Live the Fresh Air Life with North Shore Ski and Board and Jen Hewlett this Wednesday August 3rd at 6:30PM at Strathcona Park in North Vancouver.
Event includes free SUP demos and BBQ provided by North Shore Ski and Board.
Directions to Strathcona Park: Head East on Mount Seymour Parkway, turn left on Deep Cove Road, then right on Strathcona Road which is just past The Raven.
On Saturday August 27th the Second Annual Bellingham Paddle Grand Prix will be hosted in Bellingham WA.
The race course will consist of a roughly 2-mile oval track running just off shore between the north end of Boulevard Park and south to Taylor Street Dock. It will be a floating start with racers going three full laps to the finish. The whole race will be 100% viewable and spectator friendly!
You can find more details here: http://paddlegrandprix.com/
Lina Augaitis has just finished up her six day SUP expedition along the Yukon River, from Whitehorse to Dawson City.
Paddling a Starboard K-15 AST with a Kialoa Methane paddle Lina, along with kayak support from Andrew Dye, completed the 740km journey in six days, and was the very first time that an SUP travelled this stretch of river.
Nice work guys Lina and Andrew!
Check out the video here:
Yukon River SUP Expedition 2011 from Andrew Dye on Vimeo.
For more information:
In less than a month, two Canadian stand up paddle boarders will join the worlds most respected watermen and women in the epic 32 mile channel crossing from Molokai to Oahu, Hawaii in the race of their lives!
JULY 5th, 2011 (Vancouver, British Columbia) The Ka’iwi Channel, also known as the “channel of bones”, aka Molokai Channel, has a centuries old reputation for being one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world. Ka’iwi has claimed the lives of many, from ancient canoe fleets, to fisherman and watermen including the tragic loss of Hawaiian big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau.
On July 31st, 2011, Norm Hann and Bodie Shandro of British Columbia aspire to add their names to the list of those watermen and women that have successfully crossed the channel in the 15th Annual Molokai 2 Oahu Race. Unofficially recognized as the “World Championships” of paddleboarding, stand up paddle boarding is a relatively new category in the elite race. Hann and Shandro will be competing in the 2-man division.
Both men are considered “Canadian pioneers” in the sport of stand up paddleboarding, and are proud of their surf roots. Considered race veterans, adventurers and highly regarded certified SUP instructors, Hann owns and operates Squamish based Mountain Surf Adventures, and Shandro, Kamloops based Paddle Surf Fitness.
Join them in the race of their lives by pledging in support for the www.Standup4Greatbear.ca organization. Norm’s Standup4Greatbear began as a 400km standup paddleboard expedition to keep oil tankers off the North Coast of British Columbia. The goal was to highlight the traditional food harvesting areas of the First Nations and the wildlife of the Greatbear Rainforest. All funds donated will go to promoting awareness, education and understanding of the significance of the Great Bear Rainforest and the culture of Coastal First Nation’s while preserving its unique status as a pristine example of human respect for and coexistence with the environment.
Partial proceeds raised will also be shared with Hawaii’s Na Kama Kai Youth Organization. Na Kama Kai’s mission is to empower youth by creating, conducting and supporting ocean-based programs, specifically targeting ocean awareness & safety in order to increase the capacity of youth in the community through cultural & environmental education. You may donate to STANDUP4GREATBEAR at: https://www.2mevents.com/basic-pledge/550 TEAM CANADA TO COMPETE IN THE 32 MILE MOLOKAI TO OAHU PADDLEBOARD
RACE IN SUPPORT OF STANDUP4GREATBEAR
ABOUT THE MOLOKAI TO OAHU PADDLEBOARD RACE
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING TEAM CANADA AND STANDUP4GREATBEAR.
For this installment of the Paddlesurf.ca Shop Profile, we profile Alpha Adventures.
Based in Sechelt and with locations in Wilson Creek, Roberts Creek, Powell River and Pender Harbour, Alpha Adventures has seen tremendous growth with SUP over the past year, so we thought we'd check in with Jamie to see what's happening this year over on the Sunshine Coast...
How long has your company been in business, and how did you get your start?
We have been in business for 11 years. We started by working as kayak and canoe instructors in the lower mainland- but when we moved up to the Sunsine Coast we found a paddling paradise. So- using my 10+ years of working in specialty outdoor retail, we decided to open up a shop.
When and how did you first find out about Stand Up Paddleboarding?
We first discovered stand up paddleboarding on a trip to Hawaii 4 years ago. I rented a board and I was hooked.
When did you start carrying SUP related products in your store?
We started carrying SUP products in our stores in 2010.
What sort of growth have you seen you started selling SUP related products?
The growth has been awesome. We host a yearly set of demo days- called “You Can Paddle Days”. This is a way for folks to try out kayaks, canoes and SUP’s. This year- on two separate days – in two separate towns (Powell River and Sechelt) we almost saw the same interest in SUP as we did kayaks!
What are your top selling board brands and models?
Our top selling boards are Naish Nalu 11’6, Starboard Big Easy and the
Amundson 11’6.
What are your top selling paddle brands and models?
Our top selling paddles are Aquaglide, and Naish.
What are your most popular SUP related accessories?
Our most popular accessories are wetsuits and booties, paddling clothing and roof rack accessories.
If there was one accessory you'd suggest that all stand up paddle boarders should purchase, it would be...
I would say invest in a good paddle. Well worth putting the extra $ into and it can yield amazing results.
Do you offer additional value added services?
We offer:
- Lessons (owner is a paddle Canada SUP instructor trainer)
- Wednesday Night SUP sessions- rent a board or bring your own. Social paddle with a mini skill clinic.
- Rentals- various types of boards – from plastic to race boards
- SUP fitness classes
- Organizer of what will be a yearly SUP festival- Sunshine Coast Paddleboard Festival. This one day fest is great to find out about SUP- try boards- attend clinics and enter recreational races.
How do most of your customers use their stand up paddle boards?
Most of our clients use their boards for flatwater or down wind paddling.
Where do you and your customers get out on the water?
Our favourite spots are:
What time of day brings the best conditions?
Morning and early evening for flat water.
A low tide combined with a West or N. West wind advisory will usually yield some surf for our shoreline on the Sunshine Coast.
Where do you see stand up paddle boarding going in the next few years?
I think it will definitely become more mainstream. It speaks to people in a way that no other paddle-sport does. It is so easy to get on the water (literally) with SUP. It is so diverse- flat water- surf – touring....
What's your favorite part about being involved with stand up paddleboarding?
It is a relatively new and growing activity for Western Canada- and thus it is fresh. I was fortunate enough to be involved in the first instructor training program for Paddle Canada and that was awesome. I love teaching new paddlers about SUP- whether it is in a lesson or in our shop.
Any tips for the newcomers?
Take a lesson and try out different styles of boards. Take advantage of festivals and demo day events.
Any final thoughts?
We are hosting the 1st annual Sunshine Coast Paddleboard Festival on July 24 in Sechelt. It will be a great day of demos- clinics- and some recreational races in the afternoon. Call 604.885.8838 for more info.
We have Naish, Starboard and Amundson SUP’s in stock and in our demo fleet.
Sunday July 24 brings the Sunshine Coast Paddleboard Festival to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park near Sechelt, British Columbia.
Sechelt, BC (Porpoise Bay Provincial Park) 9am - 4-pm
604.885.8838 or 1.877.43.KAYAK to register Www.outdooradventurestore.ca
Demos- Clinics- Recreational Races (Short Course = 2.4 km Long Course = 3.85 km)
SUP Naish and Amundson SUP reps will be on site.
Proceeds go to the Sunshine Coast Marine Rescue Society which helps to
support volunteer Coast Guard.
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