Stand up paddle surfing.

Stand up paddling surfing seems to be really taking off. While visiting my secret boat building bat cave in California I thought I should give it a try. Bryon, long time friend of PeakUK and board shaper/boat builder, hooked Heather and I up with a paddle board. Heather another friend of PeakUK is a surfer, and surf model, so she was excited to give SUP surfing a go.






















Ok I assumed it would be easy, the board is huge, I think it was 12 feet long, the width of a sidewalk, how hard could it be? Well on flat water, its easy, you just cruise around, but once the waves come, well it does take a lot of balance. I found myself in the shark infested water much more than I wanted to be (I saw Jaws when I was young, every body of water is a potential shark buffet in my mind).
















As a kayaker I am used to using my core, standing and paddling, really worked my back. I was surprised how much of a work out it was. The nice thing is being that its a barge, and once you get it moving, you catch all waves regardless of size. The downside its a barge, and once you get going it is not easy to turn.


















Heather has years under her belt surfing everything from short boards to long boards. She is also so light that she caught riffles on the board. Not having much paddling experience she would use the paddle to catch the waves and then pick it up and surf normal. She never quite got the bracing part of it down.






















I finally gave up on it, and went back to board surfing. It is a lot of fun, and I can see while on small days and for getting a work out, why its catching on so fast.

October in Kentucky

I am excited to publish my first blog post with Peak UK. Extended drought here in the Southeast prevented much kayaking this summer, but with the change of colors, the dams start releasing in West Virginia and Kentucky. Luckily I paddled my Session + enough at the local hole to feel good about taking it down the Russell Fork.
I showed my buddy down the river for his first time, and he jumped out at Second Drop to take this shot of my going for the eddy (photo: Jed Hinkley).

It was my first day in the Peak Creek Drytop, and it earned it's keep. Not only did I stay bone dry (even in the playboat), but it saved my elbows in this slot(photo: Jed).

I love this hole. If you jump in, make sure you have a good roll. It is right above the main drop of El Horrendo. Check back for another update from Kentucky, Tennessee, or NC next month (photo: Drew Austell).