Can’t believe I haven’t posted this yet!! Well, I became the top placing Canadian at this years M2M!! It was an amazing experience that was insanely challenging for the first 22k. It was humbling and painful. I buckled up and got it done in the second half and even passed a few people. Not that that is what the race is about but, I had the desire to be the best Canadian! Lucky. Thank you so much to my fantastic wife Aki and Marcus from Ryders Eyewear!! Bart and Dagmar, Elle from M2M, Pete and Lincoln for letting me hang of your coat tails and everyone else on that beautiful island! Ohhh, and my captain, Joe,Thank you.#m2msuprace, #m2m, #ryderseyewear, #sup4life, #suptouring, #supracing, #thatguyarne,

Who would think that on a lovely over cast rainy day that one would ride waves let alone more than one in Howe Sound, B.C? Yup, surf sess in full affect. With a 14foot race/touring board. It wasn’t your normal session as the winds were 20 to 30k and swells were a foot or two and it was raining and over cast. My plan was to zig zag all the way to Watts Point once we got out of Blind Channel but we had to much fun running the runners to the beach. We would turn around and head back out a couple of hundred meters and do it again! It was back tiring, shoulder burning awesomeness!! I got a bunch of nice runners but one really good solid wave? picked me up and carried me right to shore!! In the immortal words of Luc Benac, “I stepped back, then back, and back again again and all right!! or there a bouts from a few weeks ago. Same thing, gotta step back, and I did. So much fun!! #ryderseyewear, #andylogan, #blackfishpaddles, #suplife.

The wind rips across the near frozen water with temperatures nearing the devils ball sac of pain. The biting reality of darkness approaching before your last break and all you want to do is paddle. Well, its winter in the north 40.

All that may be said but one thing I learned for sure about paddling in the winter is to still have the same fun I had in the summer but with a heck of a lot of specialized clothing.

To start with if your planning on going in the ocean in the middle of winter there are many things to consider before you even go out. I always check my weather sites and check out that  days report because it can change without notice and once your out there you have to fend for yourself. I always let my wife or text a friend in the area my intent just so they have knowledge on what I plan on doing. Timing is super critical because of the short days also. I like to train with a partner if possible. A route plan is another helpful idea.

The gear as well as a fit body is also helpful as winter is much different as far as fatigue and the cold together. If the conditions are not good it seems to get amplified in the cold. Hence, why I love my drysuit!! They are the best! If you encounter rough conditions there is nothing better than knowing you have the suit on. I never like to fall in but that piece of equipment is paramount to staying safe out there. I also always use a PFD in the ocean, solo or with others. Its just safer. Like a leash, which is just a standard necessity. As far as layers or specifics, everyones body is different and reacquires a wider range of options. i run cold usually so I like to be warm. My mantra is, ‘I rather be warm than cold!” I use micro tights under neath the suit with wool or synthetic boxers. I love micro fleeces as they are great layers. Poly-pro and specialized companies making specific first layers are breaking ground and allowing us to stay warmer longer. Smart wool is amazing and almost odour free. Foot wear is one of hardest to peg as I wear thick wool socks with my 8mm booties, and, on long paddles I put reflective insoles in my drysuit to help stop the cold of the board from transmitting that said cold, though, sometimes I still get cold! I haven’t spent the money on the heated sock thing but many love them. As I mentioned, they are finite and if you are doing a long paddle the batteries might die, which sucks. For my hands I use 3mm neoprene gloves which are good up to -10 celcius and moderate wind. Though, I find I can paddle in colder weather as long as the output is strong. I always wear a ball cap  or toque but I might throw on a micro fiber neck warmer that I can pull up if I need it. The last things that I wear are a exterior micro shell and my surf shorts. Reason being is that the shell will give me an extra layer of wind stopping ability that helps keep me warmer longer. The shorts I use have many pockets and zippers for all my needs. Like water, energy food, my id, camera, money and phone. Which is also a must, in particular if you are solo.

There you have the basic list of what I wear when I paddle in the winter. Everyone is different and has unique requirements so let this be a good start point and go have some fun!!

cheers!!

Hi, well, that was fun!  I figured I had to cross this one off the books so I did!!!  It took me 7.42mins! I didn’t really stop or sit down. I just kept plugging away!! Right in the middle of Howe Sound!! There was some headwinds and some swell I had to fight but it could have been worse. Overall it was tough but super awesome and I am stoked to have done it, solo or not!! 45K!! woot, stay tuned for the next big adventure. #bogasup, #bogaboards

 

GOPR2212

Some may know but for most of you that don’t the allure of catching our dinner from our paddle boards is something we have tried for a while. We spent much money in search of this goal to only be usurped many times. Well, are luck changed the other day!! We got crabs!! Not the kind you get from a rambunctious evening about town but the ones from the ocean!! Only two, but, they were the best two!! One red and one dungeness. If someone doesn’t understand the challenges involved, let me explain. First, you have to have a paddle board, in our case. Then, you have to have all the gear. Then, I know, no more and then, you have to know how to use the gear and be able to stay upright on the board. The last two times have proven to be quite challenging. The wind and waves were not cooperating. The hauling in of the traps in stormy seas on a board is something to consider highly!! Either way it was a great day with a great outcome. We giddily drove home with the notion that we finally got a part of dinner!! We shared them with the wives and a friend and enjoyed a happy evening thanking the little critters for jumping in to our crab nets and we thank you! Also, some super stokey news!! I just got sponsored! It has seemed like forever since I was last sponsored, which was over ten years ago. Either way I am super happy to announce that http://www.backendgear.com will be sponsoring many of my and our upcoming missions!! I look forward to help them grow as a company and give the best feedback possible as a ambassador. Here is to a great future with a wonderful new product! As always, stay tuned for more exploits soon!! cheers   #backendgear, #crablife, #crabsforlife, #blackfishpaddles, #crabbingisthelifeforme, #whowantstogocrabbing,

Hi!!

Its my least favourite time of the year! Its cold, wet and wild! And….. I have to put on either rubber suits or ones that are rubbery? with some sort of limited breathability.  Man, I long for the summer days when I don’t have to wear anything but my body’s!! ahhhhh. I am not saying I don’t like snow or skiing or snowboarding anymore, its just that Suping is so awesome and I want to do it every day but can’t. Either way I am living in a great spot that allows me to do both without that much concern. Just a little drive either direction and bam! I am in happy country!! So, make the most out of your day and have fun no matter what you do!! ps, I am going skiing tomorrow! Wanna come?

Well, this year is again as all years very interesting. And I am not talking about the freaking election. I am talking about supping!! This was/is a great year for firsts!! I was lucky with good weather and not that bad winds, heck, I even had a bit of a tail wind coming back on the west side of the island! Awesome!! Finishing that race  I decided that it was time to step it up and do something longer. After looking at what events are long I realized, there is nothing longer in a true race format than Bowen, so…  The idea was to do 55k!! All around green lake and I would raise some money for charity. I did both in the end, raised money for wag and completed the 55k in 9:57 minutes!! Yup!! No swell assist or wind to really speak of to help us, which is ok, sorta. I did it. Now, time for some longer ones. I am planning some cool things in the future and will keep you sort of up to date! cheers and go paddle!!

It just turned to May and we have already hit 30 degrees. I screwed up my first phone, paddled hundreds of kilometres, traveled around the world and went to Tsukiji market in tokyo. Jeez, this year is turning in to a kicker. Became one of the only white? guys to circumnavigate lake Sowa in the Chino district of Nagano, 20k. Lets hope the rest of the year is as exciting as the first part!! woot woot, go paddle boarding!!

Well, it may signal negativity to some, but others relish the onset of new. Me, kinda excited about what the new will hold. Were I will go, how I will do and, will I get a new board? hehe. All the wonderful thoughts about the new year. As far as 2015 it was a tough one but I learned a lot and obviously I will keep learning cuz thats the type of guy I am!! Had some great fall paddles!! The wildest was definitely the one on Alta Lake with almost 4 inches of wet snow on the water!! What a slog!! Soooooo awesome though, only did about a k, but it was one of the toughest ever!! Got the pics to show for it!! Thank you Joern Rhode!!! Sorry about the wardrobe malfunction. Lets look forward to a great year with great success and lots of fun and wicked stories!! Make sure you keep your cameras handy to catch the moment!! Cheers and go paddle!!

 

Well, finally I do not have to use the weather as an excuse!! I almost did because the weather in the morning before the race was unbelievable!! Torrential rains mixed with 50 plus k winds!! Everyone was thinking I was crazy!! My wife of course, she kept asking me as we were driving down, Are you sure you wanna do this? I said yup. Just before the race the rain let up and everything was looking good!! The field was strong!! Only 30 people in the 14k but that was ok with me as I don’t care about anyone but myself and trying to best my training time was my goal. I estimated that it would be a time of 1:45 hours for the 14k course. I did it in 1:46 hours. I did fall in once and when I got on my board I realized that my leash was wrapped around my left foot!!! arghh! It was my first foray in to flat water and I loved it!! Now all I have to do is get a new board and train hard!! What a great race Deep Cove Kayak put on!! Thank you and what a great spot you have there Bob Putnam!! Look forward to next year!! ps the famous Simon Whitfield only beat me by 4mins!! woot woot!! Next year I will crush him!!