1 of 11
2 of 11
3 of 11
4 of 11
5 of 11
6 of 11
7 of 11
8 of 11
9 of 11
10 of 11
11 of 11
Story and Photos By Kevin O’Brien
Just as snowboarding grew into a mainstream sport, Standup Paddleboarding (SUP) continues to chart it’s own evolutionary path. Though unlike many other boardsports, SUP seems to offer a wider range of disciplines that include basic flat-water cruising and racing, downwind runs, surfing, river rapid riding, river surfing, and even Yoga – yes, Yoga.
For those who don’t have access to the sport’s root of surfing, downwind runs on the lakes and running river rapids have helped attract the adrenaline junkies to the sport and SUP Yoga has spawned a whole new branch of the sport that has become instantly popular among a variety of yogis.
As the disciplines continue to grow, so do the boards and equipment that compliment the variety of activities and conditions. The basic All-rounder type of board still represents a larger portion of all sales but if you are trying to get the most out of your board in anything other than flat-water conditions, here are a few different options.
Downwind Runs – Paddlers will shuttle out to a specific location and paddle with the wind behind them to a specific destination. Downwinding is huge in Hawaii and can now be seen on the coast and on inland lakes such as Kootenay, Okanagan, Skaha and anywhere else predictable winds prevail. On days with winds over 20km, you’ll be blessed with some good speed and waves that come close to chest-high.
Boards of Choice - 12’6 – 14’ long boards with some ‘rocker’ in the nose to help the boards maximize their speed and glide in choppy wind waves. Examples: Starboard ‘All-Star’, Fanatic Falcon, SIC Bullet.
River Rapid Running – With plenty of river networks across the province, BC is quickly gaining a reputation for having the most dynamic conditions in North America. Chilliwack River, Similkameen, and Slocan to name a few.
Boards of Choice – inflatable or indestructible. Expect your board (and sometimes your body) to take some punishment as you move your way from rapids into Class II and III Whitewater conditions. Proper safety gear is a must including helmets and PFD’s. Examples: Starboard Stream 9’, Boardworks Badfish, Surftech B1-Bomber.
SUP Yoga (and Pilates) – It’s a floating yoga mat and requires some degree of calm to the water. Beyond that, the discipline is growing rapidly and requires some on-water Zen and an open mind (good balance is very handy). Hot spots: Kelowna, Penticton and Vancouver.
Boards of Choice – Wider and thicker boards, preferably with a flat top deck to aid with stability. Paddle holders, sandbag anchors, and bungie cords are options that help keep your workspace open and free of clutter. Boga Yoga 11’, Naish Nalu 10’10, Rogue 11’2 All-Water.
SUP Surfing – The roots of the sport are alive and well. We’ve seen a trend to choosing smaller boards with more width and thickness to allow intermediate paddlers a chance to surf smaller length boards. You can travel with a 9’6 and shorter board with most airlines and a three-piece paddle can compliment the package and you ready for action anywhere you go.
Boards of Choice: Starboard Wide-Point 9’5, Naish Mana 9’5, or Rogue Morro 9’.
Show up and Blow up – One of the fastest growing markets are the inflatables. In five short years, the quality and performance of these boards has skyrocketed and they make perfect sense for anyone who is space-challenged (small car, apartment, condo) and those who travel to warmer destinations. They come in a variety of sizes and styles and some manufacturers claim that you can inflate them up to 18psi, which makes for a very stable board.
Boards of Choice: Naish Mana 10, Starboard Drive 10’6, Boardworks Raven 12’6
As always, you can search yourself silly on the web so your best bet is to talk to friends (and their friends) who are immersed in the sport and to your local SUP shop – they will help you figure out where you want to take your board next. Kevin O’Brien operates Kalavida Surf Shop, visit them at www.kalavidasurfshop.com