Bluebottles: a debate // Editorial | |
 | 23 October 2015 The Physalia utriculus or Australian bluebottle DEBATE CHAIRPERSON: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to the third round of the East Coast debating competition. Each speaker may speak for five minutes. There will be a warning bell at four minutes with two bells at five minutes to indicate that the speakers' time has expired. As a courtesy ... [ more ] |
Love Hate // Editorial | |
 | 22 October 2015 Love - read downwards: SUPs are unreal fun And you'll never hear me say that Only if you're riding a shortboard True happiness can be obtained Because It's all one ocean and should be shared And it's not true that You'd have to be an absolute kook to ride a SUP Some guys can ride them really well Even if Those big boards look awkward and cum ... [ more ] |
Championship Controversy // Event | |
 | 21 October 2015 "Interference - white on yellow, interference white on yellow" are not words you want to hear over the PA system when you are wearing a white shirt in the most important heat on the Australian SUP calendar. But that is exactly what Kai Bates heard when he was sitting out in first place with a 9.0 and a 7.8 under his belt and Jackson Close, the next closest c ... [ more ] |
Holy Mackerel // Session | |
 | 11 May 2012 A little clip of Paul Chapman having some fun times at a strange and out of the way spot. ... [ more ] |
SUPA Nationals // Event | |
 | 09 May 2012 What a fantastic couple of days for the SUP Australia Nationals held around the lovely beaches of Newcastle. We had with everything from howling onshore mountains to oily smooth little runners. One thing was consistent though - some amazing surfing from Australia's best SUP riders. Here's some of the action from day 2. Over 45s and Open Semi Finals: ... [ more ] |
What a Blast // Event | |
 | 24 April 2012 Twas a strange foggy morn That was weird a little bit For a fluttery north breeze was blowing Down the water they call Pitt. My new DEEP 12'6" and wife ready to go Both claiming first big race All the latest stand up craft on display That were sure to set a record pace. All the standard sledging and laughs With north and south the biggest battl ... [ more ] |
I Love Downwinding // Session | |
 | 13 April 2012 I love downwinding. Once upon a time I didn't. I thought it was a bit lame. Coming from a surfing background, I always figured it looked like too much hard work for not enough gain - why would anybody go through all that just to ride a half foot piece of onshore chop? That's the type of crap I avoided like the plague ... as a surfer. Well, being out i ... [ more ] |
Wally World // Session | |
 | 04 February 2012 Some of the boys hit Wally World for the morning session. Keep an eye out for the new APS heli-cam footage embedded in there. ... [ more ] |
Vanilla Stone // Session | |
 | 28 December 2011 Dan Cleary hits Vanilla Stone (not its real name) on his self built DTM 8'4" rounded square. He's going alright on it too. ... [ more ] |
Captain Cooksie // Session | |
 | 03 December 2011 There were already a few SUPs out Cook's Terrace when Dan got the call, informing him that there was a small video crew setting up on the private beach between the rocky outcrops that make up the terrace. Not one to miss out on getting his mug immortalised on celluloid and with a brand new DTM 8'4" just coming off the stands of his factory - he was out there ... [ more ] |
Tiny Bombie // Session | |
 | 04 November 2011 The Pacifica twilight race at Mona Vale Bombie was cancelled due to poor numbers so the hardy crew who did turn up decided to hit the waves on their 12'6" and 14" race boards. A whole heap of laughs were had - a great way to finish off the working week. Here is all the action in fast forward - looks a bit like a scale model of the whole scene... ... [ more ] |
Point Break // Session | |
 | 09 October 2011 Point breaks are fun - easy to get out, not many closeouts, repetitively shaped waves. You just need to find a quiet one or hit it very early in the morning - or do what Andrew Cassidy does here, find a quiet one and hit it early. Shot by his beautiful wife, Alison. ... [ more ] |
Summer Loving // Session | |
 | 06 December 2011 Ahhhh, don't you just love getting away for a short sojourn up the coast at the start of summer? Here are a few vids of Casso on a recent trip to a quiet, little fishing town. He scored a few nice waves and some great weather. ... [ more ] |
Get a (Fancy) Grip // Technique | |
 | 25 March 2012 Ever wondered what's involved in creating those fancy deck grip designs that some crew (with way too much time on their hands) apply to their pride and joys? Watch Casso whack one on his new DEEP 12'6" and check out the end result. Looks pretty nifty, hey? ... [ more ] |
Town SUP // Session | |
 | 01 September 2011 A small crew decided to hit a novelty wave right in town - just between McDonalds and Hogs Breath. What a sight we must have been to the Port Macquarian business folk who sat in the park eating their lunch watching crazy people glide by on gigantic surfboards. So much fun was had by all with switch-foots, party waves, spinners, nose rides and soul arcs the o ... [ more ] |
2011 Aussie Titles // Event | |
 | 30 August 2011 The men's final was full of excitement. The conditions had deteriorated slightly with the regular wind squalls affecting the surface of outside bombs. It didn't inhibit the best of the best from revelling in the big right handers. Michael Davis had a blinder of a run through the draw and it didn't stop in the final. He snagged some of the better waves off ... [ more ] |
Ripping Up the Wall // Session | |
 | 20 July 2011 There were three green DTMs, ripping up the wall! And if one green DTM, should accidentally fall ... ... [ more ] |
Beau Nixon // Interview | |
 | 05 June 2011 Australian Paddle Surfer Magazine caught up with Beau Nixon as he stepped off the podium after being crowned the 2011 NSW State SUP Champion. Here's what he had to say: A big weekend hey? Oh a huge weekend. I had to surf so many times. I was thinking of going in the race but just couldn't do it. So what about these conditions? The conditions were ... [ more ] |
2011 NSW State Titles // Event | |
 | 06 June 2011 An awesome weekend of waves and great surfing for the 2011 NSW State SUP Titles at One Mile Beach, Port Stephens. Thanks to Surfing NSW, Global Surf Industries, Dripping Wet Surf Co, VB, One Liquid SUP Clothing, Port Stephens Council and the Bay Boardriders for supporting competitive paddle surfing in NSW. Here are the results: Mens Open: 1 - Beau Nix ... [ more ] |
The Big One // Event | |
 | 05 June 2011 It wasn't big in terms of numbers - just seven hard core guys and three even harder core girls but it was big in terms of conditions - quite possibly the biggest the world has ever seen for a SUP race, yes that's right - the world. The 2011 NSW State Titles SUP Surf Race will go down in history as one of the most challenging courses ever run. Five foot cl ... [ more ] |
All-Girl SUP Riders // Session | |
 | 01 June 2011 Although only in its infancy, the All-Girl SUP Riders Sydney has already attracted a diverse group of passionate SUPers. The brainchild of well-known Sydney stand up paddler, Elyse Comerford, the All-Girl SUP Riders Sydney group was started as a means of getting more women out on the water by offering them a friendly, social environment with a strong emphasi ... [ more ] |
W-Bay // Session | |
 | 16 May 2011 It was one of those really cold mornings. The ones where the pre-dawn sou-wester bites through anything but a ski jacket. Where your nose, ears and finger tips sting after a few minutes of leaving the warm comfort of the car heater. I was almost glad I had been relegated to shoot some footage and spare myself from climbing into a cold, wet steamer. The o ... [ more ] |
Dry SUP // Session | |
 | 21 April 2011 What do you do when you are stuck 400 kilometres from the nearest ocean and yearning the feeling of pulling into a powerful bottom turn while leaning on your paddle ... hit the tarmac on a street SUP, of course. I was lucky enough to win a Kahuna Creations Street SUP skatey and accompanying Kahuna Bamboo Big Stick the other week in a raffle and thought it ... [ more ] |
Teeny Weeny // Event | |
 | 10 April 2011 Don't you just love the versatility of SUPs? With only half a foot of swell, you can still run a surfing comp ... and a super fun comp at that. Here are some shots of the first few heats of today's SPSC comp - held in half a foot surf. And here are the results: Open SUP ... [ more ] |
Junior Racing // Event | |
 | 07 April 2011 It's 5:45 when my alarm goes off. Mmhhh, good song, keep listening to it. OK time to have a shower, check I have everything and kiss Mum goodbye. We are off! One board on the roof, three paddles and bags in the back, Dad is driving and I'm feeling very nervous and it's only 6:20! Breakfast at Maccas at Ryde. I'm still very nervous. When we finally get there ... [ more ] |
River Race 2011 // Event | |
 | 04 April 2011 Sunday 3rd April 2011 saw the dawn of a beautiful day on the Woronora River in Southern Sydney. The mist was burning off, the sun was beginning to peek over the surrounding mountains and excitement was in the air in anticipation for the first annual Coreban River Race. With some red hot talent making the trek from up and down the coast, the action would b ... [ more ] |
Malfunction 2011 // Event | |
 | 27 March 2011 Thursday 24 March 2011 Longboards were replaced with stand-ups at the Malfunction Surf Festival today, with day two action completed in clean 2-3ft (0.75-1m) waves at Kingscliff. The Greenline Open Pro division kicked off proceedings, with six Round 1 men's heats completed before the women hit the water for first round heats. Former ASP World ... [ more ] |
Noosa 2011 // Event | |
 | 20 March 2011 The first of the major SUP competitions for 2011 kicked off today as part of the Noosa Festival of Surfing. With First Point at Noosa not delivering a contestable wave, organisers voted to move the event to Access 12, further up the beach, to milk the most out of the tiny swell. Round 1 : Open Pro SUP Heat one of the Open Pro division saw an in-form Be ... [ more ] |
Babymoon Road Trip // Session | |
 | 17 March 2011 Packing the car for this trip, it was hard to imagine where we could possibly fit our baby when he/she arrives in five weeks time. This trip was our last together as a couple, before we embark on the next journey in our lives and start a family. My wife kindly reminded me to pack all the toys because on the next trip they will be replaced by a pram and porta ... [ more ] |
SUP at the Quiksilver Pro // Event | |
 | 11 March 2011 Here's some classic footage of Tom Carroll in the legends heat at the 2011 Quiksilver Pro. After a few minutes into the heat, Tom decided to swap his shortboard out for his Fiber Flex Stand Sure SUP (shaped by Simon Anderson who was also in the heat) and show the thousands of spectators what is possible on a stand up paddle board at Snapper Rocks. The commen ... [ more ] |
Problematic Pointbreaks // Editorial | |
 | 07 March 2011 You know the setup, a beautifully shaped, high performance wave running down the shallow sandbank or rock ledge along one of the many pristine points on Australia's east coast. These waves are generally so predictable with every wave duplicating the one before it - so easy to surf due to the lack of hidden surprises. They often have a super easy paddle out t ... [ more ] |
Wild Women // Event | |
 | 06 March 2011 The 26th of February will be remembered for many reasons, it was one of the few sunny days of summer, it had a spectacular pink and purple awe inspiring sunrise but more importantly it was the date for the Wild Women's Water Day. The event was being held at one of the Surfcoast's best right hand point breaks, Point Impossible but the question was, were the s ... [ more ] |
Slow Motion Racing // Event | |
 | 25 February 2011 Pacifica twilight race regulars - these guys are quick. Very quick. How did they get so quick? They never used to be this quick. They are quick over a long distance too. Bugger. I'll never be able to catch them - unless I can slow them down ... somehow. ... [ more ] |
NSPC Inaugural Comp // Event | |
 | 22 February 2011 Summer was in the air. A warm, humid morning, light offshore winds and two feet of NE swell. The crew from Newcastle Stand Up Paddle Board Club (NSPC) were kicking off their inaugural club competition. The comp's fruition was five months of hard work by a dedicated club committee establishing all that was needed for the club to be successful; sponsors, membe ... [ more ] |
Caption This - COMP FINISHED // Win | |
 | 19 March 2011 Update Well, after deliberating long into the night, the staff at Australian Paddle Surfer Magazine have chosen a winner for the Caption This competition. The winner is Paul 'Chapo' Chapman from Queensland's Sunshine Coast with his caption: "Now there's a model I don't have in my quiver". The judges found this caption to be funny on a number of di ... [ more ] |
Pacifica Twilighting // Event | |
 | 04 February 2011 Yet another great evening greeted the participants of the first Pacifica Twilight Time Trials for 2011. With the biggest starting list to date, the two divisions were sequentially started, right on time, and the bustling for the first buoy began. The loop around Mona Vale Basin consisted of a side-wind leg, a nice calm leg along North Point and then a gre ... [ more ] |
Busting the Southerly // Session | |
 | 06 February 2011 I was crapping myself, no ... literally. I wasn't sure if it was the anticipation of the wild conditions we were about to endure or the fact that I was still suffering from a shocking stomach bug that I'd had for the last 24 hours. Sorry, probably too much information, hey? Let's start again... The windscreen wipers were on high as I drove along the coast ... [ more ] |
The Cloudy Comp // Event | |
 | 13 February 2011 There are two main things on a contest director's mind in the week leading up to an event - waves and weather. Well there are a lot of other things too, but everything else is controllable - membership lists, rego forms, heat sheets, pens, rash shirts, flags, food, drinks, prizes, etc, etc. Waves and weather are not controllable and therefore create consi ... [ more ] |
Living the Dream // Editorial | |
 | 01 August 2009 After 16 years of working in the corporate arena, I'm now living a life long dream of mine - being a surf mag editor. Woo hoo. I've swapped my wool blend suit for a neoprene one, the flouro lights have been replaced with natural sunshine and my cubicle is now a mid-week, uncrowded, sand sucking barrel (well, not very often ... but occasionally). Sure, it's s ... [ more ] |
The Dogman // Interview | |
 | 21 August 2009 Currently ranked number five in Australia and number one in New South Wales, Roger Saunders remains unassuming in his competitive accomplishments - keeping true to his down to earth, no frills persona. Australian Paddle Surfer recently caught up with Roger over a beer at the Port Macquarie Caravan Park. Where'd you grow up? I grew up in a place c ... [ more ] |
The Layback Snap // Technique | |
 | 16 September 2009 01 - Flat This turn is ultimately a cutback so you first need to get yourself out onto the face and parallel to the wave. If you hit the lip too vertically or too close to the pocket, you won't have enough room to lay back on the face. Notice Billy's bottom turn wasn't too critical which has set him up to be near the top of the wave but away from the pocket ... [ more ] |
First Marathon // Event | |
 | 04 October 2008 The Hawkesbury Classic, a race down a river for charity. It's overnight, navigation is by marine compass and temperatures can drop to four degrees. There are snags, overhanging branches and the tide is your friend and your enemy. You decide. This race does not allow relay, you go all the way solo or you don't go at all. We turn up at the Hawkesbury Ba ... [ more ] |
First Love // Editorial | |
 | 01 October 2009 I was driving up the highway the other day, doing 100 clicks and I went over one of those little bridges spanning a small river. Looking down I could see a crystal clear reflection of the surrounding trees and grassy fields on the river's surface. Perfect glass. Not a breath of wind to create even the slightest ripple. Perfect paddling conditions and I had b ... [ more ] |
First Light // Session | |
 | 05 September 2009 Wake to the dulcet tones of my son's recorded ringtone. "Wake up dad, wake up dad, time to get up dad". Seemed like a fun thing to do at the time. Stupid idea really. Makes me mad at him every time it goes off. Pitch black. Very tired. Resurgence of energy and awakedness once I remember the surf forecast from last night. Get up. Shut bedroom door very, very ... [ more ] |
First Event // Event | |
 | 08 August 2009 The second Sunday in October 2009 was a very special day for competitive SUPing in Sydney. A hardy and dedicated crew came from all corners of the extended, greater Sydney region to be part of the new Sydney Paddle Surfing Club's inaugural event. The club's President recounts how things went down: 4:35am - Awake. I'm not sure if it is nervous excitement o ... [ more ] |
First Crossing // Event | |
 | 25 July 2009 I got a call from former Novocastrian, now Gold Coast based Sam Rollinson. The call was bordering on desperation, "Mate I need someone to paddle the Molokai channel race with". Sam had been training with the likes of seven times Molokai prone paddleboard champion Jamie Mitchell, Mick DiBetta and arguably the most talented stand up paddle surfer in Australia, ... [ more ] |
First Champ // Interview | |
 | 25 August 2009 Just minutes after the final hooter sounded, the awards ceremony began. The minor place getters were presented with prizes and trophies, Tully St John - fourth, Keahi D'Aboitiz - third and Matt Lumley - second. Then the big one, the first ever Australian SUP champion - Josh Constable. What a feeling that must have been for the 30 year old from Noosa. As a fi ... [ more ] |
First Wave // Session | |
 | 26 September 2009 Having been a paddle surfing widow for about a year I decided it was time to give it a try. I'm a bit of a wimp really when it comes to the ocean and the secret life that swims below, not to mention sea weed and waves that dump. When I was ten, I was having a ball riding a boogey board at Sydney's Whale Beach when I got stung by a blue bottle and dumped for ... [ more ] |
First Turn // Event | |
 | 22 August 2009 I took off on my first wave of the first heat of the first Australian SUP Titles. It was one of the better waves of the day. I was a bit deep but it had a nice wall. The lip started pitching and I probably should have bottom turned around it to get back onto the open face. That was the safe option but this was the Aussie titles - go hard or go home. I took t ... [ more ] |
First Titles // Event | |
 | 25 August 2009 It's a long way from Sydney to Port Macquarie. Well, that's what I thought until I met up with the guys from Noosa, Torquay and even Adelaide who also made the trek by road. Those guys are super keen but then again this is the very first Australian SUP Titles and there are a lot of guys who would suffer much more than just a long drive to have a shot at that ... [ more ] |
First Race // Event | |
 | 15 August 2009 The Hervey Bay based Kai Puna outrigger canoe club hosted the first regatta of the session and for the first time it included SUP divisions. We arrived at Torquay Beach weary eyed from our 3:30am start at the Gold Coast and thought we were seeing things looking out into the bay as this thumping 20kn northerly ripped it up. This normally calm bay had waves br ... [ more ] |
Whale Rider // Session | |
 | 15 October 2009 Five-thirty surf check, On holidays with the caravan. Masses of people on the point Trying to see what they can. Distance is an issue, I grab my binoculars set. A baby whale is flipping and flapping. Oh no, it's caught in the shark net. Been over an hour now And still no sign of the rescue crew. I grab my SUP and go for a paddle To see what I ... [ more ] |
Weekend Run // Session | |
 | 19 October 2009 With more classic weather on the way, I rang the boys and organised a road trip to a fun little place, a few hundred kilometres up the coast. Everyone was super keen as this has been one of the best seasons we have had for surf and weather in years. We loaded up the 4WDs with a heap of SUPs and started our dawn journey north. By the time we got there ... [ more ] |
Tour in Tahiti // Event | |
 | 19 September 2009 Famous the world over as one of surfing's most notorious, challenging and revered waves, Teahupo'o in Tahiti congers up excitement, anticipation and fear in even the most accomplished world class surfers. While watermen such as Laird Hamilton have pioneered the spot for SUP surfing, the sport has remained, for the most part, a novelty at this jaw-droppin ... [ more ] |
Stand Up Medicine // Editorial | |
 | 20 December 2009 I woke up the other morning at 3:00am with an excruciating pain in the middle of my back. I didn't know what to do. I could hardly move. After three wakeful hours, I tried to get up. I was lying on my stomach so I carefully wriggled my legs off the edge, then slowly spun around a bit and lowered myself down until I was kneeling beside the bed. Then very pain ... [ more ] |
Synchronicity Seven // Session | |
 | 02 November 2009 This day started like any other Saturday, I'm up early to check the surf. The surf looks pretty good actually. A north swell, around five foot, was thumping on the outer banks. Too big and heavy out the back for the surf class I am about to coach but some nice re-forms on the inside channels with a high tide that will push their buttons and give them jelly a ... [ more ] |
Living the Stoke // Session | |
 | 18 November 2009 At the beginning of 2009 Rob Pirie realised it had been 4 years since his last surf trip to the Mentawai Islands and the crew was due for a new surfing adventure to somewhere different without the crowds and tourist infrastructure. With the new attitude that you can surf anything on a SUP, the search was on for a remote location and it wasn't long before Rob ... [ more ] |
Mambo Madness // Event | |
 | 30 November 2009 Thursday I awoke at 4:30am for our scheduled 5:30am departure. We ended up leaving at 5:27am which I was super stoked with as it can often take much longer than expected when you have a wife and a couple of rug-rats to contend with. I originally wanted to leave at 3am but was secretly glad they had talked me out of that as I was quite tired enough as it w ... [ more ] |
Paradise Found // Session | |
 | 20 September 2009 Paddling beside your partner amidst turquoise waters teeming with neon fish life, parking your SUPs on the beach of an uber-cool five-star resort, sipping afternoon margaritas together in the sunset lounge as the last golden rays slip over the horizon - rest assured, this was not just any ordinary surf trip. The days of the boys off surfing for two we ... [ more ] |
Kieren Taylor // Interview | |
 | 27 November 2009 After hearing about his impressive win at the Roar Industries comp on the Gold Coast, Australian Paddle Surfer tracked Kieren down at the 2009 Mambo Merimbula Classic where he was living out of his van with his dog. We didn't see Kieren all that often out in the surf over the weekend but when we did, his silky smooth style sure turned a few heads. Whe ... [ more ] |
The Helicopter 360 // Technique | |
 | 06 November 2009 01 You need to be up near the nose to begin this manoeuvre as this is where the pivot point will be - straight under your body. A couple of cross steps wouldn't go astray to get you there in style. Billy's quite high in the wave in this shot - this will give his fins enough clearance from the bottom of the wave when he starts to bring the tail around. You w ... [ more ] |
Getaway // Editorial | |
 | 04 January 2010 Don't you just love getting away? Packing up the boards and hitting the road (or air), destined for some far away, SUPing utopia. Maybe it's to a place you go every year where you know the waves will be good, maybe it's to that mystical place that you've been told stories about of perfect waves wrapping along a pristine point or maybe it's to somewher ... [ more ] |
Program: Jacko // Technique | |
 | 09 October 2009 Paul Jackson from Currumbin is one of Australia's best SUP surfers and race paddlers. The man is a machine. Small in stature, big on power. Don't ever go paddling with him unless you are prepared to be humbled by his speed, balance and stamina. You only need to look at him without a shirt on (which seems to happen a lot) to see that Jacko really looks after ... [ more ] |
Racing Dana // Event | |
 | 04 October 2009 We rolled into Dana Point, California in our 32ft motor home two days before the 2nd Annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle was scheduled to begin. After convincing the security guard at the entry gate that we were vendors for the weekend SUP Expo, he allowed us entry into the restricted VIP parking area which was right on the beach, just th ... [ more ] |
Dale Chapman // Interview | |
 | 07 October 2009 While staying at Burleigh on holidays, Australian Paddle Surfer popped over to the Dale Chapman Surf Designs/SHAPETEC factory to see the man himself and ask him a few questions. We caught up with Dale in his favourite shaping bay while he was scrubbing out the tail on a custom 11 footer. We quizzed him about SUP board design right now and where it might be h ... [ more ] |
Last Day // Session | |
 | 31 December 2010 The beach on a beautiful, warm morning with great waves, clean water and light off-shore winds is always going to be crowded in a bustling metropolis. Add to that, a day that is dead smack in the middle of the Christmas holiday period and it's going to get downright ridiculous. The last day of 2010 on the Northern Beaches was just like that. I'd been out ... [ more ] |
