Stoke Magazine

Losing Stuff? Leaving Gear Behind? Some Tips...

2013-05-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

I can't say I'm getting old, I'll be 44 in a few weeks. That's not exactly up there. But I am super busy with starting a SUP instructor certification organization, running my paddling business and maintaining my barely alive photography biz.

Being overwhelmed means I'm forgetting things. I've been missing a few appointments and meetings here and there, and even worse forgetting my paddling gear in the parking lot or bringing the wrong gear to the beach. After a few months of this, I've come up with a semi fool proof system of reducing my paddle preparation blunders. Here's some tips..

I both kayak and SUP. I occasionally bring a kayak paddle with my SUP or forget my spray skirt when I go kayaking.

Garage / House Storage:
- Hang my sprayskirt off my kayak bow in the garage to dry. It's always there when I need it.
- Always keep a SUP fin and a leash in my plastic travel bucket.
- Have two paddle buckets, one for each type of paddling. Downside is that I may grab the wrong one.
- Store my kayak paddle in the cockpit of my kayak.
- Lay my SUP paddle on top of my SUP.
- If I know what I'm taking the night before, set everything on or in each craft.

Car Storage:
- Leave essential yet commonly forgotten items in the car. For me - hood, booties, gloves.
- Store one or both paddles in the car especially if they break down to 2 or 3 pieces.
- Leave a checklist in the car to remind myself of my list of gear.

Prevention of Loss of Gear in Public Places:
- Wrap colorful electrical tape around the shaft of your paddles.
- Mark all items with your contract info. I've recovered gear twice this way.
- Find a way of keeping all gear attached to eachother when leaving beach.
- Before you pull out of the lot, do a gear check under your car, etc.
- Worse case, keep a list of items in the car to remind yourself what to bring home.

Tip: Get a automatic self bailing pump for your kayak if you forget my your spray skirt often. I surfed a bunch of waves without one and had to go in every ten or so minutes to dump the water out of the cockpit. Not fun. Better yet, get an open deck kayak or surfski.

17' Touring SUP Progression

2013-05-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

It all started with an interest to create a SUP with sea kayak style hatches to carry camping gear for up to a week or longer. SUPs currently don't have interior cargo space thus if you want to go on an overnight, all your gear has to be strapped on top. The downside is gear shifting, wind catching the load, exposure to elements, and difficulty uprighting if the board flips over.

I also wanted a SUP which was as a fast as my sea kayak to make longer trips easier. One could use the board for racing, fishing or casual paddles as well. I contacted Sterling Donaldson who in turn was interested in taking the board to production once completed. I purchased one of the first Illusion sea kayaks from Sterling and have been very satisfied with the boat ever since for all types of water. The boat's exterior IS bombproof for a sea kayak and at 17' long is 37lbs (carbon). I wanted that construction in a touring SUP.

I began to research SUP shapers and kayak designers. After a few bumps, I ended up with Sean Thomas, a carpenter and successful SUP racer from Issaquah, WA. Sean listened to what I wanted but also brought in expertise from several years of racing SUPs in the Northwest.

Our first prototype was a 18 foot board we titled 'Big Blue' for it's blue toned finish. The board is slow off the start but quickly gained speed and is easily as fast as any sea kayak. We made it 29" wide for stability since I'm 6'-5" and 230lbs. I had issues of finding long fast boards which were stable. I wanted a board all could use, just the most experienced racers.

After several months of tests, I surfed Big Blue in up to 5 foot surf, 35kt winds, downwinded it, upwinded it, surfed several tug waves up to 4-6' faces, raced it, and even did an epic session at Deception Pass in big standing waves. We deciced Blue neeed some changes in order to be a successful board for me and the public.

In May 2013, Sean rolled out the Explorer, a 17' board which we presented in unfinished form at the Northwest Paddle Festival in Issaquah. We realized 18' was too long and made the board slower. We brought in the beam 1" to gain speed withoutt losing stability, lowered the stern rocker, took some Vee out of the nose, pitched the front deck to shed water, flattened the standing deck, and raised the stern deck to add more storage. The final design will have two main storage hatches and a 'day' hatch on the deck to access smaller items on the water. We'll probably add a rudder system down the road. We're currently using the Ninja fin by Larry Allison.

If the 17' prototype is ideal, we'll use it as the plug and hand it over to Sterling to create a mould. My hope is to be surfing it at Skook in BC alongside Sterling's other boats in the near future.

Contacts:
- Sean Thomas, Echo Composites, sean@echosup.com
- Sterlings Kayaks, Sterling Donalson, sterlingskayaks@msn.com

17' Prototype, unfinished.

Hand / Arm Signals for Paddlers

2013-05-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

If you're downwinding, surfing, or in rough water offshore, you may need to communicate with fellow paddlers. If the wind and/or surf noise drowns out voices, hand and arm signals will be the only way to connect with others.

Here's a few useful links with info on hand/arm signals thanks to the University of Sea Kayaking..

Signaling

Hand / Arm Signals

Sun Block Tips for Paddlers

2013-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Avoid putting sunblock on your forehead. When you sweat, it may run into your eyes. Cover your forehead instead with a wide brimmed hat (Gerry Lopez style).

Also after applying sunbock, wash your hands off. Otherwise they can be slippery and can be an issue in holding your paddle.

Safety note: Laird Hamilton and one other I know suggested not wearing sunblock at all due to damaging the environment and that the chemicals in sunblock may give you cancer. For me, a guy from Irish/Scottish decent and blue eyes, I burn easily and not wearing it may give me cancer. Choose what works for you. I use Sol Sunguard, a Seattle based company with products which last for quite a while after being immersed in water.

Become a Sponsor for the Round the Rock SUP Race, Sept 8th in Seattle!

2013-04-23T19:39:00.003-07:00

As the premiere SUP race in the Pacific Northwest, the 5th annual Round the Rock will be held on Sunday Sept 8th this year in Seattle. With nearly 300 participants attending in 2012, the race is said to larger this year. The race consists of a 13 mile circumnavigation of Mercer Island, a 3.5 mile course, a kids race and a team relay race. There's a Sweep and Weep format for the 13 mile race with $10k in price money at stake.

Top paddlers such as Chuck Patterson, Karen Wrenn, Thomas Shahinian and our local Beau Whitehead are among those who have competed in the race.

For Sponsorship info follow this link, Here.

Sponsors wanting to be listed in the summer issue of SUP Magazine need to confirm by May 5th. All others, June 30th.

Event Link: http://roundtherock.com

Foil Tape for Quicky Ding Repairs

2013-04-23T18:09:00.001-07:00

Looking for a quick repair for your dinged board or boats? I've been using Foil Tape for years. It sticks on most wet surfaces, provides a stiffer surface than packing tape, and can be carried flat in a slim waterproof container while on the water.

When you need to fix the ding with epoxy, it pulls off your board easily as well. I also find it stays on better than tape which can peel of while in the water.

Recently I was able to use it to attach a damaged fin onto a board and surf a session without any issues.

Find it at most hardware stores such as Home Depot.

Paddling Festival Event & Booth Tips

2013-04-22T18:13:00.001-07:00

Is your company having a booth/tent at an upcoming paddle or outdoor festival? Here's some tips to be better prepared...

Using a pop-up tent?
- Bring cinder blocks or large sized sand bags to secure all four corners down. Wrap paddle rack straps around each pole from top to bottom then attach to your weight. Heavier is better. Plastic paint buckets are good too. Rope can be used to tie the tent down on all four corners to logs or rocks. One rep I know brings a sledge hammer and 3' metal stakes to secure the tent to the ground. We lost a tent once in gale force winds..

- Get a tent with your logo printed on several sides and top. Or print up banners to attach on.

- Bring small weights or use rocks to keep brochures from blowing around.

- Bring a variety of clothing if the weather gets cold or varies throughout the day.

- Bring cash for the festival food options or bring your own including hydration.

- Arrive early to get the best location for your tent for most exposure (or inquire prior to event day).

Doing On-Water Demos?
- Is the festival covering customer insurance? If not get liability forms for everyone to sign.

- Limit on-water demos to 10-15min. We've had to chase folks down to get them back to shore.

- Bring vest style PFDs, leashes and paddles for demo use. If it's a big event bring different sizes of PFDs and paddles (or adjustables). Partner with other companies to show off their gear! Make sure everyone has a PFD on. I had a person last Spring who fell in and started yelling "I can't swim!" Apparently she lied on the liability form about knowing how to swim. Sh.. happens, be ready for anything.

- Have a demo fleet always ready for festivals. These should be new or almost new boards. Don't bring your beaters as buyers will be looking at everything including the exterior.

- Be ready to give customers a mini SUP lesson so be ready with rubber boots, booties or sandals to help folks get on the water. Never assume they know how to paddle.

- Do you have a safety plan in case there's an accident? Does the event have an EMT available? Can you get to a person struggling on-water? Can you do a flip rescue and have a method of getting them back to shore quickly?

- Take breaks throughout the day and/or hire others to help out. During busy events we'd have one person in the tent talking to attendees and 1-2 putting people on the water. If you hire folks to assist, makes sure they know your products and are safe paddlers.

Marketing
- Print up several hundred business cards and/or rack card / brochures to hand out.

- Promote your booth # and festival location prior to event. Create an event Facebook page to promote you presence at the festival. Keep the page updated with updates and photos and invite your friends.

- Get the emails for those interested in your products/services.

- Follow up after the event to festival attendees who like your products or services.

PSUPA - Professional Stand Up Paddle Association

2013-03-22T00:22:00.002-07:00

We're creating a new SUP instructor certification program called the Professional Stand Up Paddle Association - PSUPA.

Launching 6/14, the program will offer certifications in flat water, surfing, rivers, downwinding, fitness, and yoga. We've recruited a few great instructors to assist in developing certifications - Nikki Gregg, fitness/yoga guru Leigh Claxton, Maui downwind specialist Jeremy Riggs, among others.

Certified instructors will receive great benefits, discounted insurance, access to an online forum to network with other instructors and additional courses in SUP business.

For info on Pacific Northwest PSUPA courses, see my site, www.salmonbaypaddle.com

Our site is. www.psupa.com

Visit us on Facebook and Twitter,

On Water Communication for Paddlers

2013-03-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

Effective Communication While Kayaking (or SUP)

By Wayne Horodowich

The outdoor environment can be extremely challenging. The noise from the wind and waves can drown out many sounds. The distance you are from your paddling partners can also make verbal communication impossible. I have been in rolling seas where I lost sight of my partner when he or she was on the other side of the wave.

There are many methods one can use to signal or interact with the rest of the group or the outside world. In our present electronic age we have cell phones, short distance walkie-talkie's (hand held radios), VHF radios, emergency locating devices, and signal lights. We can also use flares, smoke, whistles, dyes, horns, ribbons, signal flags, mirrors, paddles, our arms and hands.

Regardless of the method of communication you choose to use, you need to know if the person receiving the message knows what you are sending. There needs to be a common understanding of the signals and messages. You also need to know how effective or ineffective some of the above communication methods are in the real world.

I remember a windy return trip from a compass run off of Martha's Vineyard. I asked two of the folks at the tail end of the group to capsize and signal the front of the group for assistance. We were going into a head wind. The two in the water only had whistles. They didn't even try shouting because they knew the paddlers in front were too far away. However, their amazement was apparent when the group did not hear their whistles. The distance was about 200 yards.

We had to send a paddler ahead to get closer to the group so they could hear a whistle. Due to the wind, those in front never heard the initial whistles. The fact that none of the lead group never turned around on regular basis to check on those behind is a discussion topic for another time. I often tell groups to test their whistles on calm days and windy days to see how far their whistles carry with and against the wind.

Kook Stacks - How not to attach your boards!

2013-02-26T15:53:00.000-08:00

We don't recommend these methods of attaching boards to your car..

Thanks to Kookstack.com for the pics!

Dihedral Paddle Face

2013-02-20T18:46:00.000-08:00

DIHEDRAL ANGLE
The dihedral illustration shows the flow of water off the dihedral of our touring blade designs. Notice how the powerface is angled from the center of the blade. This angle is called a dihedral. The dihedral angle concept comes from the discovery that a curved plane gives direction to the flow of water off the blade. During a forward stroke water builds up on the powerface of a non-dihedral blade. To expel this build up, a non-dihedral blade will flutter back and forth. Therefore, by adding a dihedral angle to the blade design, water is given direction to flow easily off the blade, minimizing flutter and the gripping effort needed to overcome the flutter.

* Decreased flutter also reduces stress on your wrist and arm.

From Werner Paddles.

Freighter Wave Surfing Locations on Puget Sound

2013-02-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

Freighter wave surfing, what?? Yep, some of us have been surfing some pretty nice waves on Puget Sound for over a decade, nearly 3-4 hours from the ocean. Of course everyone's heard of the tanker wave surfing in Texas featured on Dana Brown's Step into Liquid. Same thing here, but no need to tow-in.

It's not known or a popular activity as many don't think it exists, are too impatient to wait for the usual freighter wave frequency - about one set of waves. But here in Seattle, the ocean is 3-5hrs away depending on where you choose to go. Like any surf it can be flat, blown out or too big which is a bummer after a long drive. We do on occasion get up to one hour of continous waist high waves, which is always pretty cool.

Finding where waves break in inland waterways depends on finding beaches which resemble surf breaks on the coast - point breaks, beach breaks, etc. Look for beaches which have sandy beaches which extend out at low tide. See if you area has aerial photo sites of local beaches. Google maps works as well. For Puget Sound, try this one, Here. Then use Marine Traffic or similar sites to track shipping traffic. For us in Seattle, we need a 17-23kt freighter, container ship, and various other boats to make it happen. Even fast moving recreational boats can put off a sweet wave. Like any break, keep hitting it until you get it figured out, your persistence will pay off. At my favorite spot, I need a low tide, little wind. Season is late January to September.

We also surf tug waves, but those are in deep water, and that's for another posting.

Puget Sound breaks for freighter / container / Navy / etc waves...

Seattle area:
- Duwamish Head
- West Point
- Ballard - across from Ray's on Magnolia side.
- Meadow Point / Golden Gardens - waist high only.
- Point Wells, Edmonds.
- Des Moines Beach Park (north of pier).
- Point Robinson, Vashon.
- Brace Point (small)
- Boeing Pt (small)

Haven't tried it but these probably break:
Dash Pt, Saltwater St Park, Rolling Bay; Restoration Pt

Other spots I've seen break...
- Marrowstone Island - Marrowstone Head north of lighthouse; a point south of Ft Flagler.
- North Beach and Pt Wilson, Port Townsend.
- Eglon Beach, north of Kingston.
- Eagle Beach, San Juan Island.
- False Bay, San Juan Island - a friend caught a long ride here on a prone paddleboard. Most likely swell.

Those that don't work:
- Pt No Pt, Three Tree Pt, Carkeek Park, Alki Point.
- Friends in Vancouver BC say they haven't seen waves there.

Here's one of a friend surfing our Ballard wave last summer (2012).

Seeking Instructor Insurance?

2013-02-13T20:41:00.000-08:00

If you're seeking insurance for your paddling business, I recommend the following agencies..

Outdoor Insurance Group - Also used by PaddleFit and ASI.
Contact Michelle Jaramillo

Sports Insurance - Hawaii
Contact Dana Cagen

Using Tow Ropes for SUP Rescues

2013-02-12T22:09:00.004-08:00

There's several ways to get a fatigued, injured or unconscious paddler back to shore. One of the ways is by towing. Giving the rescuee your leash is one way to do it if you don't have a tow rope. The downside of course is that now you're now leashless. Carrying a tow rope means that you can stay leashed up while still being able to tow the rescuee to shore.

Of course most regular paddlers won't have a tow rope on them, but it is a good idea if travelling far off shore, on expeditions, or for teaching classes. I've towed two students last year which included a woman who was too fatigued to paddle back to shore in moderate wind.

There's several compact two lines in the market which can be worn around your waist with a quick release buckle, or attached to your board via outfitting. Either way, you should have a method of releasing your end in case there's a snag, etc. Many kayakers I know make their own tow lines. I use Salamander tow ropes as they've held up in heavy conditions for years. They also make great lines for cooling your beer while camping.

Towing Techniques..

- The best way to attach a tow line to another board is to it's bow/nose if it happens to have a leash plug or stick on loop (EZ Plug or NSI plug). But 99% of the boards out there have no attachments in this location. I'd recommend adding a nose loop if teaching.

- You can also have the rescuee hold the tow line end (usually a carabiner) or wrap it around the shaft of T-Grip of their paddle. It's best to have them sit or lay prone (flat) to keep them stable while towing.

- Loop the end around the widest part of their board and carabiner it around itself completing the loop, then the remainer lines up towards the nose and attached to you (make sense?) See Photo.

- For whitewater, you may consider getting a throw line/bag which is thrown from shore to a swimmer or pinned paddler.

* The rescuee's line should detach easily if there's a problem. Never tie either end in knot or permanently (unless you don't have a choice of course).

The photo is a skills class I taught with the Kayak Academy staff in Issaquah, WA in January.

5 Tips for Paddling Over Ocean Waves

2013-02-10T17:15:00.000-08:00

3 Most important tips:
- Keep your speed up and don't stop paddling.
- Make sure your nose clears the wave crest by stepping back in 'surfer's stance' (while paddling).
- Keep paddling once you pass the wave, most likely there's more coming.

** There's several other tips I'll save for another post since each wave and situation is different. Much of my experience here comes from my surf kayaking days where like SUP'ing it's nearly impossible to duck dive - you gotta get over the top.

Freighter Wave Season in Seattle has Begun!

2013-02-09T16:03:00.002-08:00

Starting next week in Seattle, there will be daily low tides til early fall. Matched with a fast moving freighter, tug, or wind waves, many locations around Puget Sound become surf breaks.

I offer a freighter wave surfing class to show you where to catch them, what to look for and can offer basic surfing lessons as well. See my site for more info, http://www.salmonbaypaddle.com

Here's a few from Shilshole Bay in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood two weeks ago.

Photo by Erik Sandstrom

SUP Racks, Part 2 - Using Extension Bars

2013-02-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

Last summer when my summer business peaked, I was getting a lot of requests for big group classes and trips. Many in this situation go out and buy a trailer. But I didn't want to deal with hauling that around, backing up, etc. So I got 66" long Yakima bars for the Subaru. This extension allowed me to have two flat stacks of SUPs up to 8 boards. We topped that off for a short in-city trip with 9 once!

Having such a stack required me to switch from being rope guy to a strap guy. Ropes didn't allow for a totally secure load without shifting. I used two straps per each stack. I tie off my buckles with a quick knot with the strap in case it slips. Then tie extra strap to the rack, just in case.

Since I paddle both kayaks and SUPs, often I have to carry both depending on where we're going. Long before SUP, I had been carrying 17' sea kayaks on my racks often for long distances. The enclosed pic shows how i mix both craft for a secure load. If i had more kayaks, I'd add my Yakima Kayak Stackers, which are vertical bars. In this case, the kayaks would go on their sides, giving me more space to add more boats. In windy conditions we tied the nose/stern down to the bumper to prevent shifting. I'd recommend doing so if you're tying down long race SUPs as well.

My local paddle/surf shop Urban Surf graciously donated the rack pads which have worked well in replacing my former insulation pads which didn't last long.

Flip Rescue for SUP - Additional Tips

2013-01-21T23:54:00.002-08:00

The Flip Rescue is the most effective way to get an injured, fatigued, or unconscious swimmer or SUP'er out of the water. It has been used by several instructors I know for hypothermic and fatigued students who didn't have the strength to get back on their boards. I also teach it in my instructor certification and full day courses.

In one of the certifications I took last year, the instructor didn't teach us how to get the victim back to show. When I asked about it, he said, "you should never be more than 100yds offshore." Wind, current, poor or naive judgement, and well, sh.. happens is how folks end up offshore. *Note that in any rescue, if your life will be in danger involving yourself in the rescue, decide if you're the right person for the task. If possible flag others down to assist, including boaters.

Nikki Gregg has a video on the Flip Rescue released in 2013 by NRS..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9FaRz4gCSs

Here's some additional tips because all rescues or situations are not alike...

- We prefer to keep our paddle within reach at all times. Prone paddling can be exhausting and if you have short arms, you may not be able to reach the water using the video's techniques. Losing your paddle may make you a victim as well as wind and current can move it out of your reach quickly.

Place both paddles between the victim and their board in the water. This keeps them contained from floating away. When you do the flip, both paddles get pinned under the victim's chest to the board. You can remove yours if necessary to continue the rescue.

- Holding on to the victim to do the flip (2 ways): either cross their arms and hold their hands or if they have a type 3 life jacket (vest style), hold their shoulder straps then all back.

- If the victim is much larger or heavier than you, make sure you stand on the board with your heels off the opposite side from the victim to increase the amount of leverage to do the flip.

- Using a coiled leash on your board? Make sure your board is clear when you fall back. Coiled leashes will keep your board close to you when you stand on the victim's board. Kick it away, then fall back.

- Practice often with different sized partners to simulate real world situations. Also try in rough or windy conditions. If the wind or swell is at the victim's back, it'll make flipping the board easier.

- If you need to perform CPR or are too far from shore to paddle back and need to await rescue, you can cross your board on top of the victim's board which creates a very stable raft or platform.

Getting To Shore:
Prone paddling the victim back to shore as the video is a great way to go. But there are issues which may prevent this..

- If the rescuee is smaller or has short arms, they may not be able to reach over the victim's body and their board to reach the water to hand paddle. Many SUPs are very wide, thus will also prevent from reaching the water. Can you prone paddle a 34+" wide board?

- Practice prone paddling. It can be quite exhausting if you're not used to it. The best technique is an alternating arm stroke and cupping your hands to grab as much water as possible.

- If you can prone paddle the victim back to shore and you don't want to leave your gear in open water, you may want to drag your SUP via your ankle leash. Downside is that pulling a board fin first doesn't always work as the fin will want to turn your board back and fourth. You might try to lift your board's tail and fins on top of the rescuee board or rescuee.

- Towing to Shore: Few on the water will have a tow rope, but if you're an instructor, it's a great tool to have. We teach towing by attaching a line over the widest point of the victim's board or to attachment points if they have them on the nose of their SUP. You can also have the victim hold the tow line or wrap it in a loop around the T-grip of the paddle. You then paddle away prone, kneeling or standing with the other line around your waist. Read more about towing here:
http://stokemagazine.blogspot.com/2011/07/towing-techniques-for-sups_22.html

- Communication on the Water: If you do a lot of offshore paddling or are an instructor, consider carrying a VHF radio, waterproofed smart phone (have reception?), a signal mirror, and rocket flares. Sound extreme? I know that sounds like a lot in a sport where minimalism is cool. I've been involved in several rescues where the VHF radio and flares saved the day. All can be packed into a small fanny pack or carried in a small bag on your board. Also learn hand signals to communicate with others on the water or land if the wind, waves, or distance is to great for talking.

- Rescues of other Water Craft: We live in a world of SUPs thus most certifications and programs only teach SUP rescues. In reality in a public boating or waterway, you may actually come across people who need to be rescued in canoes, kayaks, inflatable rafts, or even fatigued swimmers. My rescues in addition to SUPs have been sea kayaks, kite surfers, and a flipped boater.

Great Locations in the WA State to Open a SUP Biz

2013-01-08T14:06:00.001-08:00

Last summer, I met my students in a bunch of great locations throughout the Puget Sound region. Many of those have no SUP rental, retail, or similar business anywhere nearby. If I had the funds I'd open in one or several of the locations - some of which could be quite successful due to location and the adjacent demographic.

Here's a few worth checking into..

Anacortes
Des Moines / Redondo Beach
Saltwater State Park (also a wwta campsite)
Dash Point
Bremerton - Some say the scene here may be too motorcraft based.
Belfair
Port Orchard
Various lakes - Silver Lake in Everett, etc.
Chambers Creek / Steilacom
Seabeck

Eastern WA:
Tri-Cities
Yakima - but beware of possible non outdoor active population.
Cle Elu - possibly on local lakes?
Vantage - along I-90, hot in summer, rental sup only.
Banks Lake - hot in summer, several resorts to work with.

Places which may be problematic to have a business:
-Edmonds - very little protected paddling, prone to north winds in summer (same with Mukilteo)
-Port Townsend - cold water, currents, issues with open water too close.
-Kingston - very protected harbor but not a destination and not enough local population.
-La Connor - swift currents.
-Coupeville - beautiful place but local population is small.

Protect Your Faucet with a Used Paddling Glove

2013-01-02T11:31:00.001-08:00

Re-use your old neoprene paddling gloves by placing them over your outdoor faucet to prevent freezing pipes.

Changing Robes for Paddlers & Surfers

2012-12-31T23:33:00.000-08:00

For years I've used a towel around my waist while taking on or off wetsuits in parking lots with cars whizzing past. I've got the procedure down to a science using a foam pad to stand on in winter and can take on or off a wetsuit in less than a few minutes.

A few weeks ago at the Deception Pass Dash, a large multi craft race held in December, I spotted surf skier Don Kiesling wearing a fleece robe. I was reminded about using such robes or over shirts for changing in colder temps. You can also wear the robe over your wet/drysuit before or after paddling to stay warm. Here's a product Don recommended:

The Fuzzy Fleece

E-mail: amy@thefuzzyfleece.com

Phone: 541-490-7455

Tim Niemier's Origami folding SUP

2012-11-23T10:14:00.004-08:00

As the founder of Ocean Kayaks, Tim Niemier's goal was to put 'a billion butts on boats'. He certainly has done so, and for a few years has been putting many on stand up boards. Equipped with a CNC machine in his garage in Bellingham, WA, Tim is the mad scientist of small boat design. Many hire him to design sit on top and SUP boat/board projetcts such as the popular Diablo Paddlesports fishing kayak.

Tim's latest project is the Origami folding SUP. The SUP folds into a flat easy to carry form so you can store it in the backseat of our car or in your apartment. Check out the link: Origami Paddler.

Deception Pass Dash 2012 - Sunday 12/9

2012-11-19T16:21:00.001-08:00

The Dash started in 2006, the brainchild of evil sadistic paddlers Will Robens and Don Kiesling. Their idea: Challenge racers to sprint 2.5 miles around Deception Island and into the mouth of Deception Pass, before the current gets so strong that they can’t make it all the way to Strawberry Island on the far end of the Pass. The reward for those who pull it off? The satisfaction of knowing they’ve worked that hard to get halfway home! — and a fun ride, this time with the building ebb, all the way back to the finish.

Who would possibly show up for such a thing? 39 paddlers in 35 kayaks & surfskis showed up the first year. Since then, the word has spread and 186 racers came out in 2010 - 2012, paddling SUPs, outriggers, sculls, prone paddleboards and pedalboats along with some of the same sea kayakers and surfski racers who came out in year 1.

This year's Dash is on Sunday Dec 9th.

More Info & Registration: http://rubycreekboathouse.com/deception-pass-dash/

Or contact me (race director): rob@robcasey.net for volunteer and sponsorship info.

Marine Medicine - Book

2012-11-14T20:46:00.001-08:00

Instructing or guiding tours on the water? Check out the book Marine Medicine from Eric Weiss and Michael Jacobs published by Mountaineers Books, Here.

Marine Medicine

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE, ADVENTURE MEDICAL KITS, 2ND EDITION

Authors: Eric Weiss, Michael Jacobs
304 Pages, 978-1-59485-660-0
Mountaineers Books 04/19/2012

SUP Org for Veterans with PTSD..

2012-11-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

Ferrule Rose, owner of a few SUP businesses in the Dallas / Ft Worth area has founded SUP Warriors, an org created to assist veterans with PTSD. She's hoping to grow the org nationally. Know someone who needs help? More info here..

https://www.facebook.com/SUPWarriors?fref=ts