SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

The nice run of surf that we've enjoyed lately has brought a number of paddlesurfers from all over the state...and, several from the East Coast into the shop to pick up more high performance wave riding SUP's...

Here are a few of the wave riding SUP's that have been flying out the door, lately...

The Starboard 8'5" "Pocket Rocket" is the best selling under 9' SUP in the world...

Here is one in "Classic" construction that we just custom padded up yesterday for another longtime Central Coast surfer...





Here is a GoPro vid clip that our friend Dan Gavere (Werner Paddles) put together of paddle surfing Hawaii on the Pocket Rocket...







Here are a few quotes about it's performance:

Nikki and I are absolutely loving our Pocket Rockets in HI. Fast loose and turny. I had mine on a few waves that were approaching double overhead and it was solid.
STOKED

-- Dan Gavere

"8'5" Pocket rocket, yeehaw!!!"

"So, after receiving my pocket rocket about 2 weeks ago, I finally got to try it out with the swell that has rolled into Socal these past couple days. I totally love it. The board is super stable, and paddles over the waves really well. I was concerned about that because I have been riding the 10'3" the last couple months, but the pocket rocket is super stable. I had the 8'0" by 26" before, yeah, not so much for me. the pocket rocket basically surfs like a "fun board". Which is fitting, cause it's fun. Catches waves well too. All your energy can go into surfing, rather than keeping your balance. Get it!!!!!"

-- Brandi Baksic

"I just received mine, and the thing works unreal!
Turns on a dime, and built bombproof.
Stoked to be paddlesurfing again, instead of just grinding out insane training sessions."

-- EJ (Johnson Big Stick SUP Paddles)

Pocket Rocket (Technora) on the right at 30" width compared to it's narrower cousin the 8'5" Tiki at 28" width...







More comparison pics in these galleries... GALLERY 1
GALLERY 2

Another killer option that we've been ripping on lately are the North Pacific SUP's...here's an 8'6" and 9'0"...












So far, almost everyone who has ridden our new 10'6" stinger gun design, has ordered one...it's that good...we have another batch being built right now...along with a new 10'2" x 30" mini-tanker, double bump, wing round tail...





A few other options are the new Blair 8'11", 9'7", & 10'1" production epoxy SUP's which are great waveriders...Joe Blair has been shaping for 40 years...he's made my quad surfboards for the last 12 years...

Labels: Blair standup paddleboards, North Pacific SUP, Starboard pocket rocket, Starboard SUP, Starboard Tiki

Despite the "STORM ALERT" alarms for rain being sounded by the local media outlets...we were greeted by mostly sunny and calm conditions all day here in Santa Barbara...perfect conditions for the last of our extremely popular free "try before you buy" SUP demos of the year...



BTW, we are getting the much needed rain as I type this into the 'puter this AM...





Our monthly SUP demos and private / small group lessons really help people see and feel the differences between the boards that we sell and represent, against some of the cheaper and inferior discount and "outlet store" offerings that try to seduce value shoppers..."ATTENTION SUP SHOPPERS, THERE'S A BLUE-LIGHT SPECIAL ON ISLE 2"...Boards from $799...FREE Paddles"...

WHATEVERS...;-)

REAL Value means BANG FOR THE BUCK...and, it is also a BIG component in RESALE value of the product when you are ready to move it along...what a BUZZKILL to find out that your board has NO RESALE VALUE...because it, and the company that built it, are not focused on long term customer satisfaction and sustainability...

Our product lines hold their resale value...most of our Starboard SUP's have resale values of $1000, or more, after a season of use...especially, if you store them in a bag, like we do...

We ONLY handle QUALITY products...not distressed merchandise...

Even our least expensive boards and paddles are higher quality than the "best" outdated and overstock SUP's and paddles being discounted by others...

REMEMBER: YOU ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR...

Personal fitness trainer, Jon Ham, from FITNESS ON THE RUN came up to Santa Barbara for this demo and went home with an unexpected new desire...;-)

Check out his blog piece by clicking link above or his web banner below...


Jon with the new 9'7" x 30" Blair...





SUPSports sales/instructional staff member, Rob Graham, float testing (220 lbs) my new 8'10" North Pacific wing swallow...sheesh...I practically had to wrestle my new boards away from the crew at this demo...





Rob on the 9'10" North Pacific wing swallow...





hmmmmm...what color should I order?





Guy on the new 10'1" Blair blowup...Bob ended up buying one...



The new North Pacific 10'6" stinger gun...a first of it's kind, *REAL* SUP gun designed for bigger MAINLAND waves...but, Deb loved paddling it on flat water just because it glides and tracks so well...even with it set up as a quad!

LIGHTWEIGHT...STRONG...BRILLIANT!!!

Labels: Blair standup paddleboards, North Pacific SUP, Santa Barbara SUP Demo

REMINDER:: SUP DEMO (9AM-1PM) & OPEN HOUSE PARTY (2PM-7PM) THIS SUNDAY AT THE SHOP...
CALL OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFO OR TO REQUEST A BOARD THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN...

It wouldn't be Christmas without them...



Blair SUP's designed for the mainland surf...in stock now...8'11" x 30"...9'7" x 30.5"...10'1" x 32.5"...fins, pad, and recessed handle...$1295...











Yup...Blair 10'1" blowups...Joe Blair inflatable stand up paddle boards now in stock...



*REAL* rocker...






Stiff fins...

Labels: Blair standup paddleboards, J. Blair SUP's, joe blair inflatable stand up paddle board, joe blair standup paddle