing Start

*Registration is mandatory as is compliance with all laws regulating watercraft.

For more information, check out the flyer.

Race Director: Randall Barna
randall@footform.com
541.389.4547

Sponsored by: Stand Up Paddle Flatwater, Kialoa, & Elk Lake Resort

Fighting U.S. Coast Guard "Vessel" Classification for SUP Boards

In October 0f 2008, the Chief of Boating Safety for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) officially classified stand up paddle boards outside the surf zone as “vessels”. This means all stand up paddlers are legally required to wear or carry a personal flotation device (PFD).

The Human Powered Watercraft Association (HPWA) believes the ruling is seriously flawed because, although PFDs are appropriate in certain conditions, in most cases they are unnecessary and may actually hinder a stand up paddler’s safety.

A stand up paddle board has at least ten times the flotation of a PFD, keeps the paddler out of the water, and allows the paddler to remount after a fall and continue on. PFDs restrict movement and make paddling more difficult. Hence, most stand up paddlers choose to strap their PFDs to the board. In conditions of wind, waves, and tidal flow, PFDs make it more difficult to swim and recover the board. Firmly affixing a leash to both the paddler and the board achieves the highest level of safety.

The HPWA is petitioning the USCG to reconsider the classification and grant stand up paddle boarders the PFD exemption that windsurfers, surfers and prone paddlers enjoy.

To sign the petition and for further information, go to the HPWA website.

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater carries comfortable,  unobtrusive life jacket
belt packs (like a fanny pack) as well as a variety of leashes.

Crossing the English Channel by SUP!

A group of four surfers are set to cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais on stand-up paddleboards in an effort to raise money for clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage.

The group aim to break two world records; one for becoming the first relay team to make the 21-mile crossing and secondly for the fastest solo crossing. The current solo record, set by American stand up paddler Michael O'shaughnessy in 2006, is five hours and nine minutes.

The relay team includes last year's UK stand-up paddleboarding champion Jock Patterson, chairman of the British Stand-Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) Matt Argyle, and head coach for BSUPA Simon Bassett. The solo paddler will be longboarding champion Elliot Dudley.

To learn more about this story, visit: www.sas.org.uk.

Columbia Gorge Blowout Includes SUP!

The Columbia Gorge Blowout is taking place this weekend in Hood River and this year it includes stand up paddlers! Our very own Randall Barna is among them!

The Blowout is a classic Central Oregon windsurfing event that’s been ripping up the Gorge for 28 years. It’s a big event, with lots of great activities surrounding it.

The festivities will be held at the Event Site in Hood River, Oregon.

Activities will run from 10am until dusk on Saturday, June 26th, and 10am to 4pm on Sunday, June 27th.

Exact race times are dependent upon weather, so go to http://www.vmgevents.com/gc/schedule.htm or call the Blowout hotline (541.386.5137) after 6.30 am on Saturday, June 26th for further information.

Up and Running!

Stand Up Paddle Bend is up and running! We definitely still have lots to organize but we welcome you to stop by and check out the new digs.

We’re sure you’re eager to get out on the water and enjoy the great weather we’re finally having so come on in and pick up the paddling gear you need to do that. We offer the most affordable, high-quality SUP rentals in town! If you’ve never tried SUPing, we offer free demos. Call or email for further information.

Over the coming weeks (and years for that matter) you’ll see the shop continue to grow. Because rentals are proving so popular, we’re expanding our fleet of high-quality rental SUPs. We also have more of the latest boards, paddles and accessories on the way.

We invite you to be a part of our growth by stopping by to say hi whenever you drive by and letting us know if you have any comments or suggestions.

We want to be the center of the Central Oregon stand up paddle community so let us know your desires and we’ll do our best to fulfill them!

Stand Up Paddle Bend has found it’s new home!

We’ve secured our location! The new home of Stand Up Paddle Bend (also known as Stand Up Paddle Flatwater) is close to downtown, the Shops at the Old Mill, and most importantly, the river!

We’re stoked to have found such a convenient spot for you to pick up all your paddling needs, meet fellow paddlers and check out the latest boards, paddles, and accessories.

The new hub of stand up paddling for the Pacific Northwest is situated at:

The Old Mill Marketplace

550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 115

Bend, Oregon 97702

We’ll begin painting and moving inventory in tomorrow (feel free to stop by and say hi) and be open for business within days!

Stay tuned!

Paddling Weather Central Oregon Style

Summer's almost here! It was great to see so many local stand up paddlers on the river today!

As the new owners of Stand Up Paddle Bend, my wife and I would like to say hello. We're excited to build upon the fantastic work Randall, Cristina and Isabella have done, keeping people stoked and equipped with their SUP gear.

One of our first steps will be to open a retail location – the only shop dedicated solely to stand up paddle gear in the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned for more info! Plus, we’re expanding inventory to include a wider variety of stand up boards, paddles and accessories.

You can count on us to provide the most up-to-date info on stand up locations and equipment. We’re committed to being the leaders in flat-water paddling – right here in Bend, Oregon!

We’d love to hear feedback about our site, learn what your needs are, hear about your Central Oregon paddling adventures and see pictures and video of you on the water so please feel free to drop us an email or give us a call!

See you on the water!

Chip Booth

Lainey Booth

StandUpPaddleBend.com

StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Things are changing, including the weather!

Hi Everyone,

I think Summer will finally offer a sample this weekend! Please join in for our routine paddle gathering this evening @ 4:30 at the paved parking lot by the Bend Outrigger Canoes and Alder Creek Kayak. It's near the Colorado Bridge at the North end of the Old Mill stretch of the Deschutes. Newcomers are welcome, just ask around for the evenings host (today it's Me) and I'll introduce you to folks and explain the route and any submerged hazards. If you're late, no problem you'll catch the group on the way back and be there at the finish for an adult beverage and "talk story."

The big news is today I will introduce everyone the the new owners and operators of StandupPaddleFlatwater, StandupPaddleBend, and StandupPaddle.blogspot.com. They will continue to honor the heritage of this sport as Hawaiian. Created on the volcano islands, yet there's a strong link to us in Bend as we do it here on the lava-formed rivers and lakes. Chip Booth and his wife Lainey will take the helm and the seamless transition will offer the same great products and service as before. Chip and Lainey have more stoke and enthusiasm for Standup Paddling than I, and that's saying a lot. Chip has surfing in his soul and has lived the lifestyle. His other company Booth Pacific Films has taken him around the world filming surf films, snowboard films and off-road racing, both auto and motorcycle. Chip also builds his own Standup Paddleboards and will show them in the shop along with other new and exciting merchandise. Lainey has a variety of business skills and is newer to the sport, Chip and Lainey were recently married, but she's gained the knowledge quickly and will certainly empathize with other women and newcomers in understanding how to negotiate a SUP board! Their SUP board shop will be the first and only specialty Standup Paddle Board shop in the Pacific NW, they will have a strong internet presence and you can bet there will be a lot of video embedded as well! You will get notices soon of the location and a bunch of events and gatherings. Also, the schedule of new arrivals of long awaited boards, like the Hobie Race 12'6" and the Surftech Bark 14'.

Cristina, Isabella and I appreciate all the kind words we've gotten from you local paddlers. Also, the loyalty and support getting the whole SUP thing going around here. You'll still see us paddling as much as ever, we'll help Chip and Lainey with all their promotions, and we'll be having fun! As Always!

Aloha,

Randall Barna

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com

www.StandupPaddleBend.com

www.StandupPaddle.blogspot.com

Friday SUP Paddle Winds and Rain (maybe) are Great Paddleboard Training

Hi Everyone,
Green light for todays Friday @ 4:30 stand up paddle gathering. The forecast is for mild and breezy with showers ending by afternoon in Bend, Oregon. (It looks like they've already ended as of 7:00AM - maybe) It's looking better for paddle boarding this weekend and high 70's by early next week!

Newcomers are welcome. We launch by the Bend Outrigger canoes from the paved parking lot near the Colorado Bridge (by Tumalo Creek Kayakand Bikram Yoga) we paddle upstream to the rapids by Healy Bridge on the Deschutes River and back. Enjoy your adult beverage and talk story afterwards. Cristina, Isabella and I'll be there to greet newcomers and explain the Deschutes river channels, should be interesting after last nights heavy rain!

Aloha,
Randall
www.StandupPaddleflatwater.com

Group Paddling on the Deschutes and Fitness SUP paddling.

Hi Everyone!
What happened to our weather? I've been watching till the last minute to notify for the Friday @ 4:30 paddle and it's a green light for the hardy. I paddled yesterday with winds an snow flurries! I don't expect any newcomers on a day like today but Tom Burke will host tonight to welcome and explain the routine and route. Chip Booth will be there, we rarely saw him last summer 'cause he was busy making surf films and building his own SUP boards, you'll recognize him by his colorful board and "Lava Bear" stature.

The other news is races, races, races!    June 12th is the final of a three race series "Race Around Ross Island" in Portland. Registration at 9:00 Race at 10:00 costs $30 includes t-shirt.  Check out www.gorge performance.com for details. There will be eight races on the "Old Mill Stretch" every Weds eve July and Aug. The Odell Lake Pioneer Cup July 31st. The Oregon Open Ocean Paddleboard/SUP race, (Beverly Beach to Newport downwind) August 28th.  And our "King and Queen of the Lake" series at Elk Lake - July 11th, August 15th and September 26th, free and open to everyone including all boards.  Surfboard/Sport class and  Raceboard  class.

I've had many inquiries about the Paddle Fitness outings Tues-Thurs AM @ 7:30. Watch for the green light depending on consistent, warm AM weather. Count on this for training for all these great races.

www.StandupPaddleFlatwater will soon have the Hobie 12'6" Race boards which are proven to be one of the winning-est SUP boards on the water! Also the Surftech Bark 14' wow!  Other secret stealth boards are in testing. Attached is a photo of John and I yesterday testing fast boards for the up-coming races.

Aloha,
Randall Barna
www.StandupPaddleFlatwater.com


Join the Bend, Oregon Stand Up Paddle Group

Yesterdays Bend Bulletin featured a Standup Paddler on the front page! Many of us Bend, Oregon stand up paddlers have been getting out and enjoying the mild weather and SUP paddling this spring already.

I've heard from Tim Walston that Wickiup reservoir is totally clear of any snow or ice and open for paddling now. April and May are the best months for stand up paddling down-wind runs at Wickiup. The trip from Gull Point boat ramp to Wickiup Butte boat ramp is 8.33 miles and you definitely get wind-wave rides along the way. Later into June the water level recedes and it's not as good.

I'll be sending out a notice when it looks warm enough for our usual Friday at 4:30 gatherings.  We launch from the paved parking lot just south of Alder Creek Kayak by the Bend Outrigger Canoes. We stand up paddle upstream past the Healy Bridge to the rapids and back. Newcomers are welcome on this casual, social gathering. Bring your own beverages for afterward.

New this year will be free Tuesday and Thursday morning Fitness stand up paddles at 7:30 a.m from the new River Bend Park (the PPP launch).  This will involve a ten minute warmup in the park before speed-paddling the Old Mill Stretch. Various fitness instructors will direct the warmup,  including me. My sessions will be featuring Jack Gillen's Wave Chi Hawaiian Surf Clubs.  If you would like to direct, e-mail me back and we'll  schedule it (hey Jen!).

There will be a lot of stand up paddle races scheduled this year around Bend, Oregon, and we want to get in shape for them. The big races to plan for are the Odell Lake Pioneer Cup, July 31st and the Tahoe Nalu, Aug 21, 22. We're also planning fun races at Elk Lake and on The Old Mill stretch.  There will be a number of races in The Gorge this summer too.

Please e-mail me if you had any adventures this winter you want to share for our blog.

See You on the Water,
Randall Barna




www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

Perfect "I Only Have an Hour" SUP Paddle in Bend, Oregon

Our new favorite place to launch from for a quick stand up paddle session of about an hour is from the new Riverbend Park across from the Old Mill District and up river from the Colorado Bridge. The sandy beach launch is at a wide and slower place in the river that makes it easier to get on the board and get going. 

If you want a workout, start with a warm up downstream, the fitness part upstream, then a cool down going downstream:

• Go downriver first to the Colorado Bridge, turn around at the danger signs and floats then continue back upriver past the Riverbend Park and continue to the Healy Bridge (you'll go under several walking bridges on the way). You'll know you're at the Healy Bridge because the river narrows and gets small rapids. Just upriver of the bridge is a nice wide spot for turning around. 
• Turn around and go back to the half-way mark (Riverbend Park). Some paddlers will do laps of the river with this system.

During Summer when the water is much warmer, a lot of SUP paddlers like to play in the riffles upriver from the Healy Bridge. It's a great social and fitness paddle. Here's what the Bend Parks and Rec has to say about the new park:
________________________________________________
Riverbend Park, on the Deschutes River in Bend, OR
13.1 acres
799 SW Columbia Street

Completed in 2009, Riverbend Park is a special community gathering place that celebrates the Deschutes River, provides a special events venue, provides public river access and conserves the native riparian landscape. This riverfront park features large open lawn areas, a sandy beach, public restrooms, a picnic shelter and fully accessible walking trails. Riverbend Park is also home to BPRD's district office and community room. The park was designed to accommodate larger events and can be reserved for a variety of uses.
The Deschutes River Trail connections traveling through the park include a 10-foot wide paver path and an adjacent soft surface running trail.  From here, connections can be made to Farewell Bend Park across the river and upstream to the south canyon walking trails (From the Bend Parks and Rec website)

Buy Your SUP boards and paddles from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com

NW Cabin Fever Relief - Watch this Chuck Patterson SUP Piece

The Standup Project has a video interview of Chuck Patterson that Judy Shasek sent to us. Take a moment to watch it. Maybe you'll get excited enough to get out on your stand up paddle board and brave the Deschutes River this time of year.

Last weekend was unusually warm (in the upper 50's F) for February in the Northwest, so a bunch of us took advantage of the sun and promising ourselves superior balance (the water was 42F) we launched at the new park and paddled the Deschutes river stretch between the Colorado and Healy bridges.

Gary Yoder paddled the river his first time. Kudos for Gary for sticking with us for the paddle loop and staying dry!

Photos:
Group photo L - R: Cristina Acosta, Isabella Barna, Gary Yoder, Ed Shasek, Judy Shasek
Gary Yoder and Cristina Acosta on the Deschutes. Cristina has a new hat!!! (Let's see how long this one lasts.)

Remember to buy your SUP Standup Paddle boards, paddles and gear from us at www.StandUpPaddleFlatwater.com