tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32244024840406011502024-03-13T10:08:13.819-07:00Stand Up Paddle Vermontjasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-50406500065882606192019-05-31T20:14:00.000-07:002019-06-01T18:49:08.843-07:00Ready to spread my wings<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Any objective evaluation of windsurfing would leave someone
itching to try it: cruising across a body of water on wind power, leaning to
increase speed, carving turns to change direction, getting air, easily
launching and returning to the same beach … It was an astounding innovation
back in the late 1900s that captured the imagination of a majority of surf and
ski bums.</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Windsurfing was my summer passion as an East Coast skier
(well, that and <a href="http://paddlesurfchamplain.com/Blading.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">rollerblading</span></a>). I acquired some second-hand gear — all
ensnarled in ropes, battens, footstraps and skegs — and, armed with a copy
of “Zen and the Art of Windsurfing,” set out to set sail.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqSy64iaCGs/XPHnfgy4yVI/AAAAAAAAAr0/SEeIxQTzb047qgh5VbvxO-OvfoRJY4z0ACLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2BWingsurfer%2Bzen.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="859" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqSy64iaCGs/XPHnfgy4yVI/AAAAAAAAAr0/SEeIxQTzb047qgh5VbvxO-OvfoRJY4z0ACLcBGAs/s320/Blog%2BWingsurfer%2Bzen.tiff" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Zen and the Art of Windsurfing"</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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Windsuring is tricky to learn, but the payoff is huge.
Gliding out and back to the center of lakes, getting faster, learning to carve
— it was super addicting. I was rigged up and ready whenever the conditions
were right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But it takes commitment. You are constantly checking the
wind forecast and busting through a pretty lengthy rigging process to get
yourself in position to participate. Sometimes you’ve loaded up the car and
roof rack with all the requisite gear, and the wind dies on your drive to the
beach. Sometimes you’ve unpacked the gear on the beach and are rigging your
sail, and it dies. And unlike skiing, where you can always take some runs even
if the conditions are not as good as hoped, if the wind dies, there is no
windsurfing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was living in Colorado when my windsurf gear and I became
separated. The Rocky Mountains are no windsurfing haven, and my interest in the
sport had deteriorated to the point where, as I was moving from one home to
another, I just left the gear in a crawl space and didn’t even realize it until
there was essentially no way to go back and get it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I arrived in Vermont in 2007, I knew Lake Champlain to
be a prime windsurfing spot. But I also had become pretty committed to
simplicity in my outdoor pursuits. That’s when Stand Up Paddleboarding made its
march eastward from the Pacific, and I began plying Vermont and Lake Champlain
by SUP. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The simplicity of Stand Up is one of its biggest draws. Just
a board and a paddle, and you are out exploring shoreline, popping over waves
and getting ensconced in an extraordinary environment that is so different from
the landscape of our daily lives.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s why, when Robby Naish — a Hawaiian windsurfing legend
with an authentic, eponymous water sports brand — announced the launch this
spring of the new <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Naish Wing Sufer, it
totally captured my imagination. This is windsurfing, but, as Naish puts it,
with “no strings attached” — sweet simplicity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gziZkxJjUNw/XPHoGlKF2_I/AAAAAAAAAsE/LmdxPZJVJnMGh1fuXXXKB3ubdx_fRJT6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Blog%2Bwingsurfer.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gziZkxJjUNw/XPHoGlKF2_I/AAAAAAAAAsE/LmdxPZJVJnMGh1fuXXXKB3ubdx_fRJT6ACLcBGAs/s320/Blog%2Bwingsurfer.tiff" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No strings attached! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a few great things going on here: One, there are
no ropes or rigging, just a few minute pump to inflate the lead edge of the
sail. Two, it's super-light. And three, YOU CAN USE IT WITH A STAND UP BOARD!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This will be easiest way for people to taste the thrill of water-wind
sports. Paddleboards are wide and stable and can float almost anyone, whether moving
or not. If there’s a breeze, and you add the wing, step back into the sweet
spot on the board and lean back, you take off! Using a paddleboard means you
can wing surf in light winds, then step it up into bigger winds as you progress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQgJupaQubU&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">video</span></a> Naish put out in May.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For paddleboarders, this is going to spice things up quite a
bit, yet keep us in our comfort zone in a way that windsurfing and kiteboarding
can’t. Now, excuse me while I check the wind forecast.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-69362315092893301932018-04-04T12:12:00.003-07:002018-04-09T09:31:37.233-07:00Downwind Dreams for 2018<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do you ever feel like it’s getting windier?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wind can kind of fly under the radar in weather discussions.
Forecasters rarely talk about it in any context other than windchill. And unless
you fly planes or harvest wind energy professionally, it’s probably the last
element you think about when checking on the next day's weather. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But wind has a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">huge</i>
effect on our outdoor experiences. And with global warming whipping up
stronger storms, it stands to reason that worldwide wind speeds are on the
rise. This means the guilty pleasure of a more radical playground for people
who ride boards on water.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROXcytNOLko/WsUi4sPe4sI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/AC8u-k9BCD8oPHXs2kHHT2ri_j0ba3pNQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROXcytNOLko/WsUi4sPe4sI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/AC8u-k9BCD8oPHXs2kHHT2ri_j0ba3pNQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_3779.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paddleboarders sometimes overlook wind when dreaming up ways
to enjoy the sport. But “downwinders” are an essential SUP genre — a
challenging yet accessible opportunity to sample the surfing glide on lakes and
rivers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lake Champlain’s wind comes primarily from the South. This
means excellent downwind runs from places like Shelburne and Charlotte into
Burlington, or simply across the downtown waterfront from Oakledge Park to
North Beach. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are two ways to accomplish a downwinder: 1) Do a two-car
shuttle, driving paddlers in one car to an upwind put-in while leaving the other car at your starting point, paddling with the wind back to the starting point, then
driving back to get the second car. Or 2), hug the shoreline as you huff it on
an upwind paddle as far as you can make it, then turn back downwind and enjoy
the return trip. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rG6kCiob7Y/WsUi9qZxb7I/AAAAAAAAAnY/sOVXF0sVLqY4zGI_2KL-l2cEhQzYMQN0gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/gallery-georges-cronsteadt-gorge-downwind-sup-sic-maui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1rG6kCiob7Y/WsUi9qZxb7I/AAAAAAAAAnY/sOVXF0sVLqY4zGI_2KL-l2cEhQzYMQN0gCK4BGAYYCw/s320/gallery-georges-cronsteadt-gorge-downwind-sup-sic-maui.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sensation of paddling along a conveyer belt of windswept
waves — as high as 5 feet on the windiest days on Lake Champlain — is
second to none. It requires focus, balance, footwork and timing. You take a couple quick strokes, then
glide … over and over, each wave propelling you dozens of feet as you step back
on your board, then leaving you behind to catch the next one. There’s always a
next one when a strong wind is at your back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So get your car shuttle partners lined up, keep your antennae up for windy conditions and add downwinders to your paddleboarding plans for 2018!</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-34678399861216863802017-05-15T19:51:00.001-07:002017-05-18T18:29:53.010-07:006 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a Paddleboard<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDXIW9Awj_Q/WR5KgNi-RCI/AAAAAAAAAlo/rtPamyMYLZkbNoidfkICy31PTnm-7lxggCK4B/s1600/DSCN0491%2Bcopy%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDXIW9Awj_Q/WR5KgNi-RCI/AAAAAAAAAlo/rtPamyMYLZkbNoidfkICy31PTnm-7lxggCK4B/s400/DSCN0491%2Bcopy%2B2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14523" style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14527" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14526" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14525" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> If you’ve ever had a good time on a stand up paddleboard</span>, odds are the thought of having one of your own has crossed your mind. And since it's paddleboard-buying season here in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, this is my advice, after nearly a decade of riding every style of stand up board there is, about what to ask yourself before buying a board. </span></span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14531" style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14530" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14529" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14528" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">1) HOW WILL I BE USING THE BOARD?</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14532" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> SUP began as a way to catch waves, but here in Vermont, most people think of it as a way to tour flatwater lakes and rivers. If you have visions of catching waves with your board, think surf-style shapes (shorter, wider boards with round noses). If you are into fitness, speed and covering a lot of miles on flatwater tours, think lake shapes (longer, narrow boards with pointed noses). There are also river specific boards for running whitewater, but that’s kind of a niche.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14535" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> MY ADVICE: </span>Surf-style boards are more affordable and more versatile. Unless you plan long flatwater tours or getting into racing, go with a surf-style shape.</span></span></span><img height="211" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14533" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b84cdcd18d69908402eda38df/images/7179da84-e209-4b24-b875-61ec617de62e.jpg" style="margin: 0px; min-height: 169px; outline: none;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14567" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14569" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">2) </span><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14566" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">IS IT FOR MULTIPLE PEOPLE, OR JUST ONE?</span></span><br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14563" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> Consider the size of each potential rider if you are buying for a family or group. It’s always best to err on the side of a bigger board. Lighter people don’t sacrifice too much on a bigger board, but a small board is a non-starter for bigger people.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14568" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14575" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> MY ADVICE: </span>For riders weighing 120 pounds or less, look at 9-foot-6 to 10-foot boards. For riders between 120 and 175, look at 10-foot-6 to 11-foot boards. For riders between 175 and 225, look for 11-foot to 12-foot boards. For riders over 225, the width of the board will be the biggest stability factor. Look for an 11-12 foot board that is at least 33-35 inches wide.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14577" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14576" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">3) HOW IMPORTANT TO ME IS THE WEIGHT OF THE BOARD?</span></span><br />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14578" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"> The ideal board weight is between 25 and 35 pounds. Any board that weighs more than 35 pounds can get rather cumbersome on longer walks from your car to the beach. Also check out the type of handle or hand-hold the board has. Make sure it feels good in your hand. Even if you can’t demo the board on water, you’ll at least want to pick it up under arm before buying it.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14581" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> MY ADVICE</span>: Get a board that weighs less than 35 pounds that you can easily walk short distances with and hoist onto a car roof rack.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: lora, georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14583" style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14582" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">4) WHAT ABOUT INFLATABLES?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><img align="center" height="176" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14579" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b84cdcd18d69908402eda38df/images/db84da76-2e44-4a84-a946-1249af25b395.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(8, 8, 8); margin: 0px; min-height: 176px; outline: none; width: 400px;" width="400" /></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> Inflatables have their place, but I don’t recommend them for a lake like Champlain or any water that ever gets choppy or wavy. They are OK for slow rivers or calm ponds. They are easy to deflate and travel with but take about 10 minutes to pump up. You sacrifice a lot in glide on an inflatable board, and they get bounced around in choppier water.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> MY ADVICE</span>: Stay away from inflatables unless you really can’t store or travel with a traditional board.</span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14670" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14669" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">5) WHAT ABOUT DURABILITY?</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> The vast majority of paddleboards are made with a fiberglass/epoxy shell and a foam core. These can and do get dinged, but they are easily repaired. More durable plastic boards are heavy, and cheaper all-foam boards can get chunks ripped out of them with no good repair options.</span></span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14668" style="color: #656565; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14667" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: black;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14666" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> MY ADVICE</span>: Get a fiberglass/epoxy board, try not to ding it, and patch it quickly if you do.</span></span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" /><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; color: #656565; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14479" style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14478" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14665" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 16px;"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14664" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;">6) SHOULD I CONSIDER A USED BOARD?</span></span><br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14477" style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"> Used boards are hard to find, because most people who have bought a paddleboard have done so in the last five years and aren’t looking to give it up. If you do find yourself looking at a used board, there are a few things to check out.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Is it dinged up, and if so, are the dings repaired at least moderately well? If dings go unrepaired, water will get into the foam core. A tell tale sign of this is if the board feels heavier than it should for its size.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> Also, check out the fin and finbox and make sure everything down there is in working order.<br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"> <br style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;" /> MY ADVICE</span>: If you can find a used board that’s not excessively dinged up or waterlogged for under $500, jump on it.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; clear: left; float: left; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="center" alt="" class="yiv9820477626mcnImage" height="125" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1494881195000_14700" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/b84cdcd18d69908402eda38df/images/6651dbcb-57d9-4c3f-acdb-11c94ae3f379.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: inline; max-width: 1044px; outline: none; overflow-x: auto; padding-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="400" /></span><span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-family: "lora" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
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jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-40781700012242913562016-06-01T13:43:00.000-07:002016-06-03T09:09:56.007-07:00Cross Country Surfing!?<style>
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<span style="color: #073763;">I think we can all agree that skiing and surfing are
siblings — the original extreme sports and ancient sources of stoke. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">I think we can also all agree that cross country is an indispensible
part of skiing, expanding participation, making it a mode of travel in addition
to an adrenaline pursuit, and leading to alpine touring and mountaineering. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YoJ5EbcaUs/V09Gvn2Kp_I/AAAAAAAAAjo/n1t1de9U72YEMYDO4-It8aSIEGFLMbg5QCLcB/s1600/upflow-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3YoJ5EbcaUs/V09Gvn2Kp_I/AAAAAAAAAjo/n1t1de9U72YEMYDO4-It8aSIEGFLMbg5QCLcB/s320/upflow-2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">That’s why it is so fitting that Stand Up Paddling has come
along. Surfing now has its cross country component, a feeder that opens the sport
up to literally every body of water.</span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;">
</span><span style="color: #073763;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">So if you’re ever looking for a way to describe SUP to your
friends, parents or the otherwise uninitiated, take them back to their grade
school days with an A is to B as C is to D statement. This works especially well
in Vermont, a mountain-lake state with an ingrained alpine culture.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Q: Downhill skiing is to cross country skiing as surfing is to:</i></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #073763;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A: Stand Up
Paddleboarding!</i></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763;">
</span><span style="color: #073763;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">SUP opens surfing’s door to flatwater exploration, and if
you’ve ever been SUP surfing, you know it’s a perfect ocean equivalent to
alpine touring through the mountains. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avQB_BB3lkc/V09HFGVqVtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/jdsp2S-En-cNmx9qAytNwc_P3d4jHmRhACLcB/s1600/Laird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avQB_BB3lkc/V09HFGVqVtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/jdsp2S-En-cNmx9qAytNwc_P3d4jHmRhACLcB/s320/Laird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;">We can’t surf in Vermont, except when the onshore lake winds kick up — which is not uncommon and can be super fun. But we sure can
Cross Country Surf.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEv3EiHXZrA/V1GrbkNSc5I/AAAAAAAAAkc/HyYVOSJcF8I2QtdeisX6oAJpd_ZEXVUSwCLcB/s1600/Flyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEv3EiHXZrA/V1GrbkNSc5I/AAAAAAAAAkc/HyYVOSJcF8I2QtdeisX6oAJpd_ZEXVUSwCLcB/s320/Flyer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-18391265159644714572014-07-06T18:21:00.000-07:002015-03-13T09:49:58.015-07:00Vermont SUPsets<style>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Of all the reasons Stand Up Paddling makes so much sense in
Vermont — our abundant waterways, our human-powered ethos, our board-riding
culture — the quality of Lake Champlain sunsets is the most vivid.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Something just feels right about standing up for the setting
sun — paddle idle at your hip, facing west. It's a like salute to the cosmos.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-10g0OJaCPVY/U7nw_6E10II/AAAAAAAAAiI/iBonauIqA_Q/s1600/oceanEDIT_635x250_1403016921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-10g0OJaCPVY/U7nw_6E10II/AAAAAAAAAiI/iBonauIqA_Q/s1600/oceanEDIT_635x250_1403016921.jpg" height="125" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">I’m grateful that when those oranges and pinks start to mix
before dusk that it’s all happening over an Adirondack backdrop. And if you’re
out far enough on the lake, the dark purple of night that hangs over the Green
Mountains becomes visible to the East, with a rising moon floating above the
ridgelines.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The SUP media landscape (yes, there is such a thing) is obsessed with silhouetted SUP'ers standing in front of the setting sun. I suppose it derives from paddleboarding's surfing roots (this iconic "Endless Summer" movie poster is exhibit A). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">But I’ll put our SUP sunsets up against any
West Coast or Pacific island backdrop.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">If there was any doubt that Vermonters belong on
paddleboards, there is always affirmation at about 8 p.m. in the middle
of Lake Champlain on a calm day in July.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Paddle on!</span></span></div>
jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-70476015400700709402014-06-11T08:04:00.000-07:002014-06-11T08:14:03.970-07:00'A slight chance' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">I had the occasion to meet meteorologist Steve Glazier from
the local FOX affiliate this week and give him some feedback on summer weather
forecasting from a paddleboarder’s perspective.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">I got my snide jab out of the way first, mimicking him and
his colleagues in Lt. Frank Drebin tones: “Okay, we have a 40 percent chance of
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, but there’s only a 10 percent chance
of that.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Then things got serious. Meteorologists have been relying on
percentages so long that they’ve lost sight of how little value they offer. As
a Lake Champlain person, you can’t do much with a “40 percent chance of …” forecast,
especially if it’s more than 12 hours out.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Steve acknowledged this, as well as the general shortcomings
of forecasting through audio/visual media — the flashing lightning bolt graphic
that is displayed when there is a slight chance of thunderstorms offering a
prime example of the disconnect between reality and covering your bases. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Being surprised on the lake by a pop-up lightning storm is
no joke, and meteorologists have an important role to play in helping us avoid
that. But some phrases should never be uttered, like: “there is a slight chance
of a passing shower.” Really, don't bother. We’ll see it coming. We’ll experience it as it
passes by, and we’ll enjoy the calm lifting clouds on the other side.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">So I offered a suggestion. Keep the computer-generated
percentages to yourself, and if it’s less than a 40 percent chance of precip,
just say: “Showers and thunderstorms are unlikely.”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">It’s positive. It’s accurate. I really think I got through to Steve
on this.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">But he had a counter.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">“How about, ‘Showers unlikely — but possible,’” he said.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Redundant? Yes, but I’ll take it. There's even a slight chance he'll use it on the air.</span></span></span>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-42564839489073551152014-05-14T18:43:00.002-07:002014-05-15T06:45:07.666-07:00The Spring Mendoza Line<style>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><b>Sixty degrees</b>. That’s the magic mercury,
for both water and air.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">After the typical Vermont freeze, when
the strength of sun becomes noticeable on your cheeks, it’s not until the air reaches 60 that you first feel free of winter’s
clutch. Sixty degrees brings the toes out to wiggle in sandals and reveals legs
all around us after so many months of mandatory pants.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">For Vermont Stand Up Paddlers, that first
60-degree day starts the clock ticking to the moment you’ll hear the slap of
your board hitting the water for the first time in the New Year.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the ski season strong, thoughts shifting to leis and the Lake</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">This was an especially chilly winter as
far as recent memory goes — although typical by Vermont folkloric standards.
Lake Champlain froze completely for the first time in ten years. March was cold.
April was cool, cloudy. May has been all over the place, but decidedly not warm.
The last patches of mountain snow are just now dispersing into creeks and
tumbling toward the valley.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Water temps in Lake Champlain remain in
the upper 40s …</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuTx_vAxAF8/U3QWK1KsM4I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/4D5YmZIJKS0/s1600/Jason+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuTx_vAxAF8/U3QWK1KsM4I/AAAAAAAAAhQ/4D5YmZIJKS0/s1600/Jason+3.JPG" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry suits and jackets — spring in Vermont</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But they are rising toward 60! — that
next plateau in our SUP season.</span></span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> Sixty degree water marks an unofficial beginning to the
Lake Champlain summer. It’s when Stand Up Paddling in Vermont can be
what Stand Up Paddling is meant to be.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">This is a Hawaiian sport, rooted in surfing. It's brought a real connection to that sunny
spirit of Aloha to the Green Mountain State. We have no doubt added our twists,
donning dry suits to play with
ice chunks on the Winooski River in March and pushing early season outings on Lake Champlain.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But as much as we can gear up for some guerilla
spring SUPing, the sport goes best with summer days and sunset colors. That
iconic surf vision of running over sand toward water with a board under
your arm can only happen in-season.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And it all starts at 60 degrees.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Behind schedule perhaps, but it's coming ...</span></span>
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jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-62840782804350128442013-10-05T13:02:00.003-07:002013-10-05T13:06:43.164-07:00September to Remember<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="color: #073763;">As season-enders go, September 2013 with its Colorado-like
stretches of dry and warm days mixed with Vermont splashes of fall color proved
spectacular. Oh, there were some blustery 58-degree days in there too, mostly
early September. But then …</span></span></span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>ahhhh</i></span></div>
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<i>One of the 58-degree-ers</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>Mid- AND Late-September</i></div>
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<i>The Middlebury Men's and Women's Ski Team - preseason training</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Word from the southeast is that the typical Atlantic swell
season has been consistent, if not huge. There’s nothing like that setting sun warming your face in the late afternoon on the ocean. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Helloooo October ...</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-76231124944170721412013-08-27T12:42:00.001-07:002013-08-27T12:42:21.608-07:00Hoop Dreams
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Where to begin after so many great weeks of SUP in Vermont?</div>
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How about with hooping!?</div>
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<br /></div>
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If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Stand Up
Paddleboarding, it’s that whatever people love to do on land, they are finding
that they also love to it do on a paddleboard. Yoga, Hula hooping, being with your
dog … It’s all happening on boards. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We combined forces with the super-talented Green Mountain
Hoop Troupe about mid-season and, well, the results speak for themselves.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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In other news, summer is not over. Paddle on, Vermont!</div>
jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-35879595754607348512013-06-04T19:28:00.001-07:002013-08-27T12:37:40.027-07:00Island Life in Vermont<style>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span>t didn’t take long after I moved to Vermont that I was
presented with the reality of the Champlain Islands. You’re telling me
there exists an archipelago on Lake Champlain that borders Quebec, New York and Vermont's mainland with hundreds of miles of shoreline and a quiet, lush
landscape that is just 20 miles from downtown Burlington and is
affectionately called “The Islands” by northern Vermonters?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Well, color me enthralled.</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xuqxesqO5w/Ua6cSktPhKI/AAAAAAAAAcE/nv-Wl4s4TlE/s1600/IMG_6966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4xuqxesqO5w/Ua6cSktPhKI/AAAAAAAAAcE/nv-Wl4s4TlE/s320/IMG_6966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The Champlain Islands’ gravitational pull has tugged me ever
since. The whole concept of a series of island towns lying in a sunny sovereign
zone amid the Champlain waters captured my imagination. When I
starting exploring Vermont on a Stand Up Paddleboard, a visit to the Champlain
Islands was tops on the list. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> It’s taken a while, but we finally pulled off a trip to the
island town of North Hero last week, launching from City Bay with a view of Knight Island State Park in the near-ground and Vermont’s highest peak, Mount Mansfield,
above in the distance.</span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAZl8pSj5Sc/Ua6gHKv77qI/AAAAAAAAAc8/QcuttciiZXA/s1600/IMG_6931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAZl8pSj5Sc/Ua6gHKv77qI/AAAAAAAAAc8/QcuttciiZXA/s320/IMG_6931.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9bTeldMVpM/Ua6diN7YO_I/AAAAAAAAAcU/1W0GZAJDM5U/s1600/IMG_6925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l9bTeldMVpM/Ua6diN7YO_I/AAAAAAAAAcU/1W0GZAJDM5U/s320/IMG_6925.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting out toward Hibbard Point east of North Hero</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> One unique aspect of paddling here is that, while you are in
Vermont, you are looking east, toward the Green Mountains. The rest of
Vermont’s Champlain shoreline faces west offering New York Adirondack views. The
islands offer those too, but we launched from an east-facing bay and had the
northern part of the Green Mountain State as a backdrop.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GF2x-lB8mPo/Ua6e8XGijNI/AAAAAAAAAck/sULesCw7jm4/s1600/IMG_6940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GF2x-lB8mPo/Ua6e8XGijNI/AAAAAAAAAck/sULesCw7jm4/s320/IMG_6940.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Island Hopping ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> With water being such a huge part of the Vermont Island
lifestyle, Stand Up Paddleboarding is poised to be as big a hit here as it has
become everywhere else. Why not? Island-hopping on a paddleboard, endless
shorelines, lush greenery, mountain views, coves and bays. SUP was seemingly
made for this place.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The North Hero House Inn is starting things off with a
program of Stand Up Paddleboard rentals, lessons and guided tours. Check out
this uber-romantic Vermont spot at <a href="http://www.northherohouse.com/">www.northherohouse.com</a>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnyUn0kSXQ4/Ua6fTf5scDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/yka5-n7SChY/s1600/IMG_6946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnyUn0kSXQ4/Ua6fTf5scDI/AAAAAAAAAcs/yka5-n7SChY/s320/IMG_6946.JPG" width="320" /> </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkjuHMGzaxc/Ua6iBjQLZZI/AAAAAAAAAdM/7zFpQ9JS-Js/s1600/IMG_6929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkjuHMGzaxc/Ua6iBjQLZZI/AAAAAAAAAdM/7zFpQ9JS-Js/s320/IMG_6929.JPG" width="320" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">See you on the water ... </span></div>
<br />jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-10151180855152696662012-11-11T09:24:00.001-08:002012-11-11T09:24:49.725-08:00Past Peak Paddleboarding<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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Our quest to couple that quintessential Vermont foliage
scene with the fresh perspective of Stand Up Paddling took us to Milton, Vt.,
of all places this October. There’s a dam there on the Lamoille River that
creates Arrowhead Lake — typically a duck hunters' paradise, but we opened
it up to SUP this year (dodging bird decoys, camouflaged boats and dudes with
guns hiding in the brush — and fortunately no bullets).</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NaidchjXAzk/UJ_bMwVchbI/AAAAAAAAAa4/ypPStVKMpcA/s1600/IMG_6231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NaidchjXAzk/UJ_bMwVchbI/AAAAAAAAAa4/ypPStVKMpcA/s320/IMG_6231.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The Mist of Milton Falls</b></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Yep, hunting season on the lake coincides with the color
changes. Only slightly daunted, we took a handful of trips to these backwaters
and found some sweet glassy water to lay down a foundation for the Tai Chi
S.U.P. discipline we are developing (why should Yogis have all the mindfulness
paddleboarding fun?) as well as various skies of blue, gray and mist. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pnpje3pWEPg/UJ_bvoF5ebI/AAAAAAAAAbA/PybN3TTmi-8/s1600/IMG_6391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pnpje3pWEPg/UJ_bvoF5ebI/AAAAAAAAAbA/PybN3TTmi-8/s320/IMG_6391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDeksZOjYw/UJ_b48VhffI/AAAAAAAAAbI/bZ2K3YSi1oI/s1600/IMG_6424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2LDeksZOjYw/UJ_b48VhffI/AAAAAAAAAbI/bZ2K3YSi1oI/s320/IMG_6424.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>TAI CHI S.U.P. (it rhymes, and is awesome)</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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We missed the height of a brilliant foliage season for
various reasons, but nonetheless had some great late-season outings — both
pre-peak and post-peak.</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpJdJgG7OY4/UJ_cuOiwDrI/AAAAAAAAAbY/VL8H7cHNk5w/s1600/IMG_6402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpJdJgG7OY4/UJ_cuOiwDrI/AAAAAAAAAbY/VL8H7cHNk5w/s320/IMG_6402.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>In the foreground there, that's where the hunters hang out</b></span></td></tr>
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So the peak SUPFoliage quest will continue for another
cycle. Meantime, we’ll see you during mandatory wetsuit season, or when we pick
it up again in the spring. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agUIyBsf45s/UJ_eG1KExqI/AAAAAAAAAbo/XXqvA2Hohtk/s1600/IMG_6242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-agUIyBsf45s/UJ_eG1KExqI/AAAAAAAAAbo/XXqvA2Hohtk/s320/IMG_6242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aloha,</div>
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— Jason</div>
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jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-42555609799619987462012-09-05T09:41:00.002-07:002012-09-05T09:41:38.280-07:00Odds and (summer) ends<h4>
Let's pretend this post was written Aug. 5 instead of Sept. 5, when we really should be doing a summer wrap-up, mmmkay?<br /> We'll keep it brief, just a few newsworthy notes from the middle of another outstanding Stand Up Paddleboarding season in Vermont. </h4>
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<h2>
The first Vermont-made paddleboard produced</h2>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1iEg0AB38eI/UEd2-H9HUQI/AAAAAAAAAZs/UML2skeB3fg/s1600/IMG_6023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1iEg0AB38eI/UEd2-H9HUQI/AAAAAAAAAZs/UML2skeB3fg/s320/IMG_6023.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
You have witnessed the birth of Champlain Boards. More on this to come in a future post and on the <a href="http://www.paddlesurfchamplain.com/" target="_blank">Paddlesurf Champlain website</a>.</div>
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<h2>
Stand Up for the Lake festival on tap</h2>
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All hands in Vermont's burgeoning SUPculture are on deck for this one. It's the fourth annual and there will be so much more going on than in year's past. Always an awesome event.</div>
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<h2>
Now and then (surf skiing-style)</h2>
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And we thought we invented it :)</div>
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See you all standing on the water ...</div>
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jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-72141792523499675062012-06-27T19:13:00.000-07:002012-06-27T19:13:10.429-07:00Junely in Vermont<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">J</span>une has felt so much like July this year in Vermont it's getting hard to tell them apart. See that ... And it’s
not just the stretch of mid-90s heat. SUP boarders have gotten out <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">early</i> this year on Lake Champlain. In
fact, we may have a new normal as far as when Stand Up season starts in the
Green Mountains. Which is great.</div>
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In addition to the Lake, the Winooski River and the
Waterbury Reservoir have also been hotspots for Vermont Paddleboarders so far
this year.</div>
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With the summer weather receded and a refreshing stretch of
much-needed rain now rolling through the Green Mountains, we have a little
opportunity to slow down and catch up. And gear up for the real thing.</div>
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A glimpse of what went on this spring:</div>
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<b>The Wednesday Night SUP’er Club launched, with a growing group gathering for weekly Wednesday night SUP trips in and around the Burlington area.</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>The Waterbury Reservior hosted the Vermont Paddleboard
Festival</b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8WG4cOhkuK8/T-u8fF1S7UI/AAAAAAAAAZM/pACskYi-KbQ/s1600/314822_10150901643602338_1265334499_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8WG4cOhkuK8/T-u8fF1S7UI/AAAAAAAAAZM/pACskYi-KbQ/s320/314822_10150901643602338_1265334499_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p>Photo courtesy Umiak Outdoor Outfitters of Stowe </o:p></div>
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<b>And we opened our spot at Oakledge Park for the new season of
instruction, tours and rentals (and a board sale or two …)</b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EXaIoYDBIFI/T-u87DPEkqI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Imw-olJa6XQ/s1600/Instruction+gopro+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EXaIoYDBIFI/T-u87DPEkqI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Imw-olJa6XQ/s320/Instruction+gopro+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is on. Stand up and get it.</span></h2>
<!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-86102953497171687932012-03-21T17:56:00.004-07:002012-04-09T18:52:22.112-07:00Snow Paddling, or Why I Dusted Off My Carving Board<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8pz5n9duTg/T4OPIA1-pBI/AAAAAAAAAXc/Jwuxd-7-5TU/s1600/_3913330312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 292px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8pz5n9duTg/T4OPIA1-pBI/AAAAAAAAAXc/Jwuxd-7-5TU/s320/_3913330312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729580518773531666" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:21px;" >Back in the early '90s, when snowboarding was really breaking through to the mainstream, there were two types of riders. There were carvers with hard boot set-ups and plate bindings, and there was everyone else.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">History has not been kind to the carvers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">I know because I am one of them, and I will espouse the virtues of the pure, single-track snowboard carve to anyone and everyone. Somewhere along the line, snowboarding as a sport left carving in the dust. At some point the only carving riders out there were the ones competing in slalom and giant slalom races. And now, 2012, I’m not even sure there is a snowboard racing circuit left anymore. You won’t find it in the XGames.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">The carving board I purchased in 1992 was my go-to riding stick for about 12 years. I mostly searched out moderate pitches and groomed courdorouy and just laid turns out. If there was fresh snow (not too deep where the edge couldn’t find the bottom) it was a pinnacle experience.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">I put my carving board away in recent years. And judging by what I see out on the hill, so has everyone else. You can’t find a hard-boot setup, unless, from what I understand, you are in Europe. I don't mind being the “it's really big in Europe” guy, but for whatever reason I stopped taking the carver out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ></span></span></p><div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;" ><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8YGNA32rS4/T4OPUnUgd1I/AAAAAAAAAXo/knrtmzaXISY/s1600/_1004314722.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8YGNA32rS4/T4OPUnUgd1I/AAAAAAAAAXo/knrtmzaXISY/s320/_1004314722.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729580735260555090" border="0" /></a></p></span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16.0pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" >Healside at Jay Peak VT</span></span></span></div><div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16.0pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><br /></span></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >Then came the snow paddle. As a Stand Up Paddle boarder I'm attracted to anything where there's a board on your feet and a stick in your hands. Like other SUP people. That's why land paddles have come out, to give you the SUP feeling on a skateboard. So it was natural - as skateboarding and snowboarding are first cousins - to think about bringing paddles to the snow.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >The thing about snowboarding is, it allows you to do what you can do on a surfboard, times infinity: dozens of turns at a time, enormous airs, busting off a wind lip over and over, reaching highway speeds ... it’s wave-riding unencumbered by the ephemeral nature of the wave.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >With Stand Up Paddling, surfers now have a whole new bag of tricks, the most foundational of which is edging a board heavy for a bottom turn and pushing the paddle blade into the center of the turn for a second point of pressure to lean on. This is why you always see two wakes trailing a Stand Up Paddler shooting down the line on a wave: the wake of the board and the smaller wake of the paddle blade.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >With the snow paddle, this SUP surfing move gets translated to the snow and is unleashed in the way only snowboarding can unleash -with more G-force, more speed and more lean. Being on snow as opposed to water gives you that solid second point of pressure that you can count on.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >I knew the snow paddle and carving snowboard belonged together from the beginning (which was the fall of 2011), but I guess I didn't realize just how much. My plan for my first run on snow with a paddle in my hands was to just focus on the board and round my turn back into shape. But literally the first time I laid the board on edge and my upper body drew closer to the snow, There Was The Paddle, right where it needed to be. I couldn't do anything but lean on it. There was nothing I would rather have done but lean on it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45ea7VUNdbw/T4OPmtmZCPI/AAAAAAAAAX0/hhS8XRDMzZQ/s1600/_5508936755.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45ea7VUNdbw/T4OPmtmZCPI/AAAAAAAAAX0/hhS8XRDMzZQ/s320/_5508936755.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729581046183823602" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16.0pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16px;" ><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16.0pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ></span></span></p></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);">Sinking into the space between two pressure points</span></span></div><div><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16.0pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" ><br /></span></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >When you carve so hard that your hip's kissing the snow then pressure that second point of contact on the inside of your arc, getting your upper body highly involved, you end up suspended for that moment in the Space Between. It is enchanting. Take it from someone who has been on a carving board for years, the snow paddle takes the whole endeavor up a couple notches on the radical-body-angle meter.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >And here's the thing. The slow and quiet death of American carving I really believe was an accident of snowboarding history, fueled mostly by marketability and spectator-friendliness in freestyle snowboarding and the lack of same when it comes to carving and racing.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" >With Stand Up Paddling gaining in popularity like a Western wildfire, I believe snowboarders are about to rediscover The Carve, prompted by the Snow Paddle. And with it in hand, it's going to be better than they ever remember it being.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><i>For more on snow paddling, check out <a href="http://www.snowshift.com/">snowshift.com</a> and <a href="http://www.kahunacreations.com/">kahunacreations.com</a>.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7J7Pmls60CE/T4OP-C1GTFI/AAAAAAAAAYA/nWzoBpEDw4U/s1600/_5540524154.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7J7Pmls60CE/T4OP-C1GTFI/AAAAAAAAAYA/nWzoBpEDw4U/s320/_5540524154.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729581447019646034" border="0" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:16pt;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia,serif;font-size:16px;" >More from a spring day at Jay, VT<br /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9N4wf-uynBU/T4OQG8oFgGI/AAAAAAAAAYM/oF5clkl_14g/s1600/_5698993957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9N4wf-uynBU/T4OQG8oFgGI/AAAAAAAAAYM/oF5clkl_14g/s320/_5698993957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729581599973277794" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8TXli8z_ig/T4OQN0iEO8I/AAAAAAAAAYY/TLbfYpfcyIs/s1600/_2958685818.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8TXli8z_ig/T4OQN0iEO8I/AAAAAAAAAYY/TLbfYpfcyIs/s320/_2958685818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729581718059629506" border="0" /></a></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-18688181784220962822011-11-20T17:06:00.000-08:002011-11-21T08:57:20.847-08:00Still standing<div style="text-align: left;">As much as Vermont’s Indian Summer has bummed out the Skier and Boarderhood — of which we are proud members — it has also turned into a rare and welcome extension of Stand Up Paddle season into November!</div><div><div><div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most autumns, our final paddles of the season are foliage tours. So it was a little strange this year entering the water with the leaves already off the trees. Water temps in the Winooski River were cool at this South Burlington put-in. We enjoyed an initial upriver journey then a serene float over mostly glassy waters into Colchester, with some whitewater bumps along the way. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uibp0lSJzBE/TsmllBuH4MI/AAAAAAAAAVU/mZhcSqzML5Y/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uibp0lSJzBE/TsmllBuH4MI/AAAAAAAAAVU/mZhcSqzML5Y/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677250860812853442" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:78%;"><b>Going upriver over slow water ... Just like being on the lake.</b></span></u></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtefRzHX9oM/TsmmR4bB-vI/AAAAAAAAAVg/u2vh6SO1tHg/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AtefRzHX9oM/TsmmR4bB-vI/AAAAAAAAAVg/u2vh6SO1tHg/s320/IMG_4833.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677251631410969330" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;color:#3333ff;"><u><b>Some rocks to start</b></u><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UELQYt5VGxU/TsmnMvS3KBI/AAAAAAAAAVs/EaH8THXCV7s/s320/IMG_4858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677252642573068306" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huY2L-ihb28/TsmnMm3YUBI/AAAAAAAAAV0/C9dpqnwAhIE/s1600/IMG_4865.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-huY2L-ihb28/TsmnMm3YUBI/AAAAAAAAAV0/C9dpqnwAhIE/s320/IMG_4865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677252640310317074" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYDexaJQ-R4/TsmnoaSM9yI/AAAAAAAAAWE/BfqugqM4Cu0/s1600/IMG_4870.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xYDexaJQ-R4/TsmnoaSM9yI/AAAAAAAAAWE/BfqugqM4Cu0/s320/IMG_4870.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677253117969495842" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><b>That warm Indian Summer sun</b></span></u></span></div><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Forecast calls for snow so this is likely it for SUP in VT in 2011. Bring it on and we’ll see you in the spring.</p> <!--EndFragment--></div></div></div>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-11269829115139685962011-10-01T18:31:00.001-07:002011-10-01T18:42:16.796-07:00Lake Champlain SUP Cup<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wasSBs5q64/Toe_MMpg_3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/DgWF567pE8Y/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--wasSBs5q64/Toe_MMpg_3I/AAAAAAAAAS8/DgWF567pE8Y/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658701673089007474" /></a></div><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">The 2011 Stand Up for the Lake event was the best yet, with a solid field of men, women and kid Stand Up Paddlers coming out to represent for Vermont’s burgeoning SUP community and raise a few thousand bucks for the Community Sailing Center in Burlington.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This was the third year of the event, and it happened to coincide with a national championship USA Triathlon event, but I think we had more fun. Congrats to the O’Brien family, Mike, Deb and kids, who SWEPT all divisions and took home the Lake Champlain SUP CUP.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A pig roast and Luau followed with Russ Scully from The Spot restaurant providing Master of Ceremony services.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We are psyched to see this event grow in the future and be there as Vermont gets on board with the SUP racing movement.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here are some photos from the event (Aug. 20, 2011).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XplvCodh7O0/TofAXXTKWbI/AAAAAAAAATM/Pt-jAK1qLdk/s320/IMG_2362.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658702964438227378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px; " /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Women's winner Deb O'Brien</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--7T8HaPw_DQ/Toe_pil-UCI/AAAAAAAAATE/n5yeJtEMSAg/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658702177195937826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333ff;">Canadians were having a lot of success in the men's field</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUolfNv9Sng/TofAZxmgWuI/AAAAAAAAATc/KS0LfrtWuZ0/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VUolfNv9Sng/TofAZxmgWuI/AAAAAAAAATc/KS0LfrtWuZ0/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658703005858421474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmzEmjD7VVY/TofAXl5Yy7I/AAAAAAAAATU/aVtd6pJGkOI/s1600/IMG_2250.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qmzEmjD7VVY/TofAXl5Yy7I/AAAAAAAAATU/aVtd6pJGkOI/s320/IMG_2250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658702968356654002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); ">The Kiddos</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Photos by Deb and Mike O'Brien</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-240732781443794652011-08-29T18:35:00.001-07:002011-08-29T18:51:38.658-07:00Oh, Irene<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 194px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s320/IMG_4404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646456797227537042" /></a></div> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">We woke up to pounding rains the Sunday that Hurricane Irene (technically a tropical storm at that point) blew through the Champlain Valley. The night before we had been gathering consensus among the SUP crew about when the best window to catch waves would be on the windy lake.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Predictions were for waves in the 5 to 6 foot range. We’d hoped for the wind to build before the rain, but Irene was already raining down heavy at 10 a.m. and blowing only 10 mph. But the waves built quickly, and by noon we joined Mike and his daughter catching 3-footers in an increasing North wind at Oaklegde Park.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXVFo6VCGSk/Tlw-4jxRoNI/AAAAAAAAARg/XwtZyvHcSJw/s1600/IMG_4407.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXVFo6VCGSk/Tlw-4jxRoNI/AAAAAAAAARg/XwtZyvHcSJw/s320/IMG_4407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646457174211272914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';color:#3333ff;">Getting out past the buoys into position was a supreme workout ...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PX4jlrQyGo/Tlw_kZlWmVI/AAAAAAAAARw/yCS3-0SJYdk/s1600/IMG_4420.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PX4jlrQyGo/Tlw_kZlWmVI/AAAAAAAAARw/yCS3-0SJYdk/s320/IMG_4420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646457927391156562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34VbCsUzC7E/Tlw_kPiV4yI/AAAAAAAAARo/6xUEr5w3Z5c/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-34VbCsUzC7E/Tlw_kPiV4yI/AAAAAAAAARo/6xUEr5w3Z5c/s320/IMG_4417.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646457924694172450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXVFo6VCGSk/Tlw-4jxRoNI/AAAAAAAAARg/XwtZyvHcSJw/s1600/IMG_4407.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jenWcim0-0/Tlw-inZWUpI/AAAAAAAAARY/PgfQp0yDqcc/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333ff;">Standing up, not mandatory</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xp_rnzWN7Tc/TlxAkRQylWI/AAAAAAAAAR4/eg5NPTzfB3U/s320/IMG_4419.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646459024669054306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color:#3333ff;" >Mike pulling in, about knee high</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUyodDbeVeo/TlxA1qWUsbI/AAAAAAAAASA/F0tUxWGYPN0/s320/IMG_4421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646459323460923826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Best wishes for a strong recovery for all Vermonters now taking stock after the storm’s floods …</div> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-26455232178765438382011-08-05T09:37:00.000-07:002011-08-05T09:47:11.512-07:00Midseason report<div style="text-align: center;">Here at the halfway point of the 2011 Vermont Stand Up Paddleboarding season, we are happy to report that SUP stoke has reached another level in the Green Mountain State. From kids to baby boomers, members of the media to folks coming in from out of town, people are getting on board, and from where we stand, it seems that something has really taken hold.</div><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0UbETRos-g/TjwdK_aZFLI/AAAAAAAAARI/sXvpaaGLku8/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0UbETRos-g/TjwdK_aZFLI/AAAAAAAAARI/sXvpaaGLku8/s320/IMG_4243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637412908219045042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">And why not … Playing on the rolling waves of Lake Champlain or cruising along on a calm glassy night … Working up a sweat heading out toward the Adirondack peaks or touring along the shoreline in and out of the rocky crags … It’s all so much fun and such a great way to spend the summer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We don’t think there’s any turning back now, so expect to see more and more people on their feet out there on that wide-open orange horizon, or grab a board and be that person yourself.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOCSDSToFJ4/TjwddakFbAI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oRNYZwMJ1kk/s320/P1000128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637413224745102338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">See you in August!</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-567355302396534002011-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:002011-07-05T20:45:13.732-07:00Standing Up for America (on the Fourth)<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W5yU7c6yI4/ThPXQyIkiNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/jZcITO0SS2Q/s1600/IMG_4234.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you tweet long enough you find it hard to string three sentences together. But we're</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> going to try to get back into blog form because July Fourth weekend 2011 was both a celebration of America’s B-day and a celebration of all the great ways to Stand Up Paddle in Vermont — it’s a story that deserves to be told in long form.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lA78KKZHcjU/ThPVKIjOTsI/AAAAAAAAAPM/BOokqgEXY-Y/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lA78KKZHcjU/ThPVKIjOTsI/AAAAAAAAAPM/BOokqgEXY-Y/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626074729586511554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Saturday (July 2) was glorious in the Lake Champlain valley, and there was so much pent up longing for summer after our soaked spring that the water was full of SUP boards, boats and smallcrafts of all kinds</span>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1cPNHl2sAw/ThPVb1lrmkI/AAAAAAAAAPU/X0lQyVYrq1g/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1cPNHl2sAw/ThPVb1lrmkI/AAAAAAAAAPU/X0lQyVYrq1g/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626075033734191682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4ED4dWdhTo/ThPV85p8gWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/fnypzX2ROu0/s320/IMG_4207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626075601761501538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ay1nNzYRdlY/ThPWNeNjFtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/zJ33L90o8r0/s1600/IMG_4198.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ay1nNzYRdlY/ThPWNeNjFtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/zJ33L90o8r0/s320/IMG_4198.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626075886452414162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">We did have some weather delay Sunday and it allowed us and our mascot Manny some down time while the showers passed. We used the time to continue setting up our humble shack/Vermont surf shop for the season. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvmyxTiRisg/ThPWsMMCdgI/AAAAAAAAAPs/pOu-Kwujpvk/s1600/IMG_4217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvmyxTiRisg/ThPWsMMCdgI/AAAAAAAAAPs/pOu-Kwujpvk/s320/IMG_4217.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626076414190188034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ay1nNzYRdlY/ThPWNeNjFtI/AAAAAAAAAPk/zJ33L90o8r0/s1600/IMG_4198.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></p><div style="text-align: center; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7D2e1waCk44/ThPXBNDIzLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/vrG95Ll8t74/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7D2e1waCk44/ThPXBNDIzLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/vrG95Ll8t74/s320/IMG_4224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626076775198543026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7D2e1waCk44/ThPXBNDIzLI/AAAAAAAAAP0/vrG95Ll8t74/s1600/IMG_4224.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvmyxTiRisg/ThPWsMMCdgI/AAAAAAAAAPs/pOu-Kwujpvk/s1600/IMG_4217.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4ED4dWdhTo/ThPV85p8gWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/fnypzX2ROu0/s1600/IMG_4207.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v1cPNHl2sAw/ThPVb1lrmkI/AAAAAAAAAPU/X0lQyVYrq1g/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">The unsettled weather made for an unreal fireworks display over the Burlington skyline as a dry, cloud-to-cloud lightning storm became the backdrop for the annual Burlington fireworks show. It was tremendous and something no one watching had ever seen before.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">The holiday itself had us taking a maiden Stand Up voyage down the lazy Mad River out of Waitsfield. We were too busy having fun to take pics. Trust us, it was a blast and we finally found the best and highest use for our green kayak-style plastic board. The thing is bullet proof and handled the Mad’s shallow sections without a second thought.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Here's a thought for the road ... </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W5yU7c6yI4/ThPXQyIkiNI/AAAAAAAAAP8/jZcITO0SS2Q/s200/IMG_4234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626077042851481810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">... Aloha.</span></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-90790719903137310812011-05-07T10:38:00.000-07:002011-05-08T10:31:37.448-07:00103 Feet High and Rising (a 2011 preseason paddle)Welcome back to the third season of the Stand Up Paddle Vermont blog! All eyes in April and May have been on Lake Champlain as it has risen beyond 103 feet above sea level.<br /><p class="MsoNormal">This is a record height for the lake and homeowners along the shore are dealing with immense flooding and wave damage. A disaster area for northwest Vermont has been declared and FEMA agents are on their way to survey the damage. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is a serious situation for sure, but our curiosity took us out on the water to play around nonetheless in what was a very unique spring Stand Up Paddle in and around the Burlington waterfront.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r57hW1qsANQ/TcWEGhqSeiI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/R1_H2EDHQqU/s1600/IMG_3985.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r57hW1qsANQ/TcWEGhqSeiI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/R1_H2EDHQqU/s400/IMG_3985.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604030558982273570" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">High water means lots of debris as the Champlain basin rivers empty out ...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3fko9CTsh4/TcWE6eL2_EI/AAAAAAAAAOY/13jJRRDZHGA/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p3fko9CTsh4/TcWE6eL2_EI/AAAAAAAAAOY/13jJRRDZHGA/s400/IMG_4004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604031451402533954" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">A different kind of playground at Perkins Pier.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoW4kbgfxrY/TcWFQUpTDyI/AAAAAAAAAOg/XwdDBH6rG_U/s1600/IMG_4019.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoW4kbgfxrY/TcWFQUpTDyI/AAAAAAAAAOg/XwdDBH6rG_U/s400/IMG_4019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604031826798776098" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Soft light as the sun went down ... Looking west (above) and looking east (below) with downtown B-Town as a backdrop.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuVINUjZMhE/TcWGANrzs3I/AAAAAAAAAOw/IpuiOOOwnKQ/s1600/IMG_4028.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuVINUjZMhE/TcWGANrzs3I/AAAAAAAAAOw/IpuiOOOwnKQ/s400/IMG_4028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604032649563976562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">One of the best Lake front eateries, Breakwaters, was completely swamped. It's a sad sight and will take a big effort to recover from. Wishing the best for a full recovery this spring.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTT-LGO-olE/TcWHG62TtaI/AAAAAAAAAO4/hLy2v42-a1U/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTT-LGO-olE/TcWHG62TtaI/AAAAAAAAAO4/hLy2v42-a1U/s400/IMG_4023.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604033864278455714" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 213px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-15457681401056920972010-09-24T10:12:00.000-07:002010-09-24T10:23:10.142-07:00Autmun on the coast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TJzcGrkdsYI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Ut6GqHat6eA/s1600/DFB_7230.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TJzcGrkdsYI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Ut6GqHat6eA/s400/DFB_7230.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520529250582376834" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>After a wonderful summer in Burlington Bay and on Lake Champlain, the transition to fall has us keeping an eye on the Atlantic Ocean for spikes in the surf report. We've seen several Vermonters making the trip to NH already, and comfortably suited up in the thick neoprene, we look forward to a full autumn of surfing <i>and skiing </i>:) With a summer of training on Champlain under our belts, it's time to step up the game.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TJzc87UY00I/AAAAAAAAAOA/QmlHTTkqlpw/s1600/DFB_7126.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TJzc87UY00I/AAAAAAAAAOA/QmlHTTkqlpw/s400/DFB_7126.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520530182522852162" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-48650360434079888062010-09-12T17:36:00.001-07:002010-09-17T07:51:09.947-07:00SUPcross<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TI10E85PmwI/AAAAAAAAANw/0IJqD4o-bJc/s1600/IMG_3158.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TI10E85PmwI/AAAAAAAAANw/0IJqD4o-bJc/s400/IMG_3158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516192747013249794" /></a><br />The second annual Stand Up for the Lake fundraiser event at the Burlington Sailing Center was a free-form race/relay with a good mix of seasoned Stand Up Paddlers and folks newer to the sport. With a strong wind from the south, five wide, and tight buoy turns, the races took a little bit of a boatercross feel — just a friendly amount of angling and banging. <div><br /></div><div>Thanks to the Sailing Center for putting on a fun event. Great to see Vermont's stand up community coming together!</div>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-10525598528146283552010-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:002010-09-05T16:46:25.074-07:00Wind-whippedSeptember and the weather's changed a bit, at least temporarily. The north wind came through at about 30 mph Saturday and cleared the heat and humidity right out. This was the same day Hurricane Earl was sideswiping the East Coast and throwing out some sizable swell for the Atlantic surfers.<div><br /></div><div>The wind was doing the same for us on Lake Champlain, and all the north-facing beaches were, as they say, <i>firing. </i>I've never seen 5-footers on the lake before, but there they were, racing toward shore. I was stunned by how fast they move pushed by a 30 mph wind.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was a challenge getting out on the SUP boards, fighting the wind and the breaking waves with no more than a few seconds between them. But a good handful of us worked it, and were rewarded with fast, long rides and nice turnable faces. It's a treat, this inland surfing ... saves the 3-hour-each-way trip to the coast. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hoping for more ... And hoping to get pics and vids of it next time. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, we've been gathering the Champlain summer sunset suite of 2010, and here's the latest and one of the best.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TIQrgD8_DpI/AAAAAAAAANg/Kz0LWsSDXXM/s1600/IMG_3097.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TIQrgD8_DpI/AAAAAAAAANg/Kz0LWsSDXXM/s400/IMG_3097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513579673625235090" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px; " /></a></span></div>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-16617351917936814902010-08-25T19:19:00.000-07:002010-08-25T19:31:03.275-07:00Lesson Progression<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">Had a special lesson last week with a mom and daughter who had won the lesson in a silent auction fundraiser for a Colchester resident fighting cancer. The duo decided it was time to redeem the lesson voucher on an awesome, calm midweek evening.</span><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/THXRBu5E62I/AAAAAAAAANI/htI2IWxDalg/s1600/DSCF5778-1.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/THXRBu5E62I/AAAAAAAAANI/htI2IWxDalg/s320/DSCF5778-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509539546855172962" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;">They submitted these photos, which show their progression as we set out on our knees, getting a feel for the stability of the boards ... and return standing up tall enjoying another lovely sunset over Lake Champlain.</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/THXRMprCdGI/AAAAAAAAANQ/vwzs1z3vI-E/s1600/DSCF5794.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/THXRMprCdGI/AAAAAAAAANQ/vwzs1z3vI-E/s320/DSCF5794.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509539734432674914" style="cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 320px; " /></a></div></div>jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224402484040601150.post-79956048813900874232010-08-06T12:58:00.000-07:002010-08-06T13:05:09.012-07:00Demo night at the Rez<p class="MsoNormal">Just as SUP has spread from West to East across the USA, it is spreading in Vermont too, but in the general North to South direction. This summer it has reached the Stowe and Mad River valleys with a series of Stand Up demo events.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We checked out the Wednesday night thing at the Waterbury Reservoir this week. Great turnout on a hot, humid evening. And glassy waters compared to our Lake Champlain stomping grounds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TFxpu1g15XI/AAAAAAAAAM4/6JKl0I3Jg6o/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TFxpu1g15XI/AAAAAAAAAM4/6JKl0I3Jg6o/s320/IMG_2859.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502389098099631474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TFxpvXdV-gI/AAAAAAAAANA/JwE5jY1KMRA/s1600/IMG_2855.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DKKmBZ30A6Y/TFxpvXdV-gI/AAAAAAAAANA/JwE5jY1KMRA/s320/IMG_2855.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502389107211762178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></p> <!--EndFragment-->jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02837037729908365195noreply@blogger.com0