Stand Up Paddle the World Radio 
Charles Webb is a disabled surfer and stand up paddle racer. But such a label does not accurately describe this incredible man. He only dwells on what he can do, not what he can’t. Join us for an inspirational discussion on the magic of the human spirit and Charles’ journey to SUP racing and Surfing. Charles also talks about accessibility of beaches to the disabled SUP and Surfing community.
Rob Casey knows the water and uses this information to his advantage in stand up paddle board racing. Rob tells how to use eddies, winds, currents and tides to your advantage in SUP racing.
Fiona Wilde is ranked #3 in the world in Stand Up Paddle Board Racing, and surfing, and is a graduate of the “JET” team located in Hood River, Oregon. Steve Gates, owner and founder of the “Junior Elite Team” and “Big Winds” talks about the incredible genesis of the team and how hard work, dedication, and early morning stoke breeds incredible results in these children. Steve also discusses the challenges of starting your own Junior Elite Team and offers solutions and examples from the Jet Team’s journey.
Karen Parkkonen is passionate about the Columbia River Gorge and the incredible flora and fauna along the Columbia River’s many special places. She Stand Up Paddles and Surf Skis year-round in the Gorge and has a deep respect for the area and does her part in maintaing many of the shoreline areas, while practicing good river citizenship and promoting paddling safety.
Mariann Kirch is about to change your life! She talks about meditation in life an on the water and how it can change everything. Mariann also gives some tips on using meditation to increase SUP racing performance
Spend a day with surf legend and shaper, Brian Hinde in his shop near Hood River. Brian talks about board design, shaping, and a good dose of theory and how they all add up to enjoyment on the water. Brian also spreads some stoke on working hard to go fast on a SUP in racing, and gives some tips to those who would like to take up a career shaping boards.
Larry Allison got his start making surfboard fins at the age of thirteen. He is known round the world for his Stand Up Paddle Board Racing Fins and is a true master using decades of knowledge in a science that has a hard time relying on computerized design or other scientific tools. Larry’s first hand experience early on in windsurfing allowed him to hone his art early on and many in the stand up paddle racing community continue to benefit from his experience and constant pursuits to hone his designs using tried and tested materials.
Will improved diet make me faster? Will I live longer? Can I improve every minute of my day? Yes! Yes! and Yes! Bruce Barry goes deep into our biological make-up and shows how important diet is to everything we do. His extensive explanation of the trillions upon trillions of cells in our bodies, all with a mind of their own and in full control, ask very little of us on our daily inputs of diet, sleep, and stress reduction. In fact, this unimaginable supercomputer asks so little of us in relation to the job it does.
Here’s a story from “Seabreeze” in Australia regarding my Stand Up Paddle Adventure in an abandoned sand mine in Missouri.
“Lit by nothing but a torch, he and a couple of friends had to lay
totally flat on their boards to fit through some of the tiny sections
along the way.”
The Crystal City Sand Mine in Missouri, was decommissioned long ago. Now, it stands as a tourist attraction, offering guided tours through the underground tunnels and even kayak tours on the huge underground lake. Deeper into the tunnels however, things get narrow, and that’s where stand up paddler Darrell Kirk had the perfect craft for the job.
Yep, he took his stand up paddleboard for a paddle through the i
ncredibly narrow passages of a sand mine. 400ft underground, in total darkness. Lit by nothing but a torch, he and a couple of friends had to lay totally flat on their boards to fit through some of the tiny sections along the way. Below them, crystal clear water from an un
derground spring, above them, the solid walls of mostly silica,
where back in the 60’s, some of the worlds finest glass was sourced. It’s a claustrophobics nightmare, but if you’re cool in tight places, an adventure of a lifetime!
Now before you go diving into an underground mine with your SUP, remember this is dangerous stuff! People go missing, drown, get trapped or simply lost in mines. All the time. It looks like this adventure was accompanied by a guide, so do some research to find someone with some local knowledge before you go. The freediving community are huge fans of underground waterways, so perhaps start there to find your next amazing stand up paddling experience.
Check out the footage from the front of Darrell’s board, as he stand up paddles through a sand mine, 400ft below the surface of the USA.
An unforgettable Standup Paddle adventure along Antelope and Egg Islands on the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
Stand Up Paddle the World Radio 