FLAT WATER FUN

It's super cool to see my son having a good time on the SUP board. We go up to our cabin in the Sierras every summer and since the SUP boards have come around I look forward to the trips even more. The boards on the lake have added a whole new reason to head for the hills.

Good old dayz

It's hard to believe that 3 years ago can be called the good old days but in the case of SUP boarding it is the case! Sure the sport has been around for a hundred years or something like that but the modern, surf style SUP board is still new. 3 years ago when you went out on your SUP board it was still a novelty to all the prone surfers. I even think they thought it was cool. Imagine that! The pics above were from a road trip we took to San Onofre around 2 and a half or 3 years ago. We would hook up with Ron House and grab the SUP boards we ordered 6 weeks before and bring friends with us that wanted to meet Ron House and order their SUP boards. They would order the boards and 6 weeks later we would pack up and do another road trip. Damn that was fun!

BlueLine Quiver

These are my 3 SUP board sizes ranging from the 10'2" noserider to the 11' all around board. I use the 10' when I am not on my Naish boards. You can see on the roof of my van the two Naish SUP boards. I love all my boards and it is always tough to decide the board for the day. The funny thing is I have even more SUP boards in my back yard. I think it's time to sell a few.

Top secret spanker with fins?

Check out this paddle with fins! Is this the new way to go? I'll have to find out how it works and post the results.

BlueLine

During all the hulabalo over the weekend about everyone else's SUP boards I did find the time to pick up one of my BlueLine SUP boards from the glasser. It's 10'2' and was designed with nose riding in mind. Doing my own SUP boards is more of a hobby than anything. Things could change but the local custom SUP board shapers are always going to be far behind the big name pop-out SUP boards. You just can't compete with these guys that have had factories in Asia for years doing all their windsurfing equipment. The material and labor cost alone on a local custom EPS- epoxy board is outrageous! One hates to go to china but I can't say that I blame them when the same board can be done at a fraction of the price. All that being said I really enjoy doing my custom SUP boards on the side and you can't beat the feel of a REAL surfboard under your feet.

SHORT AND PHAT

I think the star of Wardogs demo yesterday was the StarBoard 9' footer. This snappy little number floats like a 12' footer. I paddled it around and you would never know it was only 9' feet. Boards are getting shorter and shorter. I have a Naish 9'6" coming early summer and I can't wait to get my hands on it now!

Also, Im not sure how WarDog got his nickname. All the WarDogs I have known in the past have tattoos of pitbulls and rebel flags on their arms. Santa Barbara WarDog is one of the most easygoing guys you will ever meet so what's the story Warren?

SANTA BARBARA SUP DEMO

Santa Barbara is quickly becoming the SUP mecca of California. Warren- aka "WarDog"- and Debby, owners of Surfing Sports had another successful demo at Ledbetter Beach today under hot sunny skies. Their demos are a great way to come out and try lots of different SUP boards. I rode three different boards today. I don't know of anyone else that can offer up something like this. They had just about every SUP board you could imagine! You guys down south really need to drive up next time he has a demo. Great fun hanging out at the beach with SUP friends.

WORD !!

Naish SUP video clip

If you didn't check it out yet go to http://www.naishsurfing.com/ for some big wave SUP surfing. Just go to the surfing videos and see Robby Naish on a couple of GIANT waves about half way through the video clip. Well..... anything looks giant compared to our mellow waves in Santa Barbara but I think you will agree that these are some of the biggest waves surfed on a SUP board. OUT.

DON'T BE A SUP KOOK

Calling all SUP surfers. Please don't be a kook. I love standup paddle boarding and don't want to see the sport get a bad rap. I can't tell you how many times I see guys on SUP boards paddle out into the lineup and just reek havoc on the surfers. I mean they just paddle out right through the line up with no regard for the guys already there and just kook it up. I am embarrassed for them and for me as a paddle boarder. Please, if you don't know how to surf, stay away from the waves until you know the rules. I decided Sunday when I was out on my SUP board that I am going to start calling these guys on their bad decisions in the lineup. I encourage you all to do the same. These boards are way too big for a non-surfer to jump in the lineup. Someone is going to get hurt. Thanks and let's all do our part to keep this sport safe and fun.