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So You Want to SUP Surf? Yes, you can surf a standup paddle board! It is super fun and in some ways, easier to learn than prone surfing.  Here’s why: You don’t have to pop up.  In paddle surfing, you are already standing when you...

Your First Chattajack Race Guessing that a whole host of first-time Chattajack racers  are signed up for this year’s 32-mile sojourn down the Tennessee River Gorge in October. SUP paddling is booming because of the pandemic and the race was cancelled last year because of...

A Viewers Guide to Canoe-Kayak at the Tokyo Olympics It’s hard to believe but the 2020 Olympic Games are finally upon us, a year late in 2021.  Of course, that means from August 2 – 7 we’ll see Olympic canoe-kayak competition for the first time...

Editor's Note: It should be obvious that all of us at Paddle Monster LOVE paddling - we want everyone to love it! But if you have a bad experience on the water, especially one where your are injured or have a near miss, then...

Your Paddle is Your Best Friend When I first started paddling sprint canoe many years ago the first thing the coaches told me as I stepped into the canoe for the first time was “do not let go of your paddle”.   Sprint racing canoes...

SUP Travel: Let’s Talk about Waves and Beach Launches All this month, I am working from home which is Maui, Hawaii. (I know, I know, please don’t hate - I am originally from here so…) and my office view affords me a very picturesque panorama...

Types of SUP Paddling and the Boards You'll Need As more people are discovering the fun and benefits of standup paddling, many new paddlers I talk to are full of questions.  And many have absolutely no idea of the versatility and varieties of fun they...

I am always looking for a better hydration solution, especially when it comes to finding a bladder or bottle that is going to work well in multiple paddle craft. When I first saw the Modl Bottle hydration system, I was instantly intrigued by its...

Choosing your First Paddle It can be intimidating purchasing all of your SUP gear for the first time.  And expensive.  Understandably you don’t want to spend a fortune on your first set of equipment. But at the same time, you want to get stuff that...

How do I know which SUP leash to use? Buying a SUP? Don’t forget to get a leash to go with it!  Leashes save lives.  They are an important safety device for paddling because they keep you connected to your board, outrigger or surfski. But...

How do we know when its okay to go paddling? It's raining. It's kind of windy. There are whitecaps. The waves look big. How do I know if it's safe for me to go paddling? There is a fine line between testing yourself and progressing with...

Save a Paddle Kit   Beyond the obvious - leash, life jacket, water, communication, first aid - here's a cheat sheet for your Save A Paddle Kit...five things that can get you in the water, instead of heading for home when your gear fails. Provided you...

Using Tech for Paddling Alone Safely A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I wrote a post on handy apps to help you stay safer on water - especially if you paddle alone.  Let’s face it, despite the admonishions of well-meaning friends...

Fueling your Workouts the Right Way! Hello Paddlers!! Can you believe it’s May!!! This part of the year is always interesting. Some of you are coming from a deep freeze, snow and mostly land/cardio training.  Others, like us here in Florida, have been paddling all...

How to Get Back To Paddling Safely It’s that time of year -many of us are returning to our favorite paddle spots, so it’s time for a refresher on how to get back to paddling safely.  Last year during the onset of the pandemic, lots...

Ah spring! That wonderful time of year when nature explodes after the dark, dank grey of winter and re-ignites our paddling souls!  The air temperature warms up, and we dream of barefoot paddles, board shorts and bathing suits and refreshing dips in our local...

“If it is love that binds people to places in this nation of rivers and in this river of nations then one enduring expression of that simple truth, is surely the canoe.” When you're on the water the next time, regardless of what part of...

Watch and Listen to Coach Victoria Burgess review the importance of hydration. This overview will help you understand how to use hydration to your advantage and understand much more about how it affects your life and your paddling!

Sey Chelle’s Thread the Needle Sup Warmup This is a warm up exercise version of one of my all time favorite Thoracic spine openers, Thread the Needle Pose. This will open up all the intercostal muscles (rib cage) as well as the muscles underneath your...

Our Paddle Monsters are at it again. Scott Baste, John Knippers. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! We are so stoked for you! From John's Facebook Page: "Words can hardly describe how amazing yet also how extremely tough it really was though! Paddling 220 miles and portaging 20 of em' with no current...

This classic film was released in 2015 and is now available until 2022 FREE to watch here from Red Bull.  If you've never watched this movie, see where SUP transforms from flatwater fun to whitewater excitement in this beautifully made film. Award-winning director Johnny DeCesare...

It’s time to talk about leashes. Why we need them. What kind to use. What kind not to use and how to take care of them. Again.  Lots of new folks are joining us on the water during the pandemic so here's a primer. Why...

Falling the Right Way After our recent discussion on falling and not being afraid to, several folks suggested we follow up by talking about how to fall. Awesome idea! Knowing how to fall off a sup is a lot like knowing how to fall off a...

If you want to learn downwinding, especially if your goal is a North Shore Maui Maliko Run, there is no one better to learn from that the Jedi Master himself, Jeremy Riggs of Paddle with Riggs. This week, he dropped a great video on how...

Do you think the time you exercise or the intensity of your exercise affects your quality of sleep? Thirty four men and women participated in a one-week study on how the timing of their exercise and the intensity of their exercise affects their sleep...