Stand Up Paddle Vermont

Still standing

2011-11-20T17:06:00.000-08:00

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!

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.

Going upriver over slow water ... Just like being on the lake.

Some rocks to start

That warm Indian Summer sun

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.

Lake Champlain SUP Cup

2011-10-01T18:31:00.001-07:00

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.

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.

A pig roast and Luau followed with Russ Scully from The Spot restaurant providing Master of Ceremony services.

We are psyched to see this event grow in the future and be there as Vermont gets on board with the SUP racing movement.

Here are some photos from the event (Aug. 20, 2011).

Women's winner Deb O'Brien

Canadians were having a lot of success in the men's field

The Kiddos

Photos by Deb and Mike O'Brien

Oh, Irene

2011-08-29T18:35:00.001-07:00

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.

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.

Getting out past the buoys into position was a supreme workout ...

Standing up, not mandatory

Mike pulling in, about knee high

Best wishes for a strong recovery for all Vermonters now taking stock after the storm’s floods …

Midseason report

2011-08-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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.

See you in August!

Standing Up for America (on the Fourth)

2011-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

If you tweet long enough you find it hard to string three sentences together. But we're 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Here's a thought for the road ...

... Aloha.

103 Feet High and Rising (a 2011 preseason paddle)

2011-05-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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.

High water means lots of debris as the Champlain basin rivers empty out ...

A different kind of playground at Perkins Pier.

Soft light as the sun went down ... Looking west (above) and looking east (below) with downtown B-Town as a backdrop.

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.

Autmun on the coast

2010-09-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

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 and skiing :) With a summer of training on Champlain under our belts, it's time to step up the game.

SUPcross

2010-09-12T17:36:00.001-07:00

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.

Thanks to the Sailing Center for putting on a fun event. Great to see Vermont's stand up community coming together!

Wind-whipped

2010-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

September 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.

The wind was doing the same for us on Lake Champlain, and all the north-facing beaches were, as they say, firing. 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.

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.

Hoping for more ... And hoping to get pics and vids of it next time.

In the meantime, we've been gathering the Champlain summer sunset suite of 2010, and here's the latest and one of the best.

Lesson Progression

2010-08-25T19:19:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

Demo night at the Rez

2010-08-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

Surf's Up for Stand Up

2010-07-31T20:19:00.000-07:00

The heat we had in early July turned dramatically last week as strong north winds buffeted Lake Champlain. We watched from Oakledge Beach as the wind swell built to surfable levels then spent parts of three days playing with the Stand Up boards in the surf, paddling in and coming down the short faces, then hanging on for some long rides into the beach ... and back out again. Total fun. We were too busy playing to get any action shots, but here's what it looked like before paddling out :)

Hot, Hazy and Heavenly

2010-07-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

This shot came in from Kirsten during an evening paddle at the height of Vermont's July heat wave. The air was still, the lake water warm and the humidity high. Things have cooled off a bit since those days in the 90-degree range, but this is a reminder of what it felt like. Looks quite heavenly, this photo, like she's preparing for the ascension.

SUP with the Pup

2010-07-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

First, let's show you what just happened to bike by as we were setting up our spot at Oakledge on Sunday. Wow, what a bike! Don't know how he got on it.

Ok, now let's point out that this is our spot at Oakledge -- just so everyone knows what to look for when you need a Stand Up Paddle fix in Burlington, Vermont.

Finally, we wanted to show you what hours of training has wrought for us and our guy Manny. A ride around the bay by Stand Up Paddleboard. Everyone's doing it. Now we know why. Manny loved it. He's still working on his dismount though ... just like the guy on the bike I imagine.

Otter Creek delta

2010-06-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, Otter Creek is one of Vermont's most popular microbreweries. It wasn't until a recent trip to Ferrisburgh that we realized it's also a fantastic paddle spot. We found ourselves at the confluence - if that's the right terminology - of Otter Creek and Lake Champlain, basically, where the creek meets the lake.

We headed upstream for a nice, mellow and glassy cruise, then turned around and spilled into the lake at one of its most narrow spots. New York seemed just a stone's throw away, and the Adirondack views were inspiring. A marshy area had us listening to the array of bird calls, and a beautiful sunset capped the evening.

We have a skier!

Meredith furthering the art of Yogaboarding

Little Mafali takes hold of a paddle

And joins for a cruise

Mr. Faty-pus

2010-06-21T19:10:00.001-07:00

As owner of Colorado's Faty-pus Skis, Jared Mazlish makes some of the fattest powder skis available in the snow industry. Mazlish is an East Coaster by birth and while back in Vermont last week, he got a chance to step onto a pair that out-fat even the Faty-pus. Surf Skis!

Mazlish picked things up pretty quick — he's used to a lot of volume under foot — and was paddling around on a glassy night at Leddy Park with ease.

His real goal is to ski some waves, and he hopes to get back east before long to take these things to the coast.

Soft opening

2010-06-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Soft opening today for Paddlesurf Champlain down at Oakledge Park and Beach. Come join. Weather looks permissive :)

… aannnnnnnnnnd, we’re back

2010-05-19T08:37:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone enjoyed a stellar offseason of your fave winter activities. It was a mild one and Lake Champlain is ahead of its annual warm-up schedule. Burlington’s guess-when-the-ice-will-melt contest set a record for earlyness.

Leah and I stepped foot on board over the weekend for the first of what we plan to be many paddleboard launches out of Oakledge Park. We’re pleased to announce we’ll be locating the business there again this season, launching lessons, rentals and tours out of an improved setup on the beach.

We’re psyched. Visit us online at www.paddlesurfchamplain.com and get ready for a first Stand Up Paddle tour or come back and build on your experiences from last season.

Here’s a few teaser shots from Sunday to get you stoked … We're expecting summerlike temps this weekend!

See you on the water …

— Jason

Leah sets out

Risked it and took the camera on board ...

Working on the back-loaded (poppa wheelie) spin turn

Vietnamese food up Flynn Avenue with the lake and 'Dacks in the backdrop. Mmmmgood.

Weekend in West Glover

2009-09-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

With the season waning a bit, we headed up to the Northeast Kingdom to quaint little Lake Palmer, where we were able to participate in an informal, anything-goes regatta and introduce some Kingdom dwellers to Paddleboarding.

It was a huge hit with the folks. In the bubble of the Northeast Kingdom, many hadn't heard of or seen the sport before. Everyone jumped on a board, young and old, and got a great taste for stand up paddling on a beautiful pre-autumn weekend. Lake Palmer was the perfect size for easy paddling and enjoying stellar scenery.

Stand Up 12

2009-09-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Stand Up 12 has made its anticipated debut in Vermont and will be added to our fleet. Imagine Surfboards of Montreal pulled in a dose of kayak design and mixed it with a standard SUP surfboard style for a hybrid that is a dream flatwater paddle machine.

The Stand Up 12's kayak-style plastic shell holds up to any and all rock and sand encounters. It's as stable a board as you will find, and it's even got a little dry hatch to stash stuff. Because it is a little heavier than the traditional SUP, a wheel is attached to one end for easy transporting.

Roll it up to the water's edge and hop on. It's that easy.

Via Austin

2009-08-19T20:58:00.001-07:00

It's nice to get a shot from out on the water, and David Bain from the capital of Texas, who was visiting Vermont last weekend, came through. David took this one of his friend, Jon, paddling right next to him.

You may not know it from the photo, but Jon was a first-timer. David's part of the emerging SUP scene in Austin: www.meetup.com/SUPAustin

Sunny Saturday

2009-08-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

What a spectacular day Saturday for standing up in Vermont. Here recently married Burlingtonians Candace and Drew take their first paddleboard lessons, and get the hang of it quickly.

Me surfing, really! Quality ankle high surf ...

Another sweet Champlain sunset ...

VT Sports Mag story

2009-07-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Check out the August edition of Vermont Sports Magazine for an interesting story about Stand Up Paddling in the Green Mountains. On newstands and in shops next week!

Up North

2009-07-12T19:22:00.000-07:00

We took a trip to the north side of town to help Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont raise money for the annual Dragonboat fundraiser. Got a lot of people's feet wet (and one dog's) on paddleboards.

A father and son team gaining speed

Josh teaching the basics ...

Partially blind, walking with a limp, this old Pug still held his own

2009-07-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Mucho updates at www.paddlesurfchamplain.com

Just Swell

2009-07-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry there's no footage - my camera spent Independence Day in Canada of all places - but there was a legit wind swell for July Fourth on Champlain - Just as the Quadricentennial Festival kicks off. Consistent winds had the sails up and paddlesurfers picking up their paddles on 3 and 4 footers.

The tent only blew away once.

- Jason

2009-06-25T06:59:00.000-07:00

Stellar weather from start to finish Wednesday had a lot of folks rarin' to get out on the water ...

Pioneering yoga on a paddle board

The sun is setting at the perfect angle at Oakledge these days ,,,

Solstice Sunset

2009-06-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

The latest sunset of the year at Malletts Bay up in Colchester on Sunday. Leah paddling like a champ. Doesn't get any better ...

Wednesday Demos

2009-06-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Great turnout for the Oakledge Park Wednesday night demos. The Paddlesurf community in Vermont is building!

The guys from Burton came out. Do you know they make surfboards there?

What a fantastic view of the Burlington cityscape paddling around Oakledge ...

Shaun calls it a day after learning the ropes.

Postering

2009-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

We canvased this all over Burlington this week, but for those of you out of town ... enjoy.

Opening Day!

2009-06-14T06:11:00.001-07:00

Paddlesurf Champlain opened for the season last weekend. With calm winds and sun, some of the local SUP converts took their first few paddles around Oakledge beach.

An experienced surfer, Nancy stands up for the first time ...

The "soft" opening was a family affair ...

Into the mystic ...