A SUP can give enjoyment on pretty much any wave, anywhere (Photo credit: P. Morgan)
In my time as a paddler I’ve watched with interest the rise in popularity of Stand Up Paddleboarding, a paddling pastime that generally involves a long wide surfboard and a single bladed paddle as tall as it’s paddler. It looks a lot like surfing, except that if there’s no surf, your SUP rider can simply paddle themselves around on flat water for exercise.
I first noticed them at Sydney’s Balmoral Beach, where I’d notice women, some pregnant, taking off in groups early in the morning for a leisurely paddle across the bay. Paddling SUP is a great way to develop core strength without being too energetic, making it accessible to people of all sizes and levels of fitness.
SUP now has race categories in most paddling races and events (Photo credit: P. Morgan)
Not that SUP paddling can’t be competitive. In most paddling events now you’ll find a range of SUP categories according to boat length, with the race boards themselves developing into racing shapes and away from the big Mal-like boards used in the surf. There are now so many SUP racers that in the past few races I’ve attended, it has seemed there are more SUP racers than any other category!
When I was younger I used to surf and although my injuries have stopped that, I’ve always missed the surf culture that went it. Loud boardies, fun banter on the water with your mates, and that salty tousled look you have after an early morning surf. Well, the SUP crew have taken on the same culture and seem to be having a ridiculous amount of fun on the water.
SUPs are a great platform for most types of water, both dynamic or calm (Photo credit: P. Morgan)
Not that everyone is enamoured with the SUP revolution. There are still a lot of surfers who hate the concept of the SUP paddle and will show their dislike verbally, or sometimes even physically. You know the types, the local surfers who scream “locals only” at any visiting crew hoping to enjoy their break, the ones that ride over bodyboarders dishing out fin-chops and then laughing about it afterwards. People like the surfer in this clip below with a clear hatred of SUPs.
Despite the aggressive actions of a few, the SUP phenomenon is growing at an incredible rate, with new clubs and stores popping up all over the world to service the growing global body of SUP paddlers. Major surf brands are throwing their weight (and substantial marketing dollars) behind the sport, as can be seen in this promo video below (hell, it made ME want to buy a SUP!!).
So what to do next if you’re interested? I’ve put together a list of a few places to start that either rent SUPs, or sell them, or are just plain passionate about them. Hopefully you’ll find something to suit. Cheers, FP
Coreban SUP – One of the early manufacturers to get onboard the SUP revolution, Coreban are dedicated to SUP boards and anything else to do with the sport.
Oz Stand Up Paddle Centres – SUP lessons for new or old SUP riders, with locations in Rose Bay (Sydney) and Brunswick Heads (northern NSW).
SUP Love – The SUP Love crew from Sydney’s northern beaches make SUP boards as well as providing training, gear and events.
Wind Surf n Snow – Another store on Sydney’s northern beaches specialising in SUP, Wind Surfing and Kite Surfing
Pittwater Paddle Tours – SUP lessons and fitness on Sydney’s beautiful Pittwater.
High Country SUP – A group of SUP paddlers out of Canberra and Sydney. Many of the High Country paddlers are serving or ex-army and regularly compete in SUP events in the ACT and NSW.
Tags: Stand Up Paddle, Stand Up Paddleboards, SUP
2011 Summer Series six-event paddling competition
Summer is upon us and those folks at Blast Paddlers are about to launch their new multi-discipline race schedule, the 2011 Summer Series. This great race series is comprised of 6 races over 6 months, with categories for skis, OCs, SUPs and kayaks – pretty much something for everyone. Here’s the official blurb from their site:
“The Sydney Harbour Challenge “Summer Edition” is a fantastic annual Community-focused paddle-sport event, designed and developed with the support and input of world class athletes from all paddling disciplines, and representatives from the peak bodies in the paddle sport industry.
We’ve gone to great lengths to create a comprehensive, all inclusive race event, with the aim of providing a fun, safe, family day out, and the best possible format of of fun, safe, and challenging racing or distance and conditions, tailored to suit paddlers of all levels of paddling skill and fitness.
No matter your skill-level, this is the event for you. We welcome all paddlers, of all abilities, and all craft. From those of us new to the sport, to the old-school veterans. At the 2011 Summer Series, there’s something for everyone with a passion for paddle sport.”
So there you have it! The event is $35 in advance, or $45 on the day. Your’s truly is going to be there coming last in my Remix white water boat, so come along for a paddle and say hello as you pass me. Cheers! FP
Tags: 2011 Summer Series, Blast Paddlers, kayak, OC, ski, SUP
Two very different paddle craft sharing the water - Valley Aquanaut and SUP
One of the great aspects of paddling is all the different flavours that are available. White water, flat water, ocean paddling, ski paddling, Greenland paddling, kayak polo, canoeing and of course the Stand Up Paddle (SUP) to name but a few. And there’s no reason why you can’t mix up the paddling types when you share the water, other than the obvious challenges of differential speed.
I was keen on an early paddle and invited SUP afficionado Rand to join me at the unreasonable put in time of 5.30am. He’d mentioned that he was considering doing the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic 111km paddle marathon on his SUP and needed training, so what better than pushing off into the dark for a paddle up Middle Harbour?
As I waited for him to get ready, I wandered around the shallows of The Spit with my torch looking for Ouchie. He was nowhere to be seen, but I did count several hand-sized baby stingrays in the area instead, sitting on the bottom like perfect miniatures of their bigger full-grown cousins. They were like little toys lined up in the water – my girls would have loved them!
FP lazily slip-streaming Rand on his SUP - haha!
Finally, and despite Rand’s nerves at pushing off into the dark, we set off north heading for the Roseville Bridge. He soon settled into the pace and enjoyed the lights on the water as very gradually the sky turned from black to a gentle grey glow. His fears now gone, we chatted away as the kilometres slipped behind us and we found ourselves at the Roseville boat-ramp.
Turning around, we paddled back to Flat Rock Beach where we strategically placed ourselves ready to catch The Coffee Boat on it’s trip to Bantry Bay. With Rand unable to stop his SUP, he paddled in circles until eventually he decided to head into the beach to wait for his coffee.
A lone SUP heading into Flat Rock Beach
The important arrival of The Coffee Boat
Within minutes Garry arrived in his little golden tug and brewed up a couple of fresh capuccinos for us, before chugging off into the distance. I paddled in and delivered the coffees to the beach where we enjoying the early morning light over our hot buckets of caffeine.
Setting off again, we paddled barely a kilometre when we came across a funny sight. Up ahead an outrigger canoe had also flagged down the Coffee Boat, with Garry furiously making coffees for the whole crew.
Hello, what have we got here then?
The girls from Yukon Buddies keeping Garry very busy
Rand and I pulled up for a chat and were amazed to hear that this crew of lady dragon-boat paddlers, know as the Yukon Buddies, were training to do the Yukon River Quest, a 746km paddle down the Yukon River in Canada that will take them around 65hours to complete! Just the week before they’d done the 111km Hawkesbury Classic course as training and were on track for their mammoth paddle task ahead.
After saying goodbye and wishing the girls good luck, we paddled back to the The Spit just as the weather cracked open with a deluge of rain. We packed our gear into our respective cars and then went our separate ways, smiling after our fun morning’s paddle with our two radically different craft.
Lastly, recently I made a donation to the Bridge City Paddling Club from Portland, Oregon (USA) who are doing a 12hour paddle to raise money for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, a non-profit that is working to ensure that safe drinking water is available to those in the world that need it. For my donation I also received a tshirt, which I promised I’d get a photo of here in Oz. So to all the dragon-boat paddlers from Bridge City, here it is. Cheers! – FP
FP meets the Bridge City Paddling Club at Sydney Harbour Kayaks
Tags: Bridge City Paddling Club, coffee boat, SUP, Yukon Buddies, Yukon River Quest
Dawn at The Spit, a great start to the day
The boys came together for one last paddle before the next weeks Kayak for Kids event. Meeting at 7am, we got to witness a stunning dawn over Middle Harbour before getting in the boats for the final hit out. We were joined by regular paddle mate Timbo, and new paddle mate Rand on his SUP.
"Ouchy" the stingray under my boat
The sea gods had decided to rest today and there was absolutely no swell or waves whatsoever. Timbo and I were left trying to surf passing boat wake as Rand worked his over-sized paddle to keep up.
Rand on his SUP. It looks easier than it is!!
Looking down to Grotto Point. Where are the waves??
Making quick progress we all rounded on Middle Head before realising we’d lost Rand, who had ducked into the safety of Balmoral. Not that there was any ocean swell to worry about, as the rest of us paddled right up close to the usually dangerous cliff-face of Middle Head. It was so calm that Timbo practiced a few rolls right by the cliff!
Oi Timbo! I think you're sinking!
Timbo having a look at the ocean floor. Hello fishies!
And he finishes the roll and is back up again.
From there we only had 10 minutes before we needed to get the boats back, but in the calm conditions decided we’d strike out for South Head, another milestone for the boys. Before we new it we reached the head before having to turn for home, trying without luck to surf the tiny swell back into Middle Harbour.
Alan paddling to South Head. What a day!
Finally we picked up Rand back at The Spit, and after returning the kayaks to Sydney Harbour Kayaks, all wandered off the local yacht club for decent breakfast of egg & bacon sandwiches, coffee and banana bread. With the content feeling of a full tummy, Timbo announced that despite his shyness in the face of Team Fat Paddlers’ constant paparazzi attentions, he was ready to become an official member of TFP for Kayak for Kids. Nice one!
So this is it, next week the lads will take on the 17.5km paddle through the Harbour to raise money for kids with development issues. This is a great cause and the boys have already raised over $5000, but if you feel so inclined, throw us a fiver or whatever you can afford, thje kids will appreciate it.
Tags: Kayak for Kids, Middle Head, South Head, stingray, SUP, Team Fat Paddler, Tim Kennings
SUP fun at Manly Beach (Photo Credit: www.wozthatyou.com)
Manly Beach is one of Sydney’s premier beaches, and yesterday hosted the Manly Festival of Surf. It’s great to see the sport of Stand Up Paddling now accepted amongst the surf community and Doug from www.wozthatyou.com managed to get some sensational photos of our paddling brothers and sisters playing amongst the waves.
Happiness is a paddle in hand! (Photo credit: www.wozthatyou.com)
There’s heaps more photos from the day on Doug’s site www.wozthatyou.com – check them out to see how much fun you can have with a paddle and some wave action! – FP
Tags: manly, manly beach, Stand Up Paddling, SUP
