August 2009 - Vermont Sports Magazine

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I magine standing up in a canoe with an extra-long paddle in hand, fi nding your balance, and paddling away. Anyone who has spent considerable time in a canoe has probably tried this while navigating shallow backwaters, or simply, to stretch out the legs. Now, replace that canoe with a long and stable surfboard, and continue paddling along your favorite lakeshore, into the open swells of Lake Champlain, or up a gentle river valley. This is stand up paddling, or SUP, as it is commonly referred to today. Although stand-up paddling is nothing new, the idea that it could be really fun has been spreading like wildfi re. SUP surfi ng, SUP racing, and SUP touring are a few emerging modern disciplines. For those who like to canoe and kayak, SUP touring offers a new and exciting way to experience Vermont’s calmer waters. Meanwhile, SUP surfi ng makes surfi ng river rapids and small waves great fun, and surfi ng big waves a whole new challenge. Many folks are getting into SUPing for the great core workout if offers, as a nice way to enjoy the view, or just for the fun of it. It takes little more than an old, neglected windsurfi ng board (9 to 11 feet in length) and a 6- to 7-foot-long wooden oar or homemade paddle to get going. However, I highly recommend heading over to Lake Champlain for an upcoming SUP demo or clinic, and then investing in the right board and paddle combo once you get going. Get comfortable with this sport, and the options become unlimited: SUP touring around your favorite lakes, SUPing up and down deeper Vermont rivers, SUP surfi ng. Recently, a stand-up paddler, 32-year-old Jon “Shaggy” McLaughlin from Oregon, completed the 150 mile New York section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in his canoe. He’ll be back next summer for more. Brian Mohr rarely lets a day go by without paddling a river, climbing a mountain, or wandering up a stream bed. You can reach Brian through his website, www. EmberPhoto.com. Stand-Up Paddling BY BRIAN MOHR PHOTOS BY BRIAN MOHR AND EMILY JOHNSON, WWW.EMBERPHOTO.COM Gary Kohner, a SUP-surfi ng enthusiast, drops into an overhead wave, courtesy of Hurricane Kyle, off the Massachusetts coast. The author paddles upstream on the Winooski River in pursuit of a surf-able standing-wave. 12 Vermont Sports August 2009
Above: Floating takes on a whole new meaning when you stand-up paddle. Right: With a little practice, you can get around swiftly and easily, and enjoy a view like this one on a pond in Woodbury, VT. MORE INFO This summer’s SUP clinics and workshops on Lake Champlain: Stormboarding August 9—SUP Family Days August 14—Maritime Fest Waterfront SUP Tour August 15—Maritime Fest SUP Treasure Hunt September 4—Full Moon SUP Tour September 6—SUP Family Days October 4—Full Moon SUP Tour Visit www.stormboarding.com for info about SUP clinics, fi tness outings, races, board sales and more, or contact Rachael, 802-578-6120, Rachael@stormboarding.com. PaddleSurf Champlain Wednesdays, 5 p.m. to dusk— Rentals, instruction, tours at Oakledge Park. Saturdays, noon to dusk—Rentals, instruction, tours at Oakledge Park. Visit www.paddlesurfchamplain.com for more info or contact Jason Starr, 802-881-4905, Jason@paddlesurfchamplain.com. August 2009 Vermont Sports 13
Page 1 and 2: FREE! SPORTS MEDICINE � RETAIL JU
Page 3 and 4: VERMONT SPORTS Publisher Chris Blau
Page 5 and 6: TRIATHLON PROVES ITS ENDURANCE Burl
Page 7 and 8: HAPPINESS IS A COLD CREEMEE I have
Page 9 and 10: S ULTRA RIDES A LONG TIME IN THE SA
Page 11: Illustration by Shawn Braley GIBBON
Page 15 and 16: CO-SPONSORS OF THE 2009 RACEVERMONT
Page 17 and 18: VS: You recently ran your fi rst ma
Page 19 and 20: 19 12th annual Terry & Ben Claassen
Page 21 and 22: VERMONT SUN SPRINT TRIATHLON #2 Jul
Page 23 and 24: FJG Race To The Top Of VT Run, Hike

August 2009 - Vermont Sports Magazine

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