Tag: stand up paddle

How to choose a board?

Every paddler at some point is wondering “shall I buy my own board?”

When you don’t want to rent it anymore, when you want to have your own board always available for your use, you should ask yourself an even more relevant question: “how do I want to use my board?” It is then worth stressing the advantages of inflatable boards. They are much more affordable than hard ones and they do not take a lot of storage space as deflated they fit into standard backpack and can be easily stored when not used. Also with a good value for money you do not have to stop yourself after buying one model, either getting another one for you for a different use or for your relative to go and share your experience.

Here come our recommendations for board types accommodating the preference of usage.

All-round model

For recreational stand up paddle we advise to purchase an all-around board (Bass Breeze model in our shop). This type of board is stable enough for beginners, wide to keep the balance during first stand up paddle experience. Later this board has still a lot to offer as a first board to try to catch the waves or have fun on enclosed water when keeping balance is more challenging than on flat water. This model can be also used as addition to yacht in case you want to paddle to the shore in shallow water. It is a universal board with multiple possibilities of use, yet its advantage is the pointy nose (unique for all-around model) which makes this board fast and easy to maneuver.

Another model great for recreational use and family paddling is Bass Dual. Designed for some family fun on water, it can easily carry one adult person and a child or another adult. The both sides additional stabilizing chambers provide full stability. This is also a good board for fishing or photography expeditions and finally, can also be used as rescue board thanks to its handles on sides.

In our shop you can purchase Bass Breeze model which is all-round stand up paddle board.

Touring model

Cruising on stand up paddle tours were never as easy as with Bass Breeze Touring model. The board is more demanding in terms of balance, but provides nice glide on water for long distance paddling. Medium to advanced paddlers seeking for a board with some speed features will be satisfied. The long and profiled shape of this board will make long distance paddling more enjoyable. It is worth mentioning that this model is only few cm shorter than the race one (12”6’), however wider to provide more stability to paddler.

In our shop you can purchase Bass Touring model  which is a touring stand up paddle board.

Racing

Taking part in stand up paddle competitions requires an ultra fast board. The official length for boards accredited in sup races are 12’6 and 14’. We provide you with inflatable race boards in both sizes. As proven on many stand up paddle competitions they are fast, yet they provide stability to easily put a lot of strength on paddle without loosing balance.

 SUP surfing

For sup surf you need a well almond-shaped board which can easily be operated by the movement of your hips and feet. The Bass X-Power model is a very maneuverable sup surfing board, easily taking turns. Good for occasional surfers to catch their waves everywhere all around the world as travelling with inflatable sup surfing board is super convenient (no more “oversized luggage” queue, no more “additional sport equipment” fee). Surfing board as designed by Bass was aimed to be pretty wide to glide on waves and not longer than classical longboard surf model 10’.

SUP Yoga

If you have an interest in floating yoga practice you should choose a board as wide and stable as possible. We highly recommend specially designed Bass Yoga model or Bass Dual as it gives the experience of stable ground on water. Bass Yoga board was especially designed for Yoginis looking for zen spirit on water. Beautiful lotus flower design and the quietness of water all around brings feelings of spirituality and harmony instantly.

Stand Up Paddle practice

There are many ways to enjoy being on a water with your stand up paddle board. Do you know them all?

Stand Up Paddle recreational

Source: adrenaline-hunter.com

Occasional paddling individually or with a group of friends or family, while being next to different types of water. You can practice stand up paddle on flat water (lakes, rivers) or enclosed waters like sea, harbors, marinas, lagoons. This is a great way of spending time together on water with additional benefit – fitness workout. Children all age can join their parents in paddling experience. Boards also provide a lot of joy to children when taken to the beach for their entertainment.

Stand Up Paddle touring

Source: tripadvisor.com

Nature lovers will recognize stand up paddle boarding as a great way to experience water environment. Tours in natural environment are great opportunity to watch wild nature. With no impact to environment you can paddle for long distance even in national parks admiring the surroundings. Touring on stand up paddle is a great way to also explore the coastline.

Stand Up Paddle race

Source: supracer.com

Seeking some adrenaline and opportunity to compete with others? Join stand up paddle racing to experience speed and sports atmosphere. Professional stand up paddle races are organized in various water environment: starting from mountain rivers finishing with open sea. Join the tribe of adrenaline junkies.

Stand Up Paddle surf

Source: funnybeach.com

When feeling like a surfer starting his day by catching the waves, stand up paddle board can be used also for sup surfing. Riding waves with a paddle gives a great opportunity to catch them all, while other surfers are waiting for the perfect one. Paddle is very helpful in maneuvering the board and getting some speed to make any wave yours.

Stand Up Paddle yoga

Source: sport-equipements.fr

Yoga practice on stand up paddle boards is an amazing experience. It provides both contact with nature and your own body. Doing asana on a floating board on water is challenging but brings more self-consciousness and great sense of balance.

SUP Tour in Portugal

We have not be truly self if just few months after sup tour in Philippines wouldn’t have gone with sup boards to discover other country and new sup spots.

This time sup tour was much closer – in Europe – combining pleasure with work. We went to Portugal for Academy of Surfing Instructors Training – SUP Instructor L1 Flat Water and L2 Exposed water. We managed to pass all the training tests, also having primary care and emergency response and water rescue courses. I am first ASI certified Stand Up Paddle Instructor in Poland, but more about that in next blog post.

Here I am looking foward to share with you piece of information where to take your Stand Up Paddle board in Portugal. Where are the best SUP spots and what can you explore on sup in Portugal?

These and more you will find in text below.

 

While making online research before tour, I already have known that Portugal is a perfect place for Stand Up Paddle. Long coastline, popular surfers spot in Europe, amazing pictures of caves and cliffs – all of these looked very appealing to me! Stand up paddle is a popular watersport there for years. Even in 2016 Portugal had their official post stamp with an image of SUP surfer. I knew that in Portugal, no one will ever ask me why I use paddle to this surfing board.

We have started our SUP tour in Portugal by landing in Lisbon. It was not hard to get there as most of low fare airlines provide flight connections there. Without waiting a minute, we headed to Setubal – first planned sup spot.

Setubal nearby Lisbon

Setubal is small town located at Atlantic Ocean coast with kilometers of sandy bay and sweet water river in Natural Parc.

Town is famous for it’s ability to watch dolphins in their natural environment. At the boarder of the bay, there is a herd of dolphins with very friendly attitude towards people. It was amazing to see them in their natural surrondings, not in dolphinarium clapping for tourists’ entertainment.

Thank you guys from Rotas Do Sal  for awesome adventure to explore dolphins in Setubal bay.

Setubal has really nice coastline you can admire from paddleboard, few rocky islands and pleasant hidden beaches.

We have news for those searching for local stories. There is an abandon villa standing at the edge of one of cliffs in Setubal. From first hand local info, we got to know that it was french ambassador’s living in Portugal summer villa. Here Jackie Kennedy was hiding after attack on her husband J.F. Kennedy and here she was taking a rest after his death.

Extroadinery Algarve

Our sup tour aim in Portugal was region in the south – Algarve and small town named Sagres –  at the very end of portugeese coast. Further there is nothing, only ocean. Sagres has even it’s own tag on Instagram – Sagres at the end of the world – because further there is nothing, only Africa.

Sagres is a typical surfers spot. You will not find there random tourists. Every inhabitant is constantly checking swell forecast and is on a way to catch a wave. Town has amazing atmosphere because – even though it’s pretty cosy – there is a lot of surf shops and bars. As we got to know, during high season the amount of people living here triples, because of one of the best surf wave places in Europe.

Algarve’s coastline is extraordinary! Here you can find high cliffs, caves, hidden calm beaches between the rocks.

Professional costline exploration including entering the caves and cliff jumping is named coasteering and has its special guides who can lead groups to spots known only by locals. These people know entry points to caves and cliffs you can climb and safely jump off to the ocean.

You can book a tour to explore coastline and hardly accessible caves. What is even better you can explore it on stand up paddle board with Nelson from Coastline Algarve.

He is very chilled guy, who abandon surfing for stand up paddle. We highly recommend his sup tours and hope to visist him in September with group of sup enthusiasts from Poland.

The most beautiful cave in Portugal – Praia De Benagil

This is a breath taking place to visit. Accesible only from the ocean – best on Stand up paddle board – better get there before tourists passion for charming selfies. We recommend morning tour. It is the most beautiful cave in Portugal with interior beach lightened with sun comming through the hole in the ceiling. Energy there is amazing.

Echo of waves braking on rocks, tree light points which bring sunlight, especially the upper one, which gives you oportunity to have sunbath on sand, in a cave. It is amazing!

This fact of nature is hard to explain. Somehow gravity there completly messed up and started to destroy the rocks from the bottom to the top. It is natural phenomenon in Europe. Place with extraordinery energy.

I have spent there 2 hours just sitting on sand and listening to the sound of waves in full sun. In my opinion yoga session there would be unforgettable experience. Most probably Asian guy had the same impression, because he didn’t move for long minutes from there and was consatantly destroying my picture frame.

All Algarve region is scenic with interesting coastline. Charming spots make it perfect sup tour destination in Europe. Moreover sunsets there are unique and different then anyway else.

What to wear for Stand Up Paddle?

What to wear for stand up paddle?
Stand up paddle is not very demanding sport in terms of clothing. You can wear whatever you want. However when we speak about paddling in more difficult weather conditions, for example out of summer season in Poland, it is good to buy the required minimum. Below you will find few tips, how to choose wetsuit and other clothes like UV protection lycra. I will share also my favourite bikini brand 🙂

Inspiration to write this post was my own experience. I needed to exchange my old wetsuit for a new one. I was asking question to myself: do I really need it? Also checking many wetsuit models online. Finally, I decided that the best would be, just like buying standard clothes, to go directly to surf shop and try few models on. As usually, I visited Easy Surf Shop in Poznan city, where I decided to buy Roxy wetsuit – 3/2 mm with long sleeves. It will be an ideal wetsuit for paddling in spring/autumn in Poland and staying longer time in water while visiting warmer countries. Watsuit looks perfect not only for SUP but also for other watersports like kitesurfing.


Wetsuit – do you need it or not?

Is wetsuit necessary for stand up paddle? I would say no, but if you want to paddle out of summer season in Poland it can be useful. It is a piece of cloth which keeps you warm. However if you think it is needed because of falling into the water, you are wrong. Believe me, after short training, you don’t fall into the water so often, so having a wetsuit for stand up paddle is not a must have.
If you want to be prepare for cold weather condition and use it for other watersports – go for it! How to choose the most suitable wetsuit?

Wetsuits differs by neopren thickness. These 6/5 mm are the wetsuits for autumn-winter time. Wetsuits with neopren thickness 3/2 mm are ok for warmer locations and spring-summer time in Poland. Speaking about wetsuit for stand up paddle, I recommend long john model – without sleeves. While paddling your body produce huge amount of heat and in wetsuit with long sleeves you can feel overheated after intensive training. Wearing long john wetsuit and windproof jacket, you get a perfect set even for spring or autumn stand up paddle session.
Additionally, to protect yourself from cold, I suggest to buy a waistcoat available in Decathlon shop. It is amazing! It is a combination of life vest produced from innovative textile, which also keeps your body warm. That’s a great solution for colder days before summer time. The advantage is that you don’t need to wear additionally PFD vest to take care of your safety while paddling.

Moreover in topic of wetsuits, I recommend new lifestyle brand Flyn&CO and their cool wetsuit design. This is a surfing brand, but in my opinion, it would be great also for stand up paddle. You will be amazed with this polish brand, from Wroclaw. Keeping my fingers crossed for them, because they create very stylish sports outfits!

Stand Up Paddle shoes

Do we need special stand up paddle shoes? In my opinion, not necessary. Stand up paddle shoes would be useful, if you have difficult entrance to the water, which can hurt your feet. However, same as with wetsuit, it is not necessary to own it, as you can just paddle in sports shoes. If you want to be fully equipped, I recommend buying neopren surfing or windsurfing shoes available in special watersports shops (windsurfing, kitesurfing, diving shops).

Advantages of stand up paddle shoes are few: they will keep you warm, you will not be afraid to get them wet and can protect your feet from stones or coral reefs. While choosing shoes, please pay attention if you feel comfortable, stabile and if sole doesn’t glide on board surface.

Special stand up paddle shoes are offered by Aquamarina brand. I didn’t have a chance to try it, so will not share my review on it. Soon some info or review from tests should appear on supsurfer.pl portal. You can check recommendations directly there. I personally paddle in windsurfing shoes during spring-autumn and with bare feet in summer or in tropical destinations.

Lycra

This is definitely my favourite outfit for stand up paddle! Lycra t-shirts provide UV protection and are a must have when you travel to tropical SUP destination. Without my lycra, I wouldn’t survive sup tour to Philippines (here you can read my post about good stand up paddle spots in Philippines) and would get serious sunburn. Lycras also looks great! My favourite brands producing lycras are Roxy and O’neil.

Lycras has different UV protection level. Mine have 50+ UV protection and are sufficient enough to prevent my skin from sun tan. Being exposed on sun all day long together with watersports activity requires protection against sun. Sunlight reflects from water surface and can cause serious sunburn. Lycra is the best way to protect your skin. The cloths dry super fast and are well fitted to figure. What is more surfing brands create great designs. As you can see lycras have only advantages. This is a must have for stand up paddle board!

sup lycra

Microbikinis

Last but not least… micro bikinis! If we want to get sun tan and show some skin, we can paddle in bikini. I suppose male companions will be pleased. I recommend Wicked Weasel brand – the only one world producer of microbikini called mikrokinis.
You will get perfect sun tan in these bikinis and believe me, there will be small amount of pale marks left on your body.

Wicked Weasel is a brand set up in Australia. They are present on mikrobikini market since 1994. Do not worry, they provide worldwide shipping. My mikrobikini reached Poland after 3 weeks and was definitely worth waiting. Yes, indeed they are very tiny piece of material, but you get perfect suntan and not often meet anyone else on a beach wearing the same model.

Leggings/shorts/top

Considering stand up paddle clothes for summer season, when your SUP skills are good enough that you do not fall into the water anymore, I recommend just to paddle in sports clothes. Leggings or shorts, top or t-shirt. Whatever is comfortable for you. I used to paddle in sports, quick dry clothes which usually I wear to gym or for running.

Truly speaking it is not important what you wear, paddling in summer time doesn’t require buying expensive clothes. The most important is to stay active.

See ya on water!

SUP Tour Philippines

20 March 2017
Posted in SUP Tour, Tagged , , ,

Nothing is better then travelling and exploring new places. It is even better to travel with Stand Up Paddle board. This post desribes our sup tour in Phillipines with Bass boards.

First question which appeared after booking flight tickets to Manila – capitol of Philippines – was how to transport the boards? It was first time we planned trip with these non-standard luggage and we had few concerns. How to pack boards properly to avoid any demages during transportation? How to check-in luggage? How to pack fragile paddle? There were a lot of questions, but now we are the experts.

If you are interested in tips how to transport stand up paddle board by plain check supsurfer.pl article where we described in details how we packed (sorry, it’s in polish only)

Stand Up Paddle boards which we took with us are produced by only polish SUP brand – Bass. These were iSUPs (inflatable stand up paddle boards) models: Breeze and not yet available on market, board we called Almond, which we got from Bass team for testing purpose.

Plan for Philippines was to try also SUP surfing, that’s why wider Breeze board model was great solution. Almond is a wave board model, so also ideally fitted to our plans. Both boards were pretty light, Breeze weight was around 10 kg and Almond even less because around 7 kg. This is only the weight of boards itself, we had to add paddle, pump, fins and backpacks. However whole luggage was less then 20 kg each, so sports equipment together with our private staff in backpack was checked-in at the airport without any problems.

Below you can find map with our sup tour route marked. Phillipines are spread among 7 tousands bigger and smaller islands. We had a hard choice to decide where to go. Finally we planned few internal flights, which was the most effective way of transportation beetwen the islands.

sup tour na Filipinach

After landing in capitol of Philippines – Manila – we headed to the north to search for SUP surf spots.

Surf spot no. 1 Baler – East Coast

First spot we have visited – it was Baler city at the east coast of Luzon Island. Luzon is the biggest from all Philippines islands. Surfing conditions there are amazing. Coast is washed by big waves of Philippinian Sea.
Unfortunatelly SUP surfer beginner can only watch there tricks presented by more experienced surfers. Waves, which we have seen were up to 5 meters. This is not a SUP surf spot where you can learn teh basics. Wave conditions
require experience in SUP surfing. It was even hard to get on water without being constantly turned back to the shore by upcomming waves. Definately this is a spot for SUP surf ninjas.
sup tour na Filipinach
sup tour na Filipinach


Surf spot no.2 San Juan, La Union – West Coast

Our next stop, this time perfect for SUP surfer beginners – San Juan. San Juan was more welcoming with smaller waves and huge amount of surfers learning there. All of them, starting from kids to adults, were tryin to catch a wave. First surf school was established here in ’80s, so this is a spot with surf tradition. It was also a great spot for long distance paddling nearby shore, as further from the coast, water was pretty calm and without waves. We got to know from the locals, that here are also SUP yoga classes organised. San Juan is a good spot for SUP surf beginners, however other places we’ve visited in Phillipines were more breath taking because of nature and surroundings.

SUP tour with SUP Tours Philippines on Bohol island

After first internal flight on Bohol Island, we decided to visit first place in the world where sup tours started to be organised – SUP Tours Philippines. Resort is located in 45 min car crive distance from main city. Placed next to amazing Loboc river is an eco&organic lifestyle spot. We stayed here for the night in bamboo bungalow (Fox and the Firefly Cottages) and next day joined sup tour on Loboc river. Stand Up Paddle on a calm river surrounded by palms in a scenry as Amazonka river was amazing. We felt like explorers discovering virgin exotic areas.
Sup tour finished on a beach, where we have found lost till now Bass team member – #likeaboss.
sup tour Filipiny
sup tour na Filipinach

Eco Bee Farm Resort i Panglao Island

Going with the eco flow next days we have spent on a bee farm on Panglao island. Bee Farm Resort is a place where bees are breed and from their honey various organic products are made. There is also organic vegetables farm and workshops with handmade products to support Phillipino manufacturers. This is a fantastic place for all organic freaks! Shop in resort is full of natural cosmetics, organic honey products, organic fruits, vegetables, tea, spices, eco souvenirs, rafia bags… everything 100% eco and handmade.
Panglao island has a lot to offer for stand up paddle boarders. Pretty coastaline and hidden beaches are my favourite thing. We have booked a boat and together with friendly belgian couple spent whole day island hopping.

El Nido – amazing Stand Up Paddle spot

After flight from Bohol island to Puerto Princessa on Palawan island and half day ride by van, we reached our destination, the most beautiful place we have seen in Philippines – El Nido. El Nido is the real dream spot for Stand Up Paddlers and tourists as well. Town is located in awesome harbour surrounded by fully green, rocky islands. Breathtaking! The best thing to do in El Nido is to hire a boat with a crew and do the island hopping to discover all paradise beaches, lagoons and small islands nearby. There is a lot of coral reefs all around El Nido therefore it is a great diving and snorkeling spot. SUP boards were with us every day on a boat while island hopping. With stand up paddle boards we could reach hidden beaches and explore lagoons.
One day we have rented scooters and drove with SUP backpacks to a wide beach nearby 40 km from the town. El Nido is a dream spot for Stand Up Paddle.

During our SUP Tour Phillipines we were travelling with SUP boards with very different kinds of transportation. Starting from flight by plain to typical philippino tricycle. It was unforgettable experience!
If you have visisted Philippines or you have travelled with SUP, please share your experience in comments below. Waiting to connect with other SUP travellers!
To see more pictures from sup tour in Philippines check our suptours.pl instagram account.
See ya on water!

Nautic SUP Paris Crossing 2016

It was cold morning, -2 degrees, 600 participants on starting point in yellow and pink t-shirts, water traffic on Seine river completly stopped.

This is how beginning of Nautic SUP Crossing Race looked like in Paris. There was 400 hundred amateurs, 100 professionalists and 100 participants in teams. As the winner of the race summed up “It was very cold, but lovely”.

Nautic SUP Paris Crossing 2016 route for professionalist it was 13.6 km. Amateurs had to paddle a litle bit shorter distance – 11 km. Despite minus temperature participants could admire the best views ever as Seine river is the most romantic scenery for stand up paddle race we have seen till now!

Below our photos from SUP race, which was an event created in paralell to Nautic Paris Boat Show – biggest indoor watersports exhibition in France which took place in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 3 to 11 december 2016.

This is how it started! 2 minutes before 8 am participants started their race in minus 2 Celsius degrees.
There were people standing and watchingthe race among all race route, standing on bridges and cheering up participants. Impressive that water traffic on Seine was stopped during SUP race.

On the central island, race divided into two groups. Amateurs headed straight, pros turned right to paddle allaround two island in centre of Paris. The biggest challenge for pros was paddling against the current for additional 3 km. With the current speed 1.5km/h it wasn’t easy!

This is almost finish line! Mini Statue of Liberty on Swan Island signalise, that there is only one kilometer left to completion.

We are impressed. First participant from amateurs group, after less than an hour crossed finish line. Some of racers looked exhausted, others ecstatic and certainly all of them very happy.

Winner in pros category – HASULYO Bruno – tries to catch a breath. There was his brother taking part in the same race. He owned a good handshake as well.

In the movie below, it is visible, that brothers are very proud from each others achievements.

What was Bruno’s win strategy? Just paddle, paddle as hard as possible. As he said “If you have a bad start, later you need to give everything you can”. We wonder what he meant by “bad start” as paddling 13.6 km took him only 1:17:13. What would happen if he had a good start then?

In an hour other tired amateurs and pros reached finish line. As olimpic idea says: “It is more important to take part then win” (P. De Coubertin). Belive us, when we touched water in Seine, we can tell you that with minus temperature and fight with cold already taking part in this race in such a beautiful scenery made you a winner.