I recently saw a post on Starboard SUP Instagram that invited our stories of favorite summer adventures.
What’s been your most unforgettable adventure on your SUP? We’d love to hear your epic tales! 🌊🏄♀️
Starboard is your passport to endless adventures and a joyful connection with the elements. Here’s to riding waves, exploring new horizons, and soaking up the best of nature. Let’s make some memories!
Ever since 2006 I have been collecting SUP adventures in every season – but the SUMMER adventures do remain my favorites.
Way back in 2008 during a summer trip to Tofino, Ed and I dropped our standup boards into beautiful Clayquot Sound from the harbor surrounding Tofino on Vancouver Island, BC. A haven for kayaking, whale-watching and fishing, there is plenty of water activity on and around the sound. That summer as we paddled out toward Meares Island immersed in awe at the majestic old growth forest and cold, clear waters we became aware of curious onlookers from the numerous kayak groups. Finally one guide spoke to us, “What do you call that board you’re on?”
Apparently we were the first standup paddlers they had seen in the sound. Boating and paddling in the waters of Clayquot Sound is one of the most rewarding ways to experience this environment. We thought it pretty cool that we were the first to experience it from the SUP perspective.
As with any first ascent, or first crossing, one needs to be acutely aware of the local environment. In the case of Clayquot Sound the tides and current pack so much power that it could have been a dangerous undertaking to meander around the various islands and inlets. Of course we had flotation devices and leashes, but more importantly we embarked on the first crossing with a full awareness of when slack tide and low tides would occur. We studied, spoke to locals and planned our SUP time carefully.
Since we recently planned and booked a Summer 2024 SUP and fishing adventure in Tofino BC I thought it would be fun to reminisce about the last time were there in 2018. Ed and I had loaded up our touring and surfing Starboard inflatables, packed a lunch and went exploring the low tide bays and tide pools between Tofino and Ucluelet. Ucluelet has long been known for a great place to escape to for peace and quiet because of the tranquil environment. If you are looking to get away for some deep relaxation in nature and with nature, Ucluelet, BC is a worthy destination.
Elder SUP 
