SurfingSports Standup Paddle Surf & Standup Paddling BLOG

John & Elizabeth Becker sent a few pics (gallery here) and a note regarding the 2nd Annual Ogden Paddle Festival last Saturday...

Standup paddling is going off in Utah!!!



Hey Deb & Warren,

Attached are a few pics of yesterday's event - it was a HUGE success!
We gave lessons to about 140 people plus about 20-25 that weren't on the sign-in sheet. We heard that our very first participant, Pam G*****, called and ordered a board from you yesterday - KEWL! The Belmont family, Michael, Jennifer, James, & Christian, were a big help - we couldn't have done it without them. They helped us organize people, give lessons, and helped with our t-shirt raffle give away (see our raffle tickets attached!). It was a big hit!!!



Tom Powers (the guy you sold the green Jimmy 11') also came for part of the day to help us with his board (he's the one in the picture with the ponytail). That is his son Jonah on the little Naish 6'6". It was great to have his board there because we sure used it!



The Ogden City Recreation Manager, Annette, couldn't believe the turn-out for the entire event, but mentioned that the highlight was the SUP event! Kamiah was the star of the show. Both Beth and I did demos with her on the front of the board and everyone loved having her as the greeter at the booth. I think there will be a lot of people ordering boards through the event. I'll forward any news clips, etc. that come out. We were told by one photographer that Kamiah would definitely be on the news and in the newspaper :-)

Talk to you later today,
John

P.S. I am still planning to burn a video for you with Kamiah paddling clips.

Labels: stand up paddle surfing, Utah Paddle Festival, Utah paddleboarding

Our Utah standup paddling representative, John Becker, will be demoing Naish and Jimmy Lewis standup paddle boards at the Ogden Paddle Festival this Saturday, Aug. 23.




Visitors over the age of 6 can learn to paddle a SUP, kayak, row a scull, or cast a fly rod, and can visit vendor booths while listening to live music. The event also features children's activities, boat races, kayak polo, food and prize drawings. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Utah Rivers Council. Call 801-629-8253 or visit www.ogdencity.com for more information.

Ogden Paddle Festival

Written by Bryan J. Smith

Tuesday, 05 August 2008

August 23 2008 10am - 5pm Pineview Reservoir, Ogden Valley, Utah Flatwater Kayaking Instruction Clinic covering flatwater safety, safety gear, capsize recovery, flatwater paddle technique, boat entry and exit technique. Also covered will be canoe paddling and safety. Canoes and kayaks Whitewater Kayaking Gear Instruction Wander over to see what it takes to get into a river. Learn the difference between a 'play-boat', a 'river runner' and a 'creeker'. See what kinds of safety equipment, paddles, and protective gear are recommended for your foray's into the sport of whitewater kayaking. This brief introduction is for you if you've ever wondered what you need to go river running. Kayak Rolling Instruction Sign up for some hands on experience and instruction on recovering from a capsize while staying in your boat. Don't let being upsidedown underwater frighten you any more. We'll put you in a boat and take you step by step through the motions required to get yourself smiley side up again. Fly Fishing Instruction Choosing the right leader, fly selection, line mending, and fly delivery, Fly preparation, basic knots, and casting techniques such as roll casting and basic straight tosses. Kiteboarding Instruction Kiteboarding instruction, gear overview, and demonstrations. Boat Demos Canoes, whitewater kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, tandem kayaks, recreational boats and touring kayaks available to demo with paid entry. Children's Activities Face painting, crafts, children's games, and of course the water. Pathways to fishing, kids will learn about fishing and tying knots. We'll also have a climbing wall. Smokey the Bear will be there. Live Music Live music and entertainment provided by Flew the Coop, a mix of blues and rock, and Stampede - old style country music. Community Booths Weber Pathways, the Utah Rivers Council, Weber State's Wilderness Recreation, and other community booths Great Food BBQ, Pizza, and Drinks, plenty of water. Bring your family for lunch and activities. Prize Drawings Don't forget to join the prize drawing for great gifts. Gift certificates at local restaurants, sporting equipment, sunglasses, safety equipment, thule kayak rack and more. Kayak Polo Ever wonder what kayakers do when the rivers aren't flowing and the lakes are frozen? This fun activity is like soccer in a kayak. Two teams pass the ball around and try to score goals against their opponents. It can get a little bumpy but we'll have helmets for you to use. Give it a try; Ogden runs a winter-long kayak polo game in the pool during the off season. There is no better way to hone your paddle skills and have a good time. Kayak Races Friendly races for all skill levels and ages.

Labels: Standup Paddling at Ogden, Utah, Utah Paddle Festival, Utah paddleboarding

One of our longtime waterman amigos,
John Becker (surfer,windsurfer,kiter,fisherman,diver,snowboarder,snowkiter...etc)...Santa Barbara and Utah paddle boarding pioneer, sends us a few shots standup paddling with his pup Kamiah, from near his lake front home in Utah...




Here's a kewl vid clip of Utah paddleboarding...

It's Summertime and the living is easy...;-)

Labels: dog paddleboarding, Utah paddleboarding