I really don’t think Jimmy Buffet was thinking about stand up paddle boarding with his 1979 hit “Fins” but the collection at the Gorge Performance shop is certainly song-worthy.

If you are paddling around with the stock fin your board came with, it is time to consider your options.

Stand up paddle fins tend to fall in four categories to meet the requirements of where and how you are paddling.

1. Speed
2. Stability
3. Weed
4. Surf

When first starting out with SUP a larger fin is ideal because a increased size equals more stability.  Increased size also results in increased drag, so once you are comfortable paddling you want to look to find that balance with a smaller fin to maximize speed.

It is also important to adjust your fin placement when necessary. Moving your fin toward the back of your board will increase your directional stability. Want to turn easier, you guessed it, move your fin forward.

Not sure what fin is right for you. The shop has lots of fins available to demo. Explore the water with a different fin and feel the difference. Maybe that little piece of plastic or fiberglass on the underside of your board is holding you back.

FCS - Weed Racing 10" Fin

Futures Karen Wrenn Flat Water Racing Fin

FCS Danny Ching 9" Racing Fin

Futures SUP Surf Fins

Two recent tragedies involving stand up paddlers this past weekend should be a reminder to all of us that no matter how easy and fun SUP can be, the power and danger of water still exists. Closest to home, a 39 year-old woman died in Gold Beach, Oregon on the Checto River when her surfboard leash caught on a snag and she was trapped underwater. A 50 year-old Tampa, Florida man went missing while paddling on Saturday night. His board washed up on shore along with his wallet, car keys and cellphone.

Here are a few things to consider before you head out on your next paddle to ensure it’s not your last.

Think about the type of water you will paddling. A board leash can be a great precaution, but when paddling close to shore or through debris it can be dangerous. One solution is a quick-release waist leash that can be detached easily should it get snagged. 

If you are a newbie, consider a location with minimal or no current. Vancouver Lake is a great spot to paddle and less then 20 minutes from Portland.

Many of us paddle solo, but beginners should use the buddy system until they have mastered the basics.

Evaluate water temperature and discharge rate. The USGS website provides information on both measurements as well as water height. Gorge guru Bob Rueter recommends paying particular attention to discharge rate. While a gallon of water may only weigh around 8 lbs, a cubic foot of water weights nearly 62.5 lbs. Now consider that the Willamette river can have a flow rate as high as 200,0oo cubic feet per second and you begin to understand how powerful our little river can be.

Be extra cautious around docks and anywhere where the river flow is condensed.  This is very noticeable right now near the Sellwood Bridge construction area.

If launching from a dock, always depart from the down current side.

Watch the flow around buoys to gauge current. When paddling across current (such as coming around Ross Island heading for Willamette Park) look across the river and keep two points in sight. One point should be on shore and one just behind it upstream of your target.

Never paddle without your PFD.

So head out this weekend and enjoy the beauty and power of our waterways in Oregon. But be careful, we want to see you back in the shop next week.

Do you have a safety tip or words of wisdom about paddling our local waterways?  Share it with us in the comments below.

The average Portlander, spends 24 minutes commuting to work according to the 2010 census data. The 2009 American Community Survey shows that 6.1 percent of Portland’s commuters take public transportation and 2.3 commute by bicycle.  But no one in either of those surveys asked Cyril Burguiere how he gets to work each day. Cyril stand up paddle commutes daily on the Willamette River, rain or shine. Gorge Performance spoke with Cyril recently about his commuting experience.

GP: You are an avid outdoor enthusiast and accomplished SUP racer, but when and how did you combine your passion for SUP with the commute to work?

Cyril's 2.5 mile commute is a great opportunity to improve technique and fitness. photo: Erik Urdahl

CYRIL: Ever since moving to Portland to seek out a better work/life balance, I have biked to work. My wife and I sold our second car and I never bothered to figure out the bus route. Some of my colleagues who know of my passion for SUP joked that someday I’d probably show up to work in wetsuit with paddle in hand. After laughing about it every so often with them and wondering about how I could maximize my training through this winter without sacrificing more family time, I decided to give the commute a go in early November 2011. My home and office are both located within 3 blocks of the Willamette River and the marina provides great amenities so the setup is perfect

GP: Where do you put in, take out and store your board?
CYRIL: Put in is at the Willamette Park boat dock, south of downtown; take out and storage at the Downtown River Place Marina (between Marquam and Hawthorne Bridges)

GP: What is a typical morning commute like? 

All tied down and ready to go

CYRIL: I get up around 6:15am and don’t have to hit snooze because I’m excited to go paddle! I clean up, eat a large bowl of oatmeal and pack my lunch. I usually ready my dry bag the night before with work clothes, shoes, towel, wallet, work badge, keys and phone. I suit up and head out (6:45am) with bag strapped over shoulder and board and paddle in hand. My walk is two blocks to the Willamette Park boat dock, across the busy Macadam Avenue (the worst section of commute). I’m usually on the water by 7am and my route depends on what I am trying to accomplish in my training. Straight 2.5 miles to work on light days; many more miles on other days – I sometimes get creative and see new areas of the river. At the marina, I store my gear, shower up, dress for work and head to work stoked from my morning exercise!

GP: How about gear – Board? Paddle? Dry Bag?
CYRIL: I use the same gear I race with, because I want to get dialed on it as much as possible – my sponsors’ high performance gear are the KIALOA Toro paddle and the Boardworks Surf M&M 14’ board. My dry bag is made by Seattle Sports specifically for SUP. It holds everything I need, has a flat base and clips for possibility of hooking up to board.

GP: Is anyone on the river or are you out there alone?  I picture those who commute on public transportation seeing the same people each morning on the train or the same crowd at the coffee shop – is the river like that at all? Do you pass the same fishermen each day?
CYRIL: This is an interesting question. So far, I’ve pretty much had the waterway to myself. I’m guessing a lot of people recognize me, the ‘crazy guy’ with the ‘long surfboard thing’. For me the faces I recognize are those of some rowing coaches (rowers are quite dedicated!), the workers on the new downtown Portland streetcar bridge, the marina manager that greets me each day, and the fishermen on the banks (I stay away from boats). There are two fishermen on the East bank of the river that always smile and wave at me. I see many birds, but the three geese at the marina crack me up – they never seem to get along, chasing each other and hissing at each other.

A fellow commuter on the way to work.

GP: Describe your worst commuting experience or funny event that happened while commuting?
CYRIL: My worst and most memorable commute was me and my SUP against Mother Nature during a stormy week in February. The temperature was in the 30s, the river was high and flowing very fast, and it was raining hard with strong winds from the South. I was commuting home (south) under diming light and everything was coming at me. As it was, the river was dropping me to about 50-60% speed and the winds between Ross Island and the South Waterfront were gusting so high my speed on the GPS was reading 0 mph at times. The rain was flying horizontally and the water was quite choppy. I dropped to my knees, devastating for a Stand Up Paddler, to reduce my exposure to the wind and managed to paddle home in twice the time it normally takes. I loved that experience and the challenge of it!

The funniest commute was when I saw a sea lion, must have followed the salmon up river, and I managed to take photos of it while flowing towards it with the river current. It didn’t like me getting so close and proceeded to come at me with jaw wide open – scared the hell out of me!

GP: What do you enjoy most about SUP Commuting?
CYRIL:I enjoy so many things about it. I’m a morning person and love to start my day with a big bowl of oatmeal and a workout. The fitness is a big one, as I feel myself getting stronger everyday through repetition and that makes me more confident as a person. I love incorporating sport into my lifestyle – I’m no longer a weekend warrior. I also like how close it puts me to our beautiful surroundings – having only SUP commuted since November, I am only scratching the surface on this one. The SUP experience in Portland provides sensory overload if you pay attention and each day and time of day is different. I am seeing the changing seasons, smelling spring blossoms, seeing different birds, fishing seasons based on the fishermen and the sea lion,

Cyril unloads at the Marina after the commute. Photo courtesy of Erik Urdahl.

progress of the new downtown bridge and Sellwood Bridge from a great vantage point. Last of all, I like that my daughters get to see me exercising every day and doing something atypical – I hope this will influence them.

GP: Where do you commute to?
CYRIL: I’m a project manager in the wind energy industry, and have been fortunate enough to manage 0.5% of the entire globes installed wind power capacity due to the excellent growth of the industry, the improved technology of our wind turbines, and my employer’s confidence. We will be moving offices to the Pearl District, so I will have to add a bike or run segment in and complete a ‘duathlon’ each day.

GP: Anything else you would like to add?
CYRIL: Typical questions and myths from bystanders – aren’t you cold? No, never. When I SUP, I work hard and usually have to shed layers. Do you fall in? No, the boards are quite stable and paddler’s balance improves quite fast. Practicing in the ocean and the Columbia River makes the Willamette River easy.

Pet Peeve: I’m quite impressed with how little trash floats down the Willamette River, as compared to some other places I’ve lived, especially since this river drops and rises so much. Seeing trash in and close to the river drives me nuts! I try to collect it each time I’m out on the water.

GP: Thanks Cyril – you are an inspiration!

While it may not be possible for all of us to travel by SUP to work, Cyril should have all of us thinking about how we can incorporate more SUP into our everyday lives. Maybe it is time to try paddling downtown for coffee and the farmers market this Saturday or a paddle date for dinner. Who wants to join me? Have a question for Cyril? Use the comments section below.

Portland’s occasional sun breaks have us all dreaming about the spring stand up paddle season. The problem is many of our boards have not seen action since late last fall. You could put the board back in the water on the next sunny day and hope for the best, but why not try these three simple steps to get ready for spring.

Inspect and repair your SUP

Dust your board off and give it a through inspection. Pay close attention to the nose, tail and fin boxes.  These are the most common areas for damage. If you find a crack, test it to see if it is through to the core. To test, spray 409 (or any soap that will bubble) on the crack while it sits in the sun. If the crack bubbles then you need to repair your board. If no bubbles appear, no repair is necessary and you should just keep an eye on it. If you are unsure about a crack or ding swing it by the shop.

Funny enough, most dings occur putting the board on and off the car. Prevent future dings with the new LIFTSUP handle. This handle sits flush with the deck when not in use, then pops up like a suitcase handle to make carrying and loading your board a breeze. They are $139 installed (or $39 for you DIY folks). Honestly, it’s a small investment to protect your board (and shoulder rotator cuff) from damage.

Set your 2012 goals

Do you want to paddle more? Do you want to get around Ross Island faster? Are you looking to explore new water? Are you SUP-ing to improve your fitness? What about improving your technique? Write your goals down and post them in a prominent place (research shows this increases your likelihood of success.) If you are a recreational paddler, why not consider a race? There is no better way to push yourself then with a date and distance marked on your calendar. The Ross Island SUP Challenge is May  19 & June 2. With both an elite class (8.3 miles) and a recreational class (4.3)  miles this race offers something for everyone. Register or get more information here.

Get you core back in shape

Now that your board is looking it’s best and your mind is focused, it is time to pay attention to your body. One of the best things about SUP is the way it works our entire body. For many that is hard to replicate in the winter. Here are two links to  great core exercises designed by and for stand up paddlers. Most can be done with little or no equipment right at home (although it always looks better when they do it on a sunny beach.) A little work ahead of time should decrease those 12 ibuprofen days this spring.

Strengthen Your Core with Nikki Gregg

More on the Core with Suzie Trains Maui

What are your plans to get ready for the SUP season? Share your tips and goals in the comments below.

Fred Noble, a local skiing legend (and friend of Gorge), was was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. As a life-long skier (he’s a 74-years-young), this disease is not going to keep Fred off of the slopes.

The event was launched to raise much needed funds for all families in Oregon and SW Washington who are coping with the daily struggles of living with ALS.  In this inaugural year, all expectations have been exceeded.

The goal was to recruit 500 participants and volunteers to raise $100,000. Mission accomplished! Registration for the event has closed (max capacity) but the money is still pouring in. Gorge will be up there hanging out at our tent, jammin’ with Moe Dixon and doing our best to support the cause. Stop by and say hi if you are up there.

Here’s a little clip of Fred doing what he does best….heli skiing in Canada. GO FRED!

The Fredinator from Holmes & Johnson productions on Vimeo.

If you are looking for a new paddle or considering adding an adjustable paddle to you stockpile, the LeverLock adjustable system from Kialoa is worth investigating. Over one and a half years in the making this concept has some great innovation .

While a  lightweight and properly sized paddle is still ideal, the new Kialoa is perfect for families with growing kids.  It is also just the paddle you want around for friends. After all, introducing new people to SUP is almost as much fun as SUP-ing.  Of course that assumes you have an extra board on hand.

The Pupu Keiki model has a smaller blade profile and is sized for the younger paddler.  I put it to the test with my own keiki and she was able to make the adjustments herself.

Eight year old Melanie uses the Leverlock system to adjust the paddle with ease

A little adjustment by Bob made the lever lock even easier to operate

We have the new paddles in stock so come check them out.  What is your experience with adjustable paddles – handy to have around or pain in the board shorts?

We’re excited about this new SUP from Riviera, the 12’6 Voyager. This is a great flat water cruiser that is beginner-friendly by design (box rails for stability), but its hull shape is quite advanced in terms of displacement and glide performance. Great for true newbs and/or paddlers interested in touring or racing. At $1099, it’s quite reasonable. Add a quality paddle and you’re set for the season. Here’s what Riviera have to say about it…
 

 
 
Maybe you know someone who would be interested in this? Feel free to share! We’ll have a few in stock next week.
 
Cheers,
Gorge Crew

I’ve not seen the film yet, so I’m shamelessly ripping this review from filmmakermagazine.com…

Earning the award for Documentary Feature was Adam Pesce’s Splinters, deceptively clad as a surfing film about the sport’s rise in Papua New Guineau but more pointedly an engrossing, endlessly surprising examination of social hierarchies, clan rivalries, and economic and cultural change within the region. In recent years a wave of sports films set in unusual locations have appeared at festivals—Skateistan, about skaters in Kabul, for instance, or God Went Surfing With the Devil, about Palestinian surfers—but Splinters stands out for its focus not on those bringing the sport from one culture to another, but on the culture learning to accept the sport.

The film follows several PNG surfers from the village of Vanimo as they prepare for an upcoming contest; like any good sports doc, Splinters offers up fast-talking showboaters, unassuming talents, underdogs, villains, and sudden plot twists, along with the prerequisite shots of breaking waves, skillful surfers, and sun-kissed beaches. What makes Splinters a great sports doc—and a great documentary in general—is its focus on the social structure that supports (or destroys) the surfers, and on the rapid cultural upheaval that surrounds them.

More from the official site. Here’s the trailer….

Splinters – Theatrical Trailer from SnagFilms on Vimeo.

Splinters is showing at the Clinton Street Theater February 17 – 23rd. And check this out…if you go early to the February 17th showing you can catch a free screening of Bike Smut, An evening of Short Erotic Bike Films. Really? I couldn’t find a trailer, so you’ll just have to use your imagination.

We know you’re still in full-on winter mode (thanks to the recent dumping on Hood) but that doesn’t mean we’re not thinking about the SUP season ahead. Lots of new boards on the market – both to introduce the sport of SUP, and to accommodate your need for speed on the race course.

For the novice paddler, we have a new board/paddle package from Jimmy Styx called the Surge.

The Surge is a hybrid SUP specifically designed to provide novices a great performing board in a variety of water conditions. The board is plenty wide for added stability while maintaining room to grow and enjoy the sport for years to come. At only $849, the Surge is truly an affordable way to get into the sport, or a great board to add to your quiver for sharing your new pastime with friends and family.

We’re especially excited about some new boards from Surftech. The B1 Bomber is a bomb-proof board designed to withstand anything you throw at it. It will encourage you to play more, and play harder, on your SUP without it spending more time in for repairs than you spend on the water. Check this video to see what we mean.

In the race board category, Surftech introduces the Laird 14′ Race and the Jamie Mitchell 14′ Navigator. Both are light-weight, wicked fast, and just plain COOL looking. Pro models are often misleading because the pros paddling them could probably paddle a piece of plywood faster than most of us, but Bob actually first saw the Mitchell as it sped past him (paddled by an amateur paddler) on the race course at the BOP. Both boards are impressive, at any level. By the way, we happen to have one of the Lairds available to demo, but only for a short time (it’s on loan from the Surftech rep). Jump on it!

We also have new carbon race paddles in stock from our good friends at Ke Nalu. These paddles are silly light, incredibly stiff, and creatively designed for maximum efficiency.  Don’t underestimate the power of a proper race paddle…. it’s every bit as important as the craft under your feet. Yes, paddling technique plays an integral part, but stroke efficiency is critical. A good paddle will enable you to apply that technique you are working so hard to master.

Speaking of SUP racing, we just set the first date for our local 2012 Gorge Performance SUP Race Series! Mark your calendar for May 19th. This first race will be at Oaks Park with the familiar course around Ross Island. New this year will be a 2-lap long course for the Elites. We’re exploring other event sites for the June races. We’ll keep you posted.

The best way to get Gorge news fast and first is to LIKE us on Facebook.

Enjoy the amazing weather this week!

Gorge Crew

To be honest, it’s not fair to claim I’ve discovered a “new” favorite beer. I never had an “old” favorite beer. Living in the NW we’re spoiled with so many good beers it’s really tough to single one out. But that has all changed for me….. I’m in love.

Our friends at Kona Brewing left a very nice “tip” for their SUP rentals the other day (yes, they were SUPing in JANUARY!). Had it not been for this generous variety pack gesture, I may not have discovered the Kona Koko Brown.

Except for noting the SUP paddler on the label, I didn’t pay attention to the beer’s description. I was thirsty, it was a beer. ‘Nuff said. It took only one sip to know this was not your average brown ale. I couldn’t pinpoint the flavor at first, I just knew it was unique, and AMAZING. Once I realized it was the overtones of toasted coconut, it was an obvious ah ha moment. Many more sips ensued, you know, just to be sure it was coconut. Yep, I’m sure.

Here’s what Kona say about the beer…

Is there anything more iconic of the lush tropics than the coconut? The delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise. Kick back with a Koko Brown, brewed with real toasted coconut, and savor the mahogany color and smooth, roasty malt taste.

I’m sure you’re assuming they put me up to this review. Not a chance. I just felt compelled to share. Some things in life are just like that. Go find yourself some Koko Brown and enjoy your mental beer-cation to the Islands.

Cheers!