Oktoberfest SUP Race

This past Saturday, standup paddleboarders from as far North as Virginia Beach and as far South as Charleston, SC came together at REAL Watersports to participate in the second race of REAL’s Fall SUP Race Series. The race took place in the Pamlico Sound with the option of a short course and a long course. The short course was a 3.5 mile downwinder that started at the Salvo Day Use recreation area and finished at the REAL Flagship Store in the Village of Waves. The long course required racers, after completing the short course, to then turn upwind and circle Slick Island. Fifteen paddlers competed in the event.

REAL employee Patrick Kasic won the Men’s Short Course in 33:58.
REAL employee Eric "Numbers" Nelson won the Men’s Long Course in 54:01.
Naish Team Kiteboarder, Gretta Kruesi, won the Women’s Short Course in 38:46.

REAL will be hosting one more SUP race this Fall. The next race will be on Saturday, November 28th.

ALL ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE and there is no cost to register. Whether you're a seasoned distance paddler or a beginner, we encourage you to come out and join the fun!

Standup paddle boarding is quickly becoming the fastest growing water sport in Cape Hatteras. It is now quite common to see two or three standup paddleboarders mixed in with the surfers at any local surf break. Additionally, on a light wind day, you now see as many SUPs as kayaks in the Pamlico Sound. What's the reason for this growth? Standup paddling is an extraordinary, full body workout. It's also great for your balance. For men, women and children of all ages, standup allows easy access to the miles and miles of flat, waist deep water that the Pamlico Sound has to offer. Likewise, many kiteboarders seeking "no wind" activities are being drawn to the sport. Whether it be in the flat water or the surf zone, the balance, endurance and paddle skills required to master the sport keep people coming back for more.

Naish SUP Summer Race Series - Labor Day Weekend

This past Saturday, standup paddleboarders from around the country kicked off the 2009 Naish SUP Summer Race Series at REAL. The race took place in the Pamlico Sound with a 3.5 mile course that started and ended at the REAL Flagship Store in the Village of Waves. Fifteen paddlers fought upwind for a mile before rounding the first buoy. They then paddled southwest to the second buoy placed 1/2 mile offshore and continued downwind around Slick Island to the finish. REAL employee Eric "Numbers" Nelson was the first to cross the finish with a time of 47:47.01. Local chef, Victoria Lowe, won the woman's competition.

Standup paddle boarding is quickly becoming the fastest growing water sport in Cape Hatteras. It is now quite common to see two or three standup paddleboarders mixed in with the surfers at any local surf break. Additionally, on a light wind day, you now see as many SUPs as kayaks in the Pamlico Sound. What's the reason for this growth? Standup paddling is an extraordinary, full body workout. It's also great for your balance. For men, women and children of all ages, standup allows easy access to the miles and miles of flat, waist deep water that the Pamlico Sound has to offer. Likewise, many kiteboarders seeking "no wind" activities are being drawn to the sport. Whether it be in the flat water or the surf zone, the balance, endurance and paddle skills required to master the sport keep people coming back for more.

REAL will be hosting two more SUP races this Fall. The next race will be on Saturday, October 10th, followed by Saturday, November 28th. All are welcome to participate and there is no cost to register. Whether you're a seasoned distance paddler or a beginner, we encourage you to come out and join the fun! Stay tuned for more information on those events.

Naish SUP Summer Race Series Comes to REAL!

Click here for more information on this great event and to register!

SUP photos

First Ride

Yesterday I caught my first wave on a standup paddle board. I've been doing a lot of flat water paddling and can now paddle six miles or so at a clip without much fatigue. I'm hoping to race in the 2nd annual PaddleNYC which is a 28 mile race around the island of Manhattan in August.

http://www.seapaddlenyc.org/

So I've been working on my endurance...which, in paddling sports, for me seems to come very naturally. But I had not ventured into the ocean, which is much trickier than flat water, since early Spring, still in a thick wetsuit. Yesterday, in beautiful, warm turquoise water, I was paddling in board shorts. And after paying my dues with some serious wipeouts and lots of falling off going on, something clicked. My timing is better. My acceleration is better. I'm using the paddle to brace myself, recover and extend my ride down the line. I caught three or four nice long rides. Even got two compliments from the beach! So right now my stoke level is sky high.

Another sport to master. Another art form to explore. Another step forward in my quest to be a waterman.