Judy's All Set for her 33-Mile Paddle Tomorrow!

SUPer (in more ways than one) Judy Shasek is ready for her SUP Karmathon tomorrow.

Stand Up Paddle Bend is offering half price SUP board rentals to anyone who would like to join Judy for part of her 33-mile paddle to celebrate life and health.

The SUP Karmathon starts at 7:00 a.m. and is expected to finish at around 4:00 p.m. Judy is launching and finishing near the Bend Outrigger Canoe Club (805 SW Industrial Way).

Supporters are welcome to paddle a few laps with Judy, cheer her on from the shore, or gather at the finish to join in the celebration.

Call 541.639.2655 or email Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com for further information.

Last Weekend's SUP Events: the 'Round the Rock Stand Up Paddle Race & the 8th Annual Rogue Gathering Longboard Classic

Two of the Pacific Northwest's biggest stand up paddle events took place last weekend: the ‘Round the Rock Stand Up Paddle Race in Seattle, Washington and the Rogue Gathering 8th Annual Longboard Classic in Newport, Oregon which included stand up paddle surfing.

‘Round the Rock

The ‘Round the Rock event included a 13-mile stand up paddle race around Mercer Island on Lake Washington, a 2.5 mile race along the shores of Seward Park, and an SUP expo featuring demos and product displays. Proceeds from entry fees benefitted Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Surfrider Foundation.

Racers faced a variety of chilly, gusty winds from all directions as they rounded Mercer Island.

Thomas “Maximus” Shahinian, a real estate broker from California, won the 13–mile race on an 18-foot board with a time of 2 hours and 18 minutes. Shahinian has been SUPing for about two years, after paddling outrigger canoes for 15 years. He dedicated his win on Sunday to a friend who died two weeks ago of cancer.

Congratulations to Scott Estrada who visited Bend last week and paddled with us on Friday evening. Scott took 2nd place in the 14’ category and 8th overall on his Joe Bark Dominator, shaving a whopping 50 minutes off his time from last year’s race. Estrada called the ‘Round the Rock “a great event.” He said what impressed him most was the determination of “competitors coming in after 5 or 6 hours of being out there, soaking wet. It was completely incredible. They just refused to be picked up by the coast guards. It was just inspiring as ever.”

There was also a kids' race, in which about 20 children, many SUPing for the first time, paddled out to a buoy about 30 yards from shore and back. Winner Grant Vasek, who is 11, said he thinks SUP is “more challenging than kayaking because you have to stand up and balance on the board while paddling.” Yet the standing up part seems to be what he likes most - "I love being on the board. I love surfing," he said.

Brandi Baksic, a firefighter from San Diego, was the first female to cross the line, followed by Heather Nelson, a surf-ski and ultra-marathon distance kayak racer and adventurer from Bellinghham, Washington, who is 4 months pregnant!

The Rogue Gathering Longboard Classic

Stand Up Paddle Flatwater founder Randall Barna calls the Rogue Gathering Longboard Classic, “the quintessential example of Oregon surf culture for the longboard generations.”

Congratulations to Stand Up Paddle Bend team riders Randall Barna, Judy Shasek and Isabella Acosta Barna who placed 6th, 2nd and 4th in their SUP categories. Randall made the finals even though he was forced to work with a borrowed paddle after his own paddle blade split during the semi-finals. "There was some drama when my paddle broke," Randall says. However, "Peter Miller and Pam Stevenson from Kialoa paddles were right there watching and immediately grabbed me another paddle. The first one was Pam's and too short so the next wave in, I switched again and got a longer paddle. All Kialoas so they felt right at home in my hands."

SUPBend team rider Tom Burke was ready for a strong finish after months of practice in Maui last winter and spring, but he bruised and possibly broke some ribs in a shorebreak wipe-out on Saturday and was too injured to compete. We're happy to report he's feeling much better now.

Peter Miller, another member of Bend’s SUP community took second in the longboard event for the Grand Dukes age group. Peter also competes in SUP but decided not to this year since the finals heats were back to back and he wanted to save energy. Congratulations Peter!

Click here for complete results of the ‘Round the Rock race.

Click here for complete results of the 8th Annual Rogue Gathering.

Oh, and if you’re looking for a fast SUP board, click here to check out some great SUP race boards.

If surfing’s more your thing, check out these stand up paddle surfboards.

We also have some great all-around SUP boards for those who want to do it all!

Stand Up Paddle Karmathon

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judy in 1967 and Judy now.

Cancer Survivor Empowerment SUP

If you’d like to help empower cancer survivors through the positivity of SUP, please join us tonight at 6.00 at Riverbend Park for a stand up paddle picnic.

Members of the DEFEATcancer Young Adult Survivors Network are trying SUP for the first time tonight. We’re supplying the boards. Would you like to help supply the stoke? We encourage our friends in the SUP community to come along and share paddling tips, meet new friends and, most importantly, have fun.

DEFEATcancer is a cancer survivorship empowerment program that encourages positive, life-affirming physical activity amongst its members.

DEFEATcancer is sponsored by St. Charles Medical Center and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Event Details:
WHEN: Tonight, Monday, August 23rd, at 6.00p.m.
WHERE: Riverbend Park, (779 SW Columbia)
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: BYO picnic and blanket if you'd like to picnic with the group.

Results of the Second King & Queen of the Lake Race

Thanks to everyone who turned out forthe second race in the King & Queen of the Lake Race series at Elk Lake last Sunday. Click here to see the results.

We look forward to seeing you again at the final race on September 26th. Click here for further information or email Race Director Randall Barna at Randall@Footform.com.

2010 Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival this Weekend!

The 4th Annual Ta-hoe Nalu Paddle Festival takes place this weekend, August 21 & 22 at King's Beach in North Lake Tahoe. The two-day event features races for all ages and skill levels as well live concerts, a luau, and plenty of aloha spirit. The size and scope of the festival is testimony to the phenomenal rise in popularity of stand up paddling. Whereas the first Tahoe-Nalu race in 2007 included only 34 participants, organizers anticipate up to 600 paritcipants and over 3000 spectators to attend this year. $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded. Click here for more details.

King & Queen of the Lake Race

You still have a chance to become race royalty...

The second race in the King and Queen of the Lake paddle race series takes place this Sunday, August 15th, at Elk Lake. Registration begins at 9.30a.m. The race starts at 10.30a.m.

This race series offers fun for everyone. There's a short course for paddlers who are new to racing and a longer course for those who are ready for more challenge.

The best two scores of the three races will be combined to determine overall winners - so even if you missed the first race, you still have a shot at being named King or Queen!

The final race in the series takes place on September 26th and coincides with Elk Lake Lodge's 90th year celebration luau.

For further information, check out the flyer, or email Race Director Randall Barna at Randall@Footform.com.

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

Pilates & SUP!

The Pilates Connection & Stand Up Paddle Bend have joined forces to bring you a workout that is fun, exciting, and effective...

WHAT: 45 minute outdoor Pilates mat class followed by 45 minute stand up paddle.

WHERE: Riverbend Park (779 SW Columbia Street)

WHEN: Thursdays at 5.30 p.m., starting August 5th.

COST: $25 including board rental. $15 if you bring your own board.

Sign up by calling 541-639-2655 or emailing Info@StandUpPaddleBend.com.

What do you get when you combine two of the most efficient, feel-good workouts on the planet?

Let's find out together!

Experience what SHAPE Magazine calls, "a calorie-torching workout!"

"In ten sessions you will see the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you will have a whole new body." - Joseph H. Pilates

"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier." - Joseph H. Pilates

2010 Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race Results

The Molokai Channel upheld its reputation as one of the world's most treacherous bodies of water during Sunday’s Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard Race.

Victory in the stand-up paddle (SUP) men’s and women’s divisions went to Maui’s Dave Kalama (4:54:15) and Andrea Moller (6:00:00), both setting records for their respective divisions. The windy conditions and disorganized waves proved an advantage for Kalama who said, “There are a lots of really good sprinters, but I'm not one of them, so the windy races are what I train for and what I'm built for."

In the men’s traditional paddleboard division, Australian Jamie Mitchell, 33, claimed an unprecedented ninth title, completing the 32-mile distance just four minutes outside of his own record in a time of 4 hours, 52 minutes and 45 seconds. In the women’s traditional paddleboard division, Hawaii's Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin, 34, took top honors for the 8^th time with a time of 6:02:45 - less than 10 minutes shy of the record she set in 2004.

MAJOR PLACINGS:


Men's Traditional Paddleboard:
1st. Jamie Mitchell (Australia) - 4:52:45
2nd. Jackson English (Australia) - 5:07:54
3rd. Joel Mason (Australia) - 5:15:42
4th. Mikey Cote (Hawaii) - 5:17:56



Women's Traditional Paddleboard:
1st. Kanesa Duncan-Seraphin (Hawaii) - 6:02:45


Men's Stand-Up Paddleboard:
1st. Dave Kalama (Hawaii) - 4:54:15



Women's Stand-Up Paddleboard:
1st. Andrea Moller (Hawaii) - 6:00:00

For complete results, go to Pacific Sports Events & Timing.

Find everything you need to SUP at:

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.