Sport

The question is simple enough. Why do people stand up paddle? The answers to the question are as diverse as the day is long. Some do it for the fitness benefits. Others gravitate towards racing and frequent any number of events now held around the world on any given weekend. SUP is fun, easy to pick up and it can be a great entry-level activity to introduce people to the wonderful world of paddlesports.

One can stand up paddle on any body of water, in any climate anywhere in the world. From exploring the cityscapes of Europe to cruising along the rugged wilderness of North America. White water, flat water, open water, downwinding, surfing. It has even spawned a trendy new form of yoga. These factors and undoubtedly more all play into the broad appeal of SUP.

Although the aforementioned factors each play a role, the single most defining characteristic of the relatively young sport is the sense of community among stand up paddlers of all ages and walks of life which exists to a degree not found in other recreational sports. Turn up at a SUP event and it is like going to a family reunion with all your favorite aunts and uncles in attendance. Sure there are some serious racers, but more often than not the overwhelming majority of paddlers are not delicately dancing on top of tippy, round-bottomed raceboard with 24 inches (or less) of width. They are happily cruising along on a veritable mish-mash of colorful stand up paddleboards. Regardless of who they are, where they come from or the length of time it takes paddlers to finish, everyone cheers and slaps high fives when the race is complete.

Outside of events, paddlers tend to congregate with one another or at the very least smile and exchange greetings with others as they glide past. The sense of community is analogous to drivers in rural Midwestern States who wave at everyone when they pass on the region’s gravel country roads.

The SUP community is much more than a lifestyle. It is a sense of belonging – one of the defining characteristics of a community. And the community is still small. Within a particular region, everyone knows or likely recognizes one another, if not by face then by the board they paddle. Among regions, at least in the United States, there is always that one person who everyone knows and likes. They are the connectors. Perhaps that person is you. Perhaps that person is Kristin Thomas.

No matter who you are or where you come from, choose a board, grab a paddle and join the community of SUP.

All photographs accompanying this editorial were shot by the talented Southern California photographer Chris Aguilar at the Adler Paddler on March 12th, 2016 along the Belmont Shore in Long Beach – a fantastic community event.

#AdlerPaddler #Community #LongBeach #sup #SUPCommunity

Photo by Justin Casey on Unsplash

California State Parks is honoring the service of veterans, active and reserve military members, by offering them free admission to participating parks on Memorial Day – Monday, May 31, 2021. A total of 134 park units will be honoring the free admission this year, including state vehicular recreation areas and the California State Railroad Museum.

“Thank you to the brave men and woman who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “In their honor, State Parks is offering military individuals complimentary admission to some of the most amazing places within California’s State Park System.”

Veterans, active duty and reserve military personnel must show a valid military ID, or proof of discharge other than dishonorable or bad conduct, in order to receive the free admission. AB 150 (Olsen), signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. in 2013, authorized California State Parks to offer veterans, active duty, and reserve military personnel from the United States Armed Forces and the National Guard of any state a reduced or free day use at participating state parks.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, State Parks anticipates large crowds on one of the busiest weekends of the year, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With new guidance provided by the California Dept. of Public Health, here are some guidelines for the public visiting our parks.

Recreate responsibly

Protect yourself, family, friends and your community from COVID-19 by following these prevention measures while recreating in California’s State Park System:

• Know Before You Go – Prior to leaving home, check the status of the park unit you want to visit to find out what restrictions and guidelines are in place. Have a back-up plan in case your destination is crowded. Stay home if you are sick.

• Plan Ahead — Some restrooms will be temporarily closed to keep up with cleaning schedules. Bring soap/hand sanitizer.

• Play It Safe – Find out what precautions you should take when exploring the outdoors, especially if this is your first time visiting the State Park System. parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips

• Keep Your Distance — Avoid crowds. If there are too many people at a park or beach, please visit us on a different day.

• Wear a Mask – State Parks continues to follow the guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health.

• Everyone: In indoor settings, such as museums and visitor centers, face coverings are required regardless of vaccination status.

• Fully Vaccinated Persons: Face coverings are not required outdoors except when attending crowded outdoor events.

• Unvaccinated Persons: Face coverings are required outdoors any time physical distancing cannot be maintained.

• Leave No Trace — Leave areas as you found them by staying on designated trails and packing out all trash. Do not disturb wildlife or plants.

Although law enforcement entities have the authority to issue citations, the expectation is that the public is responsible for adhering to the advice of public health officials, visitor guidelines and closures.

The State of California recognizes that outdoor activity is critical for mental and physical health during this challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, State Parks has been working with local entities on a phased and regionally driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved.

For detailed information on how State Parks is helping slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors, please visit www.parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.

Summer is just around the corner and with it comes warmer weather and longer days, allowing for ample time to get out on the water. While hours of endless sunshine may be good for morale, the heat will likely catch up with you at some point. In addition to plenty of water and sunscreen, it’s important to have the proper gear to keep up with your summertime outings. When it comes to gear that works to keep you cool during warm weather endeavors, Patagonia’s Capilene Cool tech tees hit the nail on the head.

According to the company, the “iconic, multifunctional next-to-skin Capilene layers wick moisture, breathe efficiently and dry fast to provide a foundation of comfort and temperature regulation for any pursuit. The new Capilene Cool tech tees wick moisture, dry fast and were made to handle the heat. They keep you comfortable when you’re working hard in conditions ranging from temperate to scorching. Offered in three styles: Daily, Trail and Lightweight.”

I recently took a trip down to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where the weather was warm, calling for lightweight paddling attire. In addition to my inflatable SUP, reef safe sunscreen, and personal necessities, I added Patagonia’s women’s long-sleeved Capilene Cool daily shirt and trail tank to my pack and boarded a plane headed south.

The Capilene Cool Trail Tank Top is advertised as their softest performance knit. While I can’t vouch for all of their other tanks, I will say this: it sure is soft! It is quick drying and wicking, which was perfect for long, hot paddles and inland hikes. It also has Polygiene permanent odor control to help keep the stink factor at bay, even with minimal washes. The tank is made from 100% polyester spun jersey and like many of Patagonia’s products is Fair Trade Certified and bluesign® approved.

The Women’s Long-Sleeved Capilene Cool Daily Shirt is advertised as Patagonia’s most versatile performance knit for use on trail or on the water. With built in 50+ UPF sun protection, this ultra thin and comfortable shirt was the perfect option for long paddles under the powerful Mexican sun. It is made with miDori bioSoft for added wicking and softness and has minimal stitching and seams to help reduce chafing during paddles. Made from 100% recycled polyester, the long-sleeve shirt also includes Polygiene permanent odor control, is Fair Trade Certified, and is bluesign approved.

Photo: Sarah Parsons

Like everything at Patagonia, the Capilene Cool collection is extremely high quality and is made with the environment in mind. On Patagonia’s website, you can follow “The Footprint Chronicles” for each piece, where the environmental impact of each is thoroughly laid out—we greatly appreciate the transparency and green heart of this company. With three different men’s and women’s styles, Patagonia’s Capilene Cool collection gets our stamp of approval.

#Patagonia #Review #Shirts

I attended the Downriver SUP class organized by JB, owner of Altitude Paddleboards in Littleton, Colorado. I’ve been on a SUP a few times in the ocean while visiting my brother; living in Colorado presents different opportunities to paddle, namely on rivers.

I meet JB the previous year when I bought my Hala Straight Up from him. He was very knowledgeable about the equipment and walked me through the basics of stand up paddling in Colorado and I anticipated his Downriver SUP class would not disappoint. I arrived 15 minutes early for the course and JB greeted me immediately, making me feel right at home. Once all the attendees arrived we went over the basics:

1. Checked the current 

2. Discussed eddies and how to ferrying upstream

3. Proper stroke techniques

We loaded up our SUPs and headed on our way down to where the South Platte crosses Hwy 470 in the Denver Metro area. We did a quick equipment check ensuring everyone had PFDs, paddles, and boards; plus hand signals for safety checks.

We entered the river one at a time and immediately found our first eddy. We practiced our eddy entrance, peel out, and ferry techniques. Ferrying is the process of moving across the river while facing upstream; the point is to be able to effectively move from one side of the river to the other. JB watched us and gave everyone pointers to work on. We moved down the S. Platte to practice our techniques on different eddies, focusing in on bow strokes and edging the board.

I thoroughly enjoyed the downriver SUP class. JB was a great instructor, very patient. He even gave me some practice tips to work on my paddle technique for times when I can’t get on the water.

Thanks JB!

#AltitudePaddleboards #SPlatteRiver #downriversupclass #Denver #HalaStraightUp

PaddleXaminer is a veteran owned publication based in Los Angeles, California. We provide stories, gear reviews, and news for adventurers on and off the water.

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With the 2017 upgrade and refinement of the V Cold Storm cold weather paddling line, Vaikobi has accomplished a rare feat by making what was already a great product even better. The boost to the V Cold gear came in the form of a thicker outer layer and incorporation of ripstop fabric. The result is a rugged, hi-tech modern look designed to provide warmth while not sacrificing the breathable properties of the fabrication. Cold weather gear has a tendency to be non-flattering and utilitarian in look and style, yet Vaikobi has succeeded in overcoming this obstacle and delivered a great looking range. In the process, Vaikobi even managed to grow the range with the addition of a V Cold Storm Paddle Vest and Shorts.

V Cold Storm pants

I’ve had the pleasure of trying out the upgraded V Cold Storm pants and one of the new paddling vests over the past few months and could not be more pleased with the performance of the products. The new ripstop construction has a cool ridged texture that looks like something Arnold Schwarzenegger might have worn had the Terminator been a paddler. The new paddle pants have a wider waistband than the original model and retain the great scooped shape with a high back and lower front. Less of a factor when standup paddling, the scooped design provides much appreciated comfort when engaging in seated paddling disciplines. The new fabrication also contains an enhanced hydrofleece backing on the leg panels which is significantly more comfortable and performance enhancing than regular old neoprene.

V Cold Storm Paddling Vest

When my alarm rings at 0440 for winter outrigger practice on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, the Vaikobi V Cold Storm paddling pants are one of the first things I pull on after rolling out of bed. Paddling without them in 40F/4C weather would be simply unthinkable. The V Cold Storm pants also come in handy during summer evening outrigger practices here in Southern California because while the sun is often shining, the water just isn’t all that warm!

Vaikobi paddling vest

The V Cold Storm Paddle Vest lives up to the V Cold name by providing warmth where it is needed during cool days on the water. It is also perfectly compatible as a layer on top of the V Cold Base paddling top. The latter is a thin construction not to be confused with the V Cold Storm paddling top. I regularly wore the Vaikobi V Cold Storm Paddle Vest this past summer during evening OC-6 workouts. When the waves are cresting over the gunnels or you find yourself up on seat one stroking as I often do, wearing the V Cold Storm Paddle Vest will revolutionize your experience on the water. My first impression after paddling in the vest during a cold blustery evening practice was that it was the greatest piece of gear for paddling since the invention of the paddle itself.

Top these guys off with a V Cold Beanie and Ocean Racing PFD and you’ll be ready to overcome whatever elements come your way!

#Apparel #coldweathergear #ColdWeatherPaddling #Vaikobi

Follow all the action August 20 – 24, 2021 at the largest paddlesports festival in the United States. Here’s what you need to know.

Friday, August 20: 7-9p

ACA Slalom National Championships – 9a

ICF Super Cup World Party 7-9p

Extreme Slalom & ICF Ranking Race 6:30-9p

Dane Jackson, Evy Leibfarth • Freestyle Kayaking Demo 8p

USO Experience

Fireworks!

Saturday, August 21: 10a-10p

RIVERSPORT Adventures & Rafting Open 11a-6p

ACA Sprint National Championships 8a-4p

ACA Slalom National Championships – 9a Run 1, 5:20p Run 2

USO Experience

Dane Jackson, Whitewater Kayaking Clinic, RIVERSPORT Rapids • 9:30a–4p

ICF Super Cup Sprint Portage Race, Oklahoma River • 10:30 – 11:30a

ICF Super Cup Heats & Quarter Finals, Oklahoma River • 4 – 6p

The Great Paddle Youth Event, Oklahoma River • 6p

ICF CANOE SPRINT SUPER CUP FINALS 8 – 9:30P

Fireworks!

Sunday, August 22

RIVERSPORT Adventures & Rafting Open 11a-6p

ACA Slalom National Championships – 8a Run 1, 9:50a Run 2

ACA Sprint National Championships – 8a-4p • 6-9p

USO Experience

Dane Jackson,Whitewater Kayaking Clinic, 10:30a–3p

Monday, August 23

ACA Sprint National Championships – 8a-4p • 6-9p

Tuesday, August 24

ACA Sprint National Championships 8a-3p

In 2012, professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves launched her eponymous swimwear label, Sensi Graves Bikinis, to meet the demands of her sport. After losing one too many string bikinis in the surf, she decided to tackle the job herself and design suits that actually stay on in rough conditions. 

While designing swimwear that’s both fiercely functional and fabulously feminine is the core mission of the brand, sustainability has been built into the brand since its inception with Sensi using all recycled packaging, hang tags and labeling, compostable poly bags and hygienic liners, manufacturing in the US and donating 1% of sales to environmental groups.

And now, Sensi is taking another step towards increased sustainability in her brand.

On September 30th, Sensi Graves Bikinis is launching a crowdfunding campaign to fund the transition to all recycled fabrics in their 2020 line. Backers of this campaign will allow Sensi Bikinis to double down on their commitment to being a 100% transparent, ethical, and sustainable brand.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do here at Sensi Graves Bikinis. We love the outdoors and do our best to protect it. But manufacturing is harsh on our planet. Therefore, we’ve committed to producing our products in the most environmental manner possible; to ensure that not only are we doing more good than harm but that we are also inspiring others to take action.” ~ Sensi Graves

We believe in this mission to create a better world! If you do too and want to learn more, you can support the campaign here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/–67815/coming_soon/x/22324780

#Bikinis #Environment #SensiGravesBikinis

Getting into racing can be tricky. Raceboards are expensive, difficult to transport, and require plenty of space for storage. And, if you plan on traveling to races outside of your home state, getting the board to your desired location is no walk in the park. In an effort to make racing more accessible and minimize transportation and storage issues, NSP designed an inflatable raceboard: the O2 Race FSL.

The Nuts & Bolts

Designed specifically for racers with limited storage space, the NSP O2 Race FSL is constructed from premium inflatable FS technology and conveniently packs down into a backpack. The package includes a premium wheeled backpack, a 9” center race fin, and a high-pressure double-action pump, and is available in three different size options.

The board is constructed from a fusion reinforced double layer glueless pre-lamination combined with a new machine-woven dropstitch. When compared to traditional knitted dropstitch, the fibers are stiffer, allowing the fibers per square inch to be reduced, which results in a stiffer, less bouncy, and faster board. Additionally, the board features double layer rail construction with double sealing rail band, a low-profile Air7 V3 fin box system that reduces drag, rail edge for quick water release, 2” scotty mount D-rings on the trail for PFD attachement, and a grippy, thermoformed EVA deckpad.

Our Take

When I first heard about the NSP 02 Race FSL I will admit that I was skeptical. An inflatable raceboard sounded a bit like an oxymoron and I doubted that the level of performance could come close to that of a traditional raceboard.

I opted to test out the 12’6” by 25” and my first impression after getting it inflated, was that it was light and fast. The board is extremely stable and when paddling on flat water, the feel is incredibly similar to any other raceboard. Once on the open ocean, the board is a little less stable than a hard board but certainly can hold its own. When it comes to buoy turns, turning on a dime on this board definitely proved to be more tricky but still manageable.

All in all, I was super impressed with this board. It comes at an affordable price point, packs down into a backpack, and is enjoyable to paddle. As someone who prefers to skip the hassle of traveling with a board and is cautious of driving long distances with one strapped to my roof, this board opens up a world of possibilities for traveling and racing. If you’re into traveling and/or flat water races and have limited storage space, this is definitely the board for you.

The first Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver, Colorado has come and gone. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsor Flagship Consulting I was able to make the trip from Los Angeles to the Mile High City where I did my best to log some additional miles as I crisscrossed the multiple levels of the Colorado Convention Center in search of new gear and products to highlight for readers. Trade shows like Outdoor Retailer are not open to the public. Their primary purpose it to provide a venue for companies operating in the outdoor space to showcase their products, particularly new offerings, to retailers. It is therefore incumbent on humble “working media” representatives as we are known in trade show parlance to open a window and pull back the curtain on what went down inside the hallowed convention center halls.

Outdoor Demo Day at Outdoor Retailer 2018

The Sunday – Thursday trade show week kicked off with an outdoor demo day at Confluence Park in downtown Denver. With REI’s flagship store looming large in the background the majority of participating exhibitors arrayed themselves on a flat precipice overlooking the South Platte River. Down a short path to the water, a small contingent of paddle sports companies took up position on a beachhead at the base of a series of small rapids. Compared to my last visit to Outdoor Retailer in 2015, the representation of paddle sports companies at the outdoor demo day was anemic at best, but I was pleased to see Hala Gear, a proud Colorado company specializing in inflatable standup paddleboards (SUPs) anchoring the event. Hala is incidentally the presenting sponsor of our Pumped Up Paddler column focusing on inflatable paddle craft.

The Rogue Lite packraft from Kokopelli.

The waters of the South Platte were low. So much so it was difficult to take a true paddle stroke in most sections. As a result, paddlers were limited to either splashing around in the shallows on a selection of SUPs or running the rapids in a packraft. Difficult decision? Not really! I bombed through the rapids testing out a pair of packrafts from Kokopelli and shot some Instagram worthy video of others doing the same.

Packrafting was both new and entirely familiar. You may be wondering what the heck is a packraft? Great question! A packraft is a lightweight inflatable paddle craft that is essentially a cross between a raft and a kayak. Most are designed for a single person, but Kokopelli does have at least one two person model. You paddle a packraft with a kayak paddle and as the name suggests, they are lightweight craft (some are under five pounds) designed to be packed and used when hiking or base camping in remote locations. Based on my experience, packrafts are ridiculously fun to paddle on fast-moving water and will work well on lakes and rivers of all types. Christmas list item? Heck yeah!

Standup paddleboards

The limitations of the South Platte River flowing past Confluence Park did not do the rest of the paddle sports companies justice. As I mentioned earlier, Hala Gear was out in force and continues to maintain a strong position when it comes to inflatable SUPs, particularly in the whitewater market. Hala is continuing with their successful integration of Carbon Hybrid Technology into their inflatable range and have some exciting colorways and models on tap for 2019. The highlight is a revamped Playita, a shortboard style surf SUP which will likely be a focus in Pumped Up Paddler next year. (Spoiler Alert!)

Body Glove, a longtime innovator in the watersports space, has an attractive fleet of inflatable standup paddleboards targeted towards recreational paddlers. Unique to Body Glove’s inflatable SUP range is their patented neoprene handle which folds open to double as an attachment point for water bottles, paddles, or pieces of gear.

SIC, is showing new innovation as well in the form of a their first purpose-built touring board, the Okeanos. Solidly built and equipped with abundant tie down points and the ability to be run as a single, double or tri-fin configuration, the Okeanos resonates with classic SIC heritage in a practical, user-friendly touring board package.

Beyond the water

Paddle craft were not the only exhibitors at the Outdoor Retailer demo day. As with the main trade show hall itself, paddle craft were vastly outnumbered by the wealth of diverse vendors from across the outdoor recreation space.

One of the highlights which caught my eye was the electric all-terrain bikes from Rambo. Yes, there is really an electric all-terrain bike company called Rambo!

The Rambo electric all-terrain bike.

I took a bit of an extended demo ride on one of their models and may have left a track or two on the surrounding landscape! Fun, fun, fun. A new model runs roughly the same price as an OC-1. For those unfamiliar with outrigger paddling, that’s in the neighborhood of 4k and up depending on the model. Imagine silently motoring into the wilderness to paddle a remote lake or river. The opportunities with one of these electric all-terrain bikes are endless.

Camping food and food preparation in the outdoors was also a prominent feature at the demo day. There were some great freeze-dried salsas from Mountain Standard (better than any off the shelf supermarket brand salsa in a jar) and a really cool portable outdoor pizza oven. Imagine relaxing on the shore after a day paddling and enjoying a freshly prepared waterside pizza from your own little oven.

There were also enough bars and backpacking food available for sampling that I didn’t need to stop for lunch, not to forget the outdoor day’s host, Sierra Nevada Brewing, who was on hand with a healthy selection of brews.

#DemoDay #Packrafts #OutdoorRetailer #StandupPaddleboards #Gear