ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW - Standup Journal

1

Into the horseshoe bowl: Laird Hamilton's backside attack in front of Raimana's house, by Benjamin Thouard

QUARTERLY $12.95

VO

LUM

E TWEN

TY TW

O, N

UM

BER

ON

ESTA

ND

UP JO

URN

AL

SPRING

2014/PHO

TO A

NN

UA

L, PART II

SPRING 2014

Dim the lights, prepare to shout: It's our 7th Photo Annual! ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW

STANDUP

2

It All stArts wIth you

naishsup.comNaishStandUpPaddlingPacific Boardsports: [email protected] • (509) 493-0043

Designed for all-around cruising, exploring, learning the basics and riding small waves, it features an extra wide outline throughout the nose, mid-sec-tion and tail for phenomenal stability. The recessed deck, full rails, squared tail and well-balanced design add fur-ther stability and give it a huge sweet spot whether the rider is paddling in a straight line, pivot turning or standing still. The quad-concave bottom design channels the water from nose to tail for unbelievable straight-line gliding for a board of its length. Using cutting edge, molded technology, the Odysseus is incredibly durable and lightweight, mak-ing it truly one of a kind. Ideal for riders up to 250 lbs/113 kg

Phot

o: D

arre

llWon

g

The odysseusAll-around Cruising

3

It All stArts wIth you

naishsup.comNaishStandUpPaddlingPacific Boardsports: [email protected] • (509) 493-0043

Designed for all-around cruising, exploring, learning the basics and riding small waves, it features an extra wide outline throughout the nose, mid-sec-tion and tail for phenomenal stability. The recessed deck, full rails, squared tail and well-balanced design add fur-ther stability and give it a huge sweet spot whether the rider is paddling in a straight line, pivot turning or standing still. The quad-concave bottom design channels the water from nose to tail for unbelievable straight-line gliding for a board of its length. Using cutting edge, molded technology, the Odysseus is incredibly durable and lightweight, mak-ing it truly one of a kind. Ideal for riders up to 250 lbs/113 kg

Phot

o: D

arre

llWon

g

The odysseusAll-around Cruising

4

©2013 O

’NE

ILL WE

TSU

ITS, LLC

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE ELEMENTS.• MULTISPORT • SKINS • O’ZONE • 24-7-TECH • THINSKINS • RG8 (RECYCLED SERIES)

oneill.com/wetsuits

A must have for hard core travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The 24-7 Tech Series protects against UV exposure and fatigue. The relaxed fit and super breathable water repellent Nylon/Spandex composite will keep you comfortable and protected.

U.P.F. 30+ (ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION FACTOR)

TECH

2013.012_SUJ_S14_24_7_Rob_Ad.indd 1 12/11/13 1:48 PM

5

©2013 O

’NE

ILL WE

TSU

ITS, LLC

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE ELEMENTS.• MULTISPORT • SKINS • O’ZONE • 24-7-TECH • THINSKINS • RG8 (RECYCLED SERIES)

oneill.com/wetsuits

A must have for hard core travelers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. The 24-7 Tech Series protects against UV exposure and fatigue. The relaxed fit and super breathable water repellent Nylon/Spandex composite will keep you comfortable and protected.

U.P.F. 30+ (ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION FACTOR)

TECH

2013.012_SUJ_S14_24_7_Rob_Ad.indd 1 12/11/13 1:48 PM

8

Twenty days immersed in the heart of the Amazon with a standup paddle in my hands In the four years since my last trip to the Amazon, Brazil, the world’s sixth-largest economic power, has gone to the next level in terms of energy production. Their government has some 48 dams planned in the Amazon basin, including here on the Tapajos River, where seven dams are proposed. We often talk about protecting the biodiversity of the earth’s fauna and flora, but what about the humans? Here, where I am paddling, the people of the Munduruku Indian tribe are threatened. So, I decided to paddle to the villages along the world’s largest river, to understand the connection between the Munduruku Indians and their river. The trip has not left me indifferent. -Sarah Hébert, Amazonian sup explorer

Photograph by Gil SeriqueThat's Classic

9

– Norman Hann www.normhann.com

“If I had one paddlefor absolutely everything I do

in standup–racing, expeditions,

whitewater, surfing, courses,

lessons– I would have to

choose the Insanity.”

w w w.kialoa.com

10

AUSTRALIA & S. PACIFICHobie Cat Australasia E: [email protected]: +61(0)244418400www.hobiesup.com.au

EUROPEDouble VE: [email protected]: +33 (0)6 29 12 36 46www.sunshort.com

USA & GLOBALHobie Stand Up PaddleboardsE: [email protected]: (949)240-5105www.hobie.com

BRAZILRocketSports Ltda.E: [email protected]: +55 11 99106-9696

4 PHASE COMPRESSION MOLDED BAMBOO COMPOSITE EPOXY

Carbon fiber reinforced impact areas

Compressed EPS Core

Fiberglass top and bottom

High density foam deck inlay


Bamboo Laminate top, bottom and rails


Fin Boxes installed in high density foam

EPOXY

MOLDED

44

CO

MP

RE

SS

I ON

E L I T E T O U R 1 2 . 6V E N T U R E 1 0 .4V E N T U R E 1 2 .4 F L A T W A T E R 1 2 . 6

HOBIE 3:1 INTEGRATED HANDLE

H HOBIE 3:1INTEGRATED HANDLE 3 in 1 Design

2 Way V Vent

Ergonomic Hand Hold

Integrated Security Bar for locks

A true series of multi-use boards, this range of versatile designs fuses racing, distance, touring, and surf features all into one. The result is a series of boards that can go almost anywhere, and fun to paddle in a wide variety of conditions.

TOUR SERIES

Ergonomic Hand HoldContour molded handhold designed for easy access and a secure and comfortable grip

SUP_jouranl_314.indd 2-3 12/18/2013 10:51:00 AM

11

AUSTRALIA & S. PACIFICHobie Cat Australasia E: [email protected]: +61(0)244418400www.hobiesup.com.au

EUROPEDouble VE: [email protected]: +33 (0)6 29 12 36 46www.sunshort.com

USA & GLOBALHobie Stand Up PaddleboardsE: [email protected]: (949)240-5105www.hobie.com

BRAZILRocketSports Ltda.E: [email protected]: +55 11 99106-9696

4 PHASE COMPRESSION MOLDED BAMBOO COMPOSITE EPOXY

Carbon fiber reinforced impact areas

Compressed EPS Core


High density foam deck inlay


Bamboo Laminate top, bottom and rails


Fin Boxes installed in high density foam

EPOXY

MOLDED

44

CO

MP

RE

SS

I ON

E L I T E T O U R 1 2 . 6V E N T U R E 1 0 .4V E N T U R E 1 2 .4 F L A T W A T E R 1 2 . 6

HOBIE 3:1 INTEGRATED HANDLE

H HOBIE 3:1INTEGRATED HANDLE 3 in 1 Design

2 Way V Vent

Ergonomic Hand Hold

Integrated Security Bar for locks

A true series of multi-use boards, this range of versatile designs fuses racing, distance, touring, and surf features all into one. The result is a series of boards that can go almost anywhere, and fun to paddle in a wide variety of conditions.

TOUR SERIES

Ergonomic Hand HoldContour molded handhold designed for easy access and a secure and comfortable grip

SUP_jouranl_314.indd 2-3 12/18/2013 10:51:00 AM

16

SERGIO VILLALBA Loading up his zip drive, Spaniard Vilayta Bajamar is about to hit “send” at El Quemao, Canary Islands.

17

26 WEST SIDE By S. West 34 ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW Our 7th Photo Annual!

178 PEOPLE WHO MAKE US 180 PUBLISHER'S NOTE By Glenn Dubock

149 THE STORIES BEHIND THE PHOTOS

18

WSCARBON

SPORTSTERFLATWATER

WSCARBON

SPORTSTERALLWATER

CARBON

RACEFLATWATER

CARBON

RACEALLWATERRACE

ALLWATER

WS

CRUISERVENUSWIDE BODYWSG WS AST SOFT DECK

ALLROUNDWSG WS AST

FUSIONWSG WS AST SOFT DECK

SURF WIDE BODYSURFWSGPROWSGPRO WSG WSG WSG WSG

S U R FA I R

R I VA I R

ALLROUNDA I R

C R U I SA I R

S P O RT S TA I R

R A C A I R

I N F L A T A B L E S

ALLROUND-BOARDS

V E N U S

SPORTSTER/RACE

V I D E O L I N K S

SURF/SURF WIDEBODY

A I R S U P S

© P

HOT

O: A

LAN

VAN

GYS

EN -

© G

RAPH

ICS:

CH

RISR

OSE

NBE

RGER

.CO

M

© P

HOT

O: T

HO

RSTE

N IN

DRA

© P

HOT

O: M

IRJA

GEH

© P

HOT

O: M

IRJA

GEH

WSG = WOOD SANDWICH GLOSSWS = WOOD SANDWICHAST = ADVANCED SKIN TECHNOLOGY

ALL JP SUPS CAN ALSO BE USED AS WINDSURF BOARDS AS THEY COME WITH THEPOSSIBILITY TO ATTACH A WINDSURF RIG. (EXCEPT RACE AND INFLATABLES) FOR DETAILS CHECK:WWW.JP-AUSTRALIA-SUP.COM

= FLATWATER= CHOP= DOWNWIND= WAVE= WINDSURF= WHITE WATER

19

WSCARBON

SPORTSTERFLATWATER

WSCARBON

SPORTSTERALLWATER

CARBON

RACEFLATWATER

CARBON

RACEALLWATERRACE

ALLWATER

WS

CRUISERVENUSWIDE BODYWSG WS AST SOFT DECK

ALLROUNDWSG WS AST

FUSIONWSG WS AST SOFT DECK

SURF WIDE BODYSURFWSGPROWSGPRO WSG WSG WSG WSG

S U R FA I R

R I VA I R

ALLROUNDA I R

C R U I SA I R

S P O RT S TA I R

R A C A I R

I N F L A T A B L E S

ALLROUND-BOARDS

V E N U S

SPORTSTER/RACE

V I D E O L I N K S

SURF/SURF WIDEBODY

A I R S U P S

© P

HOT

O: A

LAN

VAN

GYS

EN -

© G

RAPH

ICS:

CH

RISR

OSE

NBE

RGER

.CO

M

© P

HOT

O: T

HO

RSTE

N IN

DRA

© P

HOT

O: M

IRJA

GEH

© P

HOT

O: M

IRJA

GEH

WSG = WOOD SANDWICH GLOSSWS = WOOD SANDWICHAST = ADVANCED SKIN TECHNOLOGY

ALL JP SUPS CAN ALSO BE USED AS WINDSURF BOARDS AS THEY COME WITH THEPOSSIBILITY TO ATTACH A WINDSURF RIG. (EXCEPT RACE AND INFLATABLES) FOR DETAILS CHECK:WWW.JP-AUSTRALIA-SUP.COM

= FLATWATER= CHOP= DOWNWIND= WAVE= WINDSURF= WHITE WATER

20

VOLUME 22, NUMBER ONE, SPRING 2014“The Original & Premier Standup Mag”

PublishersClay Feeter &Joyce Bilodeau

Associate Publisher/Photo EditorGlenn Dubock

Design/Marketing DirectorAdam Champagne

National Ad Sales DirectorJan Peterson • [email protected]

Editorial ConsultantsJohn Dubock, Kurt Feeter,Nikki Gregg, Tom Craig, Candice Appleby, Rob Driscoll, Kira Feeter, Anna Feeter,Tom Byrnes, Clark Merritt

Columnist & AdvisorSteve West

Assistant EditorZach Ernst

Copy EditorJanice Lakowicz

Staff WriterMarina Andriola

Newsstand ConsultantTom Ferruggia

InternsKyle & Russell Laubach, Sydney & Kale Feeter, Tucker Stark, Nicholas Champagne, Lily & Poppy

Standup Journal, co-founded by Clay Feeter, Glenn Dubock and Steve Sjuggerud, is published quarterly in March, June, September and December by Clay Feeter, Joyce Bilodeau, Adam Champagne and Glenn Dubock, 23 Spring Pond Circle, York, Maine [email protected]

Subscriptions: StandupJournal.com/subscribe

Moving? IMPORTANT NOTICE – To receive your issues after moving please notify us directly of your address change by visiting standupjournal.com/subscribe and clicking the link on the right that says "Change of Address." The Post Office does not forward copies and we are not responsible for replacing undelivered copies due to a lack of or late notification.

To best enjoy our publication: Use your hands to flatten the gutters, expanding the spreads to their full width. We also recommend viewing the images well lit by a reading lamp (or the sun)… and cranking up the tunes.

Click "Back Issues" @ StandupJournal.comOur Oldies Are Timeless

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

21

Ima

ge

; E

ric

Vil

lalo

bo

s

Source11’6”

11’6”TR-X

Source11’10”

Cross10’6”

Cross11’0”

12’6”TR

12’6” TR-X

14’TR-X

14’TR-T

AmundsonSUP.COM

11’6”TR

HawaiiAmundson Design

Versatility, Quality and Value

Ve

cto

r

Fo

cu

s

Rh

yth

m

Rh

yth

m C

arb

on

Amundson Rhino-Lite™ construction technology uses high pressure and high temperature molds to create a composite construction that has the best combination of weight, durability, and value available on the market.

22

DAN GAVERE

SEAN POYNTERCANDICE APPLEBYDANNY CHING

SLATER TROUT

ZANE SCHWEITZER

+ Powerful, drawn-out turns+ Open face waves

FCS II Essential Series Carver FCS Danny Ching 9’0 FCS Candice Appleby 9.0 FCS Slater Trout 8’5 FCS SUP - Racing Bag FCS SUP - Racing Leash

The FCS Danny Ching 9’0 SUP fin is specifically designed to maximise your

stroke rate during longhaul racing.

Strikes a balance between flat water race speed and wave riding response.

The FCS Slater Trout 8.5” SUP fin combines versatile performance with race-tested

technology.

The FCS SUP Racing Bag offers the ultimate in mobility & protection for racing board

transportation.

The NEW FCS SUP Adjustable Racing Leash is designed to offer minimal resistance

for flat water and open ocean paddling.

FCS SUP SUPJOURNAL_DPS.indd 1 18/12/2013 10:56 am

23

DAN GAVERE

SEAN POYNTERCANDICE APPLEBYDANNY CHING

SLATER TROUT

ZANE SCHWEITZER

+ Powerful, drawn-out turns+ Open face waves

FCS II Essential Series Carver FCS Danny Ching 9’0 FCS Candice Appleby 9.0 FCS Slater Trout 8’5 FCS SUP - Racing Bag FCS SUP - Racing Leash

The FCS Danny Ching 9’0 SUP fin is specifically designed to maximise your

stroke rate during longhaul racing.

Strikes a balance between flat water race speed and wave riding response.

The FCS Slater Trout 8.5” SUP fin combines versatile performance with race-tested

technology.

The FCS SUP Racing Bag offers the ultimate in mobility & protection for racing board

transportation.

The NEW FCS SUP Adjustable Racing Leash is designed to offer minimal resistance

for flat water and open ocean paddling.

FCS SUP SUPJOURNAL_DPS.indd 1 18/12/2013 10:56 am

24SERGIO VILLALBAMallorca, Spain

“You can’t go backwards. You’re always moving forward. It’s the wonderful part about life. And that’s terrific.” -Harvey Fierstein, actor/playwright

25

A wonderful world it is, but chock full of dilemmas. We’ve all been there. Nice day, lots of novice paddlers splashing about. Somebody cruises close by with their paddle backwards. Do you say anything? Of course you do. We all would.

Myself, I’ve always offered polite advice: “You know, your paddle really goes this way.” I’d smile and lift my paddle with its forward bend for proof. Some would believe me, others would not. This has happened quite often in my last five years on the water as a standup kinda guy. I’ve become a fixer of bad habits, through no real intention on my part. But this will not happen any longer. That was the old Steve West. Last summer I found myself in Coronado Bay, down in San Diego. Fun place to paddle. Easy entry and warm, flat water. Perfect for learning the fine art of standup paddling. Up and down the bay I paddle on this beautiful day. Funny that I can get that same “surfed out” feeling even miles from the nearest ocean. How was I to know? Two hours later, I’m drying off back at my car when another paddler backs into a parking spot a few stalls away from mine. As he pulls out a new Costco Wavestorm from his car, I notice the fin is in his board backwards. I’ve seen plenty of backward paddles in my day, but never a backward fin. Of course, this chance observance peaks my curiosity. Is this a mistake? Is he in a hurry to get in the water and just doesn’t notice? Or, is he on to something that I don’t know about? I’m curious enough to go check up on the guy as he heads for the water.

By the time it takes me to towel off and walk back to the water’s edge, he is already 300 yards from shore, happily paddling upwind at a good clip. And yes, he is using his paddle the right way—or is he?

Who am I to say? I’m more than a bit confused. Am I going to chase him down and tell him that he has it all wrong? Paddle up alongside him, like an out-of-breath traffic cop, and tell him to pull over? Alert him to the fact that he should have his fin the other way around? Maybe it is I who is backwards. This got me thinking. And thinking. I experience a sudden and striking realization: an epiphany if there ever was one.

No longer am I going to point out my own preconceived notions of “right or wrong,” forwards or backwards. You want to walk around with your pants below your butt? Fine. Spin your baseball hat until the brim shades

the back of your collar? OK with me. Paddle with your blade angled backwards and “scooping” water like a big paddle wheel? Sure. You want to paddle into a big, dumping shorebreak on a 14-foot race board? Go right ahead. You won’t hear a peep from me. Never did like the “wise elder” role anyway. Even with all this backwards shit going on, we are all still moving forward. Right? Couldn’t change that if we tried. It’s like trying to stop the tides or to put toothpaste back in the tube: No can do. Time to look forward with hope, instead of backwards with regret. ~s. west

“Am I going to chase him down… paddle up alongside him, like an out-of-breath traffic cop, and tell him to

pull over?”

S

30

Stand Up And Join Me For The Ride Of Your Life... www.lairdstandup.com

Laird StandUp represents the next step in my journey of innovation, exploration and challenging the boundaries of what is possible on the water and in life. This line of StandUp paddle boards, paddles and accessories has been developed with unsurpassed passion, experience and knowledge by me and my Team at Laird StandUp. The entire line defines the state of the art in both function and construction. With a full collection of surf, all around, race, touring and recreational boards and paddles we now offer you the best StandUp paddle equipment on the planet.FIRE FISH HYBRID SURFER ST CRUISER EZ AIR BIG BOY AIRSTREAM LXR LXT

31

Stand Up And Join Me For The Ride Of Your Life... www.lairdstandup.com

Laird StandUp represents the next step in my journey of innovation, exploration and challenging the boundaries of what is possible on the water and in life. This line of StandUp paddle boards, paddles and accessories has been developed with unsurpassed passion, experience and knowledge by me and my Team at Laird StandUp. The entire line defines the state of the art in both function and construction. With a full collection of surf, all around, race, touring and recreational boards and paddles we now offer you the best StandUp paddle equipment on the planet.FIRE FISH HYBRID SURFER ST CRUISER EZ AIR BIG BOY AIRSTREAM LXR LXT

32

Growing up as a surf grom, nothing beat the rich memories of catching a surf flick at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium: frisbees flying around the big room, the heavy scent of ganja in the air... then the lights went down, the projector started

to roll and flicker and the shouts went up… let the show begin! -Clay

BEN THOUARDRaimana Van Bastolaer

34

TRACY KRAFT LEBOEBen DeWilde and Eva Ponting, Maui

36

CHARLIE MUNSEYDan Gavere, Eagle Creek, Oregon

37PADDLES

Riviera Team Rider Helga Goebel & Cody White paddling the Ron House 12’6” Coastal Cruiser... Anthony paddling the Riviera 12’6” Voyager... Photo: Charles Dasher

Helga Goebel, Cody White & Anthony Berry, on their 25 mile paddle from Key West to the Marquesas!

pho

to: N

ick

Dol

l

38

RAITINI REYStarting locally: Matarai, Tahiti

40

WES MATWEYEWGoProing the Turks & Caicos Isles

ANTHONY VELACandice Appleby, Columbia Gorge

STAY RADICALW A V E C O L L E C T I O NF A N A T I C S U P 2 0 1 4

K A I B A T E S

P A U L J A C K S O N

O L I V I A P I A N A

PROWAVE LTD8´0˝ / 8´5˝ / 8´10˝ / 9´3˝ / 9 6́˝ /

9´10˝ (SEMI-GUN)

PROWAVE HRS8´0˝ / 8´5˝ / 8´10˝ / 9´3˝ / 9 6́˝

ALLWAVE HRS8´11˝ / 9´1˝ /9´5˝

8 6́˝ / 9´10˝ SWALLOW TAIL

WWW.FANATIC-SUP.COMNEXT SPORTS LLC., MIAMI/FLORIDA, TEL: (305) 255 0111, [email protected], FACEBOOK FANATIC SUP USA

PURE SURF

In the pocket. Off the lip. Totally shacked. Where there’s a wave, there’s a wicked way to ride it with a Fanatic surf SUP. Proven designs and methodical research come together in two incredible wave-catching machines – the AllWave and the ProWave. Get ready to ride.

PICS: M A T T B U R G E S , M A X H O U V E T , P I E T E R P L O O Y

41

STAY RADICALW A V E C O L L E C T I O NF A N A T I C S U P 2 0 1 4

K A I B A T E S

P A U L J A C K S O N

O L I V I A P I A N A

PROWAVE LTD8´0˝ / 8´5˝ / 8´10˝ / 9´3˝ / 9 6́˝ /

9´10˝ (SEMI-GUN)

PROWAVE HRS8´0˝ / 8´5˝ / 8´10˝ / 9´3˝ / 9 6́˝

ALLWAVE HRS8´11˝ / 9´1˝ /9´5˝

8 6́˝ / 9´10˝ SWALLOW TAIL

WWW.FANATIC-SUP.COMNEXT SPORTS LLC., MIAMI/FLORIDA, TEL: (305) 255 0111, [email protected], FACEBOOK FANATIC SUP USA

PURE SURF

In the pocket. Off the lip. Totally shacked. Where there’s a wave, there’s a wicked way to ride it with a Fanatic surf SUP. Proven designs and methodical research come together in two incredible wave-catching machines – the AllWave and the ProWave. Get ready to ride.

PICS: M A T T B U R G E S , M A X H O U V E T , P I E T E R P L O O Y

42

JON STEELE Black River “Geronimo!”

44MANNY GONZALEZ

Punta Cerulean, Puerto Rico

SYLVAIN BARDIN Iced Sup: Nicolas Sirot, Paris

46

SYLVAIN CAZENAVECaio Vaz, 2013 Sunset Beach Pro

48

MARK CORNWELLPaul Clark’s Oregon hundred miler

Read Paul’s story on page 152

SYLVAIN CAZENAVEOahu gives Zane a second look

49

Stiffer is Better™

Integrated Aluminum Support

Shaft System

The pack-and-go

convenience of an

inflatable SUP, with

the rigidity and

performance of a

hard board. Just pop

it out of your trunk,

inflate and go.

AdvancedElements.com I Toll Free (866) 262-9076

Patent Pending

Adv Elems Full pg ad_Stiffy Press.indd 1 9/20/12 1:20 PM

50

“A week before the huge south swell in May, I get this phone call from Darrell. He sounds pretty pumped up, which is surprising, given his low-key demeanor. We start to talk about surfing Maalaea Freight Trains. We have been talking about getting a good sup shot at this legendary wave for the past ten years. Right before I hang up, Darrell tells me about a new camera board mount that he would like to test for this next swell. Before I know it, he’s at my house, taking my Naish gun from my board rack. He looks at me and says, 'I’ll be back' in a Terminator voice. 'When we show up to Maalaea on the day of the swell, Darrell gives back my Naish: a GoPro is attached to the top of a three-foot pole sticking out of the back of the board. We look at each other and he says, 'Do not lose the camera mount.' As I paddle out, Maalaea is firing! Immediately I drop into this nice wave, pulling in. The view through the tube is beautiful. I only catch three more waves because I’m worried about losing the rig. After the session, we download the pictures to the laptop—when they came up on the screen, our jaws hit the asphalt in the parking lot.” -Loch Eggers

DARRELL WONG"Loched" in, Maalaea, Maui

"Owning a business and having two little ones, I am always on the go, which is why I love Victory Koredry. I can outfit my whole family and know that we are protected — sun, wind, water... we're covered!" -Becky Jenkins OC Paddleboard, Ocean City, NJ

Why Koredry Video

YouthLoose�t

ToddlerLoose�t

WomenLoose�t

& Capris

Men Loose�t Long Sleeve

MADE IN USA

UPF 50+

Water Resistant

Fast Drying

Breathable

We’ve got you covered

Photo by Gary Nevitt

VictoryKoredry.com

51

"Owning a business and having two little ones, I am always on the go, which is why I love Victory Koredry. I can outfit my whole family and know that we are protected — sun, wind, water... we're covered!" -Becky Jenkins OC Paddleboard, Ocean City, NJ

Why Koredry Video

YouthLoose�t

ToddlerLoose�t

WomenLoose�t

& Capris

Men Loose�t Long Sleeve

MADE IN USA

UPF 50+

Water Resistant

Fast Drying

Breathable

We’ve got you covered

Photo by Gary Nevitt

VictoryKoredry.com

52

MARK WEBERElijah Weber near Twin Falls, Idaho

53

AP_SUP SUP jrl 230 280 us.indd 1 13/12/2013 16:34

54

IAN BORLANDKeahi & Chris De Aboitiz

56

JENNIFER GULIZIADan Gavere, White Salmon River

58

CHRISTINE TOTTLEInflatacamp: Hawaii

ERIK ANDERSONTommy Lloy, Santa Cruzin’

60ANTHONY ‘YEP’ COLASStandup Heaven: The newly reinvigorated Petitcodiac tidal bore, Moncton, CanadaRead Yep’s story on page 155

GLENN DUBOCKNewport Beach: Flash mob for a cause

61

Paddle off the beaten path.

For centuries people have enjoyed my crystal clear, turquoise waters. I am the miles and miles of pristine ocean, marshes, sounds and rivers of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Of course I am the perfect location for SUPing, ripe with opportunities to surf, explore, fish, or just soak up the natural beauty al l around you. Get on your board and come see why my cool waters are something you can only truly appreciate in person. For more visit crystalcoastnc.org or call 800-786-6962.

AT L A N T I C B E A C H E M E R A L D I S L E B E A U F O RT M O R E H E A D C I T Y CA P E L O O K O U T

–The Pristine Waters of the Crystal Coast

TCC-0677_V2.indd 1 9/25/13 12:19 PM

62

CHARLIE MUNSEYOne of these days Gavere will pull it off!

64

SKIP BROWN Barrelin’ down the Potomac

65260 CRANDON BLVD. UNIT 33 KEY BISCAYNE, FL 33149

1784 WEST AVE. BAY 6 & 7 MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139

FANATIC JIMMY LEWIS SURFTECH NAISH RIVERIA KINGS MISTRAL QUICKBLADE KIALOA WERNER HIPPOSTICK STARBOARD

WWW.TKSMIAMI.COM

66

JENNIFER GULIZIA “Playing Through” on the Columbia

BORYS KNYSH Alberta’s Easy Rider sup shop manager Ryan Knysh sets out to find Opening Day

67

Come Paddle Lake Tahoe Where Flat Water SUP Got Its StartJoin the Top Men & Women Paddlers in the World Compete for $10,000 in prize money for the TA-HOE NALU Grand Championship Starts Friday August 15th, 2pm to 8:30pm Registration - Exhibitions - Paddle Ciinics - Party Live Concert - Fun events for all ages and skill levels.

more information: www.tahoenalu.com

68

SYLVAIN CAZENAVE Now and then, even Kai Lenny eats itRead Kai’s story on page 157

70

WILL MANN "This is when it hit me, how happy taking photos makes me" -Will, Boston, Mass.

72

MAC BARNHARDTSup invasion of the National WhitewaterCenter, Charlotte, North Carolina

73

SARAH LEEAbra Shouse, Big Island

RICHARD HALLMANChain reaction: Kai’s home beach

74

ERNIE BRASSARDHot air possibilities, Lake Tahoe

MATTEO DE PAVON Alexander Outerbridge: First ever to sup 'round the isle of BermudaRead Outerbridge's incredible account, page 159

75

EVELYN O’DOHERTYDave Schleifer, Montauk, New York

ARTURO APONTEThe boyz of Valle de Bravo

Alexander Outerbridge: First ever to sup 'round the isle of BermudaRead Outerbridge's incredible account, page 159

76

HANK FOTOChuck Patterson, Sunset

77MOEHAU GOOLDSaltwater life, Tahiti

82

MOONWALKERA Matter of Style: Colin McPhillips

84

PETER HOLCOMBEKen Hoeve on Colorado’s Roaring Fork

87

MARK WEBERElijah Weber and Jessica Florian,Shoshone Falls, southern Idaho

88

GLENN DUBOCKBoP’s Hammer Buoy: Carnage Corner

90

ROB CASEYSeattle’s sup scene

92

BEN THOUARDEvery surfer’s favorite shot:

Patrice Chanzy, Teahupo’o

95

MAC BARNHARDT(Left pg. top) Black & Blue Friday: Surf City, North CarolinaRead Mac’s account on page 171

RAITINI REY(Left pg. bottom) Matarai Lagoon, French Polynesia

TERRY REIS(Left top) White Plains Wahini

RAITINI REY(Left bottom) Tahiti's over-the-reef sup adventurers are (l-r) Michael Chailloux, Flavien, Natua, Tching Thierry, (sitting) Cedric Molina, Remi Trebel, Teriitahi Neri and Damien Girault.

EDNA TAKAROKA(Left middle) Charlotte Piho, Cook Islands South PacificRead Edna’s Cook Isles story on page 171

96

STEPHEN FOURNET(Spread) Score! Reunion Island(Inset) Scott McKercher between sets

98

TRACY KRAFT LEBOETahini Gangini: Talia’s sister also shreds

100 DANNY HOLLAND(Above) Jamie Holland, Virginia Beach

101CHARLIE HOWDEN(Top and right) Charlie on Tracy Arm, Alaska

102

HANK FOTOIkaika Kalama in his domain: Pipeline

103

TERRY REISMakaha, West Side, Oahu

DANNY HOLLANDOuter Banks: Josh Holland

BEN THOUARDTahiti: Aussie Justin Holland**no relation to Josh, except via their high stoke for sup!

104

DARRELL WONGDave Kalama, Jamie Mitchell andSlater Trout take on east Maui

106

PETER HOLCOMBEKen Hoeve, Shoshone section, Colorado River

109GLENN DUBOCK

2013 was Kai Lenny’s banner year: World Champ racer (left) and…

HANK FOTO…Standup World Tour wave champ

110MOONWALKERJustin Holland, Bali Moon

113

BEN THOUARDHang a left at the fort: 2013Paddle Royal, Puerto Rico

114

BEN THOUARDRaihei Tapeta and Manoa Drollet give a nod to the village of Teahupo’o on the way bySee story on page 174

116

KEVIN PRITCHARD7th Annual Maui Butterfly Effect:350 sup women—count ‘em!

LINDA WILLIAMSBattle of the Paddle pileup: $43,000 worth of gear

117

GLENN DUBOCKGoing Long: The BoP Space Needle

119RUSSELL ORD

Dave Muir, Western Australia

120

GLENN DUBOCKView from the Secret Seats

MOONWALKERNoland Keaulana, Makaha

121CHUCK PATTERSONEl Salvador selfie

122

DARRELL WONGConnor Baxter making it look easy

125

MARK ‘WILBA’ WILSON “My angel, Kaylan Dahl,” Currumbin

Alley, Gold Coast, Australia

126

TODD LAWSONBritish Columbia family pack

128BEN THOUARDLaird at not Teahupo’o

130

MIKE MUIR Danny Ching off at the gun: Carolina Cup, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

131

JUNIOR FREITAS Future Leap: Mo Freitas

132

DANIEL O’SULLIVANRoger ‘Dogman’ Saunders, Yamba Reef

134

AARON SALESPhotographer Richard Hallmanon his camera's receiving end,Lost Lake, middle Oregon

137

SARAH LEEDonica Shouse

139

BEN THOUARDUnperplexed: Sean Poynter

"This is the best water photo I have ever taken." -Ben

140TIM McKENNAPlayful Sapinus Point, Tahiti

142

JENNIFER GULIZIAColumbia River Hellfire Run! November 2nd, 2013: Nine of the 11 survivors glide into port

November 2nd, 2013, will go down as perhaps the best sup downwinder in Gorge history. After watching the weather models build during the week, it appeared that everything was going to line up perfectly for an eastern Columbia Gorge downwind paddle from Blalock Canyon to Arlington. With the forecast calling for a “VERY WINDY SATURDAY,” Steve Gates, owner and general manager of Big Winds, decided to pull together a Big Winds Sup Service for a group of elite paddlers.

144

With our team of 11 experienced Gorge paddlers, we gathered under the rain and rainbows in Hood River, Oregon, at Big Winds—Hood River’s premier sup rental and retail shop—to double check the forecast, making sure we weren’t leaving wind for wind. It was already blowing 30+ knots in the corridor, but it was pouring rain. Out in the eastern desert the sun was shining, but the wind wasn’t yet blowing.

We decided to take our chances. We loaded

up the Big Winds van and trailer and headed out east to Arlington (aka…A-Town!). By the

time we reached the John Day Dam, the wind had started nuking: waterspouts were flying upriver fast enough to keep up with our van, which was traveling at 60 mph! Captain Steve Gates only had his pinky toe on the gas pedal—the

wind provided the push that got us to our put-in destination: Blalock Canyon.

Blalock is the perfect launching spot when dealing with extreme conditions. It sits in a

“Downwinding makes crack addiction seem

like a vague craving for something salty.”-Peter Egan

145

perfect wind shadow, which allowed us to get the boards to the water safely. From there, we paddled down a little canal and under the railroad track through a manmade tunnel, at which point we entered the main Columbia and the adventure truly began!

I turned on my GPS and looked out at the infamous “Liquid Smoke” spraying downwind. As Dan Gavere explains, “When you’re out on the water in this setting, I call it rainbows and unicorns: There are rainbows everywhere you look, and riding the waves on a sup in these conditions is like harnessing a unicorn for the ride of your life!”

Within the first mile of our nine-mile journey, the swell began lining up across the river like corduroy. With near-vertical waves, you had to run to the back of your board, literally standing on the leash plug, to keep the nose from pearling! Everyone was hootin’ and hollerin’ as Jon Davies took the lead on his SIC Bullet 17’. The rest of the crew was riding 14’ boards: some narrow, some wide. Dan Gavere was using his Starboard All-Star 14’ x 25.5”, and I was thankful to have the added width of my SIC Bullet 14’ V2.

Bill Babcock watched as Gavere fell for the 10th time and said, “When you see a guy falling who regularly sticks big whitewater drops off waterfalls, you know you’re in the shit!” It wasn’t just Dano falling either; we all were taking the occasional plunge into the drink. After a few spills, I had to take a moment to gather myself and look around. The wind turbines were shut down, the smoke on the water was thick, and it was rainbow country from the Oregon to the Washington shoreline.

As Bill Babcock put it best, “Every once in a while, the wind would gust so hard that it would pitch spindrift against me like a horizontal shower nozzle.” About midway through the run, at mile 4.5, we all sat down on our boards to regroup. We made a predetermined plan to stop every 30–45 minutes to keep this run safe. We all wore brightly colored jerseys over our wetsuits, and we all leashed our boards onto cords that wouldn’t

JENNIFER GULIZIAWhat a rush! An 8.5-mile downwinder

on the Columbia River, with 50-mph gusts at their backs—sweeeeeeeeet!

(Spread) Johnny Davies was too far to the right of the jetty(Below left) The sup wagon (Below right) Big Winds’ Steve Gates

“I watched Dan Gavere fall for about the tenth time—when you see a guy falling who

regularly sticks big whitewater drops off waterfalls, you know you’re in the shit!” -Bill Babcock

146

break, just in case the wind decided to hurl our boards downwind without us!

About eight miles into this epic adventure I could see the grain silo at the takeout, and the big letter “A” on the hill at Arlington. We stopped to regroup one last time to make sure that we all finished the run together. The bumps at Arlington were hardly bumps; they looked and felt more like oceanic waves! As our group of 11 paddlers made our way into the port, we noticed a few brave windsurfers tearing it up on 3.2m sails and sub 70-liter boards.

Coming into Arlington was particularly impressive as the swell bashed into the rock jetty, sending spray 30 feet into the sky. Jennifer Gulizia from Gorge-Us Photography was posted with her camera ready to capture the scene. As we entered the port, a few brave souls decided to head back out to catch one final ride for the day. Jon Davies dropped into one with his SIC Bullet 17’, and we all freaked out as he rode one of the biggest waves of the day. As he bailed off the back of his board, he narrowly missed the rock wall—and all I could think was “I hope Jen caught that shot!”

Steve Gates, a long time surfer, has always ragged on people who called the river swells “waves.” According to Steve, “They aren’t waves, they are river swells.” However, even Steve’s attitude changed that day when, at one point deep into the downwind run, he looked over his shoulder and saw his son-in-law, Rob, a hundred yards behind him, fully engulfed in spray, white water, and overhead swells. Steve’s aha moment was when “Jonny

dropped into a ‘wave’ off the Arlington Jetty.” After that, Steve was pretty much a believer.

After witnessing Davies’ epic catch of the day, we paddled up

behind the port and into the wind shadow of a green park—the perfect take out. Once away from the elements, I reviewed my GPS—Total Distance: 9 miles; Maximum Speed: 15.9 mph; Sustained winds of 45 mph, with gusts hitting over 50! A cold beer never tasted so good as we loaded up the trailer. This wasn’t just another day in the Gorge; this was an epic one to remember forever! -TJ

"When you're on the water in this setting, I call it rainbows and unicorns: there are rainbows everywhere you look, and riding the waves in these

conditions is like harnessing a unicorn for the ride of your life" -Dan Gavere

The Hellfire Run Boyz: The Last of the Wild Bunch are (l-r) Peter Hill, TJ Gulizia, Rod Parmenter, Rob Dies, Jon Davies, Bill Babcock, Joe Morgan, Steve Gates, Jan Boersma, Dan Gavere and Matt Luchsinger.

S

148

Seven Sagas fromOur Standup Planet

Next Issue

149BEN THOUARDCarine Camboulives and Manu Bouvet,

and their daughters Lou and Shadé(on Manu's back), Palau, Micronesia

150

On Our 7th Photo Annual Images The InsIde skInny

Laird Hamilton talks about the day Ben Thouard shot our cover: “A few times a year, I am fortunate enough to get a call from my dear friend Raimana Van Bastolaer: ‘Brother, there is a swell coming.’ I am based out of California during the summertime when Tahiti’s wintertime swells arrive. Even though it seems like a big trip, there are at least two flights each day coming and going between Los Angeles and Tahiti.

“You might think going down there is only about Teahupo’o, but it’s really about being in Tahiti: the color of the water, the majesty and overwhelming beauty of the land, and the love from the people. Raimana and the Tahitians make all of us feel welcome. Their desire to share the culture and the island makes all those who visit appreciate how special it is.

“True, I do go to Tahiti with the idea of trying to catch Teahupo’o, in hopes that she and the conditions will allow us to ride. But on this particular day the swell had not arrived yet, so we went out in front of Raimana’s house. For the past 13 years, I have always brought a tow board and a sup board on my Tahiti trips.

“Since it wasn’t death-defying surfing, I actually had the chance to enjoy all the other things I appreciate about Tahiti. The wave was exciting enough to make the surfing fun, but it was calm enough to let me take in my surroundings. I really enjoy riding backside, since the sensation is that you are getting pushed along—not to mention that being able to really stand up straight during this type of surfing (given the conditions) is really nice and even relaxing.” -Laird

“Raimana’s email address is ‘raimanavavoom,’ but he’s had another email address: ‘raimanasworld’ (as in: Raimana’s World), which is most appropriate for describing the special day that we scored with just him and Laird. Laird had flown down and there was a lot of excitement about the building big swell; a good excuse to stretch Laird’s legs out after the long flight. Raimana called me because it was firing in front of his house on the west coast. Half an hour later, I was there with them both for a beautiful morning in Raimana’s World.” -Ben

BEN THOUARD Raimana Van Bastolaer “I flew from my home in Tahiti to the Tuamotus Islands with Michel Bourrez and Ben. We decide to leave our accommodations early to get to the wave. When got there, no one was surfing. The left was rolling at 3 to 4 feet, perfect with no wind. Ben decided to use his paraglider to take aerial photos of Michel and me surfing. The timing was really important, since Ben was flying fast over our heads. Good Lord, the wind was dead for him to fly, thankfully.” -Raimana

“I had some insane views from my motorized paraglider! In this shot, Raimana is bottom turning inches above the reef! The shot describes the spot: sketchy.” -Ben

The end of the road: Laird Hamilton's backside attack in front of Raimana's house, by Benjamin Thouard

QUARTERLY $12.95

VO

LUM

E TWEN

TY TW

O, N

UM

BER

ON

ESTA

ND

UP JO

URN

AL

SPRING

2014/PHO

TO A

NN

UA

L, PART II

SPRING 2014/PHOTO ANNUAL, PART II

Dim the lights, prepare to shout: It's our 7th Photo Annual! ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW

STANDUP

DUBO

CK

Laird Hamilton at home in Malibu

151

TRACY KRAFT LEBOE Ben DeWilde and Eva Ponting,

Maui “It’s all fun and smiles for these two best friends: my

little surfer nephew Ben and his best pal Eva. At 9 years

young, these two Maui groms are loving life, growing up and

playing in the ocean together! I think this must be every child’s

dream, and so the saying fits: ‘Lucky We Live Hawaii!’” -Tracy

CHARLIE MUNSEY Dan Gavere, Eagle Creek, Oregon “This was a day for exploration and finding something special close to home. I knew that a great canyon existed here, but there was no way to see if from land. So I hiked, pumped, and jumped off a cliff with my paddle in hand after tossing my board down into the stream below. Then I followed the path of my paddle through a magnificent canyon filled with light and natural springs running from the canyon walls. It left me wondering how

many other people had even seen this special place that I was witnessing. Standup paddling has given us a chance to see the world from a new perspective and to use our imaginations to explore and see new places. This is what I love about the sport. Over the last seven years, my paddle and board have taken me to the most amazing places and experiences of my life. To my surprise, many of them have been right in my own backyard—and for that I get the most joy. So get out and explore! You might be surprised at how some of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see are right around the corner from where you are right now.” -Dan

WES MATWEYEW GoProing the Turks & Caicos Isles “I couldn’t at first figure out why I was kinda dizzy at the end of this wave, but upon close inspection of the rail, I noticed a ding filled with hair from my head! The board smacked me real good, so excuse me if this caption feels a little jumbled, haha. Not a lot of sup peeps here, but a solid and cool group of us. This wave is very remote. As I made my first drop I really wanted to get all the way through to the channel—set the tone for a good day—not get shredded on the mound of fire coral this wave dumps on… but it didn’t work out that way: WIPE OUT! I’m singing along to Slayer, which is pumping on my waterfi; nothing but sharks and rays to hear me screeching away... the tube is spinning off much faster and shallower than expected! The look on my face

says it all: Hair still dry, shorts still intact, I’m not bleeding… yet. Funny how picking a safe clean medium one for your first wave can turn into cheek-clenching, just-want-to-make-it-to-the-channel-with-my-shorts-intact, survival mode.” -Wes

ANTHONY VELA Candice Appleby, Columbia Gorge “I honestly never thought that I would be surfing when I went to Hood River for the first time. The prestigious downwind run that I had heard so much about promised gliding time, which made being away from the ocean for over a week bearable. But once we discovered the Sternwheeler, it was all over. Surfing behind the boat for over 30 minutes per ride was epic; it’s something I look forward to doing every time I go back to Hood River. The Gorge has become one of my favorite places, and knowing that I can get in a few waves when I go there makes it an easy destination to put on my schedule every season.” -Candice

JON STEELE Black River “Geronimo!” “Paddling against a river current in 85-degree heat can work up a sweat. With the water temp running around 62 degrees, refreshment for Alora Ashlie comes in seconds: 3, 2, 1…” -Jon

“As Jon said, the springtime water temp doesn’t even come close to matching the desert air temps along the Colorado River’s Black Canyon, which runs along the Arizona/Nevada

border. Not one to test the water's comfort with her toe, Alora hucks herself off an Arizona side cliff.” -Ronnie Ayres

SYLVAIN BARDIN All Iced Sup: Nicolas Sirot, Paris “This is a sup session I had in January 2013 on a lake in Bois de Boulogne, the most famous park in Paris.” -Nicolas

MANNY GONZALEZ Punta Cerulean, Puerto Rico “Adrián García riding the inside at one of Puerto Rico’s best standup paddle waves (the location is intentionally undisclosed: no crowds). Adriàn is one of the leaders in big-wave riding and in flat water comps all over the island and beyond. He is a lifeguard, ex pro bodyboarder, and someone you can count on when you need your life saved in gnarly wave situations. Although Adrián rides any board, lately he has been working with Riviera custom shapes.” -Manny

Caio Vaz, 2013 Sunset Beach Pro “Caio closed out 2013 with his best-ever Standup World Tour results, finishing second overall to three-time world champ Kai Len-ny. And some of that success has to be attributed to the amount of time this young Brazilian spent on the North Shore, getting familiar with these powerful waves. Here at Val’s Reef—the inside section of Sunset Point—Caio made his

152

statement to the Tour judges; just 20 yards off the beach at the end one of his, or any other competitor’s, longest waves of that day. Choosing the right wave will help you build your con-fidence. Here at the first stop of the Tour, this was one of those choices that seems to have kept Caio on a roll through 2013!” -Sylvain

MARK CORNWELL Paul Clark’s Oregon hundred miler Last summer, central-Oregon photographer and sup adventurer Paul Clark was the first person to attempt to paddle the entire length of the Lower Deschutes on a standup board within a single 24-hour period. This section of river runs from the Pelton Dam to the Columbia River, winding nearly 100 miles through remote canyons and technical whitewater. Several sections of the Deschutes are popular for commercial raft trips, kayaking, and world-class fly-fishing, but endurance paddle boarding is fairly new to the area.

Clark made his bid in August to promote the versatility of downriver standup paddle boarding. He paddled his 12-foot-long inflatable Aquaglide board, which is designed to punch through river waves and carry equipment lashed to the deck. Because the focus of this adventure was endurance and

traveling with minimal gear, Clark, who has already sup’d much of the Deschutes and is experienced with its rapids, portaged around dangerous spots like Sherars Falls. “Though it’s possible to run Class III+ rapids on a sup board,” says Clark, “I took a conservative mind set and chose to avoid dangerous river sections rather than jeopardize the expedition.”

With a paddle board, portages are relatively simple: just pick up the board and go—while avoiding poison oak, rattlesnakes, loose rock, and trains. Inflatable sup boards, made out of durable river-raft-inspired rubber, are relatively simple to transport, and they are forgiving in shallow and rocky sections.

Unlike traditional river trips that are heavy with gear and people, paddle boarding is streamlined. With much less gear, a sup boarder travels quickly and lightly. Clark didn’t take the loaded cooler found on a “party barge”; rather, he took the bare essentials: calories, hydration, electrolyte replacement, and shelter. For Clark, “It’s about simplicity—the relationship between board and the environment, respect for the river, and the endurance to go a long way under my own power.” What’s next for Clark? A self-contained descent of Baja’s Sea of Cortez!

MARK WEBER Elijah Weber near Twin Falls, Idaho “This photo was taken on a section of the Snake River called The Murtaugh. Elijah is my son. We put in about 35 miles of sup’ing in two days. This section of river is located a couple of miles above Twin Falls (the city’s namesake and a popular park and boating area). Elijah is paddling just above one of the signature rapids called the Idaho Connection Wave. In the spring, this portion of the river can savagely run canyon wall to canyon wall, but during late summer (as in this shot), the water level

153

Sebastian'sOn The Beach

Sebastian'sOn The Beach

HOTEL RESTAURANT DELUXE VILLASLITTLE APPLE BAY, TORTOLA, BVI

Surf Apple Bay on Tortola the BVI's best surf spot-paddle out in front of your room. Close to Bomba's Shack.

Call 284.495.4212 sebastiansbvi.com [email protected]

is way down. The result is a narrow, bizarre channel of sculpted and bleached rock. At points, the channel is only five-feet across with small streams pouring over the rock walls from both sides. It’s a really cool experience to navigate this section of the river in these conditions.

“So here is the skinny on sup in southern Idaho: In general, this region is perfectly suited to standup paddle board exploration. The Snake River cuts a 500-foot-deep chasm through the surrounding high desert plains. Just outside the city of Twin Falls, the iconic Shoshone Falls forms an impressive cataract that sends the river plummeting over a 212-foot drop—slightly taller than the famed Niagara Falls.

“The awe-inspiring Snake River Canyon is crossed by two impressive feats of modern engineering. The Perrine Memorial Bridge stands 486 feet above the river and spans 1,500 feet rim-to-rim, unsupported from below. It is the only bridge in the country from which it is legal to base jump year round. A few miles upstream the Hansen Bridge rises nearly 400 feet above the river, supported by two massive concrete piers that extend up from the canyon floor.

“Several tributaries and natural springs feed into the Snake River at various spots, making for cool side trips to explore. The very large natural springs flowing into the river are supported by the gigantic Snake River Aquifer, which covers a large swath of southern Idaho. Thousand Springs, Niagara Springs, and Box Canyon are some of the most iconic in both volume and scenic quality. River flows depend on the time of year and how much water is diverted for irrigation, but the sections of river known as The Murtaugh and Miner Mile offer plenty of class 5-6 whitewater. When the River is cranking in the spring, hardcore paddlers and boaters come from all over the country to test themselves on these sections of river.” -Mark

It’s all about the

www. resinresearch .net

ExperienceExperienceIt’s all about the

Experiencequality

Experiencequality

154

IAN BORLAND Keahi & Chris De Aboitiz “Father and son duo Chris and Keahi De Aboitiz—both world champs (Keahi is a world kite surfing champ and Chris is a former world tandem surfing champ)—teamed up to surf in the Noosa Festival of Surfing’s ‘Dog Surfing’ event. Chris trains dogs to do all sorts of things and corrects behavior problems (which usually stem from their owners). Neither father nor son are strangers to paddle boards either: Chris is an instructor, and Keahi is

currently on the Standup World Tour.” -Ian

JENNIFER GULIZIA Dan Gavere, White Salmon River “This shot was taken on the White Salmon River in Washington on a formidable rapid named Maytag. I love this shot because you can really see how the technique to running rapids is similar to surfing except for a few little differences. The water was crystal clear and cold as usual, because the majority of the water

in the White Salmon comes from underground and cold-water aquifers draining the southern slopes of Mt Adams. The basaltic river bed and deep canyon gorges are typical of this area, and the White Salmon is known for its world-class whitewater, attracting paddlers from all over the world who want to dip their paddles into its pristine waters.

“Last year the American Canoe Association claimed a victory as the 200-foot, 100-year-old dam that had been 10 miles downstream of this shot was removed to enhance the fish habitat. In doing so, it also opened up a whole new section of the river that had never been seen or paddled since it got drowned under a lake and dewatered for power generation. 2013 was an amazing year for the White Salmon River, and now it’s truly a paddler’s paradise with whitewater for any skill level. The White Salmon River played a huge part in my love and attraction for living in the “Gorge,” and I would think that over the years my sessions on this river can only be measured in the hundreds.” -Dan

“I received a call from Dan Gavere letting me know that he was going to run the White Salmon River at BZ Corners and that he was planning to paddle through Maytag, a class IV rapid. Dan Gavere is a five-time White Water World Champion—he’s a very accomplished paddler, so I knew that this particular location was going to make for some amazing images. I was stoked to accompany him on this adventure. Dan and I met up at BZ Corners and scouted the run while planning the shot. When we arrived the river was still in the shade, so we waited a little while for the lighting to be just perfect. When it was finally time to capture the shot, Dan put in just above the rapids and swept it clean.” -Jennifer

155

ERIK ANDERSON Tommy Lloy, Santa Cruzin’ “While we were up there for the Santa Cruz Shoot Out in March, we were going for a free surf at Pleasure Point late in the afternoon. Being my first time in Santa Cruz, it felt very different from Orange County: colder water, more powerful waves, and almost a richer surf community. It seems everyone in the town surfs, has surfed or enjoys being around the ocean. I truly enjoyed being up there.”

-Tommy

CHRISTINE TOTTLE British Columbia’s Todd Lawson and little Seanna enjoying some solid father-daughter chill time at Polihale Beach, Kauai.

GLENN DUBOCK Newport Beach: Flash mob for a cause “The Paddle for Privates start line log jam is not to be missed! If you are anywhere near Newport Beach, California, this sup flash mob gathering to support cancer research is a mandatory test run for your Halloween costume. The late October event assures good paddling weather, and race organizer Mandy McDonnell guarantees that you will see a broad

spectrum of couture and have a heck of a lot of fun raising money for a very worthy cause.” -Dubock

ANTONY ‘YEP’ COLAS Aerial: July 24, 2013, Moncton, Canada “The game changer week: Thanks to an activist group known as the Petitcodiac Sentinelles, the newly reinvigorated Petitcodiac tidal bore finally attracts riders, 44 years after being almost annihilated by a giant causeway. Some of the older spectators on the riverbank were crying with joy, since it felt like a miracle.” Shooting the Chocolate Bridge: July 26, 2013, Moncton, Canada “After four days of amazing rides with good weather, it rained cats and dogs for the last bore session. But there was no way that France’s Antony “YEP” Colas would miss an opportunity to catch his longest ride. Starting downriver from Chateau Moncton and riding to Chocolate River Station, Colas rode 2.6 miles in 14 minutes to pass below Gunningsville Bridge!” -Antony

CHARLIE MUNSEY One of these days Gavere will pull it off! “Although not the biggest drop I have paddled, this was by far the most technical. The only deep ribbon of water rolls off in a gradual manner. It’s only four feet across at the start and then drops about 25 feet and straight into a wall. My angle had to be perfect, and I had to be prepared for possible impact with the wall. I looked for a good long time before attempting it, but I finally got up the courage and was stoked to have nailed my line and to

156

have escaped without any pain or punishment. Some people might ask, ‘Why run drops when you know you can’t land on your board?’ My only response is, 'Because I can!' I will keep trying until I figure it out. Nothing makes you feel alive like free falling into a deep cold river does. It’s the same as dropping onto the face of a huge wave—even though you might not make it and end up taking a huge hit, you are not deterred; in fact, you are more fired up to try it again and again. It’s what feeling alive is all about.” -Dan

SKIP BROWN Barrelin’ down the Potomac: Skull Island Wave “During high water on the Potomac River when levels approach flood stage, an assortment of big, pushy waves appear. They tend to pulse and swell, building from smooth and glassy to big and steep breaking monsters. The water is crazy fast at these high levels, there are usually logs and other debris to dodge, and the swims can be long. Just getting upstream to this wave is a chore—but if you can put up with the hazards, then a long surf on Skull is an intense, unique, and surreal sup reward.” -Skip

JENNIFER GULIZIA “Playing Through” on the Columbia TJ Gulizia and the DeWolfe twins, Lukas and Christian, play through the field of windsurfers and kiters at The Hatchery on the Columbia River. “This past July the swell was huge and the wind was extremely consistent at world-famous windsurfing launch, the Hatchery. I was out photographing some of the windsurfers at 'the Hatch' who were boosting huge air on this particular “smoke on the

water” day when my husband, TJ Gulizia, called to let me know that he was taking two of the Big Winds’ JET Team Members on a downwind run from Viento State Park to the Hood River Event Site. TJ wanted to make sure that I stuck around The Hatchery long enough to capture them. I watched from the shoreline as the three navigated the field of windsurfers and kiters. I was excited to capture this image that shows all three sports sharing the river.” -Jennifer

BORYS KNYSH Alberta’s Easy Rider sup shop manager Ryan Knysh sets out to find Opening Day “In the Canadian Prairies you have to take advantage of any water possible, even if it is 90 percent frozen. Cold feet can’t ruin an epic paddle. And YES I am wearing shorts.” -Ryan

SYLVAIN CAZENAVE Now and then, even Kai Lenny eats it “The most important thing I have learned is to respect the

157

ocean because it only takes one wave to end it all! During the Sunset Beach Pro at the beginning of the year, I was competing in my third heat of the event and was faced with a large section of the end bowl. I decided to go for the closing turn of my wave, and I soon got humbled by the power of Sunset! The end bowl can be extremely tricky because there is so much water moving that sometimes a little backwash will flare the lip of the wave at the very last second. I remember hitting the coping of the lip and unexpectedly getting engulfed in the lip—I got so drilled! I was glad to have enough time remaining in the heat to gather myself for another swing at it!” -Kai

“Sunset Beach’s inside reef is where all that famous North Shore power makes its final statement before violently washing up the steep beach and sweeping unsuspecting tourists off their feet. When Kai took on this section, he got a little too high and was nailed by the lip. I’m sure at this moment he has given up riding and has decided it’s time to save some energy for the washing machine bashing he’s in for: the wildest whomping you can imagine!” -Sylvain

MOONWALKER Colin McPhillips, Blue Zone, Costa Rica “I went to Costa Rica with Colin to scout the initial locations for the sup camp he’s doing with Blue Zone Sup. Needless to say,

Colin surfed every wave with his flawless style—well, for the most part anyway. This launch was due to Colin taking off a little too deep and not quite making the section. It was either the rocks or the Jackie Chan tribute kick-out.” -Neil ‘Moonwalker’ Armstrong

“This was my first time getting to surf the Blue Zone. I was lucky enough to meet up with Rich from Blue Zone Sup and to explore his

area of extremely fun waves. I was blown away with the area: great uncrowded surf, insane food, and extremely nice people. I wish I could tell you all about this shot of me spinning around into the hugest Alley Oop ever, but I think I’m just going to have to name it the Alley Oops!” -Colin

MAC BARNHARDT Sup invasion of the National Whitewater Center, Charlotte, North Carolina“TuckFest weekend was a big hit and a major breakthrough for standup! Staged in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the US National Whitewater Center, TuckFest offered a big weekend of outdoor sports, live music, food, craft beer, etc. Attractions included both flat water and whitewater sup races, and big names like Michael Tavares, Dan Gavere, Luke Hopkins, and others

158

were in attendance. The USNWC is now offering sup as a regular activity on the whitewater—and right in my backyard! Guess I’m going to go whitewater now too.” -Mac

RICHARD HALLMAN Chain reaction: Kai Lenny’s home beach “There is nothing more fun than being a grom on the beach on Maui! I had been feeling quite like the grom myself after having a fantastic morning of riding waves. I went down to Sugar Cove beach to check out the surf and take my dogs for a walk. While I was down there, Marley, Liam, and Ethan all came running up to me in total excitement,

telling me how much fun they were having getting barreled and skimming on their bodyboards in the shorebreak. I ended up joining, catching a few waves with them and a bunch of the other neighborhood kids. I think this photo sums up the important things in life, which include allowing your inner kid to come out every now and again. Kids rule! But we all know that ;)” –Kai

“An afternoon break to take the dogs bodysurfing turns into a very special moment between local kids. I was out of earshot, but I wish I knew what was being said at that exact moment. Either way, it goes down as one of my favorite pics of all time. Rewind way back: I was very fortunate to be a kid who grew up on a large body of water. I can still remember my imagination running wild—I was a pioneer and explorer, or I was a reigning surf champion. We would run around the sand fantasizing about what was possible. Those fantasies were further fueled by watching the older kids who had all these skills and passion. So, this scene is familiar, and it reminded me of wonderful memories of a long-forgotten time. But more importantly, it’s proof of the power of human connection—a connection we can all relate to and deeply understand.” -Richard

SARAH LEE Abra Shouse, Big Island “The early bird gets the perch. I like this paddle move for its unique ability to control the board. Surprisingly, with the paddle in front of me and the back of the blade facing somewhat toward the direction of travel, I can gain great leverage and precise control, allowing me to lead the front of the board up the face of the wave without compromising body position. This is extremely useful while picking off the inside barrel when I’m unable to make any sudden movements in foot position.

“Have you tried this? Well hang on. Engaging this technique with speed on flat water will eventually bring you to try crossing over. Try any and every paddle technique, even if it feels awkward. You may have better results with your own technique. Different strokes for different folks. It’s fun to try…and as we all know, it’s all about the paddle!” -Abraham

159

That feeling. Sunrise on the water. The first chill on your feet. You paddle, coming more alive with every stroke. A glance down revels the varied colors of your blade winking through splashes of blue.

Intimate as a kiss. Unique as every session. Lasting, free, balanced.

Riding the leading edge of strength, weight, durability, and eco-consciousness, Paddle Hawaii handcrafts products that create memories.

Strong enough for North Shore,

Beautiful enough to hang on your wall.

Call for Custom Orders – 808-987-8153

.comHAWAIIPADDLE

Donica & Abraham Shouse

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

SUMMERphAD.pdf 1 3/11/13 11:34 AM

EVELYN O’DOHERTY Dave Schleifer, Montauk, New York “I told Evelyn, ‘Get your camera, this is a good fish: Standup Journal is going to like it.’ The bass were a quarter mile offshore on this day. Lots of local surf fishermen were here en mass for Montauk’s fall bass season. In fact, the fishermen in the background were a little frustrated that they had no chance to reach the 20-30 pounders that were churning the surface out where I was paddling. It was wild; the fish were actually making holes in the water as they charged the bait. The bigger bass were chasing sand eels. My sup fishing board is 13.5’ long x 30” wide x 4.5” thick. I put a cooler on it for my sushi-quality fish—it’s a great food-gathering machine, whether I’m scalloping or clamming or catching hard-fighting big stripers or other inshore species. I had been paddling out at sunrise all week. This day I had five fish: all were over 20 pounds, and all were caught way out of reach of the surfcasters. It’s hard to beat a sup’er with a fishing rod!” -Sup’er Dave

ARTURO APONTE The boyz of Valle de Bravo “This was Standup Paddle Mexico’s first race in Valle de Bravo, about 100 miles south of Mexico City. The kids were so excited, motivating those around them with their enthusiasm. As soon as their race was over, they all wanted to know when they could race again. They just couldn’t get enough! It was beautiful. Atentamente!” -Arturo

ERNIE BRASSARD “Last summer saw some really smoky days here at Lake Tahoe because of the rim fire near Yosemite. But that didn’t faze locals Ronny Ayres and Jake Lamberth—especially Ronny, who got above it all just off South Shore.” -Ernie

MATTEO De PAVON Alexander Outerbridge: First ever to sup round the isle of Bermuda

I Was About to Turn 65… so Why Not?

BE THE FIRST TO SUP THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF BERMUDA By Alexander Yeaton Outerbridge

Easter Sunday, 2014, will mark the one-year anniversary of the day I ventured out on a cold, foreboding, blustery morning to attempt a solo paddle around Bermuda. As I now sit gazing at the ocean from my front porch in Pavones, Costa Rica, gazing at the ocean, my mind is in Bermuda. I often find myself reliving moments so special that the hair on my forearms stands on end—because my Bermuda paddle was a journey through myself, and it gave me so much clarity on what’s important in life.

62

ERNIE BRASSARDHot air possibilities, Lake Tahoe

MATTEO DE PAVONAlexander Outerbridge: First everto sup round the isle of Bermuda

160

Putting yourself at the mercy of nature and taking on a challenge is a good way to find yourself and to discover what really matters. Life is not about extraordinary physical feats! It’s about love, family and friends—and so was my paddle around Bermuda.

Out of this trip came nothing but gratitude and a much deeper appreciation for life...It was a soulful and arduous journey, but so too are many of the challenges and struggles of less-fortunate people all over this diverse, adverse world of ours.

I believe this prolonged paddle made me a better person. I started out with the burden of many heavy thoughts, but when I stepped back onto the beach eleven hours and five minutes later, I felt very much enlightened and truly inspired. This is the gift that standup paddling truly has to offer to those who will accept it. I encourage everyone to explore the personal discipline of distance paddling.

Photos by Matteo De Pavon

Do not speak—just listen to the sound of the water as it trickles off of the paddle or gently slaps off of the bow: I call it Zen Stroke. You will paddle into a world of self-realization. It is humbling, wholly gratifying, and uplifting. It is self-improvement.

PREPARATION Who came up with this crazy idea anyway? I did! From the very moment the thought popped into my head, I knew it was my destiny. At first, I felt overwhelmed. There were many details to nail down: the right board, the right paddle, the right conditions, etc. So I started reaching out—the standup community is very supportive.

I contacted my friend/mentor/adviser Bill Foote, who put me in touch with SIC Maui (Brad Kingsley) and Ke Nalu paddles (Lane Mead). Before I knew it, I was on a fast track to the eventful day. Collaborating with Bill, my son Jason, Brad, Lane and Standup Journal’s Clay Feeter kept me motivated, but the clouds of self-doubt were building along with the clouds in the sky.

161

KENALU.COM

WE’VEGOT ANEW

BABY!

Meet the Ho’oloa, our latest creation

and the newest member of the

KeNalu family. A narrower profile with

more parallel lines creates a larger

"sweet spot" and deeper grab.

The Ho'oloa is going to steal your heart.

She catches softer, yet still drives hard

and releases easy.

162 Paddles and Oars.com

Team

Saw

yer R

ace

(TS

R) -

17.

5 oz

avg

.

Flex

Tou

r

A N N I V E R S A R Y

100% Made in U.S.A.

As my departure for Bermuda approached, I became obsessed with monitoring the forecasts. The prognosis was bleak—only two possible fair-weather days. The forecast was daunting, but we forged ahead. I hadn’t even seen the new board and paddle that I would be using, let alone get a few training runs in before launch day, but it was clear that I would have to hit the ground running in order to make the most of a small weather window. Preparation for a trip like this is key, and I felt like everything was happening too fast!

Before I knew it, our plane was preparing for landing on Bermuda. I could clearly view Fort St. Catherine (the start and finish point) from the air. The sky looked bleak and foreboding, causing me to doubt my ability to pull this off. Was this a futile, self-ambitious attempt to prove something? What—paddle around Bermuda at 65? Had I lost my mind?

Attempting to answer that question, I set out early the next day to check the board out and get it set up for the Easter-Sunday paddle. The word that came to mind when I saw the board was F-16. It was overwhelmingly long and narrow, and I immediately started stressing over my ability to paddle it with no previous practice, especially on such a mission as paddling around Bermuda! The foul weather was a constantly unsettling factor. It was so windy that there wasn’t even a chance to take the board out for a trial run. This bothered me a great deal as I’m a disciple of preparation—the foundation of any successful expedition.

The weather continued to torment me. Our support boat options/drivers bailed on us due to “small craft warnings” or unforeseen family/holiday commitments. By late Saturday afternoon it was apparent: I was going to have to paddle around Bermuda solo. As the wind and rain pounded on the windows and shook the shutters that evening, we sat around the kitchen table planning our strategy.

The prospect of paddling without a support boat sent shivers up my spine. My land support team was equally concerned. We decided to focus on survival skills and

“This is the gift that standup paddling truly has to offer… It is humbling, wholly gratifying, and uplifting. It is self-improvement.”

163

precautionary tactics. Direction of paddle was academic: East to West, banking on a slowly clocking and diminishing breeze, which is normally the pattern of frontal systems moving in from the northwest. That night I loaded all the gear and strapped the F-16 on the car. We decided to shoot for a 5:30 am departure from Shelly Bay Beach. As we retired to bed in preparation of what would undoubtedly be a long day, the wind rattled the windows and howled us to sleep.

EASTER SUNDAY MORNING: THE START When we rose early the next morning, the wind was still gusting 25 to 30 knots, and it was cold by Bermuda standards: 59 F air temp, 65 F water temp. But the team—Brother Douglas, Mateo (our photographer) and my son Jason (duly appointed team leader)—departed in the pitch dark as planned.

We checked out the wind and sea conditions on the north shore, and ultimately decided to abort our plan A, Shelly Bay Beach, because onshore conditions were too adverse. So we opted for plan B and made our way to the eastern-most point of Bermuda: “Fort St. Catherine.”

It was still dark when we arrived at Fort St. Catherine’s beach, but we could see the whitecaps blowing straight offshore with a vicious outgoing tide running south to north. It was the worst possible scenario: outgoing tide with a strong offshore breeze! I decided that it was too damn crazy—and I said so…but my son Jason replied, “Come on Dad, you’ve been out in much worse than this.”

I was beside myself: “You’re right Jason, on a sailboard! Not on a standup board with a howling offshore breeze and no support boat. If a gust catches me broadside and I fall and don’t recover quickly, I’ll be swept out to sea...next stop the Canary Islands. This is too sketchy.” But despite my protest and without hesitation, Jason carried the F-16 to the water’s edge.

164

SUCTION CUPS AND GROMMET ATTACHMENTS

AOCOOLERS.COM800-336-5208

As I tried to slither into my wetsuit, my mind still frozen in What Ifs, the sun broke the horizon. Almost immediately, a feeling of warmth and familiarity seemed to wash over me—after all, this is a special day: Jesus rose this day! What a great day for a paddle around Bermuda. One last check of my gear and I’d be ready to go: hydration pack, sunscreen, booties and hat—check! High fives all around!

With just a few strokes, I was already flying downwind, leaving everyone scrambling to keep up with me along the shore. As I disappeared around the first headland, a bullet gust hit me and slammed me down hard. Fortunately, I was back on board in nanoseconds and flying to the first checkpoint: Clearwater Beach at the southeastern end of Bermuda. That was the only time on the entire trip that I fell off the board.

That quick slap of cool water was a breath-taking reality check, and I never looked back from that point on—nor did I want to. I could not afford to let my mind wander at all—it was all about focus and determination.

CROSS-DOWNWIND TO CLEARWATER BEACH: Checkpoint #1 This was by far the most challenging stage of the circumnavigation. I had never surfed open-ocean swell on such a long, narrow board with foot steerage to also adjust to. But it came together: 60 years of sea knowledge and sailing experience prepared me well for a fast, seamless transition. I was flying: lots of glide, lots of speed.

At times I could almost touch the cliff faces with my paddle as I hugged the shoreline to stay in the lee of the high winds. I would catch a wave and have to veer or steer seaward just to be sure that I wouldn’t crash into the rocky coastline if I fell. Still, I was so thankful for the shelter of those high cliffs.

As the sun rose higher and higher, transforming the bleak morning into a beautiful, Bermudaful day, the winds shifted and eased; showing signs that the bad weather was finally surrendering to a brief high-pressure spell that was forecasted to last only until nightfall.

With only the evening and my self-doubts to beat, I settled in to a paddle rhythm that I call “Zen Stroke.” You really do talk to yourself an awful lot. Your lips don’t move, but your mind does. My paddling mantra is simple: it’s about rhythm and breathing; it’s about the journey, not the destination.

Before long, I could see the welcome sight of three tiny figures clambering to Clearwater Point. I was stoked to be off to such a flying start! (This SIC Board and Ke Nalu paddle

165

are insane.) I knew that soon I’d be heading due west with the whole length of Bermuda’s south shore to paddle.

CROSS HEADWIND FROM CLEARWATER BEACH TO JOHN SMITH’S BEACH: Checkpoint #2 As I rounded Clearwater Beach, threading the needle through the pristine coral reef close to shore, shouts of “Go Bird Go!” and “You can do it, Alex; you can go all the way!” was music to my ears. My confidence and enthusiasm were peaking. But then as I rounded the corner to head west up the south shore, I ran into a brisk but abating northwest breeze. It was as if the elements wanted to remind me that they had complete control of the situation. My enthusiasm was tempered by this reality for the rest of the trip around Bermuda. But I think it was a good thing because it kept me humble and vigilant and thankful.

With the most difficult part of the paddle at my back, I was able to really appreciate the color, clarity and abundance of sea life in the reefs of the south shore. The rainbow (red & green) and midnight (deep purple & turquoise) parrot fish were my inshore escorts as I hugged the south shore on the way west to John Smith's.

As the beach came into focus, I could see my familiar group (including my younger brother Andrew) readying themselves with water and a snack as I approached for a quick handoff. Feeling so much love and support from my family was a rush of emotion. Easter Sunday—what a way to bond, unite, and celebrate family!

CROSS-HEADWIND From JOHN SMITH’S BEACH to ELBOW BEACH: Checkpoint #3 The wind was still blowing cross head-on as I headed west toward Elbow Beach, but the good weather kept me feeling optimistic while I paddled through reef passes and surf breaks that were pioneered decades ago.

This journey is so familiar, yet I’ve never experienced it so slowly or intimately. It was astounding to see my island home with

166

new eyes. Soon enough, familiar figures began to materialize on a distant beach, but I could tell that the crowd had grown. Heading into the shorebreak to hydrate and energize, I see that my sister Cecelia and sister-in-law Phoebe have joined in the chase around Bermuda.

CROSS-HEADWIND From ELBOW BEACH TO HORSESHOE BEACH: Checkpoint #4 With renewed vigor, I continued paddling west toward Horseshoe Beach, still hugging the coastline. There were many inshore reefs to negotiate, and I realized that just one mistake could damage my skeg and ruin everything. But once again I took refuge in the quiet, focused mindset of Zen Stroke. It worked: Before long, I approached the next beach. Stoked by the continued encouragement of my family, I refilled my hydration pack and grabbed a snack and headed out again. I felt just like a marathon runner with no time to waste and a long way still to go.

CROSS-HEADWIND FROM HORSESHOE BEACH TO WHALE BAY (the westernmost end of Bermuda): HALF WAY POINT! Checkpoint #5 Departing Horseshoe Bay was another beautiful moment: blue skies, puffy white clouds, azure and turquoise water contrasted by pink sand, a flock of local birds called Longtails bidding farewell as they circled just overhead. Multicolored kites, like stained glass windows in flight, dotted the sky (a Bermuda tradition at Easter). It was truly a heavenly day, and our spirits were flying as high and free as the kites. I started to feel overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment—my knees quivered from the emotion. After taking a moment to center myself, I resumed paddling.As I passed Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, Church Bay, and then

Southampton, the arches of my feet started cramping severely. Oh No! My mind started racing. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to finish the journey if I couldn’t stand up. Thinking quickly, I went prone, elevating both feet and rotating my joints while continuing to paddle as much as possible. As soon as my circulation returned, I was back on my feet paddling for Whale Bay.

As I rounded the corner, fighting fatigue, an outgoing tide, and a very sloppy, short chop, I noticed that the wind was backing instead of hauling. This meant that the wind was now dropping off and blowing cross behind ever so slightly. If the wind prevailed from this direction, I would have a slight wind on my back all the way home!

My stroke speed increased with my enthusiasm about these favorable conditions, but I soon slowed to the Zen Stroke, determined not to let premature exuberance get the better of me. I was excited: it was the first time that I really believed that I could pull it off.

I made steady progress, but it was hot and getting hotter. I started to get dizzy spells and a pounding headache as well. But when I paddled into Whale Bay, my team was right there, ready with plenty of Powerade and a couple of aspirin!

My brothers told me later that it was at this point that they had been most concerned about my paddle fitness; I appeared out of it, delirious and unsteady on my feet. But no one dared to tell me to stop! It was clear that I had the will and determination to continue. So on I paddled, heading north by northeast.SIDE-CROSS TAILWIND FROM WHALE BAY BEACH,

SOUTHAMPTON TO DANIEL’S HEAD, SOMERSET: Checkpoint #6 From Whale Bay to Daniel’s Head, the tide and wind were fully in my favor. The ocean went lake-calm, and the island sheltered me from any breeze from the southwest. Gradually, my headache faded and my core strength felt renewed.

I made very quick work of the leg to Daniel's Head, approaching with good speed in shallow water. The support group had grown yet again—in size and enthusiasm. But I didn’t stick around for the party: I was getting the scent of the finish, and I wanted to paddle to the eastern end of the island as fast as I could before nightfall.

TAILWIND FROM DANIEL’S HEAD, SOMERSET, TO SHELLY BAY BEACH, HAMILTON PARISH: Checkpoint #7 As I left Daniel’s Head and the cheers of my entourage in the glow of the mid-afternoon sun, I stripped off my wetsuit. With less restriction, I could paddle faster. Rounding the Royal Naval Dockyard at the west end of the island, Fort St. Catherine’s (the finishing point) came faintly into view. I was stoked! The whole north shore was glass calm. Not wanting to get too excited and overdo it, I focused on rhythm and a smooth stroke. The sound of the water seemed deafening with every plant and pull; it was the only thing I heard. The prow just hissed as I stroked—it was music of the water.

SUP THING

167

At this point, an important decision had to be made: should I vector straight for the east end and bypass Shelly Bay, getting to the finish faster but running the risk of exposing myself in the event of an offshore breeze; or should I use discretion and paddle due southeast for the safety of the north shore, adding an extra four miles, but once again taking refuge in the lee of the island, gaining protection from any unexpected southwest winds? I opted for the longer, safer course to Shelly Bay, which allowed me to hug the shore for the remainder of the journey.

Daniel’s Head to Shelly Bay was the longest and smoothest leg of the journey by far. I was almost overjoyed that I had chosen the close-to-shore route as I approached my supporters, who were waiting with water and snacks.

When I arrived at the beach, my sister-in-law pointed out a Rhodesian Ridgeback running down the beach. “His name is Simba,” she exclaimed! I almost fell off the board—I own a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Simba! AT THAT POINT, I KNEW I WAS DESTINED TO FINISH! I paddled off toward the finish, marveling about the messages that life will throw at us.

TAILWIND FROM SHELLY BAY, HAMILTON PARISH, TO FORT ST. CATHERINE’S, ST. GEORGES: Checkpoint #8: THE FINISH Confident that the finish line was truly within my reach, I charged past Baileys Bay while my support team shouted and whistled from shore. My son Jason tooted a mini fog horn until I was out of sight. One more headland and a fairly long, glassy stretch to paddle and I would be there. But the last two hours or so seemed like

Oar Board™

®

Add a new dimension to standup paddling!Convert your SUP into an amazing sculling boat.Fly across the water with the greatest of ease.Light! Affordable! Installs & removes in minutes!See videos at WhitehallRow.com/OarBoard

Order online or call: 1-250-361-2621Dealer inquiries welcome.

New!

OAR BOARD™

Join our Facebook community for more beautiful photography, engaging conversation and first looks at the latest videos from the Standup Journal staff and fellow readers!

GIVE US A “LIKE”!

facebook.com/standupjournal

168

an eternity; the water was dark, deep, and austere. But I was close, and I refused to be deterred. I had one last hurdle to overcome: the last two miles were littered with thousands of Portuguese man-of-wars—falling off would have spelled disaster.

As I passed Tobacco Bay, St Georges, just a few hundred meters from Fort St. Catherine’s, the shoreline bar/restaurant erupted with applause, whistles, and cheers. The place was packed and partying hard on Easter Sunday. The cheers weren’t even coming from my team but from random well-wishers who had heard about the event.

With the sun touching the horizon, I stroked around the old fort—Sunrise to Sunset: Full Circle. Family and friends cheered wildly, whistling, hooting and hollering. The next thing I knew, my feet were planted on the very beach I had started from earlier that day. I carried the board and paddle a little way, placed them down carefully, and then collapsed to my knees in exhaustion and emotion. I was overwhelmed. I had done it!

But I succeeded because greater forces than my own will had allowed me the privilege of persevering and enduring. The enormity of my experience cannot be fathomed or measured. Most importantly, I think the experience made me a better person. To me, that’s the greatest accomplishment of all, and I will cherish this day in my memory forever. This was a pivotal day in my life—something to build from going forward.

The family, the friends, the harmony, the unity, and the love that came together for this challenge was so profound that

tears of joy flood my eyes even now as I write. They flow like the water that is my spirit, my inspiration, and my ultimate salvation. This was truly a deeply moving experience that has changed my perspective—probably forever. Zen Stroke is my way home. Lessons were learned, and goodness prevailed. Paddle on… -Alexander Outerbridge

HANK FOTO Chuck Patterson, Sunset “There’s no better feeling than finding that sweet spot on your board where everything comes together while carving the bottom turn, leading into the very moment when you bang the lip with the same intensity that you had visualized in your head.” -Chuck

MOEHAU GOOLD Saltwater life, Tahiti “This shot was taken in the lagoon of Bora Bora during our summer. It only breaks when Teahupo’o is big. When the boys get ready to go surf the outside reefs, the women and kids also get just as excited to go surf this beachbreak. It takes a huge swell to get in here (look at the whitewater on the outside reef in this shot), so Matira Beach rarely gets waves, but when it does, my three-year-old daugh-

ter, Kiara Goold, gets her days off from school ‘til the swell drops. Kiara has been standup paddling since she was about eight months old. So, when Teahupo’o is having code yel-low, orange or red conditions, then it’s an automatic saltwater life holiday for us!” -Moe

MOONWALKER A Matter of Style: Colin McPhillips “Colin, cruising in Costa Rica. This righthand wave went forever. I had to turn the lens a complete 90 degrees from takeoff to the spot where this shot was taken—and he still went at least another 100 meters after this. But, it’s not all roses. He did have a very long paddle back to the top of the point. It made the cold beer I was sipping behind the lens taste even better.” -Neil ‘Moonwalker’ Armstrong

Design Makes our Inflatable SUPs Faster and Easier to Paddle NEW Sea Eagle NeedleNose iSUPsFeaturing Patent Pending Wave Piercing Design

Easy to inflate, easy to paddle, easy to carry, easy to store...Could you ask for more?

1-800-944-749619 North Columbia Street, Dept SU034BPort Jefferson, NY 11777

Specs3 Inflated sizes:

11’ 4” x 2’ 6” x 4” 12’ 4” x 2’ 6” x 6”

14’ x 2’ 6” x 6” Weighs 24, 27 & 29 lbs.

Inflates to 15 psi in 6 to 8 minutes

Unique wave piercing, razor sharp bow and new touring shape make these new Sea Eagle NeedleNose inflatable SUPs faster, sleeker and easier to paddle. This allows you to paddle our iSUPs long distances effortlessly.

Design Makes our Inflatable SUPs Faster and Easier to Paddle NEW Sea Eagle NeedleNose iSUPsFeaturing Patent Pending Wave Piercing Design

Folds to a fraction of its size

169

“This was at the tail end of my trip to Costa Rica. This was an evening surf at the righthander, which we surfed every day with no one else out. The wave was made for a sup: it’s a long, wrapping point wave with some juice to it. Moonwalker was shooting from the water most of the time here, so it is really cool to see this angle: just a big, beautiful bay with no one around. This area in the Blue Zone is a real gem with a beautiful landscape, insane waves, great healthy food, and super friendly people—what more could you ask for?” -Colin

PETER HOLCOMBE Ken Hoeve on Colorado’s Roaring Fork “I love running rivers on boards. The only thing that can make it better is taking along a fly rod and hooking fish along the way. On a morning float down a section of the Roaring Fork Watershed, Peter captured this image of laying my line in behind a rock, trying to trick a trout. Standup boards are the perfect way to access the areas where

the fish are, and oftentimes you can even spot them underwater. Sight fishing is a big advantage for an angler in that you can not only spot fish but also see how they react to what you are throwing their way. Boards are a lot less expensive than boats, and they are way easier to get in the water when you have limited time.” -Ken

“Ken Hoeve on a quiet morning cruising for trout on the Crystal River. I think this river, with the giant red sandstone boulders and clear turquoise water, is one of the prettiest in Colorado. I had this image pre-visualized years prior. Even before I knew about sup, I always wanted to create a dramatic image of someone kayaking or fishing in this spot. I am really happy it was Ken Hoeve; he has the skills to fish in moving water, even while standing on a cooler for a better view and precise cast. It just all came together in this image.” -Peter

MARK WEBER Elijah Weber and Jessica Florian, Shoshone Falls, southern Idaho “This is one of the coolest sup spots that I have ever seen. We (my son and daughter) put on the river about four miles downstream at a place called Centennial Park. From there, you paddle up the river and directly under the Perrine Memorial Bridge, where you will most likely see people base jumping. Continuing up stream, you come to Pillar Falls, which is a section of river separated by several islands and waterfalls. To pass Pillar Falls, a short portage with a 200-yard carry over the rocks is required. Another mile or so of flat-water paddling brings you to Shoshone Falls. The falls can be a total spectacle of rumbling and torrential water when the river is cranking, but in this late summer photo the River is really low, so the falls are barely running. Of course this makes for great opportunities to paddle the horseshoe-shaped precipice and get directly below the flowing water and towering rock walls. The whole time, dozens of tourists were staring down, watching from the scenic overlooks located high above the falls at Shoshone Falls Park.” -Mark

WWW.ZHIK.COM

WATERPROOF

WINDPROOF

FLEXIBLE

BREATHABLE

4WAY STRETCH

170

GLENN DUBOCK Battle of the Paddle’s Hammer Buoy: Carnage Corner “I call this the ‘Leap of Fate.’ It’s from last year’s BoP—The Hammer Buoy, located at the corner of raw courage and blind ambition, has become the most notorious turn on

any sup race course in the world. Cruelly placed within the surf zone and close enough to shore to hear the reeling gasps of the crowds on the beach, it has been known to make or break its willing victims’ aspirations to step upon the winner’s podium. When the bulk of the pack attempts to round the mark en masse, the buoy takes a bite!” -Dubock

ROB CASEY Seattle’s sup HQ: Lake Union “Every summer the Seattle surf shop Urban Surf holds a weekly race on Lake Union, which is centrally located near downtown. Nearly 40 participants attend weekly to charge the ever-changing 2- to 2.5-mile course across the busy lake, which is always bustling with activity and watercraft of all kinds: sailing, rowing, kayaking, duck tours, canoeing, tugs and motorboats—not to mention the occasional sea plane touching down. The fastest racers, some sponsored, cheer on racers of all skill levels as they cross the finish line.” -Rob

BEN THOUARD Every surfer’s favorite shot: Patrice Chanzy, Teahupo’o “This is Patrice Chanzy, one of the top Tahitian standup paddlers at Teahupo'o. Patrice knows Teahupo'o perfectly and is often able to situate

himself as the only survivor! Here he is on a cloudy day on the west bowl, just about to get shacked.” -Ben

“I love Teahupo'o on the west bowl...I know I can take off deeper inside to backdoor the heavy hollow section. There is enough room in the barrel to lift the paddle and try to touch the lip. It is such a perfect wave—you just want to slow down in the tube.” -Patrice

171

MAC BARNHARDT Black & Blue Friday: Surf City, NC (Left pg. top) “Surf City, NC: Black Friday 2012. I call it ‘Black and Blue Friday’ because I took a nice shot in the ribs from my board after getting a little greedy and riding a wave too far into the shorebreak. I limped out of the water and called it a day, then honed my camera in on the action up by the pier. Local ocean athlete, Ohana Paddle Sports shop owner and Infinity/Werner team rider Chris Hill, was charging it. You can’t just jump into the traditional surf line at this pier on a sup without earning it. Clearly, Chris had earned a spot there long ago and has the respect of the other local and talented surfers. Chris went on to train for and then compete in the 2013 Molokai-to-Oahu race in the prone paddleboard division.” -Mac

EDNA TAKAROKA (Left middle) Charlotte Danziel Piho, Living the dream! Sup has taken off in the Cook Islands At first glance, Charlotte Piho seems way too tiny to take on the reef breaks that Rarotonga (the most populous of the Cook Islands) is known for. Closer inspection, however, reveals not only enviable muscle definition but a personality of sheer will tempered by humility. It is a rare blend, but not a surprising one: She is, after all, one of the Cook Islands’ own. “I grew up in the ocean,” Charlotte says. “Dad made us learn how to swim as soon as we could walk!”

That’s no easy feat considering that Charlotte (whose family hails from Rakahanga in the Cook Islands’ Northern Group) grew up in Dunedin, a place not exactly famous for its warm weather. In later years, the sunnier climes of eastern Sydney, Australia, beckoned—and it was there that she got hooked on surfing.

“Anything to do with the ocean, really, that was always going to be me. I recently spent hours in the (Muri) lagoon, trying to work out what I liked more: being on the water or under it, and I still can’t decide!” But on the water is where you will find Charlotte most of the time, on a modified surfboard or to be more correct a standup paddleboard.

“When I first arrived here, people were like, ‘standup Paddleboarding? Huh? What’s that?’ So I thought Walk on Water Week would be a good opportunity to introduce and grow the sport over here. I was really fortunate to have the help of Travis Grant (top Australian standup paddleboard racer), who is just an amazing guy to work with; he’s great at what he does and he’s down to earth as well.”

The first Annual Walk on Water Week (WOWW) was held at Muri Lagoon in partnership with the Pacific Resort in August, with Piho and Grant running sup clinics in between daily races, including a Celebrity Dash themed “Beauty versus Brawn.”

“We kept it friendly this year, but next year it’s definitely going to be more competitive!” Charlotte promises. Of course, annual events are great, but as Charlotte also points out, the weather and natural geography of Rarotonga make sup a year-round activity.

“The beauty of standup paddleboarding is that you can take it to any level—this year’s winner of the celebrity dash female event, Serena Hunter, was six-months pregnant! And Travis Grant is a big-wave Hawaii champion.” Piho says the trick is in learning the correct technique from the outset, something she is passionate about teaching.

“I’m a water baby, no doubt about it, but anyone can get so much out of learning the correct techniques in any sport. Sup is easy to pick up, and it’s a great workout for the whole body, no matter what your age or fitness level.”

Proving her point, Charlotte even teaches sup yoga. She also delivers targeted fitness sessions to sports professionals, including Australian National Rugby League teams, New Zealand Super Rugby teams, and Cook Island Representative Sporting teams.

When she isn’t busy hosting surfing legends and running annual events, Piho can be found on her scooter soaking up the sun, or running a few kilometers a day.

“I’m totally blissed out, living here in my heaven, sharing one of my greatest loves—the ocean—with people from all over the world. I wake up to beauty, jump on my scooter and start the day with yoga in the middle of the world’s most beautiful lagoon. I don’t understand how you could film a series like Survivor here and expect people to believe it was tough!”

Another big event for Charlotte is the Pacific Resort Paddle Challenge, held in

WETSUITS

WWW.ZHIK.COM

SUPERSTRETCHFLEXIBLELIGHTWEIGHTDURABLEVERSATILE1MM NEOPRENE

F E A T U R E S

172

November. The race is part of the Vaka Eiva (Canoe Festival), the Cook Islands’ largest event. Nine hundred competitors in teams of six will flock to this unique standup paddle challenge: The first person paddles out with a Vaka Eiva paddle board (half the size of a normal standup paddle board), the second and third racers have to carry a passenger, and the fourth and final paddler must do a headstand before exiting the water.

Check out workoutonwater.com for more info on Charlotte’s clinics. All are welcome—from pregnant women to couch-bound writers to rugby players; just grab a board and go! -Edna Takaroka

DANNY HOLLAND (Above) Jamie Holland, Virginia Beach Growing up in a Coast Guard home may have given Jamie a head start towards finding peace and tranquility in and on the water. She was in her teens, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, when she fell in love with surfing. A medical professional specializing in the treatment of children in Virginia

Beach, Jamie is a wife and mother of four children: “The family that sups together.” She’s also into hot yoga and running, but “it is a huge priority o go out almost every day on the Atlantic, Chesapeake Bay and anywhere else my travels carry me.”

CHARLIE HOWDEN (Top and right) Charlie on Tracy Arm, Alaska “I recently had the greatest experience with my latest job. I was onboard a yacht, which cruised from Florida up to Greenland, across the NW Passage, and on into Alaska before finishing in San Diego. Along the way, I had a couple of amazing paddle sessions—these photos just show the extraordinary beauty I got to experience. I am planning a few other long-distance paddling adventures.” -CharlieTERRY REIS (Right panel, top) Makaha, West Side, Oahu “This wave comes out from deep water and stands tall and fat when it opens its jaws. Here it kind of looks like some sort of surf arena! That sup guy was sizing it up on the way out.” -Terry

DANNY HOLLAND (Right panel, middle) Virginia Beach, VA: Josh Holland This 15-year-old Virginia native has been taken under the wings of Hawaiian and Virginia Beach watermen, so it’s no surprise that each of Josh’s rides is packed with a blend of the style as he works to pull off complex maneuvers. Josh has quickly earned a spot among the young innovators of our sport. No relation to Aussie Standup World Tour ripper Jason Holland, Josh competes in top events in the Americas and internationally, exuding his love and respect for the ocean everywhere he travels. When he’s not in the water, Josh can be found working with autistic children, serving wounded warriors, rowing crew and cramming for AP exams… then he’s back on the water! Whether carving overhead waves or nose-walking long swells, Josh’s character and soul-surfing style make him a standup stand out among the best in any East Coast lineup.

BEN THOUARD (Right panel, bottom) Tahiti: Aussie Justin Holland [to best enjoy Justin’s caption, please put on your best Ozzy accent] “This was actually the first wave I ever rode on a Starboard. I had turned up in Tahiti for the Stand Up World Tour event after signing with Starboard a week earlier in Australia. I arrived late at night, but at first light Ben took us to a fun righthander. The boat carried a bunch of new boards and a full crew: Zane, Sean, Dave, Tama, Caren, and me. I was testing the 7’7” carbon pro

VASAKEEPS YOUPADDLING

vasatrainer.com/sup802.872.7101

http://www.workoutonwater.com

173

model; I was offered first ride to give feedback. This wave was hollow and fast and really fun—I’m stoked that we have a photo of my first Starboard wave. It was a great experience just being in beautiful Tahiti testing new boards with the crew. The wave was so fun—a wedgey righthander with a barrel section that ran into a channel. Here I’m frothing for the section in front of me that’s about to barrel. I came back to the boat after 30 minutes, stoked about the board, the wave, and my decision to ride for Starboard. This photo brings a big smile to my face. I’m stoked to be a part of such a great team and to enjoy the adventures that this great sport throws up at us.” -Justin

DARRELL WONG Dave Kalama, Jamie Mitchell, and Slater Trout take on east Maui “This was my second time down this Kaipo [east side of Maui] coastline, and it’s much more rugged than the Maliko run. The entry into the water is way more precarious. You have to make your way down boulders with your board and paddle, and because

of that you get the feeling that you’re entering the wild. There aren’t any beachfront, million-dollar homes along the Kaipo coast; it’s just raw, uninterrupted lava flows into the water. It gets deep immediately, so it feels like you’re entering an uncharted place where big game animals roam—sort of like an African safari. If something were to happen and you needed to bail out before the exit point, you’d be screwed. The road doesn’t run along the coast here; instead, it’s up the hill about a mile. Plus, the swells are extra-large. One of the roughest channels in the world, the Alenuihaha, comes right to shore most of the way, so it’s no joke out there. You’d better have plenty of open-ocean experience, or you could be in for a long day.” -Dave

PETER HOLCOMBE Ken Hoeve, Shoshone section, Colorado River “Peter knows that I paddle this stretch of river all the time, and he mentioned that he wanted to try something different— we would have to shoot just before dark, and I would have to make multiple laps on the same rapid. I showed up to discover that he and his wife had set up these huge lights with remotes, and the camera was already positioned where it would remain through the whole photo session. After about nine laps, Peter felt he had everything he needed. A few days later he mailed me this image, and I knew he had created something truly unique. It just pops and shares the fun of running a river on a standup board. It also goes to show what can be captured when you get to shoot with real photographers.” -Ken

“The Shoshone one of our mainstay runs. It was a fall day and the river was at a low, but really fun, level. As with many of my images, I had a large part of what I wanted to create well planned out before we started shooting. I really like using studio lighting in the outdoors, and in this shot I was able to control the lighting with five studio strobes as Ken ran this rapid. I really like the strong sense of place and all the detail of the water, the board, and the natural surroundings. I think that, for many of us, sup is a way to spend quality time in an amazing place—and this image really shows why Ken loves to just get out there.” -Peter

MOONWALKER Justin Holland, Bali Moon “This was a great session just north of Seminyak on Bali’s west coast. The surfer is Australian Justin Holland (I also had Beau MADEFORWATER

WWW.ZHIK.COM

174

Nixon on this trip), who competed a few years ago on the shortboard WQS. He loves his big waves and doesn’t hold back in any oceanic situation. We arrived at this spot before dawn, and it certainly

paid off, wave-wise and photographically. It’s nice to capture a moment of serenity amongst the crowds and craziness that is Bali these days.” -Neil

BEN THOUARD Puerto: Hang a left at the fort “This shot was taken during the Paddle Royal that happens in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in December! From the helicopter I was able to get some photos of the first paddler turning in front of old, famous San Juan! This is a great scene, where Danny Ching and Eric Terrien are fighting for first place.” -Ben

BEN THOUARD Raihei Tapeta and Manoa Drollet give a nod to the village of Teahupo’o on the way by “This is Raihei Tapeta and Manoa Drollet speeding along the coast of Teahupo’o

in Tahiti on a downwinder that started from the very southern point of the Tahiti peninsula and used the wind and windswell to carry them all the way past Teahupo’o.” -Ben

TAHITI DOWNWINDER

After the End of the Road By Renaud Marcellini • Photos by Ben Thouard

Tahiti’s geographic orientation is incredible. The island, which is the result of two submarine volcanoes connecting and piercing the surface of the ocean, is perfectly positioned on a southeast/northwest diagonal, just parallel to the trade winds—and these winds are a gift for those paddlers seeking exceptional downwinders. Maraamu (the Tahitian name of the southeastern trade winds) blow almost all year long. When these winds shift southward,

they blow parallel to Tahiti’s entire west coast, offering paddlers several different runs. And when Maraamu move to the east, you simply have to travel to the east coast of the island to find other idyllic coastal downwinders! Off the west coast of the island, Teahupo’o is an exciting point of departure with numerous routes for riders to choose from, depending on their gear and goals. You can opt for the thrill of true open-ocean swells and as much surfing as possible, or you can play it safe closer to shore and enjoy the magnificent colors of the windy lagoon’s sandbanks contrasted against infinite gradations of green. And the logistics are easy: most people leave one car at their final destination and then take a second vehicle to the inevitable starting point—the end of the road!

All around the world, the territory at the end of the road is a symbol of adventure. Here, this place is called “Fenua Aihere” (aptly named “the land of bush”): kilometers of uninhabited mountains and virgin valleys of tropical forest. Only the small littoral plain is respectfully trespassed by a marginal group of inhabitants: fishermen, farmers, weekenders or retired people live here in the roots lifestyle. They oppose the construction of a road or a bridge which would open access to their paradise, and they have had numerous fights on this subject. (Recently, the association known as Vai Ara O Teahupo’o blocked an access road project that would have jeopardized two pristine valleys.) Their mantra is simple and sincere: “Keep the Country Country,” as they say in the Hawaiian Islands. The people here use boats for transportation (outrigger canoes or small aluminium hulls), and municipal pontoons—“boat busses”—bring the children to school.

So it sounds simple—drive until the road stops and then hit the water. But organizing our Tahitian paddle session was somewhat more of a puzzle than we had anticipated. The forecast had accurately predicted the perfect winds that greeted me when I woke, but I had been expecting rainy skies. Instead, the sun was shining! Right away I placed an excited wake-up call to Manoa (Drollet), who told me in a groggy voice that he intended to join Geoges Cronstead for a flat-water race farther north. But after a few seconds of silence (he may have had to look through the window), he woke right up: “I’d rather go downwind!” After several more phone calls, we had a plan in place: Teahupo’o Tahiti Surfari would take care of our boat transport; Matahi Drollet and Raihei Tapeta would paddle with us, and the talented Ben Thouard would immortalize our adventure. Our route, which none of us had attempted before in these conditions, was somewhat of a question mark—but isn’t that what adventure is all about?

We decided we would get upwind via the lagoon. But after enjoying the boat provided by Teahupo’o Surfari (driven by Bjarn and managed by Cindy, who are accustomed to transporting people who want to discover this special, protected place), we quickly realized that the journey was going to get more complicated when we attacked the open ocean.

When we arrived at Faaroa (the big valley), we turned toward the ocean in order to get in the best position. But when the chop started banging the boat around, we decided

“All around the world, the territory at the end of the road is a

symbol of adventure”

175

(prematurely, perhaps) to stop where we were. As soon as Bjarn cut the engine, we were in the water.

Quickly we realized that, in order to avoid the first reefs, we needed to continue toward the ocean and fight with the crosswind! Our fitness levels were quickly revealed in these conditions: Manoa took the lead with a hard and high course that would ensure his safety; I followed Raihei on a compromised course that brought us closer to the reefs; Matahi (who is 15 years old) showed his commitment and motivation, sticking it out to the end.

Once we were out of the danger zone, we decided to follow the reef that separated our playground (the open ocean) from the peaceful lagoon. Now the wind and the swell were in our favor—a perspective that is more reassuring—we started catching bumps and began to look for the best downwind opportunities. For my part, I stayed on the defensive: the next few hundred meters were a fishing zone for tuna, and some sharks of impressive size have been found in the area. The last one caught by the village fishermen was a four-meter-long tiger shark. It makes you think!

When we cleared this second danger zone, everyone seemed to grow more confident, and good surfing ensued. Soon, I noticed “Teure” (the Tahitian name for the male genital organ), a peak of rock that rises toward the sky from the bottom of the luxurious valley Vaiarava—the half-way point. Sensing my uncertainty about catching so many bumps thus far, Raihei reassured me that the second half of the route would be easier, and he was right: the strokes got more powerful, the glides got longer, and the smiling outweighed the suffering. We were in the seventh heaven!

Eventually we all started to fall into our own rhythms. As the distances between each of us increased and we found ourselves paddling alone, we slipped deeper into the three mental states that all downwinders are familiar with. The first is extreme focus on technique: You concentrate on nothing but swell/bump conditions, body position, stroke and pace, board placement, etc. The second is a Zen-like meditative state of mind, which I particularly like. The third is a stark contrast to the second: You begin thinking a lot, about everything, including things that aren’t related to what you’re currently doing (the last or the next surf session, the family, the girlfriend, the work, the friends, the projects, the concerns…).

I found myself in this third state of mind as I finally passed Teahupo’o. My mind was racing—the last few months had not been easy: I had had some customs difficulties when trying to get my Surftech equipment in California; I had suffered a

strong inner-ear disease that kept me out of the water for too long, etc. But all of those thoughts faded as we reached our destination. Replacing them were feelings of gratitude for this great adventure that was coming to an end.

We can’t worry about the past—we must focus on the present and the presents that it will give us if we’re willing to acknowledge and accept them. And what better place to start than a downwinder in beautiful Tahiti? This place is a gift that I am glad to have received.

Mauruuru (thank you), Fenua Aihere! -Renaud

KEVIN PRITCHARD The Annual Butterfly Effect: 350 sup women: count ‘em “The 7th Annual Butterfly Effect on Maui had a record number of participants this year! More than 350 international and local women participated, and they were as diverse as they were enthusiastic—ages ranged from two-year-olds riding shotgun with their mothers to 60-year-olds, and skill levels varied from beginners to world-renowned professionals. “We were all in it—not to win it, but to have fun, enjoy the ocean, celebrate sport, and give back to the community in a positive way.”

The annual non-competitive event for women started at Baldwin Beach Park with the traditional Hawaiian blessing and the Lululemon beach warm-up stretch. A helicopter flower drop sprinkled smiles all over the paddlers, and a jamming beach festival at Kanaha welcomed the women as they ended their three-mile downwinder.

“It’s cool because this shot from our 7th Annual Butterfly Effect on Maui will be published in Standup Journal’s 7th Annual too—how awesome! We have a busy schedule in 2014, and I am hoping to double in size again next year,” says BE founder/organizer Tatiana Howard of Maui. For full 2014 BE World Tour happenings and tour info, go to betheeffect.com: March 21st – Whistler BE Snow EditionApril 20-27th – Maui Surf/Sup Week April 26th – BE Maui Event Day June 22-28th – BE Sardegna (Italy) Sup/Kite/Windsurf CampJune 28-July 4th – BE Tarifa (Spain) Kite and Windsurf CampJuly 27-Aug 3rd – BE Dominican Republic Water Sport CampAugust 2nd – BE Dominican Republic Event Day Aug 31-Sept 7th – Fuerte Surf/Sup CampSept 12-21st – Bali Surf/Sup CampOctober 4-11th – BE Tahiti Surf/Sup Boat Trip

176

LINDA WILLIAMS BoP pileup: $43,000 worth of gear “What can I say about this photo, you ask? Since it’s going around the Hammer buoy at the Battle of the Paddle, ‘Getting Hammered’ could not be more appropriate.” -Linda

GLENN DUBOCK Going Long: The BoP Space Needle “When the world elite of sup racing gather on the shores of Doheny Beach for the annual Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle, there is an amazing array and amount of boards that cover almost every grain of sand with high-tech creations of carbon fiber and innovative design. Always one to stand out in a crowd, Lance Erickson whips out his latest, greatest shape, which is so long that it touches the sky and can’t find a slot of empty sand to land on.”-Dubock

RUSSELL ORD Dave Muir, Western Australia “When this rare wave turns on, every man and his dog seem to come out of the wilderness on the hunt for the right-hand point break in the land of mostly lefts—it’s busy to say

the least, but Dave Muir managed to sneak a few under the nose of a heavy, localized pack of surfers.” -Russell

GLENN DUBOCK BoP view from the Secret Seats “This little vantage point is 2.5 miles from the start of the Battle of the Paddle long-distance race. Every racer who has made it this far has double the distance to the turn. They are in The Zone, knowing that the gear they brought isn’t going to change; there is no turbo button. They aren’t thinking of their entry fee or fantasizing about a dream five-foot wave to finish the race. At this point, it’s more like, ‘What was I thinking when I skipped breakfast today?’ and ‘Please, someone let me draft for just awhile.’ On the return, this is like the 20th mile in a running marathon, where you have to want it bad.” -John Dubock

MOONWALKER Noland Keaulana, Makaha “This shot was taken at Makaha Beach on Oahu’s west side, a great place for lighting, waves, action and angles—there are so many options. I took this as the last light of day was fading. I seriously ramped up the ISO (which explains why the image is a little grainy; it’s like using faster film [for those who remember film] to get more light onto the camera sensor and while still recording fast-moving action) and kept shooting until it was completely dark. I’m not sure who this fellow is, but it’s safe to say that he was ripping.” -Moonwalker

CHUCK PATTERSON El Salvador selfie “This was a really fun session in El Salvador that I shared with Connor Baxter and Kody Kerbox. Riding with those guys always inspires me to get creative. While those two were doing laps on the inside, I would paddle way outside the crowd and wait for the bigger sets; sometimes it was a solid half-hour before the ocean came alive, but when this one came through and hit the inside shelf, it was clear that patience paid back in full.” -Chuck

DARRELL WONG Connor Baxter making it look easy “This was a fun day at an outer break called Tidy Bowls on Maui. It was a great day because Dave Kalama, Kody Kerbox, Loch Eggers, Chris Pagdilao, and Junya McGurn were all out

there having a ball. It was a perfect glassy no wind day with some solid size surf. To get out to this break it is about a 500 yard paddle out. The waves were big, but fun—not scary—so I wanted a looser board so I took out my 8’5”. I would have stayed out all day, but the wind came up about two hours into the session. This is one of those days you daydream about when you find yourself at your airport gate two hours early and an announcement comes over the loudspeaker letting you know there’s a weather delay and you’ve got another two hours to wait.” -Connor

WILBA My angel, Kaylan Dahl “Kaylan is a rare gem—anyone who meets her walks away smiling. We have challenged many tides together. We want to get married soon (though I am sure Kaylan has a crush on Kai Lenny); the ring has already been chosen—now we just have to pick the honeymoon spot! Kaylan’s sup story is unusual: She had never even been on a surfboard before, but she decided to take a crack at sup’ing some of the best spots anyway. In fact, she surfs Currumbin Alley without me because I can’t bear watching the kooks spoil her waves. For the last 15 years, we’ve spent our time bouncing around from our home at Burleigh Point on Australia’s Gold Coast to familiar hotels in Bali and Europe. We have an insane life fueled by a desire to see what’s around the next bay. Say hello if you bump into us!” -Wilba

TODD LAWSON The British Columbia family pack Laying down some roots for future sup generations on the path to the put-in: Mamquam River, Squamish, BC.

BEN THOUARD Laird at not Teahupo’o “Raimana [Van Bastolaer] knows Tahiti—especially the reef in front of his house. The ocean here is like his backyard! The morning of this session was glassy, and the swell was pretty westward, which offered some great conditions for

177

this outside reef. Laird likes to be away from the crowd, and Raimana loves to connect surfers with new waves—a perfect combination! Raimana is such a passionate person who loves giving to other people. He really enjoyed watching Laird take off on these morning bombs. As we look back at this session, we realize that we were blessed not only to score perfect waves away from the Teahupo’o crowd, but also to experience a rare spot in Raimana’s world.” -Ben

DANIEL O’SULLIVAN Roger ‘Dogman’ Saunders, Yamba Reef, Australia “Roger knows that, in situations like this, just one more paddle stroke can make the difference. The Dogman was lucky enough to score some great waves

at his local break in Yamba on the north coast of New South Wales as soon as he got back from a 1,000-mile road trip to Bells Beach in Victoria. It wasn’t long before a set wave came rolling in, but unfortunately, that’s when his luck ran out. Ending up too deep to make the section, he was forced to bail. When I asked him later about this wave, he replied, “Just one more paddle, one more pump, can make a difference.” -Daniel

AARON SALES Richard Hallman, Lost Lake, Oregon “The only thing I love more than photography is participating in all the sports that I shoot. It can be difficult to watch your subjects have all the fun. Aaron Sales and I were just wrapping up an epic sunrise photo session at Lost Lake near Mt. Hood, Oregon, when I jumped on the board to enjoy the serenity of the water and the quiet, early morning surroundings.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the details of a shoot that I forget we are in an incredible place—and the deeper the connection to a place, the better the storytelling visuals become. Thanks Aaron for a great capture.” -Richard

SARAH LEE Donica Shouse “Ethereal thoughts dance in my mind as I remember this moment. You have to be entirely focused in the moment to be your best; sup is a beautiful analogy for life. While studying Lomi Lomi, I learned this

Hawaiian concept of time—and it just sings to my heart. When you’re free from thoughts of the past and the future, which make up horizontal time, then you can find the place of vertical time: Pa’a. The teaching points out that surfing is the ultimate training ground for bringing this presence into daily life. Living in the moment leaves you in ultimate bliss—and of course I feel this most clearly when I’m paddle boarding. On a side note, our house is almost visible in the background: just above my knee level, you can see a white dot in the distance. We live at about 1,200 feet up on the lush slopes of Hualalai, Big Island, Hawaii.” -Donica

S

178

PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE JOURNAL

Marina Andriola is our first-ever website staff writer for StandupJournal.com. Welcome, Marina! She was born on an American army base in Marina di Pisa, Italy. She grew up playing in

the waves of California with her sisters. She’s best known for her award-winning graphic design, writing, blogging and creative home rebuilding. While living north of the Golden Gate, she and her former husband raised three kids and created a thriving aquaculture farm: Hog Island Oyster Co. Spurred by a close encounter with a great white shark while boogyboarding, Marina became an avid standup paddler in 2007. She found her first board, a slightly used 12 footer, signed by Laird Hamilton, on Craigslist. “I willed that giant board to appear; there were no boards to be found anywhere in Nor Cal at the time!” She made her first sup paddle by lashing an old smashball paddle to a bamboo pole. Marina recently relocated to Imperial Beach, on the Mexican border, south of San Diego. “I traded 32 years of surfing the cold, remote Sonoma Coast for the warm water and great fish tacos of the last, mellow little surf town left in Southern California!” Besides writing for Standup Journal, Marina blogs on Women of Sup, the Facebook page she created for water women of all ages, sizes and abilities. Read her creative copy at StandupJournal.com…

Mac Barnhardt is North Carolina born and bred; a long-time windsurfer and follower of our Wind Tracks mag days. When not windsurfing, sup surfing, or sup racing, you can find Mac behind the lens capturing the action and scenery. Always chasing his next adventure with a crew of fellow misfits, he loves to spend outdoor time with his three kids and beautiful wife of 21 years. Check out his web site at thewaterturtle.blogspot.com…

Ian Borland is from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast just north of Brisbane, Australia. He sup surfs and longboards Noosa’s point breaks every day. He started shooting surfing in the early 70s with a Nikonos waterproof camera and

has been published in surfing magazines worldwide. He is also an active member of his local sup club on the Sunshine Coast; oceansurfphotos.com.au…

Pierre Bouras is continual living proof that surf photography is a contact sport. He recently broke his right wrist during a water shoot: “I

can still take a picture but not from the water… I just need to wait five weeks.” The 24-year-old Frenchman has been honing his travel images since he was 18 when, “I made my first trip to Morocco, and now I have been to the four corners of the world.”

Skip Brown is an editorial and commercial advertising photographer living in Cabin John, MD, next to the Potomac River. He enjoys kayaking, kite boarding, hang gliding, and being a husband and father. He is also a team rider for ULI boards; Skipbrownphotography.com…

Ian Clark is an amateur photographer from Wells, Maine where he is compiling some of our upcoming “New England

Standup Scene” feature images. The 60-year-old sup surfer grew up surfing Cape Town, South Africa.

He’s got five Atlantic sailboat crossings under his belt; spent a year on St. Lucia, four years on St. Thomas, USVI, and then another year on remote Comoros Island in the Madagascar Channel, where he ran a dive sailboat charter. If all this isn’t impressive enough, Ian also is a graduate of the Landing School of Wooden Boat building and design, and the Univ. of Southern Maine with a geography/anthropology degree. He also enjoys triathlons…

Paul Clark is based in Bend, Oregon. The outdoor enthusiast enjoys challenging himself on long and fast solo expeditions. He has twice sea kayaked the 1,000 mile length of Baja’s Sea of Cortez (once in less than a month!) and has through-hiked the 2,500-mile Pacific Crest Trail within 90 days. Paul has guided kayaking tours in Mexico and Alaska, and has instructed for the Colorado Outward Bound School in mountains, on snow, and on the water. He was a professional ski patroller and avalanche rescue dog handler at Mt. Bachelor for several years, and now is a photographer documenting the human form in motion. His longest self-supported paddleboard trip was earlier this year on Oregon’s John Day River, traveling 120 miles in three days. And he’s preparing to sup over 200 miles on Oregon’s Owyhee River this spring. To follow Clark’s progress in real-time via SPOT satellite messenger, visit blackandredphotography.com…

Si Crowther used to do “computer stuff for a soulless corporation, but that was boring.” So the then soon-to-be British extreme sports photographer “started surfing and windsurfing with my mates. One day I opened a windsurf

http://thewaterturtle.blogspot.com

http://thewaterturtle.blogspot.com

179

Prints and photo services are available from the photographers who make Standup Journal

magazine and saw amazing pictures of wavesailors in huge surf. I thought, ‘I can do that.’ Turns out I couldn’t. So I bought a

camera and tried to capture what I saw in the magazine. My pictures didn’t look anything like them, so I bought a bigger camera and lens. They still didn’t look that good, so I bought more stuff, until I’d spent so much I had to tell myself, ‘You’d better get really good at this ‘cause it’s costing a fortune.’ Years later, and after spending more money on gear and travel, I finally sold a few pictures. Pleased with my success, I packed in my corporate job doing computer stuff, and set myself up as a pro photographer, how cool is that?” Check it out at: wavejam.co.uk...

Steve Dickinson’s work has graced most watersports mags worldwide. Based out of New Zealand, he is perfectly situated to jump into so much surf action. Dickinson is the owner of NZ Surfing, Curl, Adventure, and Ski & Snow magazines, and was also a judge of the Red Bull Illume last year—he knows a good image when he see one; pacificmedia.co.nz…

Janice Lakowicz has come aboard as Standup Journal’s copy editor, complementing assistant editor Zach Ernst’s fine-tooth combing of

our words. Welcome Jan! The Wells, Maine, resident and ocean lover is happiest spending time near Drakes Island Beach with her grandson Calvin, her husband Michael, her children Mike and CarrieAnn, and her other family and friends. Jan is a textile hobbyist and loves to swim, bike and practice yoga. At almost 60, getting better at sup paddling and a taking trip to Paris, France, are her big goals for 2014.

Chris McLennan is a multiple-award-winning professional travel and tourism photographer based out of Auckland, New Zealand with a truly astonishing body of work. Winner of some of the most coveted awards in photography,

including the National Geographic PDN Great Outdoors Adventure Image of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. Popular Photography magazine named him one of the world’s leading

wildlife photographers. Chris is perhaps equally well-known for his involvement with humanitarian projects and his reputation as a mentor and role model for other photographers in the field. He hosts travel photography workshops around the world with trips currently scheduled to Fiji, Africa, Italy, and Alaska. There are still spots available for some of these trips, including a spot to photograph grizzlies in Alaska. For a glimpse at stunning photos, and information about Chris’s upcoming workshops: cmphoto.co.nz…

Evelyn O’Doherty is a year-round New York surfer, sup racer and freelance photographer who left a successful teaching career in order to be more in touch with the outdoors, especially her waters around Montauk, Long Island. She is passionate about surfing, standup, photography, meditation and travel. Her work shows respect for our natural environment and the incredible people she meets on the journey; justlovephotography.com…

Russell Ord is based in the burg of Cowaramup, Margaret River, Western Australia. Living with his wife Catherine and three kids, Kalani, Tavian and Ayla, Russell Ord photography

has evolved through experiences in and around the ocean. We are big fans of “Ordy,” for it was through a surfing injury that this hardcore, take-no-prisoners wave rider found a new wave to rip: by picking up a camera, he transformed a newfound passion to make images into a lifestyle and a career; russellord.com…

Chuck Patterson once duct-taped a pair of windshield wiper blades to each side of a blown out knee in order to compete in a fun, bro ski contest in Lake Tahoe…

THAT is how driven this legendary sup character is, and we are lucky to have Chuck be such an important “constant” on the standup paddle scene. Patterson was the first-ever Battle of the Paddle race winner. He’s also sup’d into some of the biggest waves on the planet… and now we are so stoked to see him push his creative mojo with his onboard, perspective photography! See it at chuckpattersonsports.com…

Mark ‘Wilba’ Steven Wilson started shooting in 1973 after his dad bought Wilba his first Nikonos. Wilson lives at Burleigh Heads and has witnessed the birth of pro surfing and many of its champs. After 40 years of drowned, stolen and worn-out cameras, Wilson still swims out with his CMT housing to shoot whoever gets in front of his lens. His partner Kaylan loves to sup every day with great custom boards from Chris Garrett. If you see Mark in the water and you get a bomb, don’t forget to smile...

Robert Zaleski is a creative director and photographer based in Southern California. ‘Leski’ caught our eyes immediately in the first year we published Standup Journal, and we are proud to display his work as it comes across our light tables! Over the past 13 years he has worked in many creative fields producing work for a diverse list of clients. See more of his work at: robertzaleskiphotography.com…

http://robertzaleskiphotography.com

180

Echoes From The Photo WellBy Associate Publisher Glenn Dubock

For those of you who have long followed the evolution of the revolution we call Standup Journal, our trending toward lots of big photos and better words should look somewhat familiar with this, our 7th Photo Annual. When Clay, Steve Sjuggerud, Joyce Bilodeau and I pushed off from the desolate shoreline of standup magazines some seven years ago to start this literary adventure, there was no one else out there with us—we were free to drift about the publishing waterscape and flow in any compass heading we wanted.

One of the primary decisions we made was to be sure to honor the unique, collaborative relationship between the paddler and the photographer. We purposely chose to not only see what they were experiencing, but to also hear, in their own words, what they were feeling, hearing, and loving. We call them extended captions. Most photographers refer to them as bloodlettings.

For the most part, image makers don’t trust words anywhere near as much as we value what we can

see—what comes out of our cameras. Our lenses gather light and truth, which then get

printed onto these pages with ink and craftsmanship.

Words gather opinion and perspective and can all too easily

suffer from

rough translation and personal bias by the time the ink dries on the glossy pages. Does that mean I don’t want you to believe a single word from here on out? Not hardly.

All I am asking you to do is to immerse yourself in the creative stream of thoughts that ramble through the artistic minds of our photographic contributors as they pursue excellence in imagery. Feel their glorious pain as they recount the tales of supreme efforts taken to capture that pinnacle moment—or what it meant to sadly watch the dynamic action and

magic light slip away together; forever unrecorded.

By doing this, you will also lend us your trust in our acquired ability to artistically draw from the deep waters of the photo well and bring up a fresh and ample supply of saturated stoke in each and every issue we serve up.

We take this task very seriously, sometimes spending hours choosing and cropping a single image, determining the best

place for it within a feature—making sure it meets or exceeds your expectations to be overwhelmingly satisfied. That has always been, and forever will be, our truth and our focus.

Our motto is, “You’re only as good as your latest issue.” Our goal is to over deliver the goods—the sup culture, action, “awe” and energy—to you. You have our word (and pictures!) on it. -Glenn

Publisher's Note

(Inset) Glenn with the multiple-year Battle of the Paddle burger eating champ, Bob Boy. (Full page) JOHN HALL Dave Boehne heading around the corner. Honoring the collaborative relationship between the paddler and the photographer, Standup Journal is one of the only mags in the world that puts the photographer’s credit first, in front of our caption copy.

181

Publisher's Note

184

Zane schweitzer1st place stand up world tour, dubai

TRIDEN

T PERFORM

ANCE SPO

RTS INC., CANADA/USA Ph: 866 929 9626 e-m

ail: [email protected]

ww

w.tridentsports.comWith light, durable award winning performancedesigns, Starboard continues as the trendsetter

and world leader.

“SMALL SURF, EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE!”

7'10" X 31.5"AIR BORN

7’10” X 31.5”AIR BORN7’10” X 30” AIR BORN7’4” X 28.5” AIR BORN

surf fish

Photographer : Matty Schweitzer

This ultra thin profile generates flex that storesenergy to be released on

your Airs or Cut Backs.

The thin, high apex rail gives you the feel of riding a steep barrel wave.

www.star-board-sup.comwww.facebook.com/starboardsup

ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW - Standup Journal

Documents

Transcript of ULTIMATE SLIDE SHOW - Standup Journal