Case in point! Some of you know me to be a very cautious person, while others know me to be a rebel. In reality I like to be pretty safe but take some chances. When I am dealing with water, I try not to be to fool hearted. That wasn’t the case the other day!!

I made one of the most basic, simple errors one could make in regards to paddling this time of year!!

I had decided to circumnavigate Anvil Island in the glorious Howe Sound. I was planning on doing it solo for the first time. It is not so much the distance but as anything solo, one has to plan. I did all that but the one thing I did wrong was almost a costly mistake and it could have turned out really bad very easily!!

So, what did I do wrong that could have cost me much pain and suffering?

I left to late!!

The wind, tide and outflow were all against me from the start, I knew that, but, my problem was starting off to late. This time of year we don’t only have to worry about cold but the early setting sun. I was procrastinating to long at home and didn’t start till 3pm from Porteau Cove. It doesn’t seem like a issue but it was.

Right from the start I had to battle the outflow and 15-20k winds with one foot waves. I paddled mostly on the left hand side of the board for almost an hour to get the back side of Anvil. Once on the backside it was so still and beautiful that it took my breath away, though, I knew I had to hurry and couldn’t spare any time as the winds picked up!! By the time I got to the south point of Anvil and I had to push across Howe Sound and make my way back up to Porteau Cove, the wind had picked up, the swell got bigger and so did the waves!! I quartered all the way back, paddling almost entirely on the right side this time. The worst part was the fact that night was almost on me and I wasn’t nearly back! It was over a hour from the south point and the last half a hour was paddled almost in pitch blackness!! If you have never paddled in the dark with high winds and waves and tide I would suggest not to!! For your safety!

I put my big boy pants on and put my head down. I had to get back. For some it would have been a nightmare and a major issue. Fortunately I had the cars headlights from the highway direct me back. It was a daunting paddled that was riddled with uncertainty and a bit of anxiousness. I could not see the bottom as I stayed very close to shore once I made it across the Sound. Every once and a while I would hit bottom with my paddle!

I made it back to Porteau at 7pm! This was a couple of weeks ago so you can imagine how dark it was. When I got back I immediately called my wife, I wanted to earlier but I just couldn’t stop. She was worried a little but she knows me. After the paddle and for 48 hours I had a touch of vertigo/nausea because of the sensory depravation. It did subside, but the realization that that could have turned nasty very easily was strong in my mind.

Lesson learned.

Be safe out there. Even if you think everything is under control remember that you are playing with mother nature and she doesn’t really care about you and what time you get home for diner.

arne

The photo of me getting to the edge of Anvil Island. Just the first quarter. whew

#sup, #supbc, #squamish, #howesound, #backendgear, #kinesysactive, #ryderseyewear, #wintersup, #getoutthere,

I awoke with a nice surprise today!! Boardstars.com is 10 this year!! So many memories in those ten years. So much fun, art and adventure. I would like to thank those of you that took the time to check out my page. I thank you. I hope you stay tuned or share it with friends. The new year holds a lot of promise and I am excited for it! I ended the year with three great sponsors and a new column to write about paddle boarding for, which I am super stocked about, thank you so much Chris Quinlan for the opportunity!! You rock, as well as your page! For the moment I am focusing on a upcoming art show this summer and paddling, yup, just a lot of paddling and art, thats it, nothing else, hahahaha, just kidding. Lots of hugs, belly scratches and wishes for everyone that 2019 will be a awesome year for everyone!! Whatever it is you want to do or achieve. I don’t like to steal lines from anyone, but, Just do it!! I would like to give a big shout out to my sponsors and again thank them so much for their support!! Thank you Markus Samer from Ryders Eyewear! Thank you to the gang at Kinesys Suncare Products! Thank you Gary Yip from Backendgear! Thank you and most of all I would like to thank my super awesome, patient and understanding wife, Aki for always being there and also, the sweetest little clam Momo!! Love you all!! cheers!!   #ryderseyewear, #kinesysactive, #backendgear, #whistler, #bc, #wintersup, #gooutside, #outsidemagazine, #standupjournal, #supthemag, #natgeo,

 

Super excited to spend a long weekend in Tofino, BC doing my Level 1 Ocean Touring Instructor course with Emery Bosut from T’ashi Paddle. The weather held out for the days and we had a great group making for a really unique and fun experience. The surroundings were as always, surreal. Had a chance to sup surf MacKenzie Beach and got a few biguns there! As well as a few washing machine wipe-outs. Felt great, cold, but great. Now I gotta decide where I am going take this too. I have some ideas so stay tuned for some interesting news? Get out there when you can regardless of weather! Arne Gutmann Level 1 Ocean Touring Certified Instructor!  #ryderseyewear, #backendgear, #thesupjournal, #thesupmag, #standuppaddleboarder, #tofino, #westcoast, #suplife, #awesome

Yup, wanted to cross that baby off for a long time!! Mostly full circumnavigation of Gambier Island. It was a little more than full because of my start and stop location. Lions Bay was my start. Such a nice little beach. 10hrs and not a lot of help except maybe a bit at the end were all the boisterous water between gambier and bowen pushed me home, through the red tide! It also happened to be one of the largest algae blooms in a while! yikes, great day!! #ryderseyewear,  #suptouring, #sup4life

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?