Stand Up Paddle Surfing Global

British SUP Team enters ISA World Championship

Posted 12 years ago

SUPGlobal is wishing our friends in the UK Team the best of luck in the International Surfing Association World Championship in Peru. We will be bringing the latest updates as they happen. BSUPA have supported the guys to make this a reality and have sent the following press release: [Link]

Custom Board – About Time

Posted 12 years ago

Four years in now and I've pretty much lost count of the stand up boards that have crossed my path. When I was surfing prone longboards I would probably order a new custom every 3 or four years and each new board would usually 'retire' it's predecessor gracefully but totally. The idea of buying a 'pop out' was alien. I always wanted a little bit of 'Me' in my boards and bizarrely I liked the notion of using a local shaper. Quaint eh! Then along came the standup's and everything changed. [Link]

Trip Summary – Intense

Posted 12 years ago

Been back nearly a week now and the trip is beginning to feel like some surreal experience that happened to someone else. Red summed it up succinctly on the way back on the plane. 'That was bloody intense'. He was right. From arrival at Agadir airport and for the next seven days we were totally immersed in the hospitality that was Moroccan Surf Adventures. The routine, although clockwork :
Sleep – wake – eat – surf – eat – surf – eat – drink – sleep
was relentless BUT never intrusive or regimented. We instantly fell in with the easy going manner of the Surf camp and with the minimum of fuss got into the groove. [Link]

Moroccan Surf Adventures

Posted 12 years ago

Saturday, November 19, 2011 Machine Guns Wow what a day – after a fairly heavy night it was decided to get up and on the road for seven am as we were going South to a spot with the slightly worrying name of 'Machine Guns'! Denny had been giving us the lowdown throughout dinner. 'Yeah it's totally sick, a slab that you get onto by holding your leash and jumping off the rock between sets.' He then looked at me and said 'Can you lie down and paddle your board?' "Why would I want to do that?' [Link]

One Week in Morocco

Posted 12 years ago

The latest installment from our blogger Steve Coram, with the big 50 looming a surprise SUP trip to Africa is on the cards…. [Link]

Stand up paddle surfing the Cribbar, UK

Posted 12 years ago

The Cribbar, just off the headland in Newquay UK, used to be a wave that a few of the surfers in the UK had a gun put away for one of the big days, but trying to find the perfect day when the wind and swell came together was something of an arcane art. There was also an underlying attitutde in the UK that somehow big waves were not surfed anywhere other than Hawaii. With the emergence Mavericks confirming that big wave surfing in cold waves was more that possible the light went on in the minds of a small group of UK watermen. The last 15 years has seen home grown talent like Al Meenie, Andy Cotton, Finn Mullen and others tackling big waves on the door step of the UK with paddle in, tow in and windsurf kit. [Link]

Stand Up World Tour hits Fiji

Posted 12 years ago

We get a lot of press releases at SUPGlobal.com and this one is has it all, great pictures, a great SUP event and lots to aspire to. The only bit we really don't get is how an event in 2011 can be the first event of the Stand Up World Tour 2012. Weird. The big news is that the Stand Up World Tour used to be a surfing only tour, in 2012 they are going to crown distance racers and surf slalom racers, so that should broaden the appeal to non costal folks! Anyway here are all the details: [Link]

Extreme Academy BSUPA National Championships 2011

Posted 12 years ago

19/10/2011
Report by Simon Bassett The 2011 BSUPA National championships were held at the usual venue of Watergate Bay in Cornwall. This year the forecast was looking good at 2-3 foot on Saturday with light offshore winds and Sunday a increasing swell 3-5 feet with a better period. When we got there Saturday morning we weren't disappointed –the sun was out the the swell had arrived were set for a great weekend of paddle surfing. 50 competitors were divided up into heats of 4 or 5 and each had 15 minutes to cut some shapes on the wave face. A panel of 3 judges would then score each wave ridden the best two wave scores added to get maximum points. [Link]

Extreme Academy BSUPA National Championships

Posted 12 years ago

With less than two weeks to go all is in place for this years BSUPA National Championships which will once again be hosted by the Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay on the weekend of 15th & 16th of October. Over the course of the two days there will be competition in both surf and distance racing. Along side the Open Men and Open Women categories this year will also see the inclusion of under 16's in Waves. [Link]

Danny Ching and Candice Appleby are Battle of the Paddle Winners 2011 – Full Results

Posted 12 years ago

California's distance paddling king Danny Ching returned to the winner's podium at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, taking first in the 10-mile stand-up paddle (SUP) race. Dominant female paddler Candice Appleby (Hawaii), who took first in yesterday's women's Elite race, won the women's division. A total of 230 racers took part in today's distance race. There were more than 900 race entries over the course of the weekend. [Link]

Battle of the Paddle 2011, $25,000 Prize Purse

Posted 12 years ago

Dana Point, CA – (September 13, 2011) — The world's top stand-up paddle (SUP) racers are preparing for a battle royale at Doheny State Beach 10 days from now, in the $25,000 4th annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez BATTLE OF THE PADDLE. [Link]

Windfest, Poole September 10th & 11th 2011

Posted 12 years ago

The weather forecast claimed there would be gales and storms were on the way, so it was looking like it could be a windy weekend, great for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but what about SUP? Saturday morning, dark skies and winds from the South West would make it an interesting paddle but by circumnavigating Brownsea Island in an anti-clockwise, which would give shelter from the wind for part of course, the BSUPA Round Brownsea Island race was on. [Link]

Custard Point launches a two event Stand Up Paddleboard Series!

Posted 12 years ago

News has reached us that Tim Mellors of Custard Point has set up a couple of SUP events as part of the UK Pro Surf Tour. The events are the first two weekends in October, so not long to get training! We get far more race events that surf in the UK so it is great to see, nice one TIm! UK Pro Surf Association is pleased to announce a new series of surf events on the UK Pro Surf Tour. The best Stand Up Paddleboard surfers from across the UK will participate in this new series of events for points and prize money on the Custard Point SUP Pro Series. [Link]

Standup Paddleboarding at Windfest 2011, Poole Sept 9 – 11th 2011

Posted 12 years ago

British Stand Up Paddleboard Association are pleased to announce schedule of events for this years Windfest. As the popularity of the sport growths so have the number of SUP related activities and competitions. There is now something to for everyone, from the complete beginner, through to weekend enthusiast and finally competitive paddlers. [Link]

Use It or Loose It

Posted 12 years ago

Can't quite believe that it's been almost five months since my last post here – loads of reasons for that March and April were just nuts. The swell just did not die down and I was so busy making a pig of myself that to be honest I just could not be bothered to post. My new (not now) Mana 9'0 was my turn to board throughout the run of swell and once I got dialled in I almost stopped missing the 9'3", not quite though. [Link]

Round Robben Island SUP Mission

Posted 12 years ago

By Ivan van Vuuren www.Coreban.com Photos Ray van Breda/ Stefan Lindeque www.PremierHawaii.com When you think of an Island crossing one’s first thoughts are that of tropical, blue waters and warm trade winds, but as we looked across the horizon on a cold winters morning we knew the journey ahead was going to be more of a mission than a tranquil paddle in paradise. [Link]

PRTP 2011 – Stand Up Paddle UK round up

Posted 12 years ago

Another great event from Dave Samuels and the guys at Paddle Round the Pier Brighton. Sadly the stand up paddle enduro race did not have enough entrants to run, however this event is still the best in the UK to come and see the latest and greatest stand up paddle products and talk to the people behind them. [Link]

The Witterings Charity SUP Paddle Race – 24th July 2011

Posted 12 years ago

Once again the annual stand up paddle race from East to West Wittering, UK is taking place on Sunday 24th July 2011. The event has become more and more popular each year and is loads of fun as well as a good chance to raise money for a good cause – The Sussex Snowdrop Trust. [Link]

Paddle Round the Pier 2011- Brighton UK

Posted 12 years ago

Time for another trip to Brighton, on the South Coast of the UK for a weekend of SUP action. Paddle Round the Pier has become something of the industry meet in the UK for all the SUP movers and shakers. There are also several SUP races on the water to keep everyone happy. [Link]

Maui SUP Surfing on a south swell

Posted 12 years ago

This is the first of our stories from a recent trip to Hawaii. Frank Forbes talks us through an epic South Side swell in April 2011, when he and some friends scored amazing waves, with some thanks due to Facebook. [Link]

British SUP Team enters ISA World Championship

Posted 12 years ago

SUPGlobal is wishing our friends in the UK Team the best of luck in the International Surfing Association World Championship in Peru. We will be bringing the latest updates as they happen. BSUPA have supported the guys to make this a reality and have sent the following press release: [Link]

Custom Board – About Time

Posted 12 years ago

Four years in now and I've pretty much lost count of the stand up boards that have crossed my path. When I was surfing prone longboards I would probably order a new custom every 3 or four years and each new board would usually 'retire' it's predecessor gracefully but totally. The idea of buying a 'pop out' was alien. I always wanted a little bit of 'Me' in my boards and bizarrely I liked the notion of using a local shaper. Quaint eh! Then along came the standup's and everything changed. [Link]

Trip Summary – Intense

Posted 12 years ago

Been back nearly a week now and the trip is beginning to feel like some surreal experience that happened to someone else. Red summed it up succinctly on the way back on the plane. 'That was bloody intense'. He was right. From arrival at Agadir airport and for the next seven days we were totally immersed in the hospitality that was Moroccan Surf Adventures. The routine, although clockwork :
Sleep – wake – eat – surf – eat – surf – eat – drink – sleep
was relentless BUT never intrusive or regimented. We instantly fell in with the easy going manner of the Surf camp and with the minimum of fuss got into the groove. [Link]

Moroccan Surf Adventures

Posted 12 years ago

Saturday, November 19, 2011 Machine Guns Wow what a day – after a fairly heavy night it was decided to get up and on the road for seven am as we were going South to a spot with the slightly worrying name of 'Machine Guns'! Denny had been giving us the lowdown throughout dinner. 'Yeah it's totally sick, a slab that you get onto by holding your leash and jumping off the rock between sets.' He then looked at me and said 'Can you lie down and paddle your board?' "Why would I want to do that?' [Link]

One Week in Morocco

Posted 12 years ago

The latest installment from our blogger Steve Coram, with the big 50 looming a surprise SUP trip to Africa is on the cards…. [Link]

Stand up paddle surfing the Cribbar, UK

Posted 12 years ago

The Cribbar, just off the headland in Newquay UK, used to be a wave that a few of the surfers in the UK had a gun put away for one of the big days, but trying to find the perfect day when the wind and swell came together was something of an arcane art. There was also an underlying attitutde in the UK that somehow big waves were not surfed anywhere other than Hawaii. With the emergence Mavericks confirming that big wave surfing in cold waves was more that possible the light went on in the minds of a small group of UK watermen. The last 15 years has seen home grown talent like Al Meenie, Andy Cotton, Finn Mullen and others tackling big waves on the door step of the UK with paddle in, tow in and windsurf kit. [Link]

Stand Up World Tour hits Fiji

Posted 12 years ago

We get a lot of press releases at SUPGlobal.com and this one is has it all, great pictures, a great SUP event and lots to aspire to. The only bit we really don't get is how an event in 2011 can be the first event of the Stand Up World Tour 2012. Weird. The big news is that the Stand Up World Tour used to be a surfing only tour, in 2012 they are going to crown distance racers and surf slalom racers, so that should broaden the appeal to non costal folks! Anyway here are all the details: [Link]

Extreme Academy BSUPA National Championships 2011

Posted 12 years ago

19/10/2011
Report by Simon Bassett The 2011 BSUPA National championships were held at the usual venue of Watergate Bay in Cornwall. This year the forecast was looking good at 2-3 foot on Saturday with light offshore winds and Sunday a increasing swell 3-5 feet with a better period. When we got there Saturday morning we weren't disappointed –the sun was out the the swell had arrived were set for a great weekend of paddle surfing. 50 competitors were divided up into heats of 4 or 5 and each had 15 minutes to cut some shapes on the wave face. A panel of 3 judges would then score each wave ridden the best two wave scores added to get maximum points. [Link]

Extreme Academy BSUPA National Championships

Posted 12 years ago

With less than two weeks to go all is in place for this years BSUPA National Championships which will once again be hosted by the Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay on the weekend of 15th & 16th of October. Over the course of the two days there will be competition in both surf and distance racing. Along side the Open Men and Open Women categories this year will also see the inclusion of under 16's in Waves. [Link]

Danny Ching and Candice Appleby are Battle of the Paddle Winners 2011 – Full Results

Posted 12 years ago

California's distance paddling king Danny Ching returned to the winner's podium at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, taking first in the 10-mile stand-up paddle (SUP) race. Dominant female paddler Candice Appleby (Hawaii), who took first in yesterday's women's Elite race, won the women's division. A total of 230 racers took part in today's distance race. There were more than 900 race entries over the course of the weekend. [Link]

Battle of the Paddle 2011, $25,000 Prize Purse

Posted 13 years ago

Dana Point, CA – (September 13, 2011) — The world's top stand-up paddle (SUP) racers are preparing for a battle royale at Doheny State Beach 10 days from now, in the $25,000 4th annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez BATTLE OF THE PADDLE. [Link]

Windfest, Poole September 10th & 11th 2011

Posted 13 years ago

The weather forecast claimed there would be gales and storms were on the way, so it was looking like it could be a windy weekend, great for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but what about SUP? Saturday morning, dark skies and winds from the South West would make it an interesting paddle but by circumnavigating Brownsea Island in an anti-clockwise, which would give shelter from the wind for part of course, the BSUPA Round Brownsea Island race was on. [Link]

Custard Point launches a two event Stand Up Paddleboard Series!

Posted 13 years ago

News has reached us that Tim Mellors of Custard Point has set up a couple of SUP events as part of the UK Pro Surf Tour. The events are the first two weekends in October, so not long to get training! We get far more race events that surf in the UK so it is great to see, nice one TIm! UK Pro Surf Association is pleased to announce a new series of surf events on the UK Pro Surf Tour. The best Stand Up Paddleboard surfers from across the UK will participate in this new series of events for points and prize money on the Custard Point SUP Pro Series. [Link]

Use It or Loose It

Posted 13 years ago

Can't quite believe that it's been almost five months since my last post here – loads of reasons for that March and April were just nuts. The swell just did not die down and I was so busy making a pig of myself that to be honest I just could not be bothered to post. My new (not now) Mana 9'0 was my turn to board throughout the run of swell and once I got dialled in I almost stopped missing the 9'3", not quite though. [Link]

Standup Paddleboarding at Windfest 2011, Poole Sept 9 – 11th 2011

Posted 13 years ago

British Stand Up Paddleboard Association are pleased to announce schedule of events for this years Windfest. As the popularity of the sport growths so have the number of SUP related activities and competitions. There is now something to for everyone, from the complete beginner, through to weekend enthusiast and finally competitive paddlers. [Link]

Round Robben Island SUP Mission

Posted 13 years ago

By Ivan van Vuuren www.Coreban.com Photos Ray van Breda/ Stefan Lindeque www.PremierHawaii.com When you think of an Island crossing one’s first thoughts are that of tropical, blue waters and warm trade winds, but as we looked across the horizon on a cold winters morning we knew the journey ahead was going to be more of a mission than a tranquil paddle in paradise. [Link]

PRTP 2011 – Stand Up Paddle UK round up

Posted 13 years ago

Another great event from Dave Samuels and the guys at Paddle Round the Pier Brighton. Sadly the stand up paddle enduro race did not have enough entrants to run, however this event is still the best in the UK to come and see the latest and greatest stand up paddle products and talk to the people behind them. [Link]

The Witterings Charity SUP Paddle Race – 24th July 2011

Posted 13 years ago

Once again the annual stand up paddle race from East to West Wittering, UK is taking place on Sunday 24th July 2011. The event has become more and more popular each year and is loads of fun as well as a good chance to raise money for a good cause – The Sussex Snowdrop Trust. [Link]

Paddle Round the Pier 2011- Brighton UK

Posted 13 years ago

Time for another trip to Brighton, on the South Coast of the UK for a weekend of SUP action. Paddle Round the Pier has become something of the industry meet in the UK for all the SUP movers and shakers. There are also several SUP races on the water to keep everyone happy. [Link]

Maui SUP Surfing on a south swell

Posted 13 years ago

This is the first of our stories from a recent trip to Hawaii. Frank Forbes talks us through an epic South Side swell in April 2011, when he and some friends scored amazing waves, with some thanks due to Facebook. [Link]

Travis Grant and Candice Appleby win Battle of the Paddle Hawaii

Posted 13 years ago

WAIKIKI, HAWAII – (May 14, 2010) — Australian Travis Grant turned the tables on good friend and long-time paddling partner Danny Ching (USA) today in the Elite race of the $25,000 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, held at Duke Kahanamoku Beach. The women's division was claimed by Honolulu's Candice Appleby – her third elite Battle victory in as many years. [Link]

SUP and the City, Birmingham UK

Posted 13 years ago

The thing I love most about SUP right now is that the sport, although growing at a massive rate, is still small. There is a really friendly vibe. When I go surfing at my local break I know most of the other SUPers, although that is starting to change now as more people get into the sport. So to be invited up to a brand new and growing club, was a real treat to feel that buzz of something new. [Link]

Kai Lenny wins SUWT event in France

Posted 13 years ago

Kai Lenny has done it again! The wonderkid of the stand up world tour has powered through the final of the French event. Read the full details below.. [Link]

Stand Up World Tour Trials Complete in France

Posted 13 years ago

The second event in the stand up world tour 2011 is now underway in La Torche, France. The Trials and the Youth Challenge are over and the main event is set to start. [Link]

Review of the Surftech Bark Dominator 14 ft Stand Up Paddle Board

Posted 13 years ago

Paul Burgess probably holds the world record for number of SUP boards owned. He is pretty obsessed with stand up paddling, the design of the boards and the performance. This all makes him an excellent reviewer for SUPGlobal as he know what he is talking about. Recently he purchased a 14ft Surftech Bark Dominator and has reviewed it for us. I think this is probably the most comprehensive review you will be able to find for this board. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle in the Mentawis, Indonesia

Posted 13 years ago

Naish SUP team member and SUPGlobal roving reporter Gareth Grant headed out to the Mentawis Islands to see if he could score some perfection on his SUP. Gareth is a regular on the UK contest scene and is often seen on the the South Coast of the UK ripping it up, but what would this Indonesian trip be like? [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Dublin, Ireland – with a twist

Posted 13 years ago

Our friends from SurfDock in Ireland have sent over this stand up paddle video which made us all gather round the office computer and go "woah". Usually it takes Laird Hamilton or Blane Chambers pulling into a huge heaving South Pacific barrel to make us drop everything, but this is very cool. [Link]

Review of the Surftech Jamie Mitchell 14ft

Posted 13 years ago

SUPGlobal.com's Matt Argyle has been testing the Surftech Jamie Mitchell 14ft race board and putting it through its paces. Jamie Mitchell is a legend for distance paddling and racing, both prone and SUP so we were expecting something a bit special! [Link]

Battle of the Paddle Hawaii – Update on the event

Posted 13 years ago

The guys that are running the Battle of the Paddle Stand Up Paddle race in Hawaii have just released the latest information on the event. Looks like it is going to be really good, but if you can't make it they are broadcasting it live on the web. [Link]

Matt Becker and Zane Schweitzer dominate Surftech Surf & Sand Duel-athlon and Shootout

Posted 13 years ago

The 3rd Annual Surftech Stand Up Paddle Shootout and 1st Annual Surf & Sand Duel-athlon went off last weekend despite Mother Nature's impressive attempts to shut it down! The event was held at Santa Cruz, California 18th-20th March 2011. Bumpy seas and rough conditions mean't the event was challenging for even the most experienced SUPers. [Link]

NAISH MANA 9'0 – ULI FAT ASS QUAD 9'3"

Posted 13 years ago

Desperately needed to get in this Sunday come hell or high water, as it happened it was neither. The forecast was for two and a half feet South to South Westerly light winds with high tide at 5:17am. Not brilliant but it would do. My 9' Mana pitched up on Thursday and I wanted to see if I had made the correct decision in moving the 2011 9' Hokua on in favour of the Mana. The cunning plan was simple. Keep my 9'3 Hokua for decent, clean and meaty days, and the Mana for choppy conditions and small days to hoof about on. At least that's the plan. Today was small, therefore it was Mana time. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle in Central Portugal

Posted 13 years ago

Jason from www.supxscape.com got in touch with us at SUPGlobal and agreed to put together an article about the opportunities for SUPing in and around Central Portugal. Well known for its amazing waves Portugal also offers SUPers a chance to paddle through beautiful gorges and past medieval castles. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle event at the Lane, Santa Cruz, California

Posted 13 years ago

Surftech are holding the 3rd Annual Stand Up Paddle Shootout at the Lane in Santa Cruz, California. Check out the details, entries are now being taken, the event runs from March 18th-20th 2011. Surftech are also running a stand up paddle race, called the duel-athlon that combines SUP and running, on the 19th March 2011. [Link]

British Stand Up Paddle Association 2011

Posted 13 years ago

Richard Marsh from BSUPA has been in touch with the latest news from the organisation. If you would like to know how this national body, which is run for stand up paddlers by stand up paddlers, is going to go forward in 2011 then read on…. [Link]

Why we do it – give up the ghost – fat ass quads

Posted 13 years ago

SUPGlobal blogger Steve Coram gets an inflatable Stand Up Paddle board, the ULI quad: THE FAT ASS OF THE ULI FAT ASS 9'3 X33" The amazing run of swell over the last few weeks finally petered out in time to coincide with my day off. So whilst everyone has been coming in and telling me what bloody good waves that they have been slicing up I have been keeping an eye on Magicseaweed and hoping that the swell would stay Northerly, the Easteries would drop to a manageable sub 20mph and I would be able to get my sorry ass out of bed in time for a morning session. BUT the evenings are getting longer and the mornings lighter so before and after work sessions should be on the cards soon. [Link]

Battle of the Bay Stand Up Paddle Race, San Francisco 2011

Posted 13 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Racing is getting ever more popular, the Battle of the Bay guys got in touch with us to tell us about their race event in October 2011. [Link]

Remi Quique wins the 2011 SUP contest, Dakhla Festival

Posted 13 years ago

Matt Argyle & Steve Palier reports: The Dakhla Stand Up Paddle Surfing contest, held in Western Sahara, was started right after the shortboard contest on February 26th 2011, the contest was held in perfect conditions at Foum Labouir. Long and hollow waves, breaking at a good five feet with a light sideshore wind. [Link]

Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championships 2011, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Posted 13 years ago

C4 Waterman has once again teamed up with the Aspen Kayak & SUP Academy and EnviroAction Productions to produce the 2011 Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship. It will be held on June 11th 2011, at Glenwood Springs, Colorado. This exciting competition was the first whitewater stand up paddling event ever held and draws the top river SUPers from around the country. [Link]

Review of XM Leashes for Stand Up Paddle Surfing

Posted 13 years ago

Andy from Air Head/XM leashes dropped round two new products for us to have a look at. First of we have a XM Tangle Free 10ft surfing leash with a difference (more on that later) and a XM Power Clip 10ft coil leash. So a leash is a leash is a leash right? Well that is what I thought until I tried out these two beauties. [Link]

World Kayak Champion Jay Kincaid signs with LPC

Posted 13 years ago

When Michael from LPC first sent this through to us my first thought was wow – check out that stand up paddle board! It looks like a race winner to me, lets hope we can get our hands on one to try it out! [Link]

One day in February, SUP West Wittering

Posted 13 years ago

We sit and we wait most of the year, it is usually either the wind we hear during the winter, or in the summer the long flat spell, which means that we head into the harbour or paddle up and down the coast, but February is fast becoming the month of swell. [Link]

Karen Wrenn Paddles into History with 150 Mile Channel Islands Crossing

Posted 13 years ago

We have got news that Karen Wrenn has completed her remarkable stand up paddle crossing around the channel islands off the Southern California coast. [Link]

New Boards In – New Boards Out Sundays Session

Posted 13 years ago

What a week!! The new ULI Fat Ass gets officially launched and I think – that's got to be worth a wiggle – a 9'3" x 33" that looks like it surf's reasonably well and with a few 'D' rings added to the front should take a fishing box and at 33" wide ought to be stable enough to double up for that task. Theoretically that means I can get away with just taking one inflatable away with me regardless of conditions and maybe make some use of it through the summer at home as well. The fishing is something that I have been meaning to play around with a bit more and the heavier built FAQ should lend itself nicely to that. [Link]

Want to be a stand up paddle instructor?

Posted 13 years ago

The British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA) have been in touch about thier latest set of instructor courses. Last year they trained over 50 instructors from both the UK and Ireland. This is Europes first SUP instructor scheme. [Link]

The Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge

Posted 13 years ago

Check out the next generation of stand up paddler surfers absolutely ripping it up in the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge. Congratulations to 14 year old Bernd Roediger from Maui who took first place. [Link]

Kai Lenny wins the Sunset Pro

Posted 13 years ago

Kai Lenny, not content with winning the Stand Up World Tour in 2010 has taken also started out his 2011 season in fine style by winning the Sunset Pro, on Oahu, Hawaii. [Link]

Review of Werner Bent Shaft Paddle

Posted 13 years ago

Werner released a bent shaft paddle last year, aimed at the racing and flat water stand up paddle crew we got our hands on one to review. [Link]

Battle of the Paddle, Oahu, Hawaii May 14 & 15 2011

Posted 13 years ago

Battle of the paddle is back for 2011 with details of the event in Hawaii now released. May 14th and 15th on Oahu is where the action will take place: [Link]

Karen Wrenn to Complete First Ever 150 Mile Channel Islands Crossing

Posted 13 years ago

The girls are really going for it in the Stand Up Paddle world at the moment. Karen Wrenn is planning huge challenge. Just for our stand up paddle surfers in the UK – the Channel Islands that are being refered to here are in California – not the Bay of Biscay! [Link]

Gillian Gibree Joins Forces with Vertra

Posted 13 years ago

Given the recent rise of the lady paddlers on the stand up paddle forums it was timely to receive this press release from the Elemental Resistance Sunscreen folks about Gillian Gilbree joining the team. [Link]

The Sunset Beach Pro will begin on the 6th February

Posted 13 years ago

With the Hawaiian winter swells now in full swing, the Sunset Beach Pro is just around the corner, with the start scheduled for Sunday 6th February. Tension is rising as the athletes prepare to do battle at one of the world's most infamous and challenging waves. [Link]

ULI PROTOTYPE 8'11" Sshh you ain't seen me right!

Posted 13 years ago

I'm always pestering ULI for new boards and Jim,Chris and the guys being the nice people that they are sent me a pre-production prototype to shut me up for a while.

As I started writing this (Late November) I still do not know how much of it, if any is going to be published. As mellow and easy going as the ULI guy's are when a board comes with a warning like – [Link]

ULI Munoz Nicaragua Costa Rica

Posted 13 years ago

So long story made short – here goes – we fly into Managua in Nicaragua, rent a 4×4 drive to our beach, stay a night, drive to the border drop the 4×4 off, get totally ass raped by touts at the border, hand our passports over to some unknown quasi official, get them stamped with exit stamps, walk across the border to Costa Rica Immigration, drive to Nosara, drink a beer and think how lucky we are to be at Casa Romantica and then start to worry how the hell we are going to fly out in three weeks when we have non transferable Continental tickets from Managua. Fun Fun Fun. [Link]

BSUPA AGM announced for 2011

Posted 13 years ago

It is time for the British Stand Up Paddle Association AGM again, it seems to come round so quickly! I am proud to be have been a director since the beginning, and chairman for last two years, especially as BSUPA was the first national body set up to represent SUP in the world. However the time has come for me to step down from the board and get back onto my board if you will excuse the pun. [Link]

New Years Day – Glass

Posted 13 years ago

Had a quiet'ish new years eve, packing the kit ready for our holiday, two boards, paddles rods and reels and a ton of other stuff that all needs to pack down into a couple of 23kg holdalls. No bother.

Forecast was looking great for New Year's day – and it was spot on, 2-3 foot and clean as a pin – no wind. I swapped out the rear Quad fins on the 9'0 and popped in a single 8" longboard fin hoping that it would steady up the board a bit. It did. That and a slightly shorter 8' and thinner leash and the change in the boards manners was amazing. Stable and quick to accelerate it was beginning to feel familiar and comfortable. Phew!! The 9'0 is definitely borderline for me and I would say a step on from the 9'3, the larger fin evened out some of the differences between the two boards but the nose would sink away at the first sign of incorrect weighting making foot placement more critical than the 9'3. I probably only fell about four times today when holding station – hopefully that will get better. [Link]

Naish 9'0 Hokua versus the Christmas Coma

Posted 13 years ago

I started writing this entry on the 8th December, funny how things can conspire against you sometimes, I'm now posting it on the 28th December. Christmas has come and gone and no doubt the shops will shortly be crammed full of Easter eggs. The joys of consumerism! Anyway back to the 12th. [Link]

NAISH MANA Morphs into 9' HOKUA – REEF LIVE

Posted 13 years ago

There seems to be some form of synchronicity in the world of sports equipment manufacturing. Our bike launches are always around September / October with the finished product dribbling though from November to April. It would seem to be the same with paddle-boards. You get the odd few rumours and then some 'spy shots' then some outdoor shows followed by very limited stock going out through a few chosen dealers by which time the rest of us are salivating like a long term prisoner on the eve of release. Accident or design, who knows? [Link]

Weekend of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Arica

Posted 13 years ago

SUPGlobals man in Chile and Naish rider Arnaud Frennet takes us on board for a weekend of Stand Up Paddle surfing in Arica. Luckily he took along his camera to catch the action. Arica is known here as the Capital of Stand Up Paddling and this is mainly due to its great conditions which are more agreeable than in the rest of Chile (a bit warmer)but also because you can find there waves for everyone, and for every level of rider. You’ll see on the video images from Chinchorro, a very easy beach with safe small waves that the « Ariqueños » surf every day just like you’d go for your daily jogging! Very cool atmosphère. There are also more serious waves of course for more experimented like « La Isla » & « El Brazo » just a few meters from the Nautic Club and its restaurant where the families would be enjoying their time in a very familiar way. SUP Video [Link]

Waterman League to hold Stand Up Paddle race in Hilo Bay

Posted 13 years ago

The Waterman League is proud to announce that an open race in Hilo Bay will be held on the FInal Sunday of the event (19th December). The Race will be open to everyone, with 2 different board classes (14' and 12'6) and Elite, Masters, Youth and Women Classes. [Link]

Go Global for your Gland – Stand Up and Paddle your Prostate – Get stuck in and Feather up your face

Posted 13 years ago

Yeh I know, sounds like the lyrics to a bad country and western song but you are going to have to read it all to get to the bottom of it!

Sunday went pretty much according to plan, the general forecast was a bit iffy, dubious surf – light to moderate winds, spring tides and two boards to play with.

Into Gwithian first thing for a quick surf in a smallish, clean but confused swell.

A few decent ones coming through but mainly short period stuff with lots of little double ups. Interestingly there was a guy out on little Nah Skwell 8'8". Looked like he was getting to grips with it as well. Top little board.
[Link]

The Anatomy of a SUP Surf Contest

Posted 13 years ago

Why do I do them? What drives me to compete, when we could be free surfing with friends? These are questions I have often asked myself, when I think about the best times I have had surfing and the best waves, not one of them has been in a contest. Contests put a boundary around the freedom of surfing so why on earth would anyone bother? [Link]

Extreme Academy & BSUPA 2010 Series Finals 16th-17th October

Posted 13 years ago

Watergate Bay played host to the 2010 Extreme Academy / British Stand Up Paddle Association Series Finals. With its golden sands, clear ocean blue swells and its natural amphitheatre shape, it is clear why Watergate Bay is the perfect venue for so many ocean sports, including the sport of stand up paddle boarding. The main competitions to be run over the weekend would be Surf and Distance. Over the season there had been three rounds of distance racing completed, but no surf to date. This being the case it meant that a national title for surf would be won or lost by this, the deciding competition of the year. [Link]

Nah Skwell 12'6" Race – Seriously?

Posted 13 years ago

I have no idea what's going on here sometimes. There's me, in my comfy little cocoon, mooching about buying the odd one or two surf boards and pretending like I know exactly what I'm doing and that I have a grip on things when

B O O M

I end up driving up to Watergate bay to collect an ex-demo Nah Skwell 12'6 Race Board – I mean come on – me on a Flouro pink white and grey 6" thick leviathan of foam filled glass sporting a fin as big as a sail. To be honest it looked to me like something Pocahontas should be paddling down the Pamunkey River.

Actually it looked pretty cute, and after relieving Rich of his board and an amazingly light carbon Xpaddle I trogged back off to the car to load it on the roof. Thought that I was done with that sort of stuff.

John Hibbard busted me just as I got into the car park.

‘It’s not mine honest mister'

I lied – well actually it wasn't yet.

‘I’m just looking after it for a friend'

‘Why am I explaining myself to this man? He is a mine of information, just shut up and listen.'

We had a quick chat and conscious of the fact that Charmaine wanted to get something from her only day off as well we booted off.

Having done all the stuff that I should do I drove down to Carbis bay to beast the beast. Cos it was going to be easy right? Wrong!!

Something Rich had said that I dismissed out of hand at Watergate came drifting back into my consciousness as I wobbled, corrected, over corrected and teetered my way off the Beach. Something about being wobbly at first. Really!!!
The board tip's like it's going to roll totally but then gets to a point and tightens up, by which time I had already corrected my foot weighting, pitching me over to the other side. Ok,ok, relax and paddle and relax and paddle – there we go, phew that was a bit of a shock.

The bottom of the NS126R has a well defined keel that gets very prominent towards it's well defined prow (do surfboard's have prows? This one does). In fact everything about this board is well defined, not least the colour scheme, which I have to admit was beginning to grow on me.

Other than a 2 minute paddle on Steve Carter's Starboard Point a year or so ago I have never been on a race board so I did to it exactly what I thought a race board would need. I gave it beans. Rich had lent me a new carbon XPaddle and we were getting on just fine, I felt that even with the insanely high standing position afforded by the NS126r's deck the paddle was a tad too long but it was so light and easy to swing even with the bigger blade than my Nitro sports. The shaft was super skinny and round, which I like, and even allowing for the fact that there was no grip on the shaft I really dug the 'steely stiff' feel of paddle. Might have to fight me for that one Rich.

Once I got the roll – hold – roll thing under control we made steady progress out into St Ives Bay. I had my iphone running with a gps app but like a total twat with fat fingers I had failed to correctly press the 'GO' button at the start so that was a waste of time. I had wrapped the phone in yards of polythene bag and popped it into a water proof bum bag. Have to get that sorted.

Once I decided that I was going to blow my tits off if I kept up the stroke and weight that I started with I settled down and began to enjoy myself. I messed about with my cadence, I counted my strokes per side, I took some pictures and I began to wish that I had brought some fishing gear. This board's a blast. It's pretty much flat calm, dead loss for surf and here I was in the middle of St Ives bay feeling pretty much in control of things thinking

‘This has got potential'.

Black Cliffs

Turning at the Channel Markers

Hayle River Mouth

I kept a heading for Godrevy across the bay and when I got level with Black Cliffs I turned for the Channel markers. Heading back the very light breeze was now on my shoulders and the board seemed to sing with the lightest of paddle strokes. I wish the gps had been working as the feeling of speed during this leg was significant.

Skirting the beach back past Hawke's Point, I started to dig deeper and faster on the home stretch. I was really enjoying this. Beaching the board I thought that I would drop off the phone and then just ass about and test the tilt factor, plus I was so hot I needed to get in the water as up till now my hair was still dry and I was poaching in my summer suit.

The second loop took me off the beach and out of the bay past Sunny Corner towards St Ives. I stepped back on the board as far as I dared and paddled a couple of left and right 360' turns. Again the board would lean, tighten up and correct. My hair stayed dry.

I have to admit I have no idea what to look for in a board like this. I have no benchmark and no comprehension of what is good bad or indifferent, but I know that I enjoyed it and in the short time, 80 minutes or so that I was on it I knew that I was going to be blanking a lot less this winter, and that has to be a good thing.

Walking back up the beach to the car I thought 'The handles in the right place', how good is that? If a company can get it right on a board over 12 long even factoring in a fin and leash . . . .

Ok I have not been over the board with a fine tooth comb but there are some really nice touches dotted about. For instance – the detailing on the deck. There were two pairs of fittings up front for I believe additional handles which I'm already planning to use as hold downs for a fishing box. There is a vent screw and an additional leash plug part way up the deck, one more and I will be able to use straps to carry the board. JP If you read this can I fit an additional leash plug in the deck forward of the handle recess? If so How??

So there we are – From a lame sort of Google Earth reckoning that first trip was a tad under five miles and loads more to come from this baby I think. I'm already loving it and thinking about waterproof iphone packs, tackle box attachments etc etc etc . . just wish I knew what the hell I was talking about. [Link]

Happy Reflective SUP Birthday to me

Posted 13 years ago

I just got back from an early Sunday morning 'nothing to shout about' session and re-read my first ever post on this blog http://csx355.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html and realised that it was pretty much three years ago to the day that I bought my first Stand Up board a Jimmy Lewis 11'from Tim at the Longboard house, and started down this road. Seems longer somehow. [Link]

Review of the Gerry Lopez Lil Darling 8’11 Surftech SUP

Posted 13 years ago

There are great expectations when you get on any kind of surf craft that bears the name of Gerry Lopez. The man is an absolute legend in the surfing community, born in 1948 in Hawaii Gerry Lopez is known as Mr Pipeline after winning the 1972 and 1973 Pipeline Masters on the North Shore of Oahu. Gerry’s style is so smooth and relaxed in the most critical of situations. He once described taking off into the sledging barrels of Pipeline a “cake walk”. [Link]

Werner Paddles Bent Shaft SUP released

Posted 13 years ago

I saw some of these stand up paddles in the footage from the Dana Point 2010 Battle of the Paddle. I thought at the time that they looked pretty decent and I was wondering who the manufacturer was, it turns out to be Werner Paddles. Jim sent over this press release about the new stand up paddle. [Link]

Review of the Nah Skwell 8ft 8" Surf SUP board

Posted 13 years ago

To start off this review I will make a very bold statement. I believe this board to be the most advanced SUP surf shape on the market today. Wow – those are pretty bold words! So what on earth has made me come to this conclusion? [Link]

Battle of the Paddle 2010 Dana Point

Posted 13 years ago

The biggest event in the stand up paddle race calendar was held on 2nd-3rd October at Dana Point, California. It is of course the Battle of the Paddle 2010. So what happened – read all about it here and watch the video. It was a Danny Ching repeat at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle California, Presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, as the Redondo Beach paddling powerhouse took out today's 10-mile distance race. Ching added another $1,100 to his weekend wallet, and his fourth Battle of the Paddle title for 2010 after claiming both the elite and distance stand up paddle (SUP) races this weekend, and in Hawaii back in June. [Link]

Extreme Academy/BUSPA 2010 Series Finals, Watergate Bay, Cornwall October 16th/17th.

Posted 13 years ago


UPDATED 11th October. With less than a week to go I am pleased to announce all things are in place for this years, and ready for the final SUP show down of the year, to be held at Watergate Bay.

With no wave competitions to date this year, Watergate Bay will see the best Wave paddleboards going all out for fame and glory and a chance to become 2010 BSUPA National Wave Champion. Like wise the distance is by no means over yet, and an open sea distance race will surely make the winner a worthy champion.
[Link]

Review of the Surftech 12ft 6" Mitcho and Bark Competitor 12ft 6”

Posted 13 years ago

Paul Burgess and Simon Bassett review Surftech's latest stand up paddle race boards that fall into the 12ft 6" race category, the Bark Competitor (12'6 x 29") and Surftech Mitcho (12'6×27"). [Link]

UK Premieres of the Oxbow Waterman Experience Film

Posted 13 years ago

Next week the sensational film from Oxbow, The Watermen Experience, is coming to the UK and you can attend any of the premieres for free!

The film follows Laird Hamilton, Jason Polakow, Kai Lenny, Levi Siver and Duane Desoto during the winter season of 2009/10 in Maui, Hawaii as they explore new and exciting ways to ride the most intensely challenging waves in the world. [Link]

SPT Locking Roof Rack Straps Review

Posted 13 years ago

When you spend a lot of hard earned cash on stand up paddle boards or surfboards you want to know that your investment is not going to be stolen from the roof of your car when you are parked up checking the surf. Lockable roof racks have been on the market for many years now, but lockable roof rack straps are the next logical step in protecting your equipment from theft. [Link]

Saint Martin/Sint Maarten Stand Up Paddle Caribbean style

Posted 13 years ago

Saint Martin or Sint Maarten is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300km east of Pueto Rico and less than four hours flying time from New York. It is approximately 67km2 with the island geographically split 40%/60% between the Netherlands and France. Although the Netherlands has a smaller proportion of the island they have more inhabitants (38,927 apparently). So that explains why the Island has two names, but what has that got to do with Stand Up Paddle ? [Link]

Saint Martin/Sint Maarten Stand Up Paddle Caribbean style

Posted 13 years ago

Saint Martin or Sint Maarten is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300km east of Pueto Rico and less than four hours flying time from New York. It is approximately 67km2 with the island geographically split 40%/60% between the Netherlands and France. Although the Netherlands has a smaller proportion of the island they have more inhabitants (38,927 apparently). So that explains why the Island has two names, but what has that got to do with Stand Up Paddle ? Well recently Oswen Corbel, the owner of www.caribbeanpaddling.com got in touch to tell us all about the island and the fantastic opportunities it presents for SUP. The pictures are stunning, but I will let Oswen tell you all about it: St Martin counts 34 beaches, which feature mangrove areas, wave surfing and flatwater. The best SUP place to start is in the Marine Park, in the North East of the French side. Between December and March, the winter tradewinds come and it's a good place for windsurfing and kitesurfing. It's also the high season for the cruiseships and tourists. The rest of the year, the wind calms down, and it's time to paddle! Without the rush of the tourists, it is very quiet. St Martin/St Maarten has got tons of terrific stand up paddling places. SUP is not really developped so there are lots of new beaches and areas to explore, and you can rent easily some baords and paddles without any problem. Pinel Island is a well-known destination in St Martin. It's a flatwater place, with a sandbar where you can paddle safely with the family and observe pelicans, stingrays and turtles. It is one of the best places on St Martin. If you decide to go to Pinel Island, you'll find 3 restaurants, 3 beaches and panoramic views. This island is in the Marine Park and it's protected. Go to the Galion bay and surf almost all the year! Be careful because of the reef bar and the other surfers, it's a little busy!! Show respect and be friendly to the locals. Try Wilderness, the most radical surf spot on the island where you can surf in the heart of the marine park. In this high-protected place, you surf with nature alongside you. A challenging wave, but amazing!! Caye Verte, which is also in the Marine Park, has waves that are small and easy. Get to the ocean side of the beach, and you can sit on the sand, with an amazing view of Tintamarre Island and St Barthelemy Follow the cliffs at Red Bay and SUP under the natural arches and meet the barracuda, owner of the place. Plum Bay is another great spot for SUP. It has an easy longboard wave which is perfect for SUP surfing, all in front of beautiful billionaires houses. About Oswen: Oswen Corbel is a owner of Caribbean Paddling, located at Cul de Sac, thebest place to go to paddle on Pinel Island. As a sea lover, windsurfer, kayaker and stand up paddler he came to the island of St Martin 3 years ago. After a season in Orient Bay also known as the "St Tropez of the Caribbean", he decided to create his own company. His goal is to provide gear to explore the best places, with an ecological conscience. travel/stmartin/gallery [Link]

BSUPA AGM announced for 2011

Posted 13 years ago

It is time for the British Stand Up Paddle Association AGM again, it seems to come round so quickly! I am proud to be have been a director since the beginning, and chairman for last two years, especially as BSUPA was the first national body set up to represent SUP in the world. However the time has come for me to step down from the board and get back onto my board if you will excuse the pun. [Link]

New Years Day – Glass

Posted 13 years ago

Had a quiet'ish new years eve, packing the kit ready for our holiday, two boards, paddles rods and reels and a ton of other stuff that all needs to pack down into a couple of 23kg holdalls. No bother.

Forecast was looking great for New Year's day – and it was spot on, 2-3 foot and clean as a pin – no wind. I swapped out the rear Quad fins on the 9'0 and popped in a single 8" longboard fin hoping that it would steady up the board a bit. It did. That and a slightly shorter 8' and thinner leash and the change in the boards manners was amazing. Stable and quick to accelerate it was beginning to feel familiar and comfortable. Phew!! The 9'0 is definitely borderline for me and I would say a step on from the 9'3, the larger fin evened out some of the differences between the two boards but the nose would sink away at the first sign of incorrect weighting making foot placement more critical than the 9'3. I probably only fell about four times today when holding station – hopefully that will get better. [Link]

Naish 9'0 Hokua versus the Christmas Coma

Posted 13 years ago

I started writing this entry on the 8th December, funny how things can conspire against you sometimes, I'm now posting it on the 28th December. Christmas has come and gone and no doubt the shops will shortly be crammed full of Easter eggs. The joys of consumerism! Anyway back to the 12th. [Link]

NAISH MANA Morphs into 9' HOKUA – REEF LIVE

Posted 13 years ago

There seems to be some form of synchronicity in the world of sports equipment manufacturing. Our bike launches are always around September / October with the finished product dribbling though from November to April. It would seem to be the same with paddle-boards. You get the odd few rumours and then some 'spy shots' then some outdoor shows followed by very limited stock going out through a few chosen dealers by which time the rest of us are salivating like a long term prisoner on the eve of release. Accident or design, who knows? [Link]

Go Global for your Gland – Stand Up and Paddle your Prostate – Get stuck in and Feather up your face

Posted 13 years ago

Yeh I know, sounds like the lyrics to a bad country and western song but you are going to have to read it all to get to the bottom of it!

Sunday went pretty much according to plan, the general forecast was a bit iffy, dubious surf – light to moderate winds, spring tides and two boards to play with.

Into Gwithian first thing for a quick surf in a smallish, clean but confused swell.

A few decent ones coming through but mainly short period stuff with lots of little double ups. Interestingly there was a guy out on little Nah Skwell 8'8". Looked like he was getting to grips with it as well. Top little board.
[Link]

Weekend of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Arica

Posted 13 years ago

SUPGlobals man in Chile and Naish rider Arnaud Frennet takes us on board for a weekend of Stand Up Paddle surfing in Arica. Luckily he took along his camera to catch the action. Arica is known here as the Capital of Stand Up Paddling and this is mainly due to its great conditions which are more agreeable than in the rest of Chile (a bit warmer)but also because you can find there waves for everyone, and for every level of rider. You’ll see on the video images from Chinchorro, a very easy beach with safe small waves that the « Ariqueños » surf every day just like you’d go for your daily jogging! Very cool atmosphère. There are also more serious waves of course for more experimented like « La Isla » & « El Brazo » just a few meters from the Nautic Club and its restaurant where the families would be enjoying their time in a very familiar way. SUP Video [Link]

Waterman League to hold Stand Up Paddle race in Hilo Bay

Posted 13 years ago

The Waterman League is proud to announce that an open race in Hilo Bay will be held on the FInal Sunday of the event (19th December). The Race will be open to everyone, with 2 different board classes (14' and 12'6) and Elite, Masters, Youth and Women Classes. [Link]

The Anatomy of a SUP Surf Contest

Posted 13 years ago

Why do I do them? What drives me to compete, when we could be free surfing with friends? These are questions I have often asked myself, when I think about the best times I have had surfing and the best waves, not one of them has been in a contest. Contests put a boundary around the freedom of surfing so why on earth would anyone bother? [Link]

Extreme Academy & BSUPA 2010 Series Finals 16th-17th October

Posted 13 years ago

Watergate Bay played host to the 2010 Extreme Academy / British Stand Up Paddle Association Series Finals. With its golden sands, clear ocean blue swells and its natural amphitheatre shape, it is clear why Watergate Bay is the perfect venue for so many ocean sports, including the sport of stand up paddle boarding. The main competitions to be run over the weekend would be Surf and Distance. Over the season there had been three rounds of distance racing completed, but no surf to date. This being the case it meant that a national title for surf would be won or lost by this, the deciding competition of the year. [Link]

Nah Skwell 12'6" Race – Seriously?

Posted 13 years ago

I have no idea what's going on here sometimes. There's me, in my comfy little cocoon, mooching about buying the odd one or two surf boards and pretending like I know exactly what I'm doing and that I have a grip on things when

B O O M

I end up driving up to Watergate bay to collect an ex-demo Nah Skwell 12'6 Race Board – I mean come on – me on a Flouro pink white and grey 6" thick leviathan of foam filled glass sporting a fin as big as a sail. To be honest it looked to me like something Pocahontas should be paddling down the Pamunkey River.

Actually it looked pretty cute, and after relieving Rich of his board and an amazingly light carbon Xpaddle I trogged back off to the car to load it on the roof. Thought that I was done with that sort of stuff.

John Hibbard busted me just as I got into the car park.

‘It’s not mine honest mister'

I lied – well actually it wasn't yet.

‘I’m just looking after it for a friend'

‘Why am I explaining myself to this man? He is a mine of information, just shut up and listen.'

We had a quick chat and conscious of the fact that Charmaine wanted to get something from her only day off as well we booted off.

Having done all the stuff that I should do I drove down to Carbis bay to beast the beast. Cos it was going to be easy right? Wrong!!

Something Rich had said that I dismissed out of hand at Watergate came drifting back into my consciousness as I wobbled, corrected, over corrected and teetered my way off the Beach. Something about being wobbly at first. Really!!!
The board tip's like it's going to roll totally but then gets to a point and tightens up, by which time I had already corrected my foot weighting, pitching me over to the other side. Ok,ok, relax and paddle and relax and paddle – there we go, phew that was a bit of a shock.

The bottom of the NS126R has a well defined keel that gets very prominent towards it's well defined prow (do surfboard's have prows? This one does). In fact everything about this board is well defined, not least the colour scheme, which I have to admit was beginning to grow on me.

Other than a 2 minute paddle on Steve Carter's Starboard Point a year or so ago I have never been on a race board so I did to it exactly what I thought a race board would need. I gave it beans. Rich had lent me a new carbon XPaddle and we were getting on just fine, I felt that even with the insanely high standing position afforded by the NS126r's deck the paddle was a tad too long but it was so light and easy to swing even with the bigger blade than my Nitro sports. The shaft was super skinny and round, which I like, and even allowing for the fact that there was no grip on the shaft I really dug the 'steely stiff' feel of paddle. Might have to fight me for that one Rich.

Once I got the roll – hold – roll thing under control we made steady progress out into St Ives Bay. I had my iphone running with a gps app but like a total twat with fat fingers I had failed to correctly press the 'GO' button at the start so that was a waste of time. I had wrapped the phone in yards of polythene bag and popped it into a water proof bum bag. Have to get that sorted.

Once I decided that I was going to blow my tits off if I kept up the stroke and weight that I started with I settled down and began to enjoy myself. I messed about with my cadence, I counted my strokes per side, I took some pictures and I began to wish that I had brought some fishing gear. This board's a blast. It's pretty much flat calm, dead loss for surf and here I was in the middle of St Ives bay feeling pretty much in control of things thinking

‘This has got potential'.

Black Cliffs

Turning at the Channel Markers

Hayle River Mouth

I kept a heading for Godrevy across the bay and when I got level with Black Cliffs I turned for the Channel markers. Heading back the very light breeze was now on my shoulders and the board seemed to sing with the lightest of paddle strokes. I wish the gps had been working as the feeling of speed during this leg was significant.

Skirting the beach back past Hawke's Point, I started to dig deeper and faster on the home stretch. I was really enjoying this. Beaching the board I thought that I would drop off the phone and then just ass about and test the tilt factor, plus I was so hot I needed to get in the water as up till now my hair was still dry and I was poaching in my summer suit.

The second loop took me off the beach and out of the bay past Sunny Corner towards St Ives. I stepped back on the board as far as I dared and paddled a couple of left and right 360' turns. Again the board would lean, tighten up and correct. My hair stayed dry.

I have to admit I have no idea what to look for in a board like this. I have no benchmark and no comprehension of what is good bad or indifferent, but I know that I enjoyed it and in the short time, 80 minutes or so that I was on it I knew that I was going to be blanking a lot less this winter, and that has to be a good thing.

Walking back up the beach to the car I thought 'The handles in the right place', how good is that? If a company can get it right on a board over 12 long even factoring in a fin and leash . . . .

Ok I have not been over the board with a fine tooth comb but there are some really nice touches dotted about. For instance – the detailing on the deck. There were two pairs of fittings up front for I believe additional handles which I'm already planning to use as hold downs for a fishing box. There is a vent screw and an additional leash plug part way up the deck, one more and I will be able to use straps to carry the board. JP If you read this can I fit an additional leash plug in the deck forward of the handle recess? If so How??

So there we are – From a lame sort of Google Earth reckoning that first trip was a tad under five miles and loads more to come from this baby I think. I'm already loving it and thinking about waterproof iphone packs, tackle box attachments etc etc etc . . just wish I knew what the hell I was talking about. [Link]

Battle of the Paddle 2010 Dana Point

Posted 13 years ago

The biggest event in the stand up paddle race calendar was held on 2nd-3rd October at Dana Point, California. It is of course the Battle of the Paddle 2010. So what happened – read all about it here and watch the video. It was a Danny Ching repeat at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle California, Presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, as the Redondo Beach paddling powerhouse took out today's 10-mile distance race. Ching added another $1,100 to his weekend wallet, and his fourth Battle of the Paddle title for 2010 after claiming both the elite and distance stand up paddle (SUP) races this weekend, and in Hawaii back in June. [Link]

Happy Reflective SUP Birthday to me

Posted 13 years ago

I just got back from an early Sunday morning 'nothing to shout about' session and re-read my first ever post on this blog http://csx355.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html and realised that it was pretty much three years ago to the day that I bought my first Stand Up board a Jimmy Lewis 11'from Tim at the Longboard house, and started down this road. Seems longer somehow. [Link]

Review of the Gerry Lopez Lil Darling 8’11 Surftech SUP

Posted 13 years ago

There are great expectations when you get on any kind of surf craft that bears the name of Gerry Lopez. The man is an absolute legend in the surfing community, born in 1948 in Hawaii Gerry Lopez is known as Mr Pipeline after winning the 1972 and 1973 Pipeline Masters on the North Shore of Oahu. Gerry’s style is so smooth and relaxed in the most critical of situations. He once described taking off into the sledging barrels of Pipeline a “cake walk”. [Link]

Werner Paddles Bent Shaft SUP released

Posted 13 years ago

I saw some of these stand up paddles in the footage from the Dana Point 2010 Battle of the Paddle. I thought at the time that they looked pretty decent and I was wondering who the manufacturer was, it turns out to be Werner Paddles. Jim sent over this press release about the new stand up paddle. [Link]

Review of the Nah Skwell 8ft 8" Surf SUP board

Posted 13 years ago

To start off this review I will make a very bold statement. I believe this board to be the most advanced SUP surf shape on the market today. Wow – those are pretty bold words! So what on earth has made me come to this conclusion? [Link]

Extreme Academy/BUSPA 2010 Series Finals, Watergate Bay, Cornwall October 16th/17th.

Posted 13 years ago


UPDATED 11th October. With less than a week to go I am pleased to announce all things are in place for this years, and ready for the final SUP show down of the year, to be held at Watergate Bay.

With no wave competitions to date this year, Watergate Bay will see the best Wave paddleboards going all out for fame and glory and a chance to become 2010 BSUPA National Wave Champion. Like wise the distance is by no means over yet, and an open sea distance race will surely make the winner a worthy champion.
[Link]

Review of the Surftech 12ft 6" Mitcho and Bark Competitor 12ft 6”

Posted 13 years ago

Paul Burgess and Simon Bassett review Surftech's latest stand up paddle race boards that fall into the 12ft 6" race category, the Bark Competitor (12'6 x 29") and Surftech Mitcho (12'6×27"). [Link]

UK Premieres of the Oxbow Waterman Experience Film

Posted 14 years ago

Next week the sensational film from Oxbow, The Watermen Experience, is coming to the UK and you can attend any of the premieres for free!

The film follows Laird Hamilton, Jason Polakow, Kai Lenny, Levi Siver and Duane Desoto during the winter season of 2009/10 in Maui, Hawaii as they explore new and exciting ways to ride the most intensely challenging waves in the world. [Link]

SPT Locking Roof Rack Straps Review

Posted 14 years ago

When you spend a lot of hard earned cash on stand up paddle boards or surfboards you want to know that your investment is not going to be stolen from the roof of your car when you are parked up checking the surf. Lockable roof racks have been on the market for many years now, but lockable roof rack straps are the next logical step in protecting your equipment from theft. [Link]

Cold Chile Waves – Stand Up Paddle Surfing Heaven

Posted 14 years ago

Sometime you have to let the pictures do the talking. Our man in Chile, Naish rider Arnaud Frennet has been tackling giant, freezing, lefthand waves at , Punta De Lobos, Pichilemu, while we have been basking in a Northern Hemisphere summer, with small sloppy waves. Pichilemu is regarded as one of the best spots and most consistant spots in Chile to surf. Arnaud takes over the story: [Link]

Nah Skwell 8'8"

Posted 14 years ago

Knowing that I only had a few days to try the NS 88 I was hoping for a bit of a let up in the weather, we had the swell but along with it was 15 – 20mph onshore winds. That coupled with pretty much bang on low tides after work meant just one thing at Gwithian. Hideous, dumpy closeouts, (is that three things?). Anyway the forecast was looking better for Thursday, so in true forward planning style I decided to give it a bash mid beach on Wednesday night. [Link]

It's been a while

Posted 14 years ago

It's not because I've not been surfing, in fact even while I was vanless I still managed to get out on the ULI Lopez carried in a rucsac on my little Honda 250. Great fun and a fantastic way to stick two fingers up to the principle of 24hour car parking charges recently imposed at Gwithian.(You can't put a pay and display ticket on a motorbike). [Link]

Crossing the English Channel by Stand Up Paddle Board

Posted 14 years ago

On Friday 25 June Simon Bassett owner of 2XS / X-train and BSUPA head coach, Matt Argyle BSUPA Ranked 2nd overall 2009 and Jock Patterson, BSUPA champ 2009 set a new record for paddle surfing across The English Channel. The relay from Dover to Calais took just over 5 hours 38 minutes (it took Laird Hamilton 7 hours after he ran from London to Dover !) The record which is currently being ratified should stand as a new relay Guinness World Record. This will be confirmed in the next few weeks. [Link]

Isle De Oleron and Isle De Re, France

Posted 14 years ago

Tez tells us about this trip to stand up paddle in France. Having spent a few holidays in the past down in the usual spots of SW France (Biarrtiz, Anglet, Hossegor etc) I thought it was high time that a visit should be paid to the Charentes Maritime area and it's two islands. This is mainly due to the curiosity factor of wanting to compare the conditions you get on those islands to the conditions we get here on our island (Hayling) Plus the fact we both needed a holiday and had never been to this area before. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Venice with RRD 27th June 2010

Posted 14 years ago

RRD International in collaboration with Nissan and the CITY OF VENICE and participation of INVENICE a.s.d. AICS and Remiera Settemari Venezia is really proud to announce to the family and the world a new incoming great event: [Link]

Hurry up and wait

Posted 14 years ago

We are still waiting to hear whether we are going to get the go today for crossing the English Channel by stand up paddle board tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd June). The concerns of the team last week have been realised as the wind looks like it will shift from Northerly to Southerly tomorrow meaning it will be in our faces so we are 50/50 as to whether it is worth an attempt. Trying to convey, across a phone, how a downwinder on a SUP board works has been pretty frustrating. Our main friend has been http://www.xcweather.co.uk which is has proved accurate and an excellent resource. [Link]

Battle of the Paddle Hawaii 2010 Results

Posted 14 years ago

Stand-up paddling (SUP) came full circle back to its home of Waikiki, Hawaii, this weekend (June 13th 2010), surpassing every conceivable expectation with the ultimate combination of sport and lifestyle. Over 600 paddlers from around the world gathered for the inaugural Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawaii, presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, and thousands turned out to watch. When all was said and done, everyone had a story to tell. [Link]

Review of the Kialoa Methane Stand Up Paddle

Posted 14 years ago

We review the Kialoa Methane paddle and find it to our liking. This paddle is slightly narrower than some others on the market, it is targeted at women and surfers, but it has become the distance paddle of choice for a lot of racers. [Link]

BSUPA Event 2 – Roadford 29th May

Posted 14 years ago

Following on from the successful first BSUPA race of the series at West Wittering BSUPA are proud to be running the next distance race in conjunction with The Environment Agency and Share the Smile. [Link]

Stand Up World Tour – Anglet, France

Posted 14 years ago

Despite struggling with conditions that have gone from pretty classic to completely flat the Stand Up World Tour, in Anglet, France, now has announced the trialists that have made it through the surfing heats and have got into the second round of the main event. [Link]

SAS Crossing – Advice from Laird Hamilton

Posted 14 years ago

Well the training had a bit of a bump at the end of February, up until then it was going really well, if a little boring, due to the amount of time spent in the gym. I had lined up a series of 5km running races in February and March at least give me some motivation to keep going, these went pretty well all things considered, I certainly thrashed myself, but I did not beat my personal best that I achieved four years ago, still I was please with completing the races in around 19 minutes.

[Link]

Review of the Surf Tech Bark 14ft Expedition

Posted 14 years ago

Oh my God, this thing glides ! This will probably be the first thing that you think when you get your hands on one of these stand up paddle boards. I have moved up from a 12ft board and I was not expecting the extra 2 ft to make that much difference. How wrong can you be. When you first get the board you are looking at something that resembles an oversized gun surfboard. It is 14ft long and 30 inches wide. At the thickest point it is 5 inches. The board comes with ten screw inserts, four of which have neoprene covered handles screwed in, there is plenty of options to pimp the board with water bottle carriers, GPS and cargo nets. The handles are on the front of the board, so the first thing I did was to move them to the mid section where I can use them to help put the board on the rack. The board has two leash plugs on the back, and hurrah, a carry handle that is actually in the right place. Well done Bark/Surftech. It comes with an 8 inch fin. At first we thought that was too small and we should put in a more specific distance fin in, but after messing around with a few different configurations (and hearing Simon cursing behind me as he caught every bit of sea weed going), we went back to the standard Surftech fin which seems to work fine, especially when picking up off shore running swells. [Link]

Review of the Curve Lock Down Soft Roof Rack System

Posted 14 years ago

The Curve Lock Down roof rack strap system is an excellent bit of kit. It looks a bit more “technical” than other systems I have used, but it help an SUP board and two surf boards on two different types of car (one with roof bars and one without). It is one of these systems that are described as soft roof racks or soft racks, that do not need an actual rack to work as they either fix onto roof bars or through the doors.

The system comes in a bag that you can sling into your luggage if you are taking a flight. Once you arrive you can have it rigged onto the roof in about 5 minutes.

The first thing that you notice when you open the bag is how well made all the components are. Like all curve kit the quality is very high and all of the straps and pads are solid. The pads are excellent and they will keep you board safe and make sure that the rails do not get crushed. The only thing I would consider is putting a towel inbetween the roof and the straps to prevent sand scratching the roof. The other way of doing this is to make sure that you brush sand off before you put the straps on. A lesson learned there. [Link]

RANTS BIKES SUP'S AND KITES

Posted 14 years ago

Anyone that reads this stuff probably has a good idea by now that I have a habit – it's called compulsion. I recognise it and to be honest I celebrate it – my compulsion's are usually born from genuine passion and in my defence there have not actually been that many over the years. Fishing – Rugby – Motorbikes – Surfing – Push bikes – Triathlon and anything involving the sea, not getting bored and staving off wearing pissy smelling fleece jackets that seem to accompany the onset of middle age and terminal tedium. [Link]

First BSUPA event in 2010 UK SUP Series

Posted 14 years ago

BSUPA ROUND 1 National series
West Wittering MAY 15/16 2010
Sponsored by 2XS

The first of the BSUPA UK national series for stand up paddle surf and distance. The event will comprise of a surf event in heat format (subject to surf conditions) and a down wind distance race. We have the new board categories for racing of up to 12ft 6" (Stock category) and 12ft 7" plus (Open category). Entry is available to all BSUPA members (new members welcome) -membership is available on the day. There will free test stand up paddle boards for newcomers to try. Also there is a chance to see the latest new paddles and stand up paddle boards.

Local stand up paddle surfers Neal Gent 2008 BSUPA surf champion from Bracklesham, Bobbie Cooper ladies number two from West Wittering, Holly Bassett Junior 12 year old rider from Itchenor, Matt Argyle from Bracklesham second overall in 2009 and current ladies champion Claire Blacklock will all looking for good results. Stand up paddle surfers from all over the UK will be travelling to compete in the event.

[Link]

Stand Up Paddle Technique – The Boomerang

Posted 14 years ago

technique/boomerang/gallery:651:100:1:0 Ivan van Vuuren from Coreban takes us through a move called the boomerang, handy when you see a wave you just have to catch. So you’ve figured out how to get over waves without falling, it’s time to step it up a notch and practice the Boomerang. I’ve been doing them for about 3 years now and found it tricky at first but after a bit of practice it’s a great move that can be performed on waves 2ft or bigger and actually a great way to get on a wave face at the last second and ride the wave… Let’s take a closer look at some of the key points to successfully pulling off the move. [Link]

The aftermath – SUP in Chile after the Tsunami

Posted 14 years ago

My name is Arnaud Frennet, for those who don’t know me, I am a Naish rider for both SUP and Windsurfing based here in Chile. As you sure know we have been hit by a devastating 8.8 Earthquake, that was followed by a Tsunami. My family and myself have been very fortunate given the circumstances, despite some material damage (the tsunami reached our house in Punta de Lobos but did not destroy it…too much luck). Unfortunately around us some of our friends and neighbors did not get the same fate and lost everything. We have put all our energy into helping them for recovery. All the Surf, SUP, Kite and Windsurf community has come together to help for recovery. The most damaged area extend from Tirua to Pichilemu, which is the most famous area for those sports in Chile, and for sure one of the most intense on Earth. The tsunami hit many World Famous beaches for those sports like Curanipe, Llico, Matanzas, Pichilemu & Punta de Lobos, just to name a few. [Link]

Funky Puffin sponsors Europe’s toughest SUP race

Posted 14 years ago

Funky Puffin, the lifestyle brand that’s growing out of Jersey (Channel Islands), is the 2010 sponsor of the Paddle Round The Pier Euro-Enduro stand-up paddleboard (SUP) race, taking place on July 3rd and 4th 2010 in Brighton, England. Funky Puffin, which produces a range of eco-friendly surf and beach products, has chosen Paddle Round The Pier for its first sponsorship deal outside of the Channel Islands because it is Europe’s largest free beach festival and raises thousands of pounds for charity. The 20 mile charity SUP race in association with SurfAid International is renowned as Europe’s toughest. Competitors will race from Brighton West Pier to Worthing Pier and back in the hope of winning the £1000 prize money for first place in either of the two classes. [Link]

Review of the Kahuna Creations Big Stick

Posted 14 years ago

Dave Samuel the man behind Brighton's Paddle Round the Pier festival has been looking for something different to do on his skate board. He saw a Kahuna Creations Big Stick and decided the combination of Stand Up Paddle and skateboarding was something he had to try. Dave tells us about it: [Link]

Mctavish – The shortest time I've ever owned a board.

Posted 14 years ago

Getting back in the swing of things now – had a few Sunday, sloppy sessions at Gwithian and had my first full fat beating in the middle of the week. An evening session that had overhead surf and blistering offshores put my lack of paddle fitness to the test. Not nice and I should have known better but it's been pretty desperate and as the clocks had gone back I thought I better make the most of it. WRONG!!

One thing that was definitely right though was going to see Joan Armatrading for the start of her latest UK tour – last time we saw her was 25 years ago and we were worried that her voice may have suffered with time. Not a bit – in fact if anything it seemed even stronger and richer than before and if anything more confident on stage, however she don't say much!!! Nice mix of old and the new 'This Charming Life' album which is a bit rockier. Great stuff and totally recommended – Swear that I spotted Billie Jean King there, might be mistaken. [Link]

MMMmmmnnnn!!

Posted 14 years ago

Now that's how you store boards on holiday
And not a single baggage charge amongst them It's strange how fast things can go downhill sometimes, and how soon after your highest high's you get your lowest lows. Our Costa Rica trip was amazing, surfed everyday bar one sometimes twice a day and occasionally three times. Totally ace. But I reckon I sort of peaked in Nosara, and everything since has been cold, wet grey and painful. Here's why. [Link]

John Zapotocky 91 Years Young and the History of Stand Up Paddling

Posted 14 years ago

You may be forgiven for thinking that stand up paddling is a new sport, that has probably been around for 4 or 5 years right? Wrong, in fact the roots of our sport go right back to the man who bought surfing to the world, Duke Kahanamoku. How do we know this? Because the man that is the Godfather of stand up paddling, John Zapotocky learn't from the Duke. [Link]

Chris "Guts" Griffiths joins SurfTech Stand Up Paddle Team

Posted 14 years ago

Anyone who surfs or stand up paddle surfs in the UK will have heard the name Chris "Guts" Griffiths. Chris is a legend who has been a well known face of surfing for over 40 years, he has won over a dozen Welsh titles, split between longboard and shortboard divisions, he won the Europe pro longboard tour in 1997 and 1999 and had a top five ranking in the ASP in 1996. [Link]

Insane Video footage from the Stand Up Paddle Surfing Sunset Pro

Posted 14 years ago

The Waterman's League Stand Up Paddle Surf Sunset Beach Pro was eventually won by Maui local Kai Lenny, and some excellent video footage has been surfacing from the event showing how, on day two, how hard and shifty the waves were. [Link]

Ku Ikaika stand up paddle surf contest looks good for Monday

Posted 14 years ago

With the amazing winter season in Hawaii starting to close it looked as if the Ku Ikaika Big Wave Challenge at Makaha Point might not get the swell it needed for the contest to go ahead, however big wave stand up paddle surfers are getting mentally prepared as the word is out that a big NNW swell in the 12-15 foot range is heading in making conditions look good for Monday. [Link]

SAS Challenge 2010 Fitness testing results

Posted 14 years ago

Well the verdict is in and the tests are over, well for me and Claire they are anyway. Simon and Jock are yet to be tested. As part of the build up to the stand up paddle across the English Channel John Kelly from the University of Chichester put myself and Claire through a couple of tests to get a verdict on our current level of fitness and in turn that gave us a good idea of how much work we need to do over the coming months. [Link]

Corran Stand Up Paddle Surfs Waimea

Posted 14 years ago

Corran Addison, the owner of Imagine Eco stand up paddle boards, is currently in Oahu, Hawaii. While most of us spent valentines day in a more sedate fashion, Corran decided to tackle Waimea, stand up paddle surfing. He tells us all about it. [Link]

Tez's Surf Art

Posted 14 years ago

As well as being a contributor to this website and a fanatical stand up paddle surfer (often seen out on the Hayling/Wittering/Bracklesham coast of the UK) Tez is a talented surf artist. We found out about this and asked Tez if he would tell us his story. [Link]

Coreban Fusion 9' Stand Up Paddle Board Test

Posted 14 years ago

Ivan van Vuuren takes us through the new Coreban Fusion 9ft Stand Up Paddle board. It looks like a nice board and I hear a rumour that there will be a UK distributor of this South African/Hawaiian based brand. The board is 9ft x 29 1/2 wide x 4 1/2 thick. It has a volume of 148 L. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle World Tour Sunset Beach Pro

Posted 14 years ago

The kick off of the Waterman League's Stand Up Paddle World Tour had an anxious build-up, as athletes from around the world would come together to mingle, compete, and inevitably judge and be judged by their respected peers, and the North Shore would be host to yet another event close to others by date, yet distanced by medium… SUP. The Sunset Beach Pro, set to be the most groundbreaking event for this incredibly versatile sport exploding in every direction bears the significance of holding the first event of the Tour in Hawaii at one of its most celebrated breaks. Greeted by 8 – 10 ft perfect Sunset and 32 of Hawaii's most promising talents, the Hulakai Trials has set the standard for World Tour qualification. [Link]

Early Mornings and Armadillos

Posted 14 years ago

Now you might be asking yourself 'WTF has a long eared, belly shuffling, ant powered, armoured plated rodent with poor eyesight got the hell to do with paddlesurfing?'

Fair point, but it's being able to see stuff like this in the wild – [Link]

Uli Lopez Inflatable Stand Up Paddle board – Costa Rica

Posted 14 years ago

December 20th was my last post, such a lot has happened since then it all just seems such a blur now. Since then I managed to get a couple of decent sessions in, one on Christmas Eve on the Bonga with Shane and another on a beautiful New Years day on the 7'8", but to be honest my head was already on the beach at Playa Guiones. [Link]

World Record Attempt for Surfers Against Sewage

Posted 14 years ago

Three of Britain’s best stand up paddle boarders met at West Wittering windsurf club at this Friday, 29th January to launch the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) 2010 Challenge, a Guinness World Record™ breaking attempt to cross the English Channel in June this year that also aims to raise at least £10,000 for SAS’s campaigns and celebrate the organisation’s 20th anniversary. [Link]

Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Across the English Channel

Posted 14 years ago


The cat is out of the bag, myself (Matt Argyle), Jock Patterson, Elliot Dudley, Simon Bassett and Claire Blacklock are stand up paddling across the English Channel on a day between 18th – 25th June 2010, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world (so busy that they have a motorway system in place where ships on one side travel one way and the other side travel the other). The distance as the crow flies is 21 miles, however the actual distance will be much more are we weave our way across to France. [Link]

Surfers Against Sewage Challenge Prize Draw

Posted 14 years ago

Matt Argyle, Simon Bassett, Claire Blacklock, Elliot Dudley and Jock Patterson are attempting to cross the English channel on stand up paddle boards to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage. We are holding a prize draw to raise money, prizes have been provided by all the riders and their sponsors (Animal, 2XS and X-Train, Naish and Roxy). We have over 20 prizes to give away check out our prize list. So how do you stand a chance of winning some of this lovely stuff ? If you wish to enter each 'ticket' for the draw costs £5, you can enter as many times as you want. Winners will be randomly drawn. [Link]

Mctavish – The shortest time I've ever owned a board.

Posted 14 years ago

Getting back in the swing of things now – had a few Sunday, sloppy sessions at Gwithian and had my first full fat beating in the middle of the week. An evening session that had overhead surf and blistering offshores put my lack of paddle fitness to the test. Not nice and I should have known better but it's been pretty desperate and as the clocks had gone back I thought I better make the most of it. WRONG!!

One thing that was definitely right though was going to see Joan Armatrading for the start of her latest UK tour – last time we saw her was 25 years ago and we were worried that her voice may have suffered with time. Not a bit – in fact if anything it seemed even stronger and richer than before and if anything more confident on stage, however she don't say much!!! Nice mix of old and the new 'This Charming Life' album which is a bit rockier. Great stuff and totally recommended – Swear that I spotted Billie Jean King there, might be mistaken. [Link]

MMMmmmnnnn!!

Posted 14 years ago

Now that's how you store boards on holiday
And not a single baggage charge amongst them It's strange how fast things can go downhill sometimes, and how soon after your highest high's you get your lowest lows. Our Costa Rica trip was amazing, surfed everyday bar one sometimes twice a day and occasionally three times. Totally ace. But I reckon I sort of peaked in Nosara, and everything since has been cold, wet grey and painful. Here's why. [Link]

John Zapotocky 91 Years Young and the History of Stand Up Paddling

Posted 14 years ago

You may be forgiven for thinking that stand up paddling is a new sport, that has probably been around for 4 or 5 years right? Wrong, in fact the roots of our sport go right back to the man who bought surfing to the world, Duke Kahanamoku. How do we know this? Because the man that is the Godfather of stand up paddling, John Zapotocky learn't from the Duke. [Link]

Chris "Guts" Griffiths joins SurfTech Stand Up Paddle Team

Posted 14 years ago

Anyone who surfs or stand up paddle surfs in the UK will have heard the name Chris "Guts" Griffiths. Chris is a legend who has been a well known face of surfing for over 40 years, he has won over a dozen Welsh titles, split between longboard and shortboard divisions, he won the Europe pro longboard tour in 1997 and 1999 and had a top five ranking in the ASP in 1996. [Link]

Insane Video footage from the Stand Up Paddle Surfing Sunset Pro

Posted 14 years ago

The Waterman's League Stand Up Paddle Surf Sunset Beach Pro was eventually won by Maui local Kai Lenny, and some excellent video footage has been surfacing from the event showing how, on day two, how hard and shifty the waves were. [Link]

Ku Ikaika stand up paddle surf contest looks good for Monday

Posted 14 years ago

With the amazing winter season in Hawaii starting to close it looked as if the Ku Ikaika Big Wave Challenge at Makaha Point might not get the swell it needed for the contest to go ahead, however big wave stand up paddle surfers are getting mentally prepared as the word is out that a big NNW swell in the 12-15 foot range is heading in making conditions look good for Monday. [Link]

SAS Challenge 2010 Fitness testing results

Posted 14 years ago

Well the verdict is in and the tests are over, well for me and Claire they are anyway. Simon and Jock are yet to be tested. As part of the build up to the stand up paddle across the English Channel John Kelly from the University of Chichester put myself and Claire through a couple of tests to get a verdict on our current level of fitness and in turn that gave us a good idea of how much work we need to do over the coming months. [Link]

Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Across the English Channel

Posted 14 years ago


The cat is out of the bag, myself (Matt Argyle), Jock Patterson, Elliot Dudley, Simon Bassett and Claire Blacklock are stand up paddling across the English Channel on a day between 18th – 25th June 2010, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world (so busy that they have a motorway system in place where ships on one side travel one way and the other side travel the other). The distance as the crow flies is 21 miles, however the actual distance will be much more are we weave our way across to France. [Link]

Corran Stand Up Paddle Surfs Waimea

Posted 14 years ago

Corran Addison, the owner of Imagine Eco stand up paddle boards, is currently in Oahu, Hawaii. While most of us spent valentines day in a more sedate fashion, Corran decided to tackle Waimea, stand up paddle surfing. He tells us all about it. [Link]

Early Mornings and Armadillos

Posted 14 years ago

Now you might be asking yourself 'WTF has a long eared, belly shuffling, ant powered, armoured plated rodent with poor eyesight got the hell to do with paddlesurfing?'

Fair point, but it's being able to see stuff like this in the wild – [Link]

Stand Up Paddle World Tour Sunset Beach Pro

Posted 14 years ago

The kick off of the Waterman League's Stand Up Paddle World Tour had an anxious build-up, as athletes from around the world would come together to mingle, compete, and inevitably judge and be judged by their respected peers, and the North Shore would be host to yet another event close to others by date, yet distanced by medium… SUP. The Sunset Beach Pro, set to be the most groundbreaking event for this incredibly versatile sport exploding in every direction bears the significance of holding the first event of the Tour in Hawaii at one of its most celebrated breaks. Greeted by 8 – 10 ft perfect Sunset and 32 of Hawaii's most promising talents, the Hulakai Trials has set the standard for World Tour qualification. [Link]

Tez's Surf Art

Posted 14 years ago

As well as being a contributor to this website and a fanatical stand up paddle surfer (often seen out on the Hayling/Wittering/Bracklesham coast of the UK) Tez is a talented surf artist. We found out about this and asked Tez if he would tell us his story. [Link]

Coreban Fusion 9' Stand Up Paddle Board Test

Posted 14 years ago

Ivan van Vuuren takes us through the new Coreban Fusion 9ft Stand Up Paddle board. It looks like a nice board and I hear a rumour that there will be a UK distributor of this South African/Hawaiian based brand. The board is 9ft x 29 1/2 wide x 4 1/2 thick. It has a volume of 148 L. [Link]

Uli Lopez Inflatable Stand Up Paddle board – Costa Rica

Posted 14 years ago

December 20th was my last post, such a lot has happened since then it all just seems such a blur now. Since then I managed to get a couple of decent sessions in, one on Christmas Eve on the Bonga with Shane and another on a beautiful New Years day on the 7'8", but to be honest my head was already on the beach at Playa Guiones. [Link]

Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Across the English Channel

Posted 14 years ago


The cat is out of the bag, myself (Matt Argyle), Jock Patterson, Elliot Dudley, Simon Bassett and Claire Blacklock are stand up paddling across the English Channel on a day between 18th – 25th June 2010, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world (so busy that they have a motorway system in place where ships on one side travel one way and the other side travel the other). The distance as the crow flies is 21 miles, however the actual distance will be much more are we weave our way across to France. [Link]

World Record Attempt for Surfers Against Sewage

Posted 14 years ago

Three of Britain’s best stand up paddle boarders met at West Wittering windsurf club at this Friday, 29th January to launch the Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) 2010 Challenge, a Guinness World Record™ breaking attempt to cross the English Channel in June this year that also aims to raise at least £10,000 for SAS’s campaigns and celebrate the organisation’s 20th anniversary. [Link]

Stand Up Paddler Slater Trout Signs with Maui Jim

Posted 14 years ago

Already his reputation is building up as a world class stand up paddler with his second place at the Battle of the Paddle at the age of 14, now Slater Trout has been signed up by Maui Jim Sunglasses. [Link]

Cabrinha Launch Stand Up Paddle Board Range

Posted 14 years ago

Cabrinha have launched a range of stand up paddle boards and a new website to go with it and they will soon be available in the UK and around the world. [Link]

Emerald Isolation – Stand Up Paddle in Ireland

Posted 14 years ago

Ireland, the emerald isle, poetic and yet accurate. I have been taking trips to Ireland and surfing for the last 15 years. In that time there have been huge changes over there, the fragile peace that has come to the North, the prolifereation of road building and infrastructure bought about by European Union funds, the rise and fall of the Celtic tiger, the huge amount of house building. Despite all of this, what draws me back year after year, and what stays imprinted on my eye lids is the perfect isolation and the waves ! [Link]

JP launches 2010 stand up paddle board range

Posted 14 years ago

JP have always produced excellent windsurf boards, so it is good news that they have entered the stand up paddle board market. Jason Polakow and Antoine Albeau organised a photo shoot with Jérôme Houyvet in Maui as soon as the boards turned up. [Link]

Stand Up Paddler Slater Trout Signs with Maui Jim

Posted 14 years ago

Already his reputation is building up as a world class stand up paddler with his second place at the Battle of the Paddle at the age of 14, now Slater Trout has been signed up by Maui Jim Sunglasses. [Link]

Cabrinha Launch Stand Up Paddle Board Range

Posted 14 years ago

Cabrinha have launched a range of stand up paddle boards and a new website to go with it and they will soon be available in the UK and around the world. [Link]

Emerald Isolation – Stand Up Paddle in Ireland

Posted 14 years ago

Ireland, the emerald isle, poetic and yet accurate. I have been taking trips to Ireland and surfing for the last 15 years. In that time there have been huge changes over there, the fragile peace that has come to the North, the prolifereation of road building and infrastructure bought about by European Union funds, the rise and fall of the Celtic tiger, the huge amount of house building. Despite all of this, what draws me back year after year, and what stays imprinted on my eye lids is the perfect isolation and the waves ! [Link]

JP launches 2010 stand up paddle board range

Posted 14 years ago

JP have always produced excellent windsurf boards, so it is good news that they have entered the stand up paddle board market. Jason Polakow and Antoine Albeau organised a photo shoot with Jérôme Houyvet in Maui as soon as the boards turned up. [Link]

Starboard UK Stand Up Paddle Race Team

Posted 14 years ago

John Hibbard from Starboard UK released the line up for the Stand Up Paddle Race Team with a massive 29 members ! This wil surely kick start the UK race scene in 2010. [Link]

Stand Up Paddler Jenny Kalmbach Joins Naish Team

Posted 14 years ago

Naish welcomes Jenny Kalmbach to their International Stand Up Paddle Team. Kalmbach, 26 years old, has rapidly become one of the world’s elite paddlers in the short three years since she began the sport. Kalmbach grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica and currently resides in Kona, Hawaii. [Link]

Drops Watt 9ft 1" Stand Up Paddle Board Review

Posted 14 years ago

A fresh batch of stand up paddle boards have arrived in the UK from Drops in Europe. 2XS took delivery and busted some out for us to test. First up we have the video review of the 9ft 1" Watt. [Link]

Imagine Eco Wave Rider Stand Up Paddle Board Video Review

Posted 14 years ago

In October 2009 we spent some time in Cornwall filming some stand up paddle board reviews. This is the Eco Imagine Wave Rider review. [Link]

Nah Skwell Fish Stand Up Paddle Board Video Review

Posted 14 years ago

To kick off the new video area of the website we did a stand up paddle board review. We hope you like the new section – there are plenty more videos on the way ! [Link]

Off the Rails – Holiday Head – Round Up

Posted 14 years ago

As expected the wheels have fallen off my 6 week SUP Specific plan. Coinciding with the weekend of our works Christmas do, I sort of increased my ratio of rest days to work out days and it was going so well. Having said that it's not been a total loss, I have got shot of the best part of half a stone of lard (7lbs) and dropped a few waist sizes in my jeans PLUS I am now 13 stone something instead of 14 stone something. So that's nice. With the festivities almost upon us it's harder to find the time to disappear for an hour or so, not too concerned as on the 6th January we are on a plane and off to Costa Rica for a few weeks. Board shorts, offshore breezes, and a consistent waist to head high Nosara surf within stumbling distance of my bed. Sorry chaps but I am going to indulge myself here for a moment or two and bask in the glow of some of last years snaps just to get me in the swing of things. [Link]

Sunday's Sheltered Session

Posted 14 years ago

Finally this morning after three dry weeks I managed to drag my sorry ass out of bed early enough to check out what was going to be one of the few sheltered spots that would be working. Magicseaweed was giving this for Gwithian – Swell 17ft @ 13secs
Wind 29mph [Link]

SUP in Maui – a local issue or a global trend ?

Posted 14 years ago

Recently some big hitters in the SUP world have released this on the standupzone.com website (check out the conversation here) : Because of the rising tensions between surfers and SUP surfers on Maui, we felt that it was our responsibility to create a set of rules that will be used to self-regulate our usage.
[Link]

Join the Starboard Stand Up Paddle UK Race Team !

Posted 14 years ago

Starboard have some grand plans for 2010 and they are looking for a team of racers.. [Link]

Blanked on Sunday – Go Row

Posted 14 years ago

When is this weather going to change? Seems like we have had three weeks of Westerly storms, fantastic swell but with winds averaging 30mph there have been very few opportunities get in on Sunday. [Link]

SUNDAY'S SESSION – WEIGHT UPDATE

Posted 14 years ago

South coast had been blown to bits Friday and Saturday and with a Westerly swell and high winds Sunday was always going to be a run for shelter. I met Shane at 11.00am at one of the most sheltered spots available to us. It was very sheltered!! [Link]

SUP SPECIFIC 6 WEEK INDOOR TRAINING PLAN

Posted 14 years ago

Been thinking about this for a while and finally decided to do something about it. Having a body mass index describing me as 'verging on the obese' (such a harsh word) and 'overweight' has made me get my thumb out of my bum and start a structured 6 week pre Christmas training program. The key to this being the pre Christmas bit. Hopefully it will help me fend off the insane onslaught of the food and drink mountain that is about to reign down over the festive period. [Link]

SUP in 1980 – Who is that ?

Posted 14 years ago

James Davis is a British stand up paddle surfer, who made a living as a travel photographer. In 1980 James was in Hawaii taking some shots and caught this guy stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

France Part 2 : BIG COUNTRY – SMALL WORLD

Posted 14 years ago

Wednesday morning and I stuck to routine, up brekfast and bike it down to the break only to be faced with head and a half plus of bedlam perfection. Clean, offshore, sunny and lines racking up as far as I could see. No-one out. Bollox! Just knowing someone else is there sometimes is all I need. It was pushing up towards high tide and still the beach would not hold the swell. Double bollox!! I had left my Storm rider guide at home and I needed a wooss out wave. Meanwhile back at the Van : (Tonto, disguised as a bucket was feeling a little pale) [Link]

Fat Cornish Bloke in France Part 1

Posted 14 years ago

SATURDAY Got the ferry Saturday night, with the swell forecast that we had been watching all week there was a better than fair chance that it might be a bouncy crossing. So the obvious thing would be to settle down for an early and get a decent nights sleep. Straight into the bar then to get stuck into some vin rouge and Guinness. [Link]

British Stand Up Paddle Assocation Champions 2009

Posted 14 years ago

The British Stand Up Paddle Association Champions have been crowned in 2009. All the points from the events were totalled up, each competitor had to attend all four events to be eligible. [Link]

187 Miles on a stand up paddle board through the Grand Canyon

Posted 14 years ago

Hawaiian veteran lifeguard and big-wave rider Archie Kalepa is no stranger to life-changing experiences. There have been many during his 46 years of life spent in and around the ocean. He never imagined that the fresh waters of inland America would deliver the most astounding experience of all: connecting his native Hawaiian experience to that of the American Indians, and incidentally setting a world record of being the first to standup paddle 187 miles through the Grand Canyon. [Link]

WANTED – A cure for my hunchback lefts!

Posted 14 years ago

Gwithian_2 KELLY'S REEF THROUGH FADING LIGHT Mooched up the road to Watergate on Saturday Night and met up with Ritch and Matt. Judging from the sea of knackered faces the waves were well worth having and the BSUPA finale had waves!!! Looks like a good time was had by all who entered. I caught some of the results on the SUPGlobal forum through some form of live feed. Impressive. [Link]

SUNDAY'S LOOKING GOOD

Posted 14 years ago

Really flattered about the SUPGlobal thing but it sort of gives me a bit of a dilemma as well. I keep thinking things like, 'What can I write for the next post?' and 'How often will they want stuff?' and 'What do I know about anything anyway?' [Link]

Snugg Wetsuits, SUP Global and Asparagus

Posted 14 years ago

Welcome to a new section of the website, which is actually where we started back in a cold January 2007 – with a blog. First off I am excited to introduce Steve Coram, if you have not come across his blogging before you will enjoy this (and I promise you its not because there was nobody else available!). I bumped into Steve earlier this year at Gwithian beach in Cornwall, where we went off on a distance paddle on an Uli SUP board and talked all about stand up paddle surfing. Steve loves the sport and brings a humorous and irreverent style to SUPGlobal – welcome aboard and over to you….. [Link]

Starboard UK Stand Up Paddle Race Team

Posted 14 years ago

John Hibbard from Starboard UK released the line up for the Stand Up Paddle Race Team with a massive 29 members ! This wil surely kick start the UK race scene in 2010. [Link]

Stand Up Paddler Jenny Kalmbach Joins Naish Team

Posted 14 years ago

Naish welcomes Jenny Kalmbach to their International Stand Up Paddle Team. Kalmbach, 26 years old, has rapidly become one of the world’s elite paddlers in the short three years since she began the sport. Kalmbach grew up in San Jose, Costa Rica and currently resides in Kona, Hawaii. [Link]

Drops Watt 9ft 1" Stand Up Paddle Board Review

Posted 14 years ago

A fresh batch of stand up paddle boards have arrived in the UK from Drops in Europe. 2XS took delivery and busted some out for us to test. First up we have the video review of the 9ft 1" Watt. [Link]

Imagine Eco Wave Rider Stand Up Paddle Board Video Review

Posted 14 years ago

In October 2009 we spent some time in Cornwall filming some stand up paddle board reviews. This is the Eco Imagine Wave Rider review. [Link]

Nah Skwell Fish Stand Up Paddle Board Video Review

Posted 14 years ago

To kick off the new video area of the website we did a stand up paddle board review. We hope you like the new section – there are plenty more videos on the way ! [Link]

Off the Rails – Holiday Head – Round Up

Posted 14 years ago

As expected the wheels have fallen off my 6 week SUP Specific plan. Coinciding with the weekend of our works Christmas do, I sort of increased my ratio of rest days to work out days and it was going so well. Having said that it's not been a total loss, I have got shot of the best part of half a stone of lard (7lbs) and dropped a few waist sizes in my jeans PLUS I am now 13 stone something instead of 14 stone something. So that's nice. With the festivities almost upon us it's harder to find the time to disappear for an hour or so, not too concerned as on the 6th January we are on a plane and off to Costa Rica for a few weeks. Board shorts, offshore breezes, and a consistent waist to head high Nosara surf within stumbling distance of my bed. Sorry chaps but I am going to indulge myself here for a moment or two and bask in the glow of some of last years snaps just to get me in the swing of things. [Link]

Sunday's Sheltered Session

Posted 14 years ago

Finally this morning after three dry weeks I managed to drag my sorry ass out of bed early enough to check out what was going to be one of the few sheltered spots that would be working. Magicseaweed was giving this for Gwithian – Swell 17ft @ 13secs
Wind 29mph [Link]

SUP in Maui – a local issue or a global trend ?

Posted 14 years ago

Recently some big hitters in the SUP world have released this on the standupzone.com website (check out the conversation here) : Because of the rising tensions between surfers and SUP surfers on Maui, we felt that it was our responsibility to create a set of rules that will be used to self-regulate our usage.
[Link]

Join the Starboard Stand Up Paddle UK Race Team !

Posted 14 years ago

Starboard have some grand plans for 2010 and they are looking for a team of racers.. [Link]

Blanked on Sunday – Go Row

Posted 14 years ago

When is this weather going to change? Seems like we have had three weeks of Westerly storms, fantastic swell but with winds averaging 30mph there have been very few opportunities get in on Sunday. [Link]

SUNDAY'S SESSION – WEIGHT UPDATE

Posted 14 years ago

South coast had been blown to bits Friday and Saturday and with a Westerly swell and high winds Sunday was always going to be a run for shelter. I met Shane at 11.00am at one of the most sheltered spots available to us. It was very sheltered!! [Link]

SUP SPECIFIC 6 WEEK INDOOR TRAINING PLAN

Posted 14 years ago

Been thinking about this for a while and finally decided to do something about it. Having a body mass index describing me as 'verging on the obese' (such a harsh word) and 'overweight' has made me get my thumb out of my bum and start a structured 6 week pre Christmas training program. The key to this being the pre Christmas bit. Hopefully it will help me fend off the insane onslaught of the food and drink mountain that is about to reign down over the festive period. [Link]

SUP in 1980 – Who is that ?

Posted 14 years ago

James Davis is a British stand up paddle surfer, who made a living as a travel photographer. In 1980 James was in Hawaii taking some shots and caught this guy stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

France Part 2 : BIG COUNTRY – SMALL WORLD

Posted 14 years ago

Wednesday morning and I stuck to routine, up brekfast and bike it down to the break only to be faced with head and a half plus of bedlam perfection. Clean, offshore, sunny and lines racking up as far as I could see. No-one out. Bollox! Just knowing someone else is there sometimes is all I need. It was pushing up towards high tide and still the beach would not hold the swell. Double bollox!! I had left my Storm rider guide at home and I needed a wooss out wave. Meanwhile back at the Van : (Tonto, disguised as a bucket was feeling a little pale) [Link]

Fat Cornish Bloke in France Part 1

Posted 14 years ago

SATURDAY Got the ferry Saturday night, with the swell forecast that we had been watching all week there was a better than fair chance that it might be a bouncy crossing. So the obvious thing would be to settle down for an early and get a decent nights sleep. Straight into the bar then to get stuck into some vin rouge and Guinness. [Link]

British Stand Up Paddle Assocation Champions 2009

Posted 14 years ago

The British Stand Up Paddle Association Champions have been crowned in 2009. All the points from the events were totalled up, each competitor had to attend all four events to be eligible. [Link]

187 Miles on a stand up paddle board through the Grand Canyon

Posted 14 years ago

Hawaiian veteran lifeguard and big-wave rider Archie Kalepa is no stranger to life-changing experiences. There have been many during his 46 years of life spent in and around the ocean. He never imagined that the fresh waters of inland America would deliver the most astounding experience of all: connecting his native Hawaiian experience to that of the American Indians, and incidentally setting a world record of being the first to standup paddle 187 miles through the Grand Canyon. [Link]

WANTED – A cure for my hunchback lefts!

Posted 14 years ago

Gwithian_2 KELLY'S REEF THROUGH FADING LIGHT Mooched up the road to Watergate on Saturday Night and met up with Ritch and Matt. Judging from the sea of knackered faces the waves were well worth having and the BSUPA finale had waves!!! Looks like a good time was had by all who entered. I caught some of the results on the SUPGlobal forum through some form of live feed. Impressive. [Link]

SUNDAY'S LOOKING GOOD

Posted 14 years ago

Really flattered about the SUPGlobal thing but it sort of gives me a bit of a dilemma as well. I keep thinking things like, 'What can I write for the next post?' and 'How often will they want stuff?' and 'What do I know about anything anyway?' [Link]

Snugg Wetsuits, SUP Global and Asparagus

Posted 14 years ago

Welcome to a new section of the website, which is actually where we started back in a cold January 2007 – with a blog. First off I am excited to introduce Steve Coram, if you have not come across his blogging before you will enjoy this (and I promise you its not because there was nobody else available!). I bumped into Steve earlier this year at Gwithian beach in Cornwall, where we went off on a distance paddle on an Uli SUP board and talked all about stand up paddle surfing. Steve loves the sport and brings a humorous and irreverent style to SUPGlobal – welcome aboard and over to you….. [Link]

14 Year Old Slater Trout comes 2nd in Battle of the Paddle

Posted 14 years ago

Slater Trout Rainbow Sandal’s Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle turned out to be a very well attended event, with compeititors from all over the world racing and having fun. This year the conditions proved tricky with the competitors battling against the swell and wind as well as each other. There was one stand out from the crowd, 14 year old Slater Trout from Maui. Below is his press release : [Link]

SUPing: An Introduction by a Novice.

Posted 14 years ago

It is easy to forget sometimes that we are at the very beginning with this sport. I am sure most stand up paddlers can recall that first time out on a board, I certainly can (thanks to Andy Cooper for that !) and if you have never tried stand up paddling, but are curious to give it a go this is a great article about that experience. David Waddington, who earlier this year had his first SUP lesson, shares his experience. [Link]

Nah Skwell SUP boards

Posted 14 years ago

Nah Skwell The great thing about stand up paddle surfing right now is that there are some new brands coming into the market. I had been hearing abou these boards for a while, then at the BSUPA Swansea event I got a chance to see them in the flesh. They are certainly eye catching! When I picked them up I also found out how light they were. SUPGlobal have managed to get one of the 7ft 8" Fish Art boards to have a go on, now we are just awaiting the first autumn swells ! [Link]

James Davis Interview

Posted 15 years ago

James Davis In January 2009 I was surfing at a very cold Saunton beach. In the line up I could see two stand up paddle surfers. They were having a great time, swapping waves and chatting to the other guys in the line up. [Link]

Embrace the hate – Editorial

Posted 15 years ago

This article was going to be called "Fear and Loathing in the line up" then I thought "Fear and Loathing on the internet" was maybe a better title, but finally I thought "Embrace the Hate" was probably better. [Link]

Paddle Round the Pier 2009

Posted 15 years ago

Elliot Dudley approaching the finish line Elliot Dudley was in blistering form at this years paddle round the pier in Brighton 0n 4th & 5th July. Following his success in the BSUPA round 2 distance race at Gwithian in June Elliot made the 20 mile race (10 miles upwind and 10 miles downwind) look easy. [Link]

Hamburg Stand Up Paddle World Cup

Posted 15 years ago

Jever SUP Hamberg UK Women's champion Claire Blacklock was invited to take part in the Jever Hamburg SUP World Cup in July 2009, she now reflects on the experience. [Link]

Ekolu Kalama Takes Standup Honors in Molokai to Oahu Race

Posted 15 years ago

Ekolu Kalama at the start July 26, 2009 — Ekolu Kalama won the 32-mile Rainbow Sandals Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race Stand Up Paddle division, posting his first solo win in the record time of 5:02:06. The first solo woman SUP-er was Jenny Kalmbach, from the Big Island, in a time of 5:48:31. [Link]

Stand-Up Paddlers join Olympic Athletes for The BLUE Mile – Race for the Environment

Posted 15 years ago

The Bluemile Stand-up Paddle Board champions John Hibbard and 6 year old Blue Ewer joined Professional Surfer Ben Skinner, Olympic Medallists and World Record holding athletes on Plymouth’s (UK) historical Mayflower Steps as Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of The London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee fired the starting cannon to one of the UK’s most important races to date, the race for our oceans and environment. [Link]

Hilton Alves – Stand Up Paddle Artist

Posted 15 years ago

Hilton Alves Welcome to the first article in the art section of the website. Over the coming months we will be featuring artists such as Mike Doyle (first ever professional surfer, artist and avid SUPer) and Paddy Martin (British artist and SUPer). To kick section off we have a look at Brazilian, and O'ahu North Shore resident, Hilton Alves and his collection that will be on show at the Haleiwa Arts Festival. [Link]

Paddle Round the Pier 2009

Posted 15 years ago

Elliot Dudley approaching the finish line Elliot Dudley was in blistering form at this years paddle round the pier in Brighton 0n 4th & 5th July. Following his success in the BSUPA round 2 distance race at Gwithian in June Elliot made the 20 mile race (10 miles upwind and 10 miles downwind) look easy. [Link]

The Cape Cod Bay Challenge 2009

Posted 15 years ago

Cape Cod Bay Challenge Bob Babcock sent over this press release about a 30 mile SUP marathon to support the Christopher's Haven charity. It should be a great event, read on for more details. [Link]

Review of the NorthCore stand up paddle board sling

Posted 15 years ago

NorthCore Sling NorthCore are a British firm that produce surfing accessories. They are also very eco aware and plant 750 trees to off set thier carbon emissions each year. They have now started to produce some accessories for stand up paddle surfing [Link]

Review of the Curve SUP Board Bag

Posted 15 years ago

Curve SUP Board Bag Curve, a company from New Zealand, have become well established for very high quality surfing accessories. We got hold of one of their SUP board bags and put it through its paces. [Link]

Launch of the Stand Up World Tour – the Waterman League

Posted 15 years ago

Stand Up World Tour We have got news from Hawaii that the Stand Up World Tour and the set up of the Association of Stand Up Paddle Professionals (A.S.U.P.P.) has taken place. The events are invite only and take place in three locations, Teahupoo, (Tahiti), Ocean Beach (California) and Makaha (Hawaii). [Link]

Third Annual Stand Up Paddle around NYC on August 24th

Posted 15 years ago

NYC SUP Paddle Gerry Lopez Once again the Surfers’ Environmental Alliance have organised a 28 mile paddle around NYC in August 2009. The event looks set to be have legends from the surf and SUP world attending. [Link]

SUP Distance World Cup – Germany

Posted 15 years ago

JEVER SUP World Cup The first European stand up paddle distance race with a large prize purse (€10,000) is taking place on July 10th -12th 2009 in the harbour district of Hamburg. Entries are now open. [Link]

Advertise on SUPGlobal

Posted 15 years ago

Want to Advertise here ? We have a comprensive set of options for advertising campaigns on our website, from banner adverts, peel backs, advertising features and much more. You can download our 2009 media kit from here: Download SUPGlobal Media Kit 2009(PDF File – 1MB). Contact Matt Argyle for further information about advertising. matt.argyle@supglobal.com or call: 00 44 7740 621023. [Link]

Rail Runner Protective SUP Tape

Posted 15 years ago

Rail Runner SUP Tape Claire Blacklock tries out the Rail Runner Tape that protects your stand up paddle board from getting dings in the rail. Having a brand new board that looks so damn good, makes you a little more protective when it comes to how you treat it. Although I have a blade protector on my paddle the odd dint still gets through when your mind is elsewhere (like watching a seal eating a fish!!) [Link]

Review of the MacWet AquaTec Gloves

Posted 15 years ago

MacWet GlovesClaire Blacklock, the current UK ladies Stand Up Paddle Surfing champion recently took delivery of a pair of Mac Wet gloves. Mac Wet are an established brand with clay pigeon shoots, horse riders, cyclists, golf and with certain branches of the military. Andrew from MacWet got in touch with SUPGlobal as he was wondering if the gloves would work for stand up paddle boarding. [Link]

RRD Stand Up Eleven SUP board

Posted 15 years ago

RRD Stand Up Eleven Roberto Ricci Designs (RRD) have released an SUP board called the Stand Up Eleven, which you will not be suprised to realise is 11 feet long ! I managed to take this board for a quick distance paddle at West Wittering last month. It is a very stable board, absolutely perfect for beginners to get to grips with paddling, and for them to take into the waves once they have mastered the paddling basics. It has a forgiving softskin deck, which feels good underfoot, and it has a 8.5 inch fin, which means it works well in the surf. [Link]

Zervas and Pepper – perfect music for the summer time.

Posted 15 years ago

Zervas and Pepper While cruising the internet for information about the Gold Coast Festival in Croyde, Devon, I stumbled upon what I thought was a familiar name opening up the music on Saturday 20th June in the form of Zervas and Pepper. [Link]

Surfing Australia to hold first SUP National Titles

Posted 15 years ago

James Weston stand up paddle surfing Australian Titles will this year be decided for the first time in the rapidly growing and now well established discipline of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Surfing. Surfing Australia announced the inclusion of the Open SUP division into the Country Energy Australian Surf Festival to be run at Port Macquarie during August. [Link]

Indies Trader III Stand Up Paddle Surfing Mentawais, Indonesia.

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing Mentawais Sometimes we get a stand up paddle surfing story that arrive on the wire that make us stop and take a sharp intake of breath. That has just happened and we dropped everything get these online. The guys from C4 Waterman have been out on the boat Indies Trader III to do some stand up paddle surfing on some juicy Mentawais waves. As Captain Martin Daly says "I'll let the pictures do the talking !" [Link]

BSUPA round 2 – Gwithian 6th & 7th June 2009

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA event 2 2009 BSUPA is pleased to announce the entry forms for the Second Round of the 2009 Series at Gwithian Beach near St Ives, Cornwall are now online. To be held on the weekend of 6th/7th June hosted by Sunset Surf. [Link]

The 2009 Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship

Posted 15 years ago

Charlie Macarthur on the Colorado river Stand up paddling is a sport that is expanding away from the oceans and beaches. More and more paddlers are using the sport to explore in land lakes and rivers, and it was only a short matter of time before people started taking stand up paddle boards to ride rapids on rivers. We got this press release about a SUP white water competition being held in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Looks like it is going to be an excellent event. [Link]

Fancy a lovely cup of tea ?

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing and drinking tea Stand up paddle surfers Adam Zervas (C4 Waterman rider) and Carl Coombes (Extreme Acadeamy) have both been doing their bit for charity by taking part in the Big Tea Cosy. [Link]

Results from BSUPA round 1

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA conest 2009 Round one of the British Stand Up Paddle Association 2009 contest series was held at West Wittering beach over the May bank holiday weekend. The event is part of four contest series held in the UK to find the best stand up paddle surfers in both surfing waves and distance races. [Link]

The BBC film the ulimate tube ride.

Posted 15 years ago

Bali Strickland films Dylan Longbottom The BBC got in touch about a new series that they are showing called "South Pacific". Part of the footage taken for the new series was of Dylan Longbottom surfing. They used a new high speed, slow motion camera, that has taken the most amazing barrel ride footage I have ever seen. [Link]

First SUP Circumnavigation of Hayling Island, UK

Posted 15 years ago

SUP around Hayling IslandPaul Burgess and his paddling buddy Kevin decided to become the first people to stand up paddle around Hayling Island. Paul tells us all about the experience. [Link]

John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper complete 125 mile race

Posted 15 years ago

Devizes to Westminister International Canoe Race John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper are the first two stand up paddlers to take part in, and complete the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race. Its a huge achievement in terms of stamina and a fantastic first for the two SUPers. John tells us all about it. [Link]

Paddling with the Dragons

Posted 15 years ago

Henley Dragon Boat Club visit Steve Carter, Jay Manning, Claire Blacklock, Mel Chapman and Matt Argyle were invited up to Henley on Thames, location of the famous Henley Royal Regatta, by the Henley Dragon Boat Club. Matt Argyle tells us more : [Link]

BSUPA Event 1 West Wittering – enter now !

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA Event 1 2009 Series Entry forms for the British Stand Up Paddle Associations first event in the 2009 series have now been released. Please be sure to enter in advance, as to enter on the day will cost an extra £5 per entry. The event is being held at West Wittering Windsurfing Club, West Sussex. [Link]

Rail Runner Protective SUP Tape

Posted 15 years ago

Rail Runner SUP Tape Claire Blacklock tries out the Rail Runner Tape that protects your stand up paddle board from getting dings in the rail. Having a brand new board that looks so damn good, makes you a little more protective when it comes to how you treat it. Although I have a blade protector on my paddle the odd dint still gets through when your mind is elsewhere (like watching a seal eating a fish!!) [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Bali, Indonesia

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing Indonesia Neal Gent, the British Stand Up Paddle Association surfing Champion in 2008 decided to pack up his board and get on a plane to Indonesia to sample the delight of Bali. He tells us all about his trip and advises on the best breaks for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Cornwall

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing cornwall Tez heads out to Cornwall to get some waves and sample the atmosphere for stand up paddle surfing, did he find it to his liking ? Go west young man, go west… [Link]

East Cape Stand Up Paddle Fishing by Calvin Tom

Posted 15 years ago

SUP fishing in Baja CaliforniaCalvin Tom runs Board Fisher a website specialising in gear if you want to get into the water on your stand up paddle board and catch some fish. This has me really interested and I asked Calvin if he could tell us about SUP fishing, he sent through a great story and some pictures from his trip to Baja California. [Link]

Review of the MacWet AquaTec Gloves

Posted 15 years ago

MacWet GlovesClaire Blacklock, the current UK ladies Stand Up Paddle Surfing champion recently took delivery of a pair of Mac Wet gloves. Mac Wet are an established brand with clay pigeon shoots, horse riders, cyclists, golf and with certain branches of the military. Andrew from MacWet got in touch with SUPGlobal as he was wondering if the gloves would work for stand up paddle boarding. [Link]

Stand up paddle board subvector, by C4 Waterman, is finalist for SIMA award

Posted 15 years ago

Greg Pavao stand up paddle surfing the C4 Waterman Vector Congratulations to our friends at C4 Waterman. Dave Parmenter is a guy who has graced this website alot recently, his passion for Stand Up Paddle Surfing and his ability to shape progressive boards has been recognised by Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, a first for a stand up paddle board. [Link]

The GONG 10ft 2 Greedy Stand Up Paddle Board Review

Posted 15 years ago

GONG Greedy 10ft 2 Stand Up Paddle board Matt Smith from Stand Up Paddle Gower has been riding his GONG Greedy for a while and has taken it on his travels to Morocco, he gives us the low down on the board. [Link]

C4 Stand Up Paddle Board – Bomborra

Posted 15 years ago

C4 Waterman Board C4 Waterman got in touch about the latest stand up paddle board to come out of Dave Parmenters "skunkworks" shaping room. This is for big wave stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Ivan Van Vuuren Interview

Posted 15 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Surfing South Africa - Ivan Van Vuuren Ivan Van Vuuren is a waterman through and through. He is a former professional windsurfer (4x South African Wave champion), surfer , longboarder, kiteboarder and TV host of a weekly extreme sports show “XLTV” that airs in 171 countries. He also has a passion for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Hydrate and make sure you achieve peak sporting performance

Posted 15 years ago

Hydrate or die - science in sport Johanna Shiu continues to look at fitness and performance, this month she considers a vital topic, hyrdation. With so many people training for stand up paddle distance races, taking part in a race or even just out for a recreational paddle hydration is an important topic to understand. [Link]

Indies Trader III Stand Up Paddle Surfing Mentawais, Indonesia.

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing Mentawais Sometimes we get a stand up paddle surfing story that arrive on the wire that make us stop and take a sharp intake of breath. That has just happened and we dropped everything get these online. The guys from C4 Waterman have been out on the boat Indies Trader III to do some stand up paddle surfing on some juicy Mentawais waves. As Captain Martin Daly says "I'll let the pictures do the talking !" [Link]

BSUPA round 2 – Gwithian 6th & 7th June 2009

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA event 2 2009 BSUPA is pleased to announce the entry forms for the Second Round of the 2009 Series at Gwithian Beach near St Ives, Cornwall are now online. To be held on the weekend of 6th/7th June hosted by Sunset Surf. [Link]

The 2009 Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship

Posted 15 years ago

Charlie Macarthur on the Colorado river Stand up paddling is a sport that is expanding away from the oceans and beaches. More and more paddlers are using the sport to explore in land lakes and rivers, and it was only a short matter of time before people started taking stand up paddle boards to ride rapids on rivers. We got this press release about a SUP white water competition being held in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Looks like it is going to be an excellent event. [Link]

Fancy a lovely cup of tea ?

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing and drinking tea Stand up paddle surfers Adam Zervas (C4 Waterman rider) and Carl Coombes (Extreme Acadeamy) have both been doing their bit for charity by taking part in the Big Tea Cosy. [Link]

Results from BSUPA round 1

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA conest 2009 Round one of the British Stand Up Paddle Association 2009 contest series was held at West Wittering beach over the May bank holiday weekend. The event is part of four contest series held in the UK to find the best stand up paddle surfers in both surfing waves and distance races. [Link]

The BBC film the ulimate tube ride.

Posted 15 years ago

Bali Strickland films Dylan Longbottom The BBC got in touch about a new series that they are showing called "South Pacific". Part of the footage taken for the new series was of Dylan Longbottom surfing. They used a new high speed, slow motion camera, that has taken the most amazing barrel ride footage I have ever seen. [Link]

First SUP Circumnavigation of Hayling Island, UK

Posted 15 years ago

SUP around Hayling IslandPaul Burgess and his paddling buddy Kevin decided to become the first people to stand up paddle around Hayling Island. Paul tells us all about the experience. [Link]

John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper complete 125 mile race

Posted 15 years ago

Devizes to Westminister International Canoe Race John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper are the first two stand up paddlers to take part in, and complete the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race. Its a huge achievement in terms of stamina and a fantastic first for the two SUPers. John tells us all about it. [Link]

Paddling with the Dragons

Posted 15 years ago

Henley Dragon Boat Club visit Steve Carter, Jay Manning, Claire Blacklock, Mel Chapman and Matt Argyle were invited up to Henley on Thames, location of the famous Henley Royal Regatta, by the Henley Dragon Boat Club. Matt Argyle tells us more : [Link]

BSUPA Event 1 West Wittering – enter now !

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA Event 1 2009 Series Entry forms for the British Stand Up Paddle Associations first event in the 2009 series have now been released. Please be sure to enter in advance, as to enter on the day will cost an extra £5 per entry. The event is being held at West Wittering Windsurfing Club, West Sussex. [Link]

Rail Runner Protective SUP Tape

Posted 15 years ago

Rail Runner SUP Tape Claire Blacklock tries out the Rail Runner Tape that protects your stand up paddle board from getting dings in the rail. Having a brand new board that looks so damn good, makes you a little more protective when it comes to how you treat it. Although I have a blade protector on my paddle the odd dint still gets through when your mind is elsewhere (like watching a seal eating a fish!!) [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Bali, Indonesia

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing Indonesia Neal Gent, the British Stand Up Paddle Association surfing Champion in 2008 decided to pack up his board and get on a plane to Indonesia to sample the delight of Bali. He tells us all about his trip and advises on the best breaks for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Cornwall

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing cornwall Tez heads out to Cornwall to get some waves and sample the atmosphere for stand up paddle surfing, did he find it to his liking ? Go west young man, go west… [Link]

East Cape Stand Up Paddle Fishing by Calvin Tom

Posted 15 years ago

SUP fishing in Baja CaliforniaCalvin Tom runs Board Fisher a website specialising in gear if you want to get into the water on your stand up paddle board and catch some fish. This has me really interested and I asked Calvin if he could tell us about SUP fishing, he sent through a great story and some pictures from his trip to Baja California. [Link]

Review of the MacWet AquaTec Gloves

Posted 15 years ago

MacWet GlovesClaire Blacklock, the current UK ladies Stand Up Paddle Surfing champion recently took delivery of a pair of Mac Wet gloves. Mac Wet are an established brand with clay pigeon shoots, horse riders, cyclists, golf and with certain branches of the military. Andrew from MacWet got in touch with SUPGlobal as he was wondering if the gloves would work for stand up paddle boarding. [Link]

Stand up paddle board subvector, by C4 Waterman, is finalist for SIMA award

Posted 15 years ago

Greg Pavao stand up paddle surfing the C4 Waterman Vector Congratulations to our friends at C4 Waterman. Dave Parmenter is a guy who has graced this website alot recently, his passion for Stand Up Paddle Surfing and his ability to shape progressive boards has been recognised by Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, a first for a stand up paddle board. [Link]

The GONG 10ft 2 Greedy Stand Up Paddle Board Review

Posted 15 years ago

GONG Greedy 10ft 2 Stand Up Paddle board Matt Smith from Stand Up Paddle Gower has been riding his GONG Greedy for a while and has taken it on his travels to Morocco, he gives us the low down on the board. [Link]

C4 Stand Up Paddle Board – Bomborra

Posted 15 years ago

C4 Waterman Board C4 Waterman got in touch about the latest stand up paddle board to come out of Dave Parmenters "skunkworks" shaping room. This is for big wave stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Ivan Van Vuuren Interview

Posted 15 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Surfing South Africa - Ivan Van Vuuren Ivan Van Vuuren is a waterman through and through. He is a former professional windsurfer (4x South African Wave champion), surfer , longboarder, kiteboarder and TV host of a weekly extreme sports show “XLTV” that airs in 171 countries. He also has a passion for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Review of the Surftech Takayama Alii 10ft 3"

Posted 15 years ago

Review of the Surftech takayama All'i 10ft 3'Elliot Dudley is no stranger to the winners podium for surfing and stand up paddle boarding, his sucesses include European Champion 2005, B.L.U. Tour Champion 2005, Welsh Champion 2006, 2nd Place World Noseriding Championships 2006 to name afew. Elliot is sponsored by SurfTech/The Surf Commission and has recently been surfing the Takayama 10ft 3' All'i. He tells us about it : [Link]

Interview with Dave Parmenter and Ted Rutherford

Posted 15 years ago

Dave ParmenterIn autumn 2008 Dave Parmenter (ex professional ASP surfer and SUP/surfboard shaper) and Ted Rutherford (C4 Waterman) came over to the UK to visit some old haunts and explore some new places on stand up paddle surfing boards. [Link]

Boardworks Surf opens three new US distribution centers

Posted 15 years ago

SUPGlobal visitied the Boardworks warehouse in Oceanside last year, but now the demand for stand up paddle boards and surf boards has enabled them to expand operations. [Link]

The 2009 Whitewater Stand Up Paddling Championship

Posted 15 years ago

Charlie Macarthur on the Colorado river Stand up paddling is a sport that is expanding away from the oceans and beaches. More and more paddlers are using the sport to explore in land lakes and rivers, and it was only a short matter of time before people started taking stand up paddle boards to ride rapids on rivers. We got this press release about a SUP white water competition being held in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Looks like it is going to be an excellent event. [Link]

Fancy a lovely cup of tea ?

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing and drinking tea Stand up paddle surfers Adam Zervas (C4 Waterman rider) and Carl Coombes (Extreme Acadeamy) have both been doing their bit for charity by taking part in the Big Tea Cosy. [Link]

Results from BSUPA round 1

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA conest 2009 Round one of the British Stand Up Paddle Association 2009 contest series was held at West Wittering beach over the May bank holiday weekend. The event is part of four contest series held in the UK to find the best stand up paddle surfers in both surfing waves and distance races. [Link]

The BBC film the ulimate tube ride.

Posted 15 years ago

Bali Strickland films Dylan Longbottom The BBC got in touch about a new series that they are showing called "South Pacific". Part of the footage taken for the new series was of Dylan Longbottom surfing. They used a new high speed, slow motion camera, that has taken the most amazing barrel ride footage I have ever seen. [Link]

First SUP Circumnavigation of Hayling Island, UK

Posted 15 years ago

SUP around Hayling IslandPaul Burgess and his paddling buddy Kevin decided to become the first people to stand up paddle around Hayling Island. Paul tells us all about the experience. [Link]

John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper complete 125 mile race

Posted 15 years ago

Devizes to Westminister International Canoe Race John Hibbard & Anthony Cooper are the first two stand up paddlers to take part in, and complete the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race. Its a huge achievement in terms of stamina and a fantastic first for the two SUPers. John tells us all about it. [Link]

Paddling with the Dragons

Posted 15 years ago

Henley Dragon Boat Club visit Steve Carter, Jay Manning, Claire Blacklock, Mel Chapman and Matt Argyle were invited up to Henley on Thames, location of the famous Henley Royal Regatta, by the Henley Dragon Boat Club. Matt Argyle tells us more : [Link]

BSUPA Event 1 West Wittering – enter now !

Posted 15 years ago

BSUPA Event 1 2009 Series Entry forms for the British Stand Up Paddle Associations first event in the 2009 series have now been released. Please be sure to enter in advance, as to enter on the day will cost an extra £5 per entry. The event is being held at West Wittering Windsurfing Club, West Sussex. [Link]

Rail Runner Protective SUP Tape

Posted 15 years ago

Rail Runner SUP Tape Claire Blacklock tries out the Rail Runner Tape that protects your stand up paddle board from getting dings in the rail. Having a brand new board that looks so damn good, makes you a little more protective when it comes to how you treat it. Although I have a blade protector on my paddle the odd dint still gets through when your mind is elsewhere (like watching a seal eating a fish!!) [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Bali, Indonesia

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing Indonesia Neal Gent, the British Stand Up Paddle Association surfing Champion in 2008 decided to pack up his board and get on a plane to Indonesia to sample the delight of Bali. He tells us all about his trip and advises on the best breaks for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Cornwall

Posted 15 years ago

Stand up paddle surfing cornwall Tez heads out to Cornwall to get some waves and sample the atmosphere for stand up paddle surfing, did he find it to his liking ? Go west young man, go west… [Link]

East Cape Stand Up Paddle Fishing by Calvin Tom

Posted 15 years ago

SUP fishing in Baja CaliforniaCalvin Tom runs Board Fisher a website specialising in gear if you want to get into the water on your stand up paddle board and catch some fish. This has me really interested and I asked Calvin if he could tell us about SUP fishing, he sent through a great story and some pictures from his trip to Baja California. [Link]

Review of the MacWet AquaTec Gloves

Posted 15 years ago

MacWet GlovesClaire Blacklock, the current UK ladies Stand Up Paddle Surfing champion recently took delivery of a pair of Mac Wet gloves. Mac Wet are an established brand with clay pigeon shoots, horse riders, cyclists, golf and with certain branches of the military. Andrew from MacWet got in touch with SUPGlobal as he was wondering if the gloves would work for stand up paddle boarding. [Link]

Stand up paddle board subvector, by C4 Waterman, is finalist for SIMA award

Posted 15 years ago

Greg Pavao stand up paddle surfing the C4 Waterman Vector Congratulations to our friends at C4 Waterman. Dave Parmenter is a guy who has graced this website alot recently, his passion for Stand Up Paddle Surfing and his ability to shape progressive boards has been recognised by Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, a first for a stand up paddle board. [Link]

The GONG 10ft 2 Greedy Stand Up Paddle Board Review

Posted 15 years ago

GONG Greedy 10ft 2 Stand Up Paddle board Matt Smith from Stand Up Paddle Gower has been riding his GONG Greedy for a while and has taken it on his travels to Morocco, he gives us the low down on the board. [Link]

C4 Stand Up Paddle Board – Bomborra

Posted 15 years ago

C4 Waterman Board C4 Waterman got in touch about the latest stand up paddle board to come out of Dave Parmenters "skunkworks" shaping room. This is for big wave stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Ivan Van Vuuren Interview

Posted 15 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Surfing South Africa - Ivan Van Vuuren Ivan Van Vuuren is a waterman through and through. He is a former professional windsurfer (4x South African Wave champion), surfer , longboarder, kiteboarder and TV host of a weekly extreme sports show “XLTV” that airs in 171 countries. He also has a passion for stand up paddle surfing. [Link]

Review of the Surftech Takayama Alii 10ft 3"

Posted 15 years ago

Review of the Surftech takayama All'i 10ft 3'Elliot Dudley is no stranger to the winners podium for surfing and stand up paddle boarding, his sucesses include European Champion 2005, B.L.U. Tour Champion 2005, Welsh Champion 2006, 2nd Place World Noseriding Championships 2006 to name afew. Elliot is sponsored by SurfTech/The Surf Commission and has recently been surfing the Takayama 10ft 3' All'i. He tells us about it : [Link]

Interview with Dave Parmenter and Ted Rutherford

Posted 15 years ago

Dave ParmenterIn autumn 2008 Dave Parmenter (ex professional ASP surfer and SUP/surfboard shaper) and Ted Rutherford (C4 Waterman) came over to the UK to visit some old haunts and explore some new places on stand up paddle surfing boards. [Link]

Boardworks Surf opens three new US distribution centers

Posted 15 years ago

SUPGlobal visitied the Boardworks warehouse in Oceanside last year, but now the demand for stand up paddle boards and surf boards has enabled them to expand operations. [Link]

The SurfAid International (Euro) Stand Up Paddle board endurance race UK.

Posted 15 years ago

There are big cash prizes for the 2009 stand up paddle race at Paddle Round the Pier, Brighton, UK. [Link]

The Blade Runner Paddle Protector

Posted 15 years ago

The Blade Runner paddle protector is a length of flexible extruded plastic that sits over the edge of your paddle and prevents it, in theory, from chipping the side of your board. I have used a paddle without a blade protector for a year now and the rails of my beloved GONG are starting to look a little battered. So when I bought my brand new board for the 2009 season I decided that I would put on a blade runner to protect it. [Link]

The Tulip Stand Up Paddle Challenge

Posted 15 years ago

We got this rather intreaging press release from the Netherlands today, a team of dedicated stand up paddle surfers are planning a challenge paddle amongst the tulips. As tempting as it is to say "tip toe through the tulips", this looks like a fun challenge in an unusual environment. [Link]

Interview with Stand Up Paddle Surfer Adam Zervas

Posted 15 years ago

Adam ZervasWe met up with Adam Zervas at Surf Shop 2008, Adam is also one of the big names in Stand Up Paddle surfing in the Newquay area. He did really well in 2007 at the September Sessions but has been suffering this year with an injury. [Link]

A new stand up paddle surfer joins the Starboard team

Posted 15 years ago

Starboard stand up paddle surfing Starboard have sponsored Anne Marie Reichman to be a part of their stand up paddle surfing team. Anne Marie is no stranger to watersports having been a Professional Windsurfers Association competitor for a number of years. [Link]

Stand Up and ignite the fire of life !

Posted 15 years ago

Naish celebrate 30 years of being in the water sports business this year and they have also released details of their 2009 stand up paddle surf range. [Link]

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Hayling Island

Posted 15 years ago

Stand Up Paddle Surfing Hayling IslandTez has had an epiphany and loves stand up paddle surfing, but has also discovered the lonelyness of the long distance paddle surfer. One of the advantages of the sport is that access to remote off shore breaks is possible with stand up paddle surfing, however it often means you are surfing alone. Does anyone want to join Tez out at Hayling Island ? [Link]