So the cold weather is coming in and those hot summer days seem so far away. Past experience has told me they will once again return but until then lets talk SUP! If a paddle board is on your Christmas list this year you'll soon need to know what to do with it, where to go and who to go with. SUPKC can help with all those questions. We can even help you choose the right board for you.
Next spring we plan on scheduling an instructor training session with Shane from SUP St Louis. He's a certified PSUPA SUP instructor and has completed the MR340 and numerous water races by paddle board. I'd like to get a group of people to take a class or spend a weekend getting our instructors certification. We'll have to wait for water temps to be pleasant but early spring is the goal. If you're interested please email me or follow my blog for updates. Once we have a rough number of participants we'll know the price. Shane rents boards so I'm sure he'll have plenty on hand to use for training but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you brought your own. Travel arrangements and accommodations will depend on the number of participants.
If you're not interested in taking the trip to St Louis but would like to learn more about SUP there's already a few instructors in the area and there will be a few more after our session with Shane next spring!
Merry SUP'ing Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Sunday, November 13, 2016
How do you SUP?
There's a lot of versatility and ways to incorporate paddle boarding into your fitness regime or summertime lake activities. We all know it's a great core workout and it's a unique vantage point on the water. But what else is there? How many ways can we utilize this simple floating surface? The fastest growing aspect is yoga and fishing on the board followed by fitness and group classes.
The only SUP related race here in Missouri is the MR340 but maybe we're all not up to that challenge. The idea of easily accessible events and fun competitions for those who don't yet own their own board has been born. Kansas City offers numerous cycling and running events and races of all shapes and sizes. There's very few human powered water sport events and races to speak of. Yet, we have an extensive number of lakes, rivers and able bodies individuals.
So why don't we have SUP events or races? That's the question I ask of you. What is stopping us from forming our own race series or charity events? It'll take all winter to make enough contacts to get this idea going and maybe a few years to actually have a local race series. We might as well get the ball rolling!
If you're reading this and you've ever been on a SUP please give me your ideas and the type of events you'd like to see here in KC! There's even paddle board camps for kids is various parts of the country. The ocean's the limit! Lets get paddling!!!
The only SUP related race here in Missouri is the MR340 but maybe we're all not up to that challenge. The idea of easily accessible events and fun competitions for those who don't yet own their own board has been born. Kansas City offers numerous cycling and running events and races of all shapes and sizes. There's very few human powered water sport events and races to speak of. Yet, we have an extensive number of lakes, rivers and able bodies individuals.
So why don't we have SUP events or races? That's the question I ask of you. What is stopping us from forming our own race series or charity events? It'll take all winter to make enough contacts to get this idea going and maybe a few years to actually have a local race series. We might as well get the ball rolling!
If you're reading this and you've ever been on a SUP please give me your ideas and the type of events you'd like to see here in KC! There's even paddle board camps for kids is various parts of the country. The ocean's the limit! Lets get paddling!!!
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Paddle Board Designs and Choices
There's so many apprehensions and options when considering stand up paddle boarding as a activity. First thing's first, if you're fighting the urge to get into yet another activity the answer is YES you should go for it! I'm a runner and a cyclist. I thought it was crazy to spend money on a new activity when I could buy so many things that would enhance my current sports. But after paddle boarding for one summer I can say that this sport will make you better at your other sports, even distance running.
I encourage you to spend the winter reading blogs, watching you tube videos and researching which board to buy. There's a few thousand sites out there with information regarding choosing a board so I won't go into much detail here.
The board design that is right for you depends on how you will use it, where you'll use it and your particular physical abilities. Please also consider if there will be someone else using the board as well. This also applies to the paddle type and length you should choose.
There are two main designs or shapes of paddle boards, displacement and planing. The most common is the planing hull which looks like a large surf board. The displacement hull as you could imagine displaces water and has a pointed bow to cut through the water much like a kayak. There are advantages and best uses for both.
If you've ever rented a paddle board you more than likely were on a planing board. They are the best choice for a first board for several reasons such as versatility, availability, durability and price. The planing board will accommodate flat water as well as small surf. You can find them at most sporting good stores or on line. They are generally made from a durable plastic or fiberglass.
The size of your board will depend on those who will be using it and the type of water. I'm here in the midwest so I'm going to assume you will be on flatwater and speak with that in mind. The primary user of the board should consider a few options. First option, will there be a secondary user? Your board should be large enough to accommodate the largest user. A small person can always enjoy a larger board, but a larger person will have difficulty on a smaller board.
A typical starting length is 10'6" with a width around 30-32". Check out the specs of each board to narrow down your search. Width, length, thickness and volume should be common information. A typical board for most people will be 10'6" long and about 31" wide. Most of these boards are around 4" thick.
*The thicker and the larger volume, the more buoyant the board will be.
*The wider the board is, the more stable it will be.
*The longer the board, the straighter it will track.
If you're interested in casual group events and maybe YOGA on your board, a wide and buoyant board would suit you best. The length will depend on your limitations for storage, portage and transport. A longer board will be more stable than a short board but it will also be heavier and take up more room in your garage...or living room wall.
If you're into FITNESS, you want to go fast, paddle in rough water or there's a possibility that you might take your board on long adventures, maybe a 340 mile adventure down the Missouri river, then you might want a displacement hull board that is 12-14' long.
When choosing a board you'll want to consider the material it's made of. Your choice will be either plastic or fiberglass. The plastic boards will be heavier but so much more durable. If kids will be using the board I would recommend the plastic board. A fiberglass board will be susceptible to cracking if dinged and need to be patched with an epoxy resin before water gets into the board.
If you'll be sharing the board or possibly taking on a passenger, a dog, child or second person, consider the total or max weight on the board at one time and compare that number to the provided manufacture specifications.
For my first board I chose a displacement hull board from Boardworks because I'm more likely to race the board than do yoga on it. The board is very stable and has a displacement of 290 liters and a max weight capacity of 300 pounds. This is more than I need but it'll allow me to take a friend across the lake for a picnic on a nice summer evening. :)
Cheers and happy paddling!!
I encourage you to spend the winter reading blogs, watching you tube videos and researching which board to buy. There's a few thousand sites out there with information regarding choosing a board so I won't go into much detail here.
The board design that is right for you depends on how you will use it, where you'll use it and your particular physical abilities. Please also consider if there will be someone else using the board as well. This also applies to the paddle type and length you should choose.
There are two main designs or shapes of paddle boards, displacement and planing. The most common is the planing hull which looks like a large surf board. The displacement hull as you could imagine displaces water and has a pointed bow to cut through the water much like a kayak. There are advantages and best uses for both.
If you've ever rented a paddle board you more than likely were on a planing board. They are the best choice for a first board for several reasons such as versatility, availability, durability and price. The planing board will accommodate flat water as well as small surf. You can find them at most sporting good stores or on line. They are generally made from a durable plastic or fiberglass.
The size of your board will depend on those who will be using it and the type of water. I'm here in the midwest so I'm going to assume you will be on flatwater and speak with that in mind. The primary user of the board should consider a few options. First option, will there be a secondary user? Your board should be large enough to accommodate the largest user. A small person can always enjoy a larger board, but a larger person will have difficulty on a smaller board.
A typical starting length is 10'6" with a width around 30-32". Check out the specs of each board to narrow down your search. Width, length, thickness and volume should be common information. A typical board for most people will be 10'6" long and about 31" wide. Most of these boards are around 4" thick.
*The thicker and the larger volume, the more buoyant the board will be.
*The wider the board is, the more stable it will be.
*The longer the board, the straighter it will track.
If you're interested in casual group events and maybe YOGA on your board, a wide and buoyant board would suit you best. The length will depend on your limitations for storage, portage and transport. A longer board will be more stable than a short board but it will also be heavier and take up more room in your garage...or living room wall.
If you're into FITNESS, you want to go fast, paddle in rough water or there's a possibility that you might take your board on long adventures, maybe a 340 mile adventure down the Missouri river, then you might want a displacement hull board that is 12-14' long.
When choosing a board you'll want to consider the material it's made of. Your choice will be either plastic or fiberglass. The plastic boards will be heavier but so much more durable. If kids will be using the board I would recommend the plastic board. A fiberglass board will be susceptible to cracking if dinged and need to be patched with an epoxy resin before water gets into the board.
If you'll be sharing the board or possibly taking on a passenger, a dog, child or second person, consider the total or max weight on the board at one time and compare that number to the provided manufacture specifications.
For my first board I chose a displacement hull board from Boardworks because I'm more likely to race the board than do yoga on it. The board is very stable and has a displacement of 290 liters and a max weight capacity of 300 pounds. This is more than I need but it'll allow me to take a friend across the lake for a picnic on a nice summer evening. :)
Cheers and happy paddling!!
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