Paddle Surf Northwest

Race Fins

2012-01-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

I've been using race fins made by Larry Allison for over two years now, and I really don't need to try anything else. They do everything I need a race fin to do; track well, reduce drag and shed weeds.

My first Allison fin was the Eric Terrien Bat Wing. I was amazed at how well it made the board track and how many more strokes per side it allowed me. It made the stock fin look like total junk.

Then, last year I discovered the Gladiator fin, made by Larry with design ideas from fellow SUP racer Casey Gotcher out of Austin Texas. He runs a great SUP site called SUP Gladiator. http://www.supgladiator.com/

Casey and Larry just came out with the new Hybrid Gladiator fin that is a slightly smaller version of the original. I used it for the first time in a race last week and won the race on my 14' Bark Dominator.

There are some very different designs attributes between the different models, and Larry can explain the advantages to each... he talks like a hydrodynamic/physics engineering doctorate student, but all you really need to know is that any of these fins are probably better than what you use now.

If you live in Washington, you can buy any of these fins at Perfect Wave Surf Shop in Kirkland, or order the Gladiators directly from Casey.

Above: the Hybrid Gladiator. A great fin for a 12'6" or 14' board in low wind/current that will do buoy turns easier than the standard Gladiator or Bat Wing. Keep in mind though, that this fin will work very well in windy conditions too, but has slightly smaller surface area than the other fins. The Hybrid will also work well in downwind situations, and be loose enough to turn from bump to bump.

Above: This shows the Bat Wing laying on top of the original Gladiator. The Bat Wing works great on 12'6 and 14' boards, but I really like it on my 19' Unlimited.

Above: This shows the Hybrid on top of the original.

Above Left: Original (Elite) Gladiator. Use it on long distance paddles when you aren't having to do a lot of tight turns. It will keep you going arrow straight.

Above Right: Hybrid Gladiator. The points on the trailing edge of all these fins gives water a definitive point to release. Otherwise water has to "look" for a release point, causing resistance and drag.

The race fin quiver... The red/white/blue fin is the Thresher that excels downwind and on flat race courses with lots of turns.

World Paddle Association 2011 Rankings

2011-12-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

Here are some highlights form this years WPA points races. Some great local guys doing very well in the Pacific Northwest Series as well as the National Rankings:

Pacific Northwest Series
12'6" Class 1st Greg Gilbert, 3rd Rod Parmenter

14' Class 1st Cyril Burguiere, 2nd Matt Spencer, 3rd Beau Whitehead

Unlimited Class 1st Thomas Shahanian, 2nd Beau Whitehead

National Points Series
Unlimited Class 7th Beau Whitehead

For complete rankings, click here:

http://worldpaddleassociation.com/2011-rankings/

2011 Deception Pass Dash Write-Up

2011-12-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

This years SUP winner, Norm Hann, wrote up a great review of the race...

http://mountainsurfadventures.blogspot.com/2011/12/deception-pass-dash.html?spref=fb

Photos of the Dash by Rob Casey...

http://robcasey.photoshelter.com/gallery/2011-Deception-Pass-Dash/G0000K5QlwARnivM

OnIt Pro

2011-11-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

Check this stuff out if you haven't already folks... Blue Goo and Xtreme Cream. The Blue Goo will get you board cleaner than it has ever been and the Xtreme Cream will leave a super slippery coating that will make your board faster... believe me.

A lot of people ask me if I think it works, and I do. My boards feel faster under my feet with better glide between strokes. For me, not prepping my board the night before a race with Xtreme Cream is like not hydrating. As a racer don't you want to know you have done everything possible to be as fast as you can be? Even if it only makes you 10 seconds faster over the race course? I have won races by as little as 3 seconds and lost them by the same. So yeah, it's worth it.

http://www.onitpro.com/

New NW SUP Blog

2011-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

Mike Darbyshire of Deep Cove Paddle Shop in B.C. has a new blog... check it out...

http://deepcovesup.blogspot.com/

And check out his video of SUP surfing the famous standing wave at Skookumchuck...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WL2Mq3P9OZ4#!

2010 Deception Pass Dash

2011-11-13T19:51:00.000-08:00

Is it the last race of the 2010 season or is it the first race of the 2011 season? Hmmm, either way, its a kick-ass race in a beautiful venue. All paddle craft allowed as you race to beat the outgoing tidal flow... whirl pools, eddy lines and kelp beds help make this course challenging.

http://rubycreekboathouse.com/races/deception-pass-dash/

It Was Only A Matter Of Time...

2011-10-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

I prefer to paddle year around, even when I'm breaking ice, but I suppose this would be a good alternative if you couldn't get out...

Niceto Canete Photography

2011-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Please think about using this great photographer next time you need professional work done...

http://caneteco.com/

Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers

Mens Team

Larry Allison Perfect Wave Race Fin

2011-10-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

My new favorite race fin... pick one up from Bobby at Perfect Wave...

Kialoa Toro Race Paddle

2011-10-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

Last winter Chuck Patterson asked Dave Chun of Kialoa to make him a new race paddle. The new Toro is that paddle. It has a teardrop outline, like that of a Tahitian outrigger blade and a subtle, yet grippy hook on the end of the blade. There is also a spine that acts as a slight dihedral down the back (power face) of the blade. The shaft has been stiffened to transfer more power into the blade. And it is light!

I have been racing with this paddle since May, and I love it. I was dubious at first, because the blade is bigger than I usually use. For the last 3 years, my primary race paddle has been the Methane. But for some reason that I can't explain, the Toro does not work me over like other bigger blades. (It is slightly larger than the Shaka Pu'u.) To me it feels somewhere between the Methane and the Shaka.

The 'hook' on the blade rewards good paddle technique but will kick your butt if your technique falls apart. Straight bladed paddles allow you to pull the blade past your feet (which you should not be doing) but the Toro hangs up in the water and is hard to exit if you pull too far past your foot. However, upon the 'catch phase' the hook grabs and holds tenaciously. Very little slippage or flutter.

So now my Methane & Shaka Puu paddles have become my surf/downwind paddles and the Toro is the new weapon of choice for racing. Thanks Kialoa!

Round the Rock Race Video

2011-10-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

Short video by Riviera Paddlesurf...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cTbpsm9734&feature=player_embedded

Off-Season Cross-Training

2011-10-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is a great time of year to get out and do some other sports that will compliment your paddling skills... running, cycling, weights, or paddling another craft... enjoy!

Photo by Niceto Amor Canete

Fall Downwinders Are Here

2011-09-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

A whole weekend of 30mph + winds... equaled 3 downwind runs in 4 days... fall must be here...

Lake Whatcom... 6 mile run....

http://vimeo.com/29702643

NW OC6 Championships and Deep Cove SUP Racing

2011-09-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

This was a good weekend for paddle racing. Saturday was the PNWORCA Distance OC6 Championships hosted by the Lummi Indian club Autumn Rose. It was supposed to be a 17 mile loop, but due to high winds and rough seas was shortened to two short laps and 14 miles. Our club (Bellingham Bay Outrigger Paddlers) did very well. I paddled in the mens open boat and we ended up second. Our women's boat easily won their race and our mixed boat did very well even though they took on so much water that one person had to bale almost the whole time.

Yesterday was the Board the Fjord race in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. It was a 8.5 mile course and around 35 people started the race. I was the only person with an unlimited board, so I was a bit lonely off the front wondering if I was on the correct course. Kimo from Lynden was a strong second and won the 14' class. Dale was 3rd in the 14's. Mike Hammer won the 12'6" division after doing the Bellingham Traverse solo the day before! That's hard core! Whatcom County represented!

If you ever get a chance to paddle in Deep Cove, do it! It's gorgeous. Paddling heaven. Big thanks to Mike Darbyshire for putting on the race!

Results at: http://www.webscorer.com/race.aspx?raceid=1492

18'6" Ohana Unlimited Race Board For Sale

2011-09-19T11:48:00.000-07:00

I am selling this board for my friend in Canada. The board is in my garage in Bellingham. It is 18'6" by 26" wide. It weighs approx. 34 pounds. It is in good condition and has not been paddled much in the last year. It is a 2010 and new ones retail for around $3K. Price is $1200. Can not be shipped.

E-mail me at loriandbeau@mac.com if you have questions. Thanks.

Our SUP Culture

2011-09-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Rob Casey took this great picture of the very last finisher at Round the Rock this year. It sums up how our sport is and should always remain all-inclusive and about fun. Great job to ALL the competitors this last weekend. See ya on the water!

2011 Round the Rock

2011-09-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

2011 RTR is in the books! 400 people competed in the 3 events on Sept. 11th & 220 people lined up for the 13.5 mile race around Mercer Island!

The top 3 finishers on the day were Thomas "Maximus" Shaninian, myself, then Dan Eberhardt.

The weather (for a change) was hot, humid and relatively wind-free. Thomas and myself got great starts, but at opposite ends of the line-up. We came together about 1/4 mile in at which point I tried to stay with T-max, but realized after about one mile, that I could not match his pace and decided to slow down a tad. And thats how it stayed for the next 12 miles. Thomas beat me by about 5 minutes (again) and I was about 7 minutes ahead of 3rd place.

My custom built 19' "Project 343" worked great. Tom Swetish designed a fast & stable unlimited craft. It will be hard for us to build anything faster next year!

Thanks to Kialoa Paddles, Perfect Wave Surf Shop and OnIt! Pro for your support leading up to this race.

Here is a SUP Magazine Article written by Rob Casey...

Here are some pics that some of my friends took throughout the day...

Heading out to the start line. Photo Rob Casey

Patrick Aio finishing. Photo Rob Casey

So glad to be done. Photo Rob Casey

Kialoa custom painted this paddle for me to use. Thanks guys!

High-five's with T-Max at the finish line. Photo Seattle Times

Somewhere in the first 3 miles. Photo Bobby Arzadon

Blake Hanley. Photo Bobby Arzadon

Tom Hanney. Photo Bobby Arzadon

220 racers go! Photo Bobby Arzadon

Top 3 Men. Photo Lori Whitehead

Top 3 14 foot division.

Top mens & womens finishers.

Thomas Shaninian & Karen Wrenn.

343 Unlimited Hits the Water

2011-09-01T19:44:00.000-07:00

Project 343 has been on the water now for about two or three weeks & she's fast. And she should be at 25.5" wide and 19.5' long....

The brain child of Tom Swetish of Bellingham Boardworks. He took one of his proven surf ski designs and modified it into a fast, stable unlimited SUP. I was fortunate to be able to provide some grunt labor and put in some hours of sanding foam & glass and seeing Tom's creation take shape from beginning to end.

The board was designed specifically for Round the Rock, which this year will be on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11th. I started calling it "Project 343" out of respect for the 343 NY firefighters who died that day. The name stuck and it means/represents a lot to Tom & I.

Myself & 343 will line up with some of the sports best racers on September 11th at Round the Rock.

I hope to make Tom's hard work pay off as well as represent my other sponsors Kialoa Paddles, Perfect Wave Surf Shop & OnIt Pro.

See ya there!

343's maiden voyage...

GPS testing had us grinning from ear to ear...

on-duty/off-duty weapons...

Board builder Tom Swetish and the pilot.

Thanks to Larry Allison for making me this sweet forward keel/fin.

Bellingham Paddle Grand Prix Results

2011-08-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

The second annual Grand Prix went off perfectly again this year, perfect except for the wind that decided to blow 20mph + from the south. Each leg of the 4 lap course had us buggering into the headwind. Ugh.

At the end of the 2nd lap, the race director let us know via bull-horn, that SUP's would only be doing 3 laps due to the weather. Sweet, no complaints here.

This year, the race included surf skis, OC's and kayaks... and about 80 vessels duked it out to raise money for one of our local paddlers stricken with a debilitating disease.

For results, click below...

http://paddlegrandprix.com/paddle-grand-prix/2011-pgp-results

Vancouver SUP Challenge

2011-08-14T21:42:00.000-07:00

Last weekend (August 7th) was the Vancouver SUP Challenge at Jericho Beach, Vancouver B.C.

The race was 4 kilos in really rough, choppy conditions. The first leg of the race was mostly survival, just trying to stay upright...

I ended up 3rd behind two 14's on my 12'6" Competitor

Photos courtesy of Oceanman

Race For The River, Bend, OR

2011-08-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

For those of us that didn't make the trip to Ta Hoe Nalu this weekend, there was the option of a 5 mile race on the Deschutes River in Bend, OR.

2.5 miles of up-river and 2.5 miles of down-river. Up-river we had to hug the shore line to hide from the 2-3 mph current and then down-river we hit the middle channel and hit speeds of 7 mph.

The most 'exciting' part of the course was the first buoy turn at the down river end... I hit the turn first, but the buoy had been moved from the day before, it was only 10 feet from a huge pile of rocks... as soon as I got sideways in the current I was heading straight for the rocks... I ended up in the water, trying to save my borrowed board from damage. After remounting, losing my hat and punching a hole in my friends board, I had dropped back to 6th or 7th place. I had to dig deep to claw back up to the front and chase down Matt Spencer (Gorge Performance) who was in the lead. Paddled with Matt for awhile then decided to push on as he started to fade a little. At the end, Matt, Paul and I all finished under an hour... I think my time was 56:11.

Great race, great venue, great weather.

Top 3: Beau, Matt & Paul

343: The journey continues...

2011-08-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

Stroke

2011-08-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

I like to think I have a good stroke, but this picture shows what happens at the end of a race when you are fatigued and everything starts to go to hell. Looks like I have switched to the more powerful Hawaiian stroke, I have dropped my lower hand about 4 inches lower than normal and my top arm is breaking too soon. It still won the race, but it ain't pretty.

Photo by Bobby Arzadon of Perfect Wave

343

2011-07-29T15:13:00.001-07:00

Project 343

2011-07-21T19:42:00.000-07:00

What is Project 343? Keep checking back and you will find out...

Perfect Wave Boards For Sale

2011-06-26T16:50:00.001-07:00

I've got 3 Perfect Wave boards to demo and/or sell here in Bellingham. Designed by Bobby Arzadon. Give me a call or e-mail me if you re interested in trying them out.

12'6" X 28.5" Race board (red) comes with fin, bag, leash, traction pad. $1950

14' X 28.5" Race board (blue) comes with fin, bag, leash, traction pad. $2150

PW All-around board. 12'6" X 32". Tri-fin. This board cruises very well,

is super stable & I had a great day surfing it in knee to waist high waves.

$1250, comes with entry level paddle, fins, leash & traction pad.

New Perfect Wave Race Boards

2011-06-23T19:10:00.001-07:00

The new boards are here! Check out the new 12'6 & 14' race boards.... They are both 28.5 inches wide, & come with a fin, traction pad and bag. Give Bobby a shout to demo one.

Kalamalka Full Results

2011-06-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.oksup.com/2011/06/hann-and-augaitis-capture-kalamalka-crowns/

Kalamalka 2011 Report

2011-06-21T15:24:00.001-07:00

Another great weekend of racing in eastern B.C. 3 races in two days. Over 70 competitors this year! First race on Saturday was a 3.5 mile short course race covering 4 laps and 7 turns per lap. Last years 2nd place guy Norm Hann was first to the first turn, with Stuart from Comox in second and me third with Mike from Deep Cove right on my heels... and thats how it stayed. Norm and Stuart showed great buoy turning skills that allowed them to gap me on every corner. I'd catch back up, only to drop 30 feet on the next corner.

Later that day, we did 200 meter sprints, 100 meters out, 180 degrees turn around a buoy then back to the beach. 4 guys at a time an you could go around the buoy either direction, causing some exciting collisions and sent some folks swimming. Top 2 from each race advanced... In the 5th semi-final heat I fell after colliding with someone and was out... or so I thought. One of the guys didn't want to race anymore, so he gave me his spot in the final heat. So I ended up 4th in the sprints. Ugh.

Sunday left us with the 10 mile race the length of Kal Lake. To keep it all one division, they simply gave the 14's a 10 minute handicap, which meant that myself and all the other 12'6" guys got a 10 minute head start. The entire race I was running scared, waiting to get caught. The story of the day was female winner Lina being less than 4 minutes behind me the whole way!

I managed to hold off the chasers and claimed first place in the 10 miler.

Norm Hann won the weekend series, with me second and Stuart 3rd. Lina was first for the ladies.

I highly recommend making the trip sometime for this race... great people and a great event.

Kalamalka 2011

2011-06-11T20:57:00.001-07:00

http://kalamalkaclassic.com/

Upcoming Races...

2011-06-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend is the Juan de Fuca downwinder.... 10 miler, finishes in Port Angeles...

http://www.raftandkayak.com/de-fuca-downwind-race/

Fathers Day Weekend is the Kalamalka Classic in eastern B.C. Three races in two day... awesome event...

http://www.oksup.com/events/2011-kalamalka-classic/

Also on June 18th is the Bend Paddleboard Challenge... check out the poster above...

June 25th you have two choices... the Alki Paddling Festival which will have a race as well as the Jetty Island Jam in Everett... (see the links to the right for more info).

And as always, the World Paddling Association, northwest region series is going on... check out their poster too...

See ya on the water!

Ross Island Series Final

2011-06-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

The 3rd and final race was fun, like the other two... A stiff north wind made for a tiring upwind into calf-high white caps, and the relative shelter of the return trip didn't give us the same downwind push... so, it was work both ways!

For some reason when the race official said "go" I decided to fall off my board. Great. So I was about 100 feet behind the leaders, but caught up to 3rd before the first turn. I moved into 2nd, and decided to stay about 50 feet behind Cyril, and try to pass him on the way home, bad idea. Cyril just kept pulling away and ended up beating me by 2 minutes. Well done Cyril!

Greg Gilbert again won the 12'6 stock class ahead of Kenny Wilson.

For the 3 race series, I ended up first overall in the 14' class with Cyril Burguiere in 2nd and Matt Spencer 3rd. And Greg and Kenny were 1 and 2 in the 12'6" class with Doug Hopkins in 3rd.

For complete results click here: http://www.gorgeperformance.com/html/RISUP-results/2011RISUP-results.htm

Thanks to all the folks who made this series really fun and a great vibe.

Photo Courtesy of Kenny Wilson....

Ross Island Race #2 Full Results

2011-05-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.gorgeperformance.com/html/RISUP-results/2011RISUP21results.htm

Long Course 6.5 miles			Short Course 4.5 miles

NAME	CLASS	TIME	NAME	CLASS	TIME

Dan Gavere	14' Men	1:09:05	Casey Dienckx	Surfboard Men	1:01:15
Beau Whitehead	14' Men	1:12:08	Sean Johnson	Surfboard Men	1:03:20
Cyril Burguiere	14' Men	1:12:55	Jae Munson	Surfboard Men	1:04:23
Gregory Gilbert	12'6 Men	1:14:03	James McGrane	Surfboard Men	1:05:43
Matt Spencer	14' Men	1:15:51	Pad Quinn	Surfboard Men	1:07:47
Paul Willerton	14' Men	1:16:23	Jason Capili	Surfboard Men	1:09:26
Robert Finlay	14' Men	1:17:43	Troy Tsuma	Surfboard Men	1:11:58
Steve Gates	14' Men	1:18:07	Tee Wolf	Surfboard Women	1:13:37
Dino Andereggen	14' Men	1:20:40	Katie Puddlefoot	Surfboard Women	1:17:03
Mike Field	14' Men	1:20:50
John Schalka	14' Men	1:21:11
Kenny Wilson	12'6 Men	1:21:37
Doug Hopkins	12'6 Men	1:21:37
Michael Witheriite	14' Men	1:23:22
Bob Rueter	12'6 Men	1:24:00
Kerri Stewart	12'6 Women	1:24:03
Maria Randle	12'6 Women	1:26:44
Oscar Maciel	12'6 Men	1:28:04
Elizabeth Schalka	12'6 Women	1:30:43
Greg Hoard	12'6 Men	1:34:38
Victoria Hopkins	12'6 Women	1:36:32
Tonia Farman	12'6 Women	1:39:50
Steven Dorsey	12'6 Men	1:41:30
Mike Dowd	14' Men	1:43:51

Clean Water Classic Surf Competition

2011-05-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Kenny Wilson from Lincoln City for winning the SUP division & to our own Patrick Aio for a strong second.

Full results here:

http://www.cleanwaterclassic.com/index.php/the-event/results

Ross Island Race #2

2011-05-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

Another "fun" race on Saturday. "Fun" because it hurt like hell. I took the first corner way too wide (gotta work on that) and lost almost 50 feet to Cyril and Dan Gavere immediately. I dug deep and caught up to them just in time to have Dan surge away. Thinking I could catch him later, I took another line which ended up being a dumb decision. Cyril & I just watched him steadily open the gap on us. The harder I paddled, the farther he got away. I was already blown at the half way point and knew Dan was uncatchable. I settled in & simply tried to not blow up and keep Cyril from catching me.

The reversed course and high water proved to make the river slower for us... I was 1 minute slower this week, but felt like I worked twice as hard. Too little sleep, and too much gas station food/caffeine had me feelin' really funky.

Greg Gilbert won the stock class, with Kenny Wilson close behind.

I'll post complete results asap.

Here are some pictures thanks to Kenny Wilson, who also won the Coldwater Classic last week!

Cyril, Kenny, __?__, Matt & Dan.... Check out Dan's 23" wide Starboard...

Greg, me, Kenny & Dino...

Ross Island SUP Race #1 Results/Pictures

2011-05-08T20:46:00.001-07:00

Great race... new 6.5 mile course was a good distance... some wind, some current and a lot of fishing boats. Thanks to Gorge Performance in Portland for hosting again.

Results...

http://www.gorgeperformance.com/html/RISUP-results/2011RISUPresults.htm

Pictures...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gorgeperformance/sets/72157626675826920/

Dirty Dan Short Course Results

2011-05-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

4.0 miles...

Short Course

1 34:47 Cantrell HPK 1
2 36:14 Swetsih FSK 1
3 37:36 Komoto et al. OC6 1
4 41:44 Howatt/TrowbridgeF-OC2 1
5 44:24 Whitehead SUP 1
6 45:23 Halstead HPK 2
7 46:58 Rogers /? SK2 1
8 47:02 Parker SK 1
9 47:30 Lipp SUP 2
10 47:31 Baharav SK 2
11 48:31 Andaluz HPK 3
12 51:48 Borgias F-SK 1
13 54:38 Campbell SUP 3
14 1:00:23 Haskin SUP 4
15 DNF Anderson F-SUP DNF

Kalama Pics

2011-04-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Just a few photos from Rob Casey... please check Rob's

blog; http://stokemagazine.blogspot.com/ for a link to all the pictures.

Getting critiqued by the master...

Cold but happy...
Breaking down the Tahitian stroke...

Race /Event Calendar

2011-04-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've had a few people ask me where they can find a list of all upcoming races... there isn't one good site, that I know of. Stand Up Zone has an events section in it's forum. Also check out Northwest Paddle Surfers. That is one good site to check. I'm going to try to set-up and maintain a list of upcoming races on the right side column of this site... bear with me... I might not always get everything on it.

Please e-mail me if you know of a NW race that you want on the calendar.

See ya at the races.

Kalama Klinic A Success

2011-04-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

The weather was cold, but the spirits were warm. Dave has found a way to put into words what comes so naturally for him; the Tahitian canoe/SUP stroke. We spent about an hour indoors and then another 1.5 hours on the water being critiqued by Dave. The best part was how all-inclusive his classes are. We had a guy who had never paddled before (ever) all the way up to elite level racers and everyone got something out of it.

I'd like to thank everyone who came out on Thursday morning (all 27 of you). We are all part of a big SUP family & I'm glad to be a part of it.

I'll post pictures as soon as I get them from Rob.

Mahalo!

SUP Gladiator/Larry Allison Race Fin

2011-04-23T20:40:00.001-07:00

I have long been a fan of Larry Allison's race fins... I've been using the Eric Terrien model all winter long. These fins track like no other, help resist side winds and currents and shed weeds like no other. Are they faster than other fins... I really can't tell, but who cares. If they are allowing you to get more strokes per side and don't pick up weds, then you are gonna go faster. Period. A cool web site called SUP Gladiator is having Larry make some custom fins just for them and their readers/fans. I just got mine today and if looks alone say anything... damn. Can't wait to get it in the water. Contact Casey at SUP Gladiator if you want one...

http://www.supgladiator.com/

Eric Terrien Model...

SUP Gladiator Model...

Perfect Wave/Surftech

2011-04-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

A big thanks to Perfect Wave for getting me set up with my quiver of race sleds this season...

If you want one of these babies... give Bobby a call.

Kids Race Board

2011-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

My friend Tom shaped this sweet flat water race board for his daughters.... they are gonna have a fun summer on the water!

Kalama Klinic Update

2011-04-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

The clinic is filling up! There are currently about 16 spots filled with a MAX of 30.

The price is actually $125 (sorry I said $100 initially). The extra $25 is to cover Dave's change of airfare to lay-over here for the clinic.

Contact Urban Surf to sign up. See ya there.

Dave Kalama Stroke Clinic-Seattle

2011-03-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

Dave will be at Lake Union on Thursday morning, April 28th! $100 gets you a 2 hour class from the master of SUP & OC stroke. Dave is one of the top watermen in the world & we are lucky to get him to come to our area. He normally gets $500/hour for private lessons, so this is a good deal... we will be in a group of about 20.

Contact Urban Surf in Seattle to sign up... spaces will go fast.

You want to go faster? He will make you faster!

Lake Whatcom Down Winder

2011-03-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Sunday the wind was a little too easterly to make a bay crossing safe, so we did a 6 mile run up Lake Whatcom... and we had a blast! Great waves for a lake... wish we had gone the whole 9 miles, but we didn't think it would be that good. Tom had fun making surf turns on his DW board while I pretty much just tried to stay upright on the 14 foot Bark race board...

Here is video Tom shot...

http://vimeo.com/21053430

New Shirts Are in at NW Paddle Surfers

2011-03-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

Ladies T's and white rash guards are in....

http://www.shop.northwestpaddlesurfers.com/

Stroke Critique Video

2011-03-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

2 months ago I was filmed by my wife just going back and forth, to get a good view of my SUP stroke. My intention was to use it to get it better and work on any "kinks" in the armor...

http://vimeo.com/19990226

I sent the video to some of the top paddlers in the world, in hopes they would watch it and critique me. I was prepared to not like what I heard, but I have thick skin and want to learn and get better!

The first review I got was from one of the best paddlers on the planet, but because he makes money teaching people, he didn't want his name shared with this project. But trust me, he's da man!

You need to reach more although your reach isn't bad. Try to reach forward more with your lower shoulder by twisting your upper torso more and actually extending the shoulder itself forward. From watching the video I can see that your shoulder reach isn't to bad but your not pulling it back into your shoulder socket enough. Also, loosen up your lower fore arm and wrist on the recovery and reach. To get a full extension you almost want to do a soft jab forward, like a boxing jab, to get your arm fully extended as you enter the water. One reason you might not be pulling your shoulder completely back into it's socket is that you are driving down a lot with your top hand, not really a bad thing if your doing the Hawaiian stroke, try pulling back more with less drive down to pull the shoulder more back into the socket.

The next response was from my paddle sponsor, Kialoa owner, Dave Chun...

Here is the thing about technique….it is personal. Because we are all built different, technique will vary. Main things are to engage the large muscle groups and put your body in a position of high mechanical advantage. I have watched the best outrigger paddlers for over 25 years and they all vary in technique. Often quite a bit different. What they all have in common is what they do when the blade is in the water. The blade is quiet and they pull hard.

Listen to the board. Listen to your paddle. These two things will tell you if you are paddling correctly. Different conditions call for variations in technique. The question is NOT what are YOU doing, but what is the board doing. Is the board going fast? If not change your stroke to match the conditions. Make your board go fast. Americans like to focus on themselves. The Tahitians focus on the canoe. Focus on what you are doing. My coach Kamoa Kalama used to tell us “Paddle each stroke like it is your last. Every stroke perfect.”

Focus on your catch. Do drills where you focus on setting the paddle clean…..and than pull. You are a bull. The power phase is a natural for you.

If you notice most paddlers have similar stroke rates. Ask yourself, why do some people go further with each stroke? It is all about what happens when the blade is in the water. BTW: in my opinion stroke rate is irrelevant. It is all about hull speed. Why would someone paddle at a 70 SPM if they are moving faster at a 50 SPM rate? The GPS does not lie.

Great advice from some of the best... hope this helps some other folks like it will help me....

Bellingham Bay Rough Water Race

2011-03-10T09:50:00.001-08:00

On Saturday March 5th the race went off right on time at 10:15am with 15-20mph winds out of the south. The course was either one lap or two around the 5.4 mile course. Only 3 SUP's and 2 prone paddlers were mixed in with the 40 or so surf skis and OC's.

On the downwind section from the Marine Park buoy to the GP outfall buoy there were some great 2 foot swells and some good rides. Every other leg of the loop was a chore with stiff head winds, side chop and boat swell.

I covered the course in 1:06 with Darrel on his prone board 1 minute ahead of me.

Great crew of racers and a truck load of home made cookies afterward....

Rounding the Marine Park Buoy with some serious side chop.

Portland Race Series Announced

2011-03-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

3 race series , May 7th, May 21st & June 4th

Info at:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168740389844033&ref=ts

and

http://gorgeperformance.com/html/RISUPrace.html

Pull-ups... THE best for paddlers?

2011-03-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

I have had many folks ask me what one exercise I would do when dry-land training for paddling. I gave it a lot of thought and came up with a few, but for me, pull-ups may be the best all-around upper body work for a paddlers muscles. My first answer of course is: only paddling more will make you a better paddler." But for many of us, we can't get on the water everyday due to work, family or weather. Pull-ups mimic a lot of a stand up paddlers stroke & uses almost every muscle involved in the catch, pull, release and return of the stroke.

Some of the muscles worked are the lats, shoulders, pecs, triceps, biceps, fore arms and grip/hand strength. Pull-ups will do more for you than push-ups simply because of the pull motion vs. the push motion. This is not to say you shouldn't do other things like push-ups, no one wants to over-build one muscle group. It's all about balance.

One of the main reasons I know pull-ups work my paddling muscle groups is because if I paddle the day after I have done a work-out that involves a lot of pull-ups, every muscle I mentioned above hurts during my stroke. That's good enough reason for me right there. And when I have been doing pull-ups consistently, I feel like I'm paddling stronger.

Every 3rd day I am stuck at a fire station and have to work out indoors. I try to do 100 pull-ups on those days, mixed in with other core exercises. I usually have to do sets of 10-15 with a minute rest in between. Another great work-out is called "The Murph" so named for Navy SEAL Michael Murphy who was killed in Afghanistan. You start with a 1 mile run on a track or tread mill, then do 300 squats (w/o weight), 200 push-ups, and 100 pull-ups. Then another mile run. All for time. You can do the exercises in any order or number, like 30 squats, 20 push-ups, 10 pull-ups, repeat. Some of the fittest people in the world can do this right around 20 minutes! But don't be surprised if you are double or triple this time.

And there are many people out there that pull-ups are just out of the question right now. You can substitute a full pull-up by using the lat pull-down machine at the gym. You can set a lower weight and work-up until you can do a full pull up. You don't want to injure yourself which means no paddling! And remember, nothing replaces actual paddling and water time. Enjoy.

New Team Rider

2011-02-27T13:01:00.001-08:00

New guy in town.... a little overweight now, but will slim down come summer....

Great GoPro Video from Cali

2011-02-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

This video filmed by a regular guy with a HD GoPro.... pretty creative angles....

http://vimeo.com/19937947

Snow Paddle

2011-02-24T12:29:00.001-08:00

6 mile paddle today with 5 inches of snow on the ground... beautiful day up here...

Tacoma SUP Race-March 20th

2011-02-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

This is the South Sound Chapter's largest annual "Fun"draiser. The event is in its second year and boasts a new location and longer course. This year the long course will be approximately 6.9 miles from the start point of Owen Beach paddling towards the Narrows Bridge. We will still have a shorter sprint race and the youth course. SUP, Kayak and prone paddlers are all welcome!

Registration is open athttp://www.surfrider.org/southsound/gppr_registration.htm

Sponsorship & Vendor Questions please email sserrano@surfrider.org.
Registration Questions please email gppr2010@gmail.com

The chapter will also be launching their first campaign at the event, Tacoma's PSSED (Puget Sound Stormwater Education and Defense) Campaign. Stop by and Get PSSED!

Beach clean, demos, vendors and more....

There will also be a special membership package to celebrate World Water Day (officially March 22nd). If you have ever thought about joining SF, now is a great time to do so. Celebrate our world's most precious resource with us!

More details to come, be sure to check back often. And help spread the word and share the event on your page.
Happy Paddling!

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=190929367593953

New PW Team Rider

2011-02-23T09:30:00.001-08:00

Bobby's long time family friend David Carvallho will be riding Perfect Wave boards for the team as he competes in contests all over Hawaii...

14' Surftech Bark Dominator

2011-02-10T18:42:00.001-08:00

Bobby at Perfect Wave is in the process of designing some new race boards. He is taking design ideas from myself and the rest of the PW team... I plan on eventually racing on these missiles, but until then, I'll mostly be racing the new Bark Dominator 14 footer made by Surftech. Thanks to Bobby for getting me set up with Surftech! This new 14 is almost as fast as my 3 year old Bark 18 and downwinds even better. It weighed in at about 24 pounds w/o fin.

I've got about 3 hours on it in two days and so far so good. The quality is outstanding as is anything Joe Bark puts his name on.

See ya on the water.

"Last Minute" Bellingham Race March 5th

2011-02-10T18:39:00.000-08:00

I'll post more info when it becomes available...

Hi All,

See below....The course in the making! MOST likely the RED course as this will be approximate 8.75 miles (two loops). USCG Permits have been applied for and the Port of Bellingham has tentatively reserved Bellingham Marine Park as the Start and FInish Headquarters.

Date: March 5th Pre-Race Meeting 0930 Race Start 1015 A.M.
Tide: 5.6 foot Ebb during the race
Wind: Potential for some wave riding if favorable SE blows that day. Course will be reversed if Northerly.
Race Distance: One Loop 4.5 Two Loops 8.75-ish

Course: Bellingham Marine Park (Start) Turn One: Post Point Buoy Turn Two: Outfall Buoy Turn Three: Cornwall Beach Buoy Turn Four: Taylor Street Dock Buoy Back through Start and Finish and REPEAT!

Lifejackets required to be WORN! Using the Soundrowers scale this is a 3 on the 1 to 3 scale for potential rough conditions.

Open to Human Powered Crafts. Trailer launch and parking if needed at Fairhaven Trailer Launch.

Directions: Take exit 250 off I-5 South or North. Follow Fairhaven Parkway to the West until you reach Harris Avenue. Turn Left and proceed across Railroad Tracks and turn left into Park. Limited parking so "All locals are encouraged to park at Fairhaven Trailer Launch and paddle around." (Thanks...)

Entry Fee: 125.00 (just kidding) Ten dollars per person.

Disclaimer: Not responsible for "Nuthin." Rescue Boats: Three or more Bathrooms: available at Trailer launch and start site (no showers) Food: Yes! Race Jersey: Maybe!

Race: Waiting for USCG Approval! Questions: (206) 459-4323 Peter Marcus (What I'd forget????)

Riviera Crew Surf Vid

2011-01-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Great looking day at Dog Patch...

http://vimeo.com/19146633

Surfrider Clean-Up Day in Bellingham

2011-01-21T13:12:00.001-08:00

Saturday, February 12

1-3 PM

Join Surfrider Foundation and the City of Bellingham’s Park department to help restore the mouth of Padden Creek! This unique piece of Bellingham waterfront serves as a home and stopping point for many native plants and animals; snow geese, green and blue herons, salmon, ducks, and song birds are all seen here regularly. As a piece of natural habitat, the lagoon provides an opportunity for people in all walks of life to observe some of the gems our ecosystem without leaving the sidewalk of Harris Avenue! However, this critical piece of habitat, where the fresh and salt water mix at the mouth of the creek is in need of your help. Invasive black berries and other foreign flora are beginning to take over the site, and will do so without our intervention. Come help us continue a process to strengthen our local ecosystem On February 12 by removing these invasive plants and spreading mulch beside the lagoon. With your help, we can restore this important estuarine habitat! We'll supply tools and light refreshments; all you need to do is bring yourself and weather appropriate clothing!

The mouth of Padden Creek is located off Harris Avenue in Fairhaven (by the Greyhound/Ferry terminal). Street parking is plentiful in the vicinity, and additional parking is located at the bus station. Look for Padden Creek Work Party signs and come get your hands dirty! For more information, please contact Erik Goheen 425-733-0470 or email erikandgo@gmail.com.

The Perfect Wave Quiver

2011-01-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

Check these boards out at the boat show next week or anytime at the Perfect Wave shop...

Perfect Wave At The Seattle Boat Show

2011-01-18T21:33:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Wave Team will be sharing a booth with Hobie Cat NW next week at the big boat show. Here is a press-release from Bobby, the owner of Perfect Wave...

Hi all,

Perfect Wave is proud to announce an agreement with Hobie Cat NW, Sand Point as the Seattle location for PW SUPs for sale and for rent. Dan Carpenter (Owner of Hobie Cats NW) and I go way back from when he had his original store in downtown Kirkland. Anyways, Dan has invited PW to be a part of their giant booth at the Seattle Boat Show, starting on Jan 21-30th. If you are going to search for us in the boat show directory, look for Hobie Cats NW, we will be there. We will also have a real water demo pool available and also a SUP simulator if you want to stay dry.

This also leads into some great opportunities to get started on Stand Up Paddle Boarding and/or learn advanced skills from the experts. Plus you can also hear about some of our new board models which will be available soon. We have several new Surf SUPs and our NEW Lightweight Race SUPs coming soon. I have also been working with Beau Whitehead on a new 12-6 Race design board. This is where the fun part comes in for me. I love designing new boards.

Perfect Wave Family that will be on hand at the Seattle Boat Show:

Blake Hanley-(PW Shop Manager/Board Rep/Team Rider) - Blake is an expert in fitness and has proven to be a very strong athlete and paddler. Blake will be working our booth during show hours. Come talk to Blake about conditioning and training and of course our awesome line of SUPs. Stay in touch with Blake's training methods here:

http://fitnessexpertoutdoor.blogspot.com/?spref=fb

Beau Whitehead-(PW Team Rider/Race Board design) - come meet and talk to the NW's #1 Paddler. What more is there to say about Beau, other than he's one of the fastest SUP racers on the planet. Really. He's amazing! Beau will be at our booth on Saturday from 10:00 to 2:00. Come talk to him and pick his brain, ask him anything. Beau will also be talking about different paddling techniques, different stages of the race, preparing for a race, how to finish, etc. Also check out Beau's very impressive resume and blog:http://paddlesurfnorthwest.com/

Patrick Aio-(PW Team Rider & Surf SUP Team) - other than Patrick being one of the fastest paddlers in water, you should see him SUP surf. Patrick if one of the strongest SUP surfers I've seen in the waves of the NW. If you've ever had that idea of pushing your SUP board to the next level and maybe taking it into some waves, you definitely need to talk to Patrick on the best way to learn and being safe while doing so . The WA coastline offers a variety of world class surf.

Rob Casey-(PW NW SUP Rep) - Rob offers a variety of experience with transferring from Surfing to SUP, Kayaking, Wave Ski.

Author of ‘Stand Up Paddling Flat Water, Surf and Rivers’ (Mountaineers Outdoors Expert Series) - Published by The Mountaineers Books, Seattle, for
Spring 2011.

Local Author Releases SUP Instructional Guide

2011-01-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

Local surfer, SUP'r, kayaker, photographer and author Rob Casey's new book will be out in April...

Here is what he has to say...

You can now pre-order my instructional guide to SUP which will be available in April 2011.

"Stand Up Paddling Flat Water, Surf and Rivers" published my Mountaineers Books in Seattle includes the basics, surfing, rivers and tidal rapids, racing, trips and expediitions, and a Fitness chapter by Nikki Gregg. Dave Kalama wrote the Forward and Corran Addison provided the History chapter.

Top paddlers were interviewed to provide the best content possible for the reader. Some of those include Nikki Gregg, Dan Gavere, Brandi Baksic, Beau Whitehead, Ken Campbell, Wade Lawson, Dave Collins, Evan Lloyd, Calvin Tom, Candice Appleby, Jenny Kalmbach, and Corran Addison to name a few.

Pre-order the book: http://alturl.com/trovf

Also check out Nate Burgoyne's new SUP book, the first on the market, looks like a good one!
http://www.standuppaddlebook.com

NW Winter Surf

2011-01-12T14:21:00.001-08:00

Fellow SUP racer & surfer, Tom Hanny, making a long drive worthwhile...

Photo by Rob Casey

2011 New Years Challenge Results

2011-01-10T15:58:00.000-08:00

http://www.paddlingdynamics.com/challenge/results.pdf

2011 New Years Challenge Race

2011-01-10T13:04:00.001-08:00

The Paddling Dynamics crew put on a great event (again). The weather was milder than last year and the sun came out at the finish line. About 20 SUP's took part this year (maybe more).

The Perfect Wave crew did strong work with me and Blake taking 1st & 4th place. Turns out Blake races pretty fast when he doesn't have a fever! The course was advertised at 6.5 miles, but many a GPS showed it to be over 7. Let's call it 7.2 ish.

I will post results when they are made available....

Photos by Bobby Arzadon and Rob Casey....

Tom Haney on a 18' Ron House...

Myself and prone winner Darrell Bednarck....

My Perfect Wave team mate Blake Hanley on his 12'6" PW race board
Myself on a PW Bark Competitor 12'6"

Best of 2010 Canadian SUP News

2011-01-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

Our friends up north have compiled a good re-cap of their 2010 SUP season...

http://www.oksup.com/2010/12/best-of-stand-up-2010-stories-news-and-photos/

Their big event/race last year, The Kalamalka Classic was a great time and I highly recommend it...

2011 New Years Challenge Race this weekend!

2011-01-03T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Paddling Dynamics New Years Challenge Race is this Saturday the 8th.

Hope to see everyone there!

http://paddlingdynamics.com/challenge/

Oahu 1993

2011-01-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

In 1993 I had the fortune to live and work on Oahu's north shore. I lived in a tent on my bosses property and worked until 2pm each day... after that, I was free to play. He gave me unlimited access to his quiver of boards, but the only one I really ever rode was the 8 footer.

Besides surfing, my favorite activity was to swim from Sharks Cove to Waimea Bay and then walk back...

If only SUP was around back then... damn.

Jumping off the rock at Waimea Bay....

Combat Surfing

2011-01-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

That's what the fellow SUP'r called it after he emerged from the water and talked to us in the parking lot... "you really gotta want to surf today" was also mentioned.

End of December, 20mph on-shore winds, chest high waves appearing out of the white caps and telephone pole sized drift wood... or combat surfing. Good term.

Tom wore his helmet, which after I got out, I thought was a pretty good idea. Usually the helmets just keep your head warm, this day they actually might have prevented head injury.

Despite the "challenging" conditions it was a great day, and who can complain about sunshine?

I discovered after about 2 hours that the cord attaching my leash to the board was a bit fragile and after diving under one wall of white water, I had to swim into shore to retrieve my ride. 30 minutes later, and a bit farther out, my re-tie failed again and after swimming in again, I decided to call it a day...

A good day of sharing waves with 3 other SUP's and 3 kayakers.

Happy New Year.

http://vimeo.com/18315801

Old School Board Photos

2010-12-25T13:27:00.001-08:00

Nothing to do with SUP... but goes to prove that "once a board-sport geek, always a board sport geek."

While I was at my mom's house for Christmas Eve, I scanned some old photos I found from centuries ago... Pretty good entertainment value... Turns-out there is not a paddle in my hands in any of the pictures...

1986, North Dakota (possibly the first skate-punk to enter the state)

1992? Ski Acres (no longer called that)

I believe this was called a "stale-fish" grab

1989, Chinook Pass
1993? Ski Acres. They closed the pass due to too much rain so we hiked a jump for about 6 hours...
1986, Kent, WA. Note the half-pipe in the back ground

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2010-12-22T15:16:00.000-08:00

2010 was a great year for many of us. Let's hope 2011 brings us more great waves, races and friendship. Cheers to all our readers, friends, team mates and competitors!

Sincerely, Beau Whitehead

Lake Washington Downwinder

2010-12-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Fellow racer & Seattle local Greg Gilbert sent me this shot of him downwinding in early November.... you can't tell, but he is wearing shorts.... tougher than I am for sure.

An Exercise In Futility

2010-12-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days that the wind was blowin' hard. 25 mph steady. But no one available to run shuttle cars for a down-winder. So I headed to Marine Park to play in the chop. Little did I know that between 1:20 and 2pm it would pick up to 40 mph sustained with gusts off the chart. (See the big spike on the chart below). MAYBE I was heading upwind at 1 mph. Maybe. But oh boy the ride back was fun... short, but fun. Good, steep waves and nice rides. 5 round trips (about 3/4 mile each) was all I could handle. My arms were done.

Once back on land, the wind was blowing so hard I could not get my board back on the truck. I had to stick it inside and drive to where I could park behind a building that sheltered me from the wind.

Little did I know my old friend Jim Taggert was taking pics from shore and posted them on Facebook almost before I got home. Thanks Jim!

Another Bellingham Bay Downwinder Video

2010-12-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Shot last week (Dec. 8th) by Tom S. A great 3.5 mile run across the bay with 2-3 foot waves and LOT's of rides.

http://www.vimeo.com/17748332

"Race For Your Life" Watercraft Race Series

2010-12-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

The Deception Pass Dash was the first of a 5 race series. Points will be awarded throughout the year to the top finishers in each category. Here is info on the other races in the series...

http://deceptionpassdash.blogspot.com/2010/11/race-for-your-life.html

Here are points standings after race #1 (Deception Pass)...

http://deceptionpassdash.blogspot.com/2010/12/race-for-your-life-standings.html

DPD Results

2010-12-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

Preliminary results can be found here...

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B0wOxaGjUnFdZGVjZWM5MjUtNWQ2MC00NWJkLThmM2QtMDg0Yzg3NjQ3MWUx&hl=en

Deception Pass Dash 2010

2010-12-05T09:18:00.001-08:00

Great race again. Beautiful day and great people. 140+ vessels competed in the 6ish mile course. A little wind, waves, current & kelp made it exciting. I will post results and more photos when they are available...

These pictures were taken by Perfect Wave Surf Shop, an event sponsor. More of their pictures can be found on their Facebook page.

Coming into Bowman Bay for the finish...

The start... 140+ vessels underway....
Perferct Wave team rider Patrick A.
Perfect Wave Team mates Patrick, Bobby, Beau & Blake
Bobby operated the safety PWC during the race...

Thanksgiving Day Paddle

2010-11-25T20:52:00.000-08:00

33 degrees & snowing, but the water is dead calm and beautiful...

Fibre Glas Fin Company Race Fin

2010-11-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

I contacted Larry Allison via Facebook to ask about his SUP race fins. He asked for my phone number and called me. We talked for over 30 minutes about everything fin-science. I learned a ton of stuff in 30 minutes. Mostly he told me why I didn't like some of my previous fins and why his foil designs would be better. For my boards and racing conditions, he recommended the Eric Terrien pro model BatWing design. He custom made it for me the following week.

I paddled it for the first time today, but in 25 degrees, ice cold conditions, there was not much I could tell... I was too damn cold. It did seem to track very well. I will report more once I can test it in flat and down wind conditions.

What I'm hoping for is a fin with low-drag, good tracking and good weed-shedding ability. If looks say anything... it is a winner.

If you want to contact Larry, check out his website or send him a message via Facebook. He prefers to talk to paddlers before he sells them a fin... to make sure you get the right design for your needs. Thanks Larry.

http://standupfinsbylarryallison.blogspot.com/

2010 in Pictures & Video

2010-11-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

http://vimeo.com/16942561

Deception Pass Dash in Canoe & Kayak Magazine

2010-11-15T15:36:00.000-08:00

http://canoekayak.com/kayak/deception-pass-dash/

Deception Pass Dash SUP Test Run 2010

2010-11-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, Nov. 14th. Test run of the race course. Start around 9:40 am for the 6ish mile course.

Check this link for more details...

http://deceptionpassdash.blogspot.com/

Surftech Bark 12'6" Competitor

2010-11-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Been testing this board for about a week now and I love it. It will be what I train on primarily for the winter. It is a tad heavy compared to a custom Joe Bark, but it is right around 28.6 pounds. But the lay-up is bomb-proof. Super durable & ding resistant. And I could not feel the extra 5 pounds when paddling it.

It is not the fastest flat water board at 29" wide, but it is soooo stable and confidence building. Yesterday, in 2 foot chop and 15mph winds it caught & surfed bumps better than any other race-style board I've had. This is going to be a fun board to take out in all conditions.

Thanks to Bobby & Perfect Wave for hooking me up with this beauty.

Used Boards/Demos At Perfect Wave

2010-10-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a current list of used boards and demo models for sale at Perfect Wave... give them a call for more info...

http://www.perfectwave.com/

575.00 - 9ft Black Tip
500.00 - 10ft Liquid Shredder (blue w/out handle)
625.00 - 10ft Liquid Shredder (teal & blue w/ handles) these boards are barely used. still like new
575.00 - 12ft Liquid Shredder (blue w/out handle)
675.00 - 12ft Liquid Shredder (blue w handle) (available in yellow or orange)
925.00 - 11'6" Laird Softop
875.00 - 12ft Liquid Shredder Lake Board - Still very new (displacement hull)
950.00 - 11'6" PW w/ bag (Gray or Teal)
950.00 - 10'ft PW (blue)
950.00 - 10ft Starboard
1100.00 - 10ft Laird Tuflite - Yellow with gray stripes
1175.00 - 12ft Tomahawk - Karno Model - Still very new (displacement hull)
1150.00 - 12'6" PW w/ bag (blue)
1650.00 - 14ft Bark Expedition - Yellow
1850.00 - 12'6" PW Bullet Race Board (Red) (displacement hull)
2150.00 - 14ft PW Bullet Race Board (Blue)(displacement hull)
2850.00 - 18ft PW Mach 5 (race board) (displacement hull)
2750.00 - 18ft - Blue Stripes (Race Board) (displacement hull)

Perfect Wave Team Rider

2010-10-30T13:27:00.000-07:00

I have joined the PW family! Perfect Wave is a small, local shop in Kirkland WA, owned by long-time surfer Bobby Arzadon. I'll be racing on Surftech Barks as well as Bobby's custom made race boards! Perfect Wave has a great surf/race team already & I'm stoked to join them. Please check-out their web site as well as this blog for deals on new and used boards and gear.

http://www.perfectwave.com/

Downwind Season Is Here

2010-10-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

We did a 3.2 mile downwind run across Bellingham Bay today.... We were out from 11a.m. to 11:30. Here is the graph from the beach where we landed...

We land where the kite boarders are playing & they always ask where we started. It's fun to point all the way across the bay and say... "there" and watch their reaction.

18' Bark Race Board For Sale

2010-10-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

My trusty 18 footer is for sale folks...

It was $3000 new two years ago... comes with bag and rudder system, or fixed fin option. 28" wide. Bottom half is carbon, top standing area is carbon. 35 lbs with rudder, 32 w/o.

It has tons of volume and will float someone up to 250lbs.

I don't want to ship it... but will drive it to Seattle or Vancouver.

$1800 firm...

This Years Christmas Card...

2010-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Don't ever dare me to race in a Speedo... I'm not afraid.

Photo: Brandon Nelson

Paddle For Food Relay Race This Saturday

2010-10-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Come up to Bellingham's Lake Padden Saturday the 16th for the Whatcom Paddlers "Paddle 4 Food" Race.

Register at the race by 10am and you will be placed on a 4 person relay team made up of surf skis, OC's, canoes, kayaks and SUP's. Each paddler will complete 1 lap of the course. Approx. 2 miles. The organizers try to evenly match teams to keep the race as close as possible. Lot's of fun... very casual.

Entry fee is a bag of food for the local food bank.

Pictures from 2008 Paddle For Food...

BOP Photo

2010-10-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

This picture by Dave Chun of Kialoa Paddles pretty much tells the story of what happens if you don't get a good start at BOP... as one group of racers put on the brakes to take the 180 degrees turn, the next group rockets in on the next wave... total mayhem!

Chuck Patterson's board gets between one guys legs and Dan Gavere's leash does not help matters at all...

The Hoebuck Hoedown Race & Surf Contest

2010-10-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

Bellingham's dynamic duo cleaned-up again... Heather Nelson won the SUP race, out and back through the surf and Brandon Nelson won the kayak wave surfing contest... well done guys!

BOP 2010 Video

2010-10-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

Check it... low-res video from todays Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point, CA.

1st Place Danny Ching

2nd Place Jamie Mitchell

3rd Place Slater Trout

http://vimeo.com/15489644

Jesus that's a cool shirt...

2010-10-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

Click on the Northwest Paddle Surfers logo above to buy this shirt.... A sure-fire way to make some people in your life uncomfortable...

Another RTR Video

2010-09-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

Seattle paddler Greg Gilbert sent me some footage his family shot at the finish of Round the Rock... Thanks Greg!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubXy-cz7ScU

Northwest Paddle Surfers Gear

2010-09-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

Jeff & Dan have added a bunch of new stuff on the website; stickers, t-shirts and hoodies... new designs!

Click the above logo or this link to check out the store...

http://www.shop.northwestpaddlesurfers.com/

Round the Rock 2010 Video

2010-09-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Riviera Paddle Surf Brandon Rambo's brother put together this great little video...

http://vimeo.com/15068568

Whatcom County Visitors Video

2010-09-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

This 50 second video features some of the areas surf ski and SUP paddlers on Bellingham Bay...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZQSEI0XNdg

Blue Whales in Cali

2010-09-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

Dan Eberhardt (Round the Rock promotor) took this shot this morning near Hermosa Beach California... very nice...

Full RTR Results

2010-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.accustatsportstiming.com/results3.asp?ei=72