Author: Warren Currie

Went for a paddle on the North Saskatchewan river last night – what a blast!
The air temp was a balmy +1 C �and the water was some where around zero.
I learned a few things about paddling with ice flows – and in case any of you decide to try it out, here they are:

1) You spend a lot of time an energy dodging the big ones. �The paddle was a slalom race around moving ice.
2) When going up stream into the ice flows – the current can “close a gap” that you are aiming for very quickly.
3) If you stand really far forward on a Starboard Pin the bow acts as an ice breaker and can split the flow in half.
3 a) If the nose doesn’t split the ice – the board will push the ice down and then it hits the fin and stops you dead – especially going up stream.
3 b) To break the ice once it has gone under the board – rock back and forth with your feet right as the ice gets under your feet.
4) The water splash on the board freezes in to a nice, slick layer of ice – so get comfortable with your stance because you aren’t going to be able to move around much.
5) Do not ever get hit broad side by a flow as you are turning around to go back down stream – they can take the board out from under your feet.
6) Your paddle will collect a nice coating of ice making it several times heavier than it should be.
7) Try it – it was one of the neatest experiences I have had on a Stand Up Board!

p.s. Thanks to Quiksilver for making kick butt wetsuits, booties and gloves!

(click on the photos to view full size)

Last night (Nov. 9) was the first ever Easy Rider – SUP Appreciation Dinner.
Thirty Eight SUP’ers met at Fiore Cantina in Edmonton for a night of fine food and Stand Up Paddle talk.

After dinner we unveiled our �SUP �plans for the upcoming season, which included lots of fun events / races / demos / surf trips / race trips / camping trips and a fishing derby.

Stay tuned for more information on what is Sup for 2010.

Thanks to Scott, Trident, and Dave for the Draw prizes.

I was lucky enough to be able to try out the new NCP (North County Paddleboards) / Brian Szymanski prototype 12’6″ race board that he has designed for Starboard. �The board (or something really close to it) will be in production by Starboard for summer 2010.

In keeping with my 2 word reviews – “Freaking Fast” is all I need to say on this one.
While I didn’t have a tape measure with me – it is about 28″ wide and just a shade �under 12’6″ long – so it will be legal in the 12’6″ stock racing class.
It has a slightly dished down deck – which lowers �your center of gravity a bit. �It has quite a rounded bottom – which makes it a little less stable when you are standing still, but just like riding a bicycle, as soon as you get it moving it becomes very stable and accelerates very well.
It does have a scupper hole along one side to drain most of the water out of the foot well, and I believe that �it will be lowered a bit for production which will get rid of the pooling around your feet.

Even though it is designed as a race board – several “newbies” tried it out and had no problems cruising around on it.

The construction I paddled is hush, hush – but lets just say that is was so light that I could carry it up the dock and back to the house with one finger stuck in the scupper hole.

This Missile will surely be the weapon of choice for Flat water paddlers that want to race as well as have fun on the water.

Thanks to Declan and Scott at Trident Distribution for getting this board under my feet!