Deep Cove Kayak has been a fixture on the shores of Deep Cove for many years now. Every single day of the good weather months you’ll see dozens upon dozens of kayaks paddling around Indian Arm, most of them rented from their facility located right on the shores of the Cove.

Deep Cove was one of, if not the first to offer Stand Up Paddleboards rentals in the Lower Mainland, and they’ve seen some incredible growth in the segment over the past year.

So with that, here’s what Bob has to say about the shop, the sport, where to do it and where it’s going!

How long has your company been in business, and how did you get your start?

Our rental operation has been in business for 29 years, our retail operation for only 6 years.  We always sold our rental kayaks at the end of the season so it made sense to start selling new kayaks and now SUP in retail operation.

We originally operated out of a warehouse near MEC in North Vancouver, then moved to the old Cove Bike location in Deep Cove.  This building has been sold, so we are moving back to the warehouse for Nov 1 2010.

We are looking forward to this as we will be more centrally located and its kind of a no nonsense gritty location.  3,200 SF of space so we will have retail, rentals boat/board repair.

When and how did you first find out about Stand Up Paddleboarding?

About 4 or 5 years ago, Jeff Teachman, who now teaches at Windsure at Jericho, came into our store looking for castaway paddle parts to make a SUP paddle. When he told me what that he wanted to stand up and paddle a surf board, I thought, “Sounds kinda dumb, maybe in Hawaii but who would want to do that in Vancouver?” How wrong I was. Jeff was always visionary.

When did you start carrying SUP related products in your store?

Two years ago we started selling Starboard.  We also sell other paddle sports equipment like kayaks and surf skis which is similar… but different.  We have a lot of knowledge in “sport and performance” paddling.  Racing, adventure paddling. So pushing the limits is what we like to do and to supply gear that will help people do that.

What sort of growth have you seen you started selling SUP related products?

2010 has seen very good growth.  More and more people are coming in and asking about  SUP so I think it will explode next year.

What are your top selling board brands and models?

Starboard K15, Whopper and the Big Easy. They are manufactured in Thailand’s Cobra Factory which sets the bar for composite construction. Necky Kayaks and many others are moving their production to the Cobra Factory.

Because we are located near flatwater we are pushing the efficiency of the flatwater boards.  Many new SUPers will only paddle on flatwater so it doesn’t make sense to get a slow surfy board.  You will soon see people have 2 – 3 boards as the sport grows.

What are your top selling paddle brands and models?

Werner has been making top quality paddle for so long that making an SUP is a no brainer.  They already have the blade shapes from Outrigger and are designing new shapes specific for SUP.  They are expensive but the quality is excellent.  Because the shaft is so long it is difficult to make a paddle that is strong but still remains light and has a good swing weight.  Many of the board manufacturers are producing paddles, but I haven’t seen any that compare to Werner.  They make the best kayak paddles too.  I have looked at Kialoa and we will stock those for 2011.

What are your most popular SUP related accessories?

Clothing, for SUP surfing you don’t need the same thickness of wetsuit that the sit in water surfers need.  We have some great pants by NRS and tops by O’Neil that allow for good movement and that you don’t over heat in, as you would in a 4/5 ml steamer suit.  As winter approaches paddlers will be looking at how to extend their season.  Although we are finding that the sport is very solar driven, and many SUPers are fair weather only.  Drysuits are really comfortable to paddling in.  Easy to put on and take off.  Nice and cozy.

If there was one accessory you’d suggest that all stand up paddle boarders should purchase, it would be…

Leash, PFD and Whistle.  OK that’s 3 but if you call it safety gear it could be one.  Much of the imagery for SUP comes from Hawaii and the tropics where the water is warm.  Here in Vancouver its pretty cold and hypothermia is an issue.  Cold water shock and Cold water Incapacitation are serious threats to safety.  Many SUPers are naively resistant to PFD’s and other safety gear.  They are comfortable and will save your life.

Do you offer additional value added services?

Well working at Deep Cove Outdoors  we get to hear about new equipment, events, techniques.  So by coming into the store you can learn about these things too.  We also offer board repair and lessons.

Mike Darbyshire is one of our main SUP instructors.  He is a great surfer but also brings knowledge from the kayaking world,  You can also stay in touch with news and events through our Deep Cove Outdoors Face book page and our Deep Cove Kayak Page.

I also write a blog which features Stand Up, Surf Ski, Cross Country Ski and Kayaking info.

How do most of your customers use their stand up paddle boards?

Flatwater, 1 – 2 hour trips.

Where do you and your customers get out on the water?

Deep Cove is a great gateway to a wonderful playground of Indian Arm. I go to Tofino occasionally but not enough.  On a big wind day I would like to try a downwinder from Lighthouse Park to Ambleside.

What time of day brings the best conditions?

Well if you like flatwater the morning is best.  If you like surfing, weekend afternoons sees lots of big power boats creating boat wake.  At Ambleside a NW or Westerly brings in some nice wave actions.  Also on the new and full moons there are big currents which create standing-ish waves.  Although it might be very challenging for most SUPers.

Where do you see stand up paddle boarding going in the next few years?

Nuclear!!  I think SUP will do to surfing what snowboarding did to skiing and full suspension did to MTB.  SUP allows the average joe so much more opportunity to surf, whereas traditional boards are just plain hard.  If you are not surfing it is a great work-out.

What’s your favourite part about being involved with stand up paddleboarding?

I like seeing people stoked on a new activity.  I like meeting people who are going through the same experience as I am. I like it when somebody comes into my store to say thanks to us for informing them about a piece of equipment, clothing, technique, or event….and it happens often.

Any tips for the newcomers?

I would suggest to take a lesson.  Many people will say that its not hard and why take a lesson.  But that’s not true.  These people either don’t know what they know or don’t know what they don’t know.  Forward stroke is the least taught and most used stroke and will help the paddler get more performance, efficiency and a better work-out.

Safety: If you don’t know what the hazards are you can’t prepare for them.  How many paddler’s have some sort of communication with them?

Surf Etiquette: This I need to learn, but SUPers need to know how not to piss off regular surfers by cherry picking waves etc.  When buying gear try to figure out they type of paddling you will mostly do.  For instance, don’t buy a surf specific board if you only go to Tofino once a year.

And some closing thoughts?

Deep Cove Outdoors will be relocating to 352 Lynn Avenue for Nov 1 2010.  For the 2011 season we will be carrying a wider range of brand name boards, paddles and accessories.

Deep Cove Outdoors is in a unique position of owning and operating our water front facility of Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre.  So, we have a qualified instructional team, a full rental fleet, and we host lots of fun events.

We like to offer a full complement of services.  For instance, if you want to start SUP, we can advise on equipment, suggest rentals that will help you develop basic skills, refer you to lesson programs, you can test boards, organize events, provide you with a great price on a board, fix it when you break it and organize an outing for your company or friends.

Click here for all the details!

The original plan was for this to be a full on family oriented event with a kids race, demos and more, but considering the weather, the special events were canceled and they ended up just running their regularly scheduled 7:00PM race.

No worries though, Stand Up Paddleboarding is a watersport anyways so a bit of rain didn’t really make a difference… Hardly even noticed it actually!

Of particular interest, Deep Cove Kayak owner Bob Putnam raced a very good looking Starboard Free Race brushed carbon board equipped with Starboard’s new Bamboo race fin.

I had a chance to take it out for a brief spin and was really surprised at its stability AND speed… Two characteristics that tend to be mutually exclusive on stand up paddleboards. The brushed carbon (basically just a whitewashed finish over the raw carbon) not only adds to the look of the board, but also protects the carbon from warping in hot weather, while at the same time will do a good job of hiding nicks and scratches, since the finish is already “distressed” in appearance.

The rain mellowed out by race time but the weather was still a tad rough, so I opted to play it safe and paddle my  Starboard Cruiser 12’6. This was the board of choice, as two other racers were also on Cruisers. As mentioned, Bob was on the Starboard Free Race, and rounding out the pack was another racer was on a Starboard K-15… So Starboards all round!

In the end I placed right in the middle of the pack at third place. I’m still working on getting that fluid race stroke together, but with some more work on that as well as my cadence, I’m hoping for better results down the road.

With the race season drawing to a close, Deep Cove will be holding just two more Tuesday Night Races on September 7th and 14th, so if you haven’t had a chance, be sure to swing down to check out the action.

And if you’re a first timer, by all means don’t feel intimidated. Everyone does a great job of balancing the atmosphere and making everyone feel welcome!

Thanks to Deep Cove Kayak for another great race!

The race kicks off at 7:00PM, but be sure to be there early for registration (just $3.00).

Don’t let a little bit of rain stop ya… This is a water sport anyways so you’re bound to get wet one way or another!

The race will include a spectator friendly 6:00 start Kids’ Race, and a 7:00 start for the Adult Race.

Here’s the official word…

We are planning another big SUP Race in the Cove next Tuesday Aug 31.

With this race we are also going to be running a kids race for kids 9-13, that will be held right in front of the center by the waterfront.  Races will be short and close to the beach so that spectators can all watch.

We will have demos there for the kids to use, and we would encourage anyone that is willing to lend out their boards so that we can get as many kids out as possible.   The kids race will be a 6pm and the adult race will be at 7.

This is going to be a great time… Make plans to be there for sure!

I’ll admit the list is pretty short right now, but if the growth we’ve seen over the past is any indication of SUP’s future in Canada, I expect this list will get a lot longer as we move into Spring 2011.

And if you know of any other Canadian based SUP instructors, post em up in the comments and I’ll add them to the list!

British Columbia

Kamloops – Sun Peaks

Paddlesurfitness: Lessons on Heffley Lake and the general vicinity around Kamloops

Penticton

• Lake Monsters SUP & Kite Shop: (250) 486-1787

Qualicum Beach

• Island Longboards: Sales, rentals, lessons and tours around the Qualicum Beach area

Squamish

• Mountain Surf Adventures: Lessons, tours and expeditions in the Squamish area and in remote corners of British Columbia

Vancouver

• Rocky Point Kayak: Rentals and lessons in Port Moody
• Deep Cove Kayak: Rentals, lessons in Deep Cove

Vernon

• Kalavida Surf Shop: Rentals and lessons on Lake Kalamalka

Whistler

• Stand Up Paddleboard BC: Lessons, rentals and tours

Alberta

Calgary

• Undercurrents: (403) 262-4327

Edmonton

• Easy Rider: Weekly demos

Manitoba

Winnipeg

• NBS Apparel: Demos and free lessons with rentals

Ontario

Toronto

• Surf Ontario: (416) 906-5793

Wallaceburg

• Surf Culture Canada: (519) 919-7907

Vernon’s Sheila Sovereign came out the big winner at the Kalavida Summer SUP series Finale’ winning both of the day’s races, the overall series title, and then found herself the lucky winner of the C4 River SUP package when her named was drawn at the awards ceremony.   The final two-part race included an iSUP dual elimination race, where Sheila defeated Pam Young of Penticton in a close heat and then went on to win the short course to capture the overall title.  Vernon’s Mike Hainault defeated Cory Ferguson in the men’s iSUP final but it was Ferguson who captured the season’s title.  Greg Taylor of Vernon won the men’s short course in only his second race event.

The event was sponsored by Kalavida Surf Shop and C4 Waterman and partial proceeds were donated to SPrKL (The Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake).  For more information about the sport, visit the www.oksup.com.

Final Year-End Standings:

Women

1. Sheila Sovereign, Vernon BC
2. Regena Seminutin, Vernon BC
3. Lisette Smid, Coldstream, BC

Men

1. Cory Ferguson, Vernon BC
2. Mike Hainault, Vernon BC
3. Wade ‘Woody’ Anderson, Vernon BC

iSUP Dual Elimination Results:

Women

1. Sheila Sovereign, Vernon
2. Pam Young, Penticton
3. Lisette Smid, Coldstream
4. Jen Forbes, Chilliwack

Men

1. Mike Hainault, Vernon
2. Cory Ferguson, Vernon
3. Greg Taylor, Vernon
4. Peter Dodenhoff, Kelowna

Short Course Results:

Women

1. Sheila Sovereign
2. Pam Young
3. Rhonda Tetz
4. Regena Seminutin
5. Lisette Smid
6. Vicky Young
7. Tina Barrette
8. Jess Rayner
9. Nicole J
10. Elise Kruysisix
11. Jennifer Sorensen
12. Ariana Behrend

Men

1. Greg Taylor
2. Mike Hainault
3. Peter Dodenhoff
4. Bob Purdy
5. Chris Hromek
6. Ken Rymer
7. Jeff Meyers
8. Jeremy Poettecker

We got a bit of a late start with the weather, but one things got going at the start of July, its been perfect with sunny skies and calm waters.

The second week in August was particularly great with super glassy conditions every single day… Save for the one day when we got a sneak Westerly system roll through, resulting in some nice waves if you were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time

Forecast for the rest of the week looks for the smooth conditions to continue so get out there and enjoy while it lasts!

In part due to all of this great weather, participation in the sport has grown exponentially since last year. In my paddling last year, it was very rare to see another paddler whereas this year it’s rare NOT see someone else out on the water.

And general awareness of the sport is also way up… In 2009, people I met on the beach were very curious about what SUP was all about, asking all the typical questions… Is it hard? Do you fall in? How much is one of them things? etc. This year people are still curious, but most seem to know what it’s all about. A little 4 year old boy even came up to me a few weeks ago and asked me “Hey, are you going paddle surfing?”

The race scene is growing too. Deep Cove Kayak’s Tuesday Night Race Series featured SUP a few weeks ago, and almost thirty racers showed up. Though subsequent weeks have seen smaller numbers, I’m sure that the Tuesday Night Races will see a large SUP contingent as the core group of SUP enthusiasts continues to grow.

The shops I’ve spoken with are all reporting huge increases with interest and sales, a lot of that with sale of more recreational oriented price-point boards. Though some may see these  mass-produced boards as a thorn in the side of performance and custom oriented board designers, I think they’re one of the main reasons SUP has grown so quickly this year. Sure, in the short run they may eat away sales from the high end producers, but their low price is introducing a ton of new people to the sport and these paddlers will soon grow out of these entry level boards, looking to upgrade to a more performance oriented board, perhaps even quivers of them!

SUP introductory classes are now selling out on a regular basis and shops are strongly recommending reservations for board rentals. All little factors sure, but they all point to the fact that SUP is experiencing a major growth in the Vancouver area.

Post up in the comments section to let us know how your Summer’s been going, it’d be great to hear from ya!

Dubbed the Summer SUP Series, the grassroots events have helped develop the sport and attendance has continued to grow with each race. With a growing number of enthusiasts taking to ‘SUP’, a strong local presence has helped make it the largest series of its kind on the Mainland of BC.  Vernon is blessed with having three local lakes and plenty of rivers to play on which makes it one of the top destinations for the sport in Canada.

The series will come to a thrilling conclusion on Tuesday, August 17^th when Kalavida hosts the Grandiso Finale’ SUP race.  The event is open to all paddlers, both new and experienced and for those who may not have a board, Kalavida is offering a special rate for board and entry fee to further encourage participation.  The Grand Prize is a C4 Waterman River SUP Package that includes a board, paddle, helmet and accessories.

The final race is a two-part effort that includes an iSUP sprint race and a short circuit course called ‘SUP Dock.  Immediately following the race, there will be an afterparty and awards ceremony to celebrate the first season of SUP racing in the area.

The race is organized by the crew at Kalavida Surf Shop so you can expect some fun and a few surprises during the event.  “The SUP community is made up of people from all types of sporting backgrounds so we like to mix it up to keep everyone on their feet…literally! said Kevin O’Brien of Kalavida. “It’s been amazing to meet so many great people and watch the sport grow so organically” he adds.  The event is supported by C4 Waterman and partial proceeds will be donated to SPrKL (Society for the Protection of Kalamalka Lake).

Get all of the details on the race through the Kalavida website at www.kalavidasurfshop.com or at www.oksup.com.

Series Standings:

Wahine’s (women)

1. Sheila Sovereign, Vernon 24
2. Regena Seminutin, Vernon 20
3. Megan Desimone, Vernon 12
4. Michele Tarr, Vernon 12
5. Lisette Smid, Coldstream 12

Kane (men)

1. Wade ‘Woody’ Anderson, Coldstream 20
2. Cory Ferguson, Vernon 20
3. Gary ‘Kuku Hoe’ Wessels Vernon 13
4. Shawn Sanders, Vernon 11
5. Bob Woodman, Vernon 8

And what about Kalavida Surf Shop

Kalavida – That little Surf/SUP shop across from Kalamalka Beach at the south end of Vernon, BC.  Fully stocked, and stoked, about the sport of Stand Up Paddle Surfing/Boarding.  Serving up sales, rentals, classes, surf wear, tiki-bits and more – 13908 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream (Vernon), BC. 778-475-5808 www.kalavidasurfshop.com

For more information, please contact

Kevin O’Brien

778-475-5808

BE FIRST: This is the first ever commercially guided stand up paddleboard (S.U.P) trip to the Great Bear Rainforest. The GreatBear Rainforest, located on the North Coast of B.C. is one of the most incredible ecosystems in the world. The GreatBear Rainforest contains 25% of the remaining intact temperate rainforest in the world. The area is highlighted by world class wildlife and First Nations Culture. Our exploratory trip here July 2009 on standup paddleboards was featured on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Explore Magazine. We are really excited to return to the Great Bear this August to show paddleboarders this world-class destination.

Norm Hann of Mountain Surf Adventures recently completed the STANDUP4GREATBEAR Expedition. This was a 400km first ever-standup paddleboard trip along the proposed oil tanker route from Kitimat to Bella Bella. This expedition brought awareness to the wildlife and traditional food harvesting areas of the coastal First Nations, showcasing what is at risk if oil tankers were to be allowed on the north coast. Norm has guided in this area for over ten years and knows the people and wildlife intimately. Join Norm on this personally guided SUP trip along the proposed oil tanker route as he highlights this world-class destination and shows you an area at risk. This is a unique, one of a kind expedition that will connect you, educate you and inspire you. Become part of the STANDUP4GREATBEAR Expedition Team.

Trip price per person: $2,750 (CDN) Price includes meals, stand up paddleboard gear, and roundtrip ferry ride between Prince Rupert and Hartley Bay; travel to Prince Rupert and overnight stay prior to trip not included.

Partial proceeds from this trip will go to promote awareness and protection of the GreatBear Rainforest through presentations, community work and future expeditions.

Booking a Trip: To confirm you spot contact norm@mountainsurfadventures.com or call 604-848-8792 to reserve you place on the expedition.

Trip dates: August 23rd- August 29th/2010

NOTE: We have two spaces available. In order to allow guests a unique and intimate experience with the environment and the people we meet along the way we limit the number of guests to 6 per trip.