Tag Archives: Starboard SUP

Caladesi Cruise

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Thursday morning dawned foggy, the first fog we’ve had this winter in Clearwater Beach. The weather report had mentioned brisk breezes but at 8 am the wind was dead calm. The mystical aura to the water was a powerful invitation to take an extra long adventure paddle. (Photo credit: Ed Shasek)

The day before, Ed and I had hiked along the beach from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi Island State Park. The isolated beaches, the mangrove forests and the many trees decorated with shells was a far cry from the bustling tourist center just a few miles south. We discovered a 50 yard “land bridge that connected the inland waterway to the Gulf of Mexico. My thought was to paddle inland from Sand Key Inlet then walk my board across the land bridge (4 miles north) and do the 4.6 mile return paddle in the Gulf.

The first 3 miles of the paddle I passed the congested hotel strip of Clearwater Beach but was buffered by the calm water and the absolute lack of any boat traffic. The next mile brought lush and grand waterside mansions with pelicans, anhinga and other seabirds observing me from the docks. Finally, all civilization gave way to mangrove islands and meandering creeks as I approached the land bridge.

On the way I shared the water with dozens of sting rays of all sizes – it must have been time for lots of new born rays as mother-offspring duos flapped gracefully alongside me. When I was about 200 yards from the land bridge to the Gulf the low tide water was just inches deep. I took the fin off my Starboard 12’6″ Zen Touring board and paddled in by hand. At times a few regal osprey winked down at me in between feasting on the plentiful bait fish.

Walking from the tannin brown waters of the inland water to the pristine beach and aqua water of the Gulf was a dramatic switch. With n o one in sight and the water mirror calm, I set my course southward and began scanning the horizon for playful dolphin. They did not disappoint!!

The absolute icing on the cake for this adventure happened when I turned in from the Gulf into Sand Key Inlet. Instead of the usual boat traffic, it was quiet. The tide was ripping IN!!!!! I barely needed to paddle as I zoomed that last mile homeward. What a terrific morning.

Join Team Starboard – From Home

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It’s November and getting colder, windier and rainier out here in Central Oregon. Just the same I am scanning my weather app to plan for the days that will be best for this 74-year-old to go out for a river paddle. I have become part of the Starboard team from my own hometown through a social digital currency called Blue Tiki that brings the same sense of connection, community and sustainability culture that IS Starboard. YOU can be part of that too. Just go to Blue Tiki – and explore Starboard Blue to learn more.

Starboard is community, passion and lifestyle. Like me, I bet you have a passion for the ocean/watersports/nature/active lifestyle and want to protect that. We are all in the water as much as possible. That provides a connection. The team at Starboard knows us and that is part of what fuels Starboard to make the best products but also trying to protect the environment.

Read these excerpts from the November 7, 2023 SUPConnect Interview with Starboard’s Ollie O’Reilly to really see the “team connection” we can all feel. (Ollie O’Reilly in the field. | Photo © Supconnect)

For several years, Ollie has been on the product development team at Starboard and has helped to create some of the best standup paddleboards in the world. Recently, Ollie has changed roles and is now the Brand Manager for Starboard SUP.

Ollie explains his affinity to Starboard and his love for what the brand represents. He believes that Starboard has the best team, the products, and in his words, “we’re always pushing. It’s just making sure our story and the foundation of the brand really underpin where we’re going to go.”

With Blue Tiki, YOU can be part of that team too.

As someone with a quiver of Starboard boards and a passionate commitment to “blue Life,” I love the way Ollie answered this question posed by SUP Connect: Where do you see Starboard in five, ten years? Where do you see the brand going with how the industry is right now?

Ollie began by explaining, “Innovation and quality are always going to be our pillars on how we make decisions and the directions we’re going to go. That’s core to the brand. Sustainability and our impact is our third pillar. Quality, innovation, and sustainability, they’re the foundations that help us make our decisions on a daily basis and also longer-term planning. I think, again, just tightening the story and where we’re going. I feel like Starboard is a very encompassing brand. We have paddle boarding, we have wingboarding. There’s probably going to be something else in a few years and just making sure that when people come to Starboard, that question of ‘why Starboard’ is always clear, like always being the leaders but always being not just performance but also lifestyle, what the brand means, our impact and just having a very clear resonance to when people see the brand they know we’re a leader and pushing the boundaries of innovation, quality and sustainability.

Let’s hear that again: Starboard is a leader – pushing the boundaries of innovation, quality and sustainability. Want to participate in your own way? Go to Blue Tiki now and the fun and connection is all yours.

In Our Waters

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The more of us that are inspired to practice habits that result in less plastic being used and disposed of the healthier our planet’s waters will be. It’s a complicated set of causes-and effects that have overwhelmed us all with plastic. How understandable that at times we feel frustrated at how much our efforts might make a difference.

It was exactly that frustration that led me to write a chapter book for kids (ages 8-13) that designed some very do-able community-wide actions and projects as told through the voices of the kids themselves. Connected to that chapter book is a three-month “Blue Life Journal” designed to reinforce habits that lead to awareness and caring.

The future belongs to our children and grand children. Providing them with the tools they need to be engaged, reflective, and curious solution-seekers is important. THE QUEST FOR BLUE PLANET SUPER HEROES contains a unique, “Blue Life” guided journal practice. The book also has a fiction adventure story embedded inside. Kids (ages 9-13) will love meeting Kate Buffet and all of her friends in The Hunt to Save the Ocean. The fiction story will inspire real-life ECO activism and something that can actually occur within a community.

It would be ideal to arrive at your favorite beach, river, bay or lake and discover the only items in the water were its natural flora, fauna and maybe some clouds dancing on the glassy surface

But even along the most isolated and pristine beaches, the tides bring in discarded plastic and litter with disturbing regularity. So, we continue to do what we can while inspiring others. If you want to explore my book, THE QUEST FOR BLUE PLANET SUPER HEROES I am happy to share a digital version of the book at no cost. Simply contact me on the website.

Summer Adventures Starboard Style

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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.

Blue Tiki – Motivation

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We all love to SUP and we want to keep our waters free of plastic and other debris. Fortunately, a few months ago I discovered a fantastic contest/initiative sponsored by Starboard SUP, Blue Tiki and CoraCora Maldives.

If you haven’t tapped into the world of bitcoin, this is a terrific place to start. Blue Tiki is a social media currency which will be distributed to community members based on their environmental actions. Check out the video here. The program is meant to inspire a global community of watersports fans and changemakers they call, ” Future Fighters.” Once you watch the video and explore the links you will want to join in!

Social tokens are on the rise in the crypto space and brands are embracing it to create more value, engage with their communities and incentivize positive impact behaviors. Starboard has brought the SUP industry a “pioneering move” into metaverse.

Each month their are MISSIONS and ACTIONS one can complete in order to earn BlueTiki currency – and maybe even a trip to CoraCora Maldives.

For instance, today I had a wonderful 4.5 km paddle and picked up plastic and trash along the way. Yes, I earned some Blue Tiki currency, but best of all I enjoyed the experience and chatted with others along the way. Inspiring others is key to making a difference. You can too – FOLLOW me on Instagram and get your Starboard SUP out on the water while making a difference for our environment.

Starboard 4-in-1 Wonderful!

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The joy of the Starboard 4-in-1 inflatable during my winter on the west coast (of Florida, not Oregon) was endless. From the ease of packing it into its bag for the flight south, to its versatility with both wing and paddle – I had a blast!

Thanks to the advisement of Britt at North Beach Windsurfing I visited two great winging spots down by the iconic Skyway Bridge. The wide open waters at the Scenic View spot provided an amazing playground. This particular day began with super light wind and then – right on schedule – a steady breeze picked up about 1:00. Rather than the fluky Central Oregon lake winds – this winging was a treasure!

A few weeks later my windy app predicted winds 15-25 from the southwest just off I 275 Blue sky, warm water, enough wind for everyone to have fun was located just across the street from Scenic View. The wind direction was perfect for zooming great reaches out across the bay and back to shore. What a super day to practice tacks and gibes dancing among dozens of kiters and wingers!

Alternately, when the wind was non existent and the waters of the Gulf of Mexico settled into a glassy mirror it was time to paddle out and mingle with the dolphin. Pods of 4-8 of the playful little buggers surrounded me then followed in parallel up and down the coast. Their curiosity is refreshing and is a powerful reminder to keep a “sense of wonder” on the water.

A bonus gift the environment receives with each Starboard product purchased includes:

Downwind Training: The Flatwater Solution

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Sparks Lake with South Sister (Oregon)

I celebrated my 69th birthday with a day of training, contemplation, gratitude and so much beauty. The training was unusual, in a way, but some of the most valuable I have had for down wind conditions that could get gnarly. In August my Starboard Freeride 12’2″ X 30 and my KIALOA paddle will carry me the classic run from Viento to Hood River and I hope the wind is strong and the day is sunny! My first adventure in the Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge was in 2013 and I was hooked. (story here) I want to be ready to enjoy every moment of the experience when I am back on the mighty Columbia.

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Early morning at Elk Lake

What follows in this article is an odd set of insights and lessons I gained from paddling 4 uniquely different Oregon alpine lakes in one day. It started out at 8 am at Elk Lake. By 10 am the wind cranks up in this volcano rimmed jewel, but it was mirror calm when I headed out to circumnavigate its 4 miles including every little bay, nook and cranny at 8 am.

In this flatwater goodness I observed two things that can improve my skills for down wind action.

  • Legs – every paddle stroke that had excellent body rotation and synchronization between the catch, pull and driving forward force of my legs gave terrific acceleration. Timing and technique
  • Eyes closed – All alone on this huge body of water I was brave enough to try 6 paddle strokes per side for 3 sets repeated dozens of times. Wow! Balance and feel for how I was moving over the water was an eye-opener (LOL, eyes were shut!) Charging down wind in wind and waves requires solid balance and feel for how the board and water interact. This was so much fun.

I grabbed a breakfast burrito then headed over to nearby Hosmer Lake for a sweet three mile exploration to gurgling waterfalls and crystal clear water. The wind had picked up some by the time I got there. On this, just the second time unloading my board from the car I did make a mental note to really use my body correctly in the awkward motion of high reach, lift and lower. After all, a 69 year old body does not respond well to injury from lifting.

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Early morning Hosmer Lake (Oregon)

The wind was hard in my face leaving the boat launch area but reading the water I saw the far shoreline was protected and calm. In my journey to get to the calm I learned something else, sound can really impact my cadence and speed.

Even though the wind was in my face, my distance tracker app told me later that I hit 6 mph while the effort was perceived as simply fun. The tick-tick-tick of choppy wind waves hitting my bow and tapping along under my board gave me energy. I paddled the 3/4 mile to the calm in what would have been a speed interval, if I had thought of it like that. Instead the sound of the water made the experience pure fun.

  • Adrenaline and a sense of play makes the effort easier. Maybe that is why the 8 mile Viento down wind run exhilarates so well

I meandered off to the right hand fork of Hosmer, climbed a volcanic rocky area to gaze on gurgling lava tubes feeding a flower-filled grotto. Heading back to the boat ramp the water grasses and lilies caught my attention, fish darting and beauty everywhere.

  • Insight – I am blissful on the water – how about you! Ocean girl at heart, all water has its compelling call.

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Devil’s Lake with snow in June – brrrr water

Loading up my board again I was off the 30 acre Devil’s Lake. I almost skipped it. There were 30 cars at the easiest launch area so I had to park where a steep bank tested my strength and balance carrying a 12’2″ board through the trees and scree. Once in the lake my feet nearly froze off from the snow-melt water. The lake is so shallow that I had to walk about 100 yards to depth enough to paddle.

  • Know you water and wear appropriate gear. My frozen feet situation was mild and quickly over, but it made me think about knowing local conditions. I had forgotten that Elk Lake was practically swim-able whereas small Devil’s Lake was icy. The day was sunny – but water has its own characteristics.

Getting out of Devil’s Lake, carrying the board about 1/4 mile to my car and loading it up again reminded me to protect back and shoulders, use legs to lift – and yes – do some weight training.

Next stop was Sparks Lake. It is about a 1 mile drive in to the launch area, on a rutted, deep holes, washboard, dusty, rocky road. Once there I saw it was packed in both the launch and the parking area. The only spot I could put my car was easily 1/2 mile away. I left my precious board alone among some trees by the launch and went to park the car and walk back. Would my board be there when I got back (yes).

sparks-2I love this lake and never tire of winding around the rocks, the deeps, the shallows and taking the same photo every time I go. Peeking through rough-carved lava and spotting South Sister and Mt Bachelor never gets old.

By this time with all the loading and unloading, more walking than I had planned on and 9 miles of paddling completed in 3 lakes in about 3 hours, I needed a strategy to make this last adventure fun.  My lower back was a little tweaky and my lats had had a good workout.

It was time to focus on engaging a body rotation and abs engagement during the paddling. Paying attention to keeping my shoulder relaxed- not hunched up toward my ears-  and shoulder blades “down on my back” Helped with getting a clean catch. Rotating with awareness and taking the blade out of the water soon enough took my attention away from fatigue.

  • Insight: When fatigue starts to set in we can focus on what part of our body is most tired and engage in a different way.
  • Something as simple as enjoying the feel of water lapping on bare toes can power us through a choppy, windy area.

Happy birthday to me! It is overwhelming to imagine that this time next year I will be 70. A new decade, and not getting any younger ever again. Except in my mind. Playful, youthful water fun is available. I commit to playing attention – and training as smart as possible. If you have any suggestions – send them my way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ride – Glide and Starboard Innovation: Again!

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I got a LOT more than bumps in last weekend’s Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge. I got a BUMP in performance and outcomes during the annual down-winder from Viento to Hood River Waterfront Park. It started with a question.

(Photo Credit – featured photo: Gorge-US Photography)

I am a solid fan of the Starboard 12’6″ Deluxe Inflatable Touring board and wondered if it would perform as well on the Columbia River bumps as it does on all sorts of river, lake and ocean conditions we adventure into. I went to the Starboard booth and asked Dan Gavere, “Is my 12’6″ Touring board the best board for me to ride today?”

starboard_sup_12_2x32_free_ride_xl_nose_21The answer is – I would have a lot more fun on a board designed for waves, racing and downwind!  I was very fortunate to connect with Dan Gavere who was manning the Starboard booth at the event. In the midst of talking to tons of avid dealers and Starboard paddlers, he took the time to answer my question. (Much Mahalo!) Dan explained, “You need a specific board for specific conditions – [and the conditions were forecast to be epic- 30+ mph winds on the beautiful Columbia River down wind run].” Dan was kind enough to let me demo the 2017 12’2″ Freeride Hybrid Carbon. And so the story began.

This is the fifth year I have had the absolute joy of doing this event. The very first time was in 2012 (story here). I have done it on a stock surfboard (11’3″), an inflatable, a 12’6″ race board and a 14′ race board. Guess what – this year on the 12′ 2″ X 30″ Starboard Freeride – I not only had my fastest run in similar conditions and training – I am 67 years old.freeride3

This is not usually the year for a personal best with little training and zero down wind practice since last August.

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Pre-race stoke!

Am I stoked – oh YES I am!!! I did my fastest time ever with ZERO falls. Never even got my hair wet. This was not for lack of trying. I went after every bump – aggressively, and the wonderful Freeride graciously sped up, grabbed the glides, burried a nose now and then, but gracefully popped right out and zoomed me forward.

It was so cool to zoom past 12’6″ and 14′ race boards on this stable and agile “all-round” board with surf performance fun.

I am now 24 hours after the race and – no soreness anywhere. No soreness any day for a 67 year old woman is one thing, but after 1:42:23 of hard (fun) paddling is something else.

I am not trained  more than any other year but I noticed one thing. Because the Freeride is so stable (I never fell)  I was not fatiguing my legs and back by trying to stay on the board. I could use every paddle stroke efficiently, balanced and solid. And, when on a glide, I could easily step into surf stance and RIDE!!!!!

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Ready for the most fun I ever had during a Columbia River down wind from Viento to Hood River Waterfront Park

Little did I know as I slid onto the start line what an experience this Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge would be. Woohoo! Total fun all the way.

One of the best parts of the experience was the amazineg”group hug” at the finish from so many of the Starboard Ambassadors and riders. Mahalo to you all for running up, greeting me and making my day with stories and support – Kristin Thomas, Lisa Schell, Sarah Sandstrom, Hailey Driver, Leilani Gibson and Terri Plunkett.

So sure, I won the 60+ age group with no competition, but in going through the finish times among the Downwind Women – the Starboard Freeride delivered me 12th overall in a field of 25. Truly – and seriously – the equipment matters. I have never enjoyed so many glides, I counted them as 20+ seconds more time than once. the bumps connected in combinations of 3 glides, so often. My legs loved having the stability and my surfer-head loved the agility and absolute “go-get-the-bumps” fun-factor.

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Tons of fun being a board caddy for the course race – the Starboard race boards are light and so easy to carry (Photo: Leilani Gibson)

I am so grateful I ran into Dan Gavere at the Starboard booth – that changed my entire weekend. Check out this innovative and game-changing board for yourself.

“Ulitmate glide on an all-round board.”

The Starboard Freeride Hybrid Carbon:

This light weight hybrid layup, offers a good weight at great strength.
I was riding the 2017 Freeride: Thanks to Dan Gavere I learned more about the 2017 Freeride, “It has construction that is called Starlite which is new and costs much less than Carbon. It has Innegra rails that can’t be chipped and features Starboard’s sandwich full PVC wrap making it last a lifetime which is better for the environment because it outlasts other boards and won’t find itself in a landfill.”