Our latest newsletter is out. Here’s what’s new:
A few demos are already on the books!
New boards are coming soon – here’s what’s coming
BWCA SUP video is out on youtube
We’ve moved into our new warehouse in NE Minneapolis
Here’s the link -> Newsletter_2012 January
If you aren’t on our mailing list and would like to get this via email, please let us know!
Wow, 2011 turned out to be a great year for SUP in Minnesota. We think 2012 will be even better! For those of you looking for paddleboard trends, 2012 will be much like 2011, but with some slight differences. Here are some thoughts (and color commentary):
More Board Choices
If you are looking for a larger variety of paddle boards to choose from, you’ll find that the selection will certainly be larger in 2012. The race scene on the coasts is driving an increase in the availability of displacement hull boards in both the 12’6” and 14’ race categories. The displacement hull design is great for our SUP scene in the Midwest because they track well and are fast on flat water. Displacement hull boards smaller than 12’6” will become more widely available as well.
You’ll also see a move toward smaller boards for people who want better workouts from a less stable board. Don’t be surprised to see more people riding boards 10’ or less because of the increased challenge and exercise benefits of a smaller board.
Little change in Prices
Those who’ve been waiting for board prices to come down due to increased competition will likely be disappointed. There will certainly be more board choices at the lower price points, but the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ will always hold true. High quality boards will command prices equal to or greater than 2011. Remember that in the end, it is your cost per use that counts. An investment in a board you absolutely love and ride any moment you can will be less expensive on a relative basis than the purchase of a less expensive board that doesn’t get used as often. Get the board you love, take care of it, and you’ll be a happy camper.
More Retail Choices
More and more outdoor and specialty retailers in Minnesota are adding SUP to their gear lineup. This is great for increasing the visibility of the sport and getting more people passionate about stand-up paddling. As a consumer, continue to support MN businesses that love SUP and show it through their product knowledge, commitment to letting you try before you buy, and their investment in growing the local SUP community. You’ll be glad you did.
Inventory will remain tight
If you are looking for a board, the best selection will be in the Spring (March-May). This is when boards first arrive and inventory levels will be at their highest. Once the sun comes out and the water gets warm, selection and inventories will decrease. Don’t wait for end of season sales, because it is likely that many retailers will sell out of their SUP inventory. Get your board early so you can enjoy it all summer!
That’s it for now. If you have any additional trends you think it would be fun to discuss, let me know and we can keep the conversation going. Make the last few days of 2011 great ones!
For those of you who haven’t seen this yet, here’s a video that I shot over a couple of days when my dad and I took a couple of paddleboards up to the BWCA. It was fun running into people who’d never been exposed to SUP before! Here’s a link to the video -> SUP the BWCA
We love getting notes like this:
“Hello Rob, I can’t believe how fast and easy it was to get started on the Big Easy Hawaiian and then on the EZ Rider, and I’m not especially good at balance. I was confident enough to take my very trusting dog out after only about 15 minutes of practice. She loved it too. The only word that describes the whole time out is FUN!”
Dan and Denver enjoying the day riding the Big EZ
The 2011 SUP season is finally here. We’ve finally got enough open water around the ice to paddle, so I shot this video to get you in the mood to paddle (I know, like you need inspiration!). Even the local beaver joined me on the water! Click HERE to see it!
In our newest newsletter, we share with you our plans for attending the upcoming Northwest Sports Show. We also highlight how the Big EZ is making a splash at Sandals resorts in the Caribbean!
Click here to see the newsletter! See you on the water 
We get a lot of questions in regard to whether you can stand-up paddle on rivers and streams, and if so, what is the best board for that use.
First, I’d like to say that you can absolutely SUP on rivers and streams. Minnesota has some fantastic rivers – from the Mississippi for those looking for a fairly tame entry into river paddling to the Kettle for those looking for something more adventurous.
We typically recommend a soft top for river paddling, as it is likely that you will come across unexpected rocks along the way that could scratch or ding an epoxy board. With that said, epoxy boards will be just fine on rivers as long as the rider avoids hard impacts with rocks along the way.
If you’re looking for inspiration on what can be accomplished river riding – check out this picture of Nick Troutman. He’s the 2010 World Freestyle Kayak Champion and he’s riding the Big EZ in Rock Island, TN.
We put together a newsletter to try an put an exclamation point on a great year for SUP in MN. We are pumped about 2011 and hope you are too. Exciting news about kicking off the year at the Minneapolis Boat Show, plus a look at some board additions! To see the newsletter, click HERE
I recently returned from a trip to California. It was a great time and I appreciate the hospitality of Royce and Todd from Pau Hana Surf Supply. I even caught a couple of waves on the Big EZ, which was a great board for a surf novice like me to start out on! We are adding the ‘Surf Jack’ to our lineup of boards immediately. This is an epoxy board that is 10’6″ and is tons of fun to ride. Please give us a call if you’d like to learn more about the Surf Jack.
I also had Todd and Royce give us a video tour of each of the boards so that you can better understand some of the key design features. You can watch these videos by going to the detail page for each board and clicking on the ‘Video’ link. Check it out – good stuff and you may learn a thing or two!
2011 is going to shape up as a great year for those of us looking forward to SUP in Minnesota. Stay tuned for more updates!
The first paddleboard wedding! Congrats to Jodi Kealoha & Ricky Giaccaglia who were married under the bridge on the Ana Hulu Stream River in Haleiwa Hawaii on October 1st 2010. Notice Ricky is on the Big EZ!
Here’s the link to check it out – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YGpV1YCbT4