I had been in the market for an unlimited board for over a year, after trying an older model Infinity tandem board in Dana Point.  This particular board was pretty old and heavy by today’s standards, but that glide was unmistakable.  It took more effort to get it up to speed, but once you did, you could really tell the difference.

With that knowledge, I started looking around at options on the unlimited front.  Not too many of the shapers out there make unlimiteds, and none of the production companies do, to my knowledge.  I looked at Bark, Ohana, talked to Thomas Maximus about Richmond boards, etc.  One thing I noticed about each of the UL boards I had seen on the water, were that they all seemed to carry a fair amount of nose rocker.  I would see people riding them and in many cases, a foot or more of the nose would be out of the water at any given time.  When you are paddling in the ocean, that makes sense to me, as you have to deal with waves and swell and so forth.  Given my need for a flat-water only board, I was hoping to get something with less rocker, to take full advantage of the increased water line.

A friend of mine got an unlimited built for him by MHL, which really looked like it was perfect for what I had been casually shopping for.  Plus, it gave me a chance to try something new out, as all of my race boards to this point have been Bark’s.  As many of you know, I have long been a big supporter of Joe’s boards.  They are fast and stable, as well as works of art in many cases.  That said, I have taken a fair bit of grief over the last year or so, that I don’t really give other boards/shapers a chance, since I stick with the same brand over and over again.  Fair point, although its not like I don’t constantly try other brands, I just hadn’t found one I liked better.   This time I figured I had finally found something that fit the bill as well or better, so I decided to give it a shot. 

In addition to being more or less exactly what I was looking for, the MHL was a great value at just over $3000.  Many of the unlimiteds out there run $3500 to $4200, depending on full carbon or half carbon, and what the brand was.  With some you also have the option to add a rudder.  This was not something I felt like I needed, since I was going with a 17’6” board, rather than a 20’+ board.  I was pretty convinced I could turn and manage it without incurring the extra weight or cost.  Plus in many races, they won’t let you use a rudder, so you end up taking the extra weight, without gaining any of the benefit (they end up putting the rudder in a fixed position).

What I did want to try was Larry Allison’s SUP Dagger concept.  This is essentially a second fin box just a little forward of where you stand, and helps to add more tracking and stability to the board.  Luckily Nick at MHL had experience with adding this on William’s board and was happy to oblige. 

In addition to the SUP Dagger box/fin, I also decided I wanted to have some screw inserts put in the board for a water bottle cage, and a Surftech Bungee system.  As with the dagger, Nick was happy to oblige. 

Now that I have had the board for a month or so, I am really glad I had them make those additions.  The tracking is insane with that SUP Dagger in.  In fact, you don’t switch sides to course correct.  You generally only switch sides because your arm feels like its ready to fall off.  I am still working with Larry to dial in the right combo fin for the rear of the board, but I am using a Hybrid Gladiator fin for the time being. 

As for the water bottle cage and bungee system, they have already proved to be invaluable.  I have been doing some ~3hr rides on one of our local lakes out here lately, and having the ability to have a water bottle close and handy is great.  Having the bungee system allows me to throw a dry pack back there, or use it for more water, or just to stow my flip flops during my paddle.  I realize this adds weight and the board doesn’t look as attractive or sleek with these features, but I don’t care.  Function over appearance for me.

As for the performance of the board, its incredible.  It is by far the quietest board I have ever ridden through the water.  There is so little water disruption from the nose or the tail, its unbelievable.  Because I have never ridden any other MHL boards, I was unsure how much of this was do to the extra length of the board, which allows for a sleeker design and a pin tail, or if it had more to do with Nick’s nose design and/or overall shape.  He spends a lot of time dialing in each board using a CAD program before production (he is a mechanical engineer by trade).  After speaking to Nick, he said it was really a combination of both.  His latest nose designs are really efficient, compared to other boards, or even some of his earlier designs.  He also said having that extra length to work with allowed him to do some other things to help aid in this. 

The specs of my board are 17’6 long, 27” wide, and just under 30lbs.  The rails are a little harder than many race boards out there, which I believe is partly responsible for how stable the board is, even at only 27″ wide.  This board is full carbon fiber, with a custom paint job on the deck and rails.  The paint job itself is probably the best I have seen on a SUP period.  The design ended up being a little different than what I asked for, but the quality of the work was very meticulous and looks amazing. 

As for the differences I have seen between this and my custom 14’ Bark Dominator, it comes down to glide more than anything else.  I know it is a faster board, but I haven’t been able to nail down an exact number for the difference yet.  I am still getting used to the board, and don’t feel like I have the exact stroke, and standing position down just yet.  The more I ride it, the more I learn about how to ride it.  You stand farther back on this board than on my other boards, and it seems to prefer more of a Hawaiian stroke, to a Tahitian.  In other words, longer, more powerful strokes, as opposed to shorter and faster strokes.  Going back to the glide though, this is where I noticed the biggest difference.  You give the board about 10 strokes to get it going and then pull the paddle out of the water, and it just keeps going.  It is an awesome feeling.  With smaller boards, you notice the board start to slow down as soon as you quit paddling.  With this board, it seems to hold its speed and glide for a lot longer.  Unfortunately, I don’t have a way to give you a measurement or a percentage on the difference, but it is definitely noticeable.  In fact, I went back to paddling a 14’ board yesterday, and I could immediately tell the difference.  Not as much in speed, but the difference in glide was very apparent. 

So in a nutshell, I would definitely recommend adding MHL to your short list when looking for a custom board, especially an unlimited.  This is hands down the best board I have ever had (15 and counting so far).  Some of that is due to the length, sure, but I also mean in terms of quality of construction, design, etc.  They just do a really nice job.  As for the ordering process, it is just like dealing with most shapers, it’s a process you need to be ready for.  If you buy a pop-out, you get exactly what you expect every time.  It may not be exactly what you want, but it is generally what you expect.  With a custom, it’s a little bit more of a crap shoot, especially if you are doing the ordering by phone.   Trying to describe what you want when it comes to placement of add-ons, the deck pad, and the paint job can be tough.  What you visualize and what they interpret may not be the same thing.  Its well worth your time to actually send drawn up examples, so you take individual interpretation out of the equation.

Both William and I agree on one thing, the shipping process is probably the most stressful part of the equation.  Anytime you have shipping people touching the board, you add risk.  He and I have both had several boards damaged or in one case, destroyed in shipping.  If you have the ability to do so, buy a board bag to have your board shipped to you in.  It will cost you something extra, but its well worth it to protect your $3000+ investment, and to provide a little extra piece of mind. 

To order an MHL board, dial 787-609-6198 and ask for Nick and tell him Casey sent you.  They typically quote about 3-4 weeks for 12-14’ boards, and 4-5 weeks for the unlimiteds.  Mine took more like 6 weeks, but I added a lot of customization to my order, so I assumed it would take a little longer and was OK with that. 

In summary, I have no complaints.  I love this board, and wouldn’t do anything different.  Its perfect.

Casey

Encinitas CA ( January 25, 2011) Boardworks announced today that 17 year old SUP phenom, Slater Trout, has signed on to join the Boardworks Elite Team for 2012. “We are so stoked to have Slater join our team. He is such an amazing athlete and ambassador for the sport and a great friend of the Boardworks family as well. With the new Slater Trout Infinity SUP models we are introducing for 2012, having Slater on the team makes perfect sense.  We look forward to a fantastic year. We are also in the beginning phases of creating a Slater Trout paddle line – stay tuned,” commented Boardworks owner Mike Fox. “It’s a great feeling to be part of the Boardworks family, I’m looking forward to the future. I believe the boards that will be coming out are going to be the next level and raise the bar with their T.E.C (Thermal Epoxy Compression) technology,” added Slater.

Slater is known within the industry as the future of Stand Up Paddling, a true ambassador and a positive representation of the sport. Anyone that meets Slater quickly realizes that they’re dealing with an utmost professional that takes his craft seriously. This is evidenced by his success:

• 3rd place, SUP Mag SUP Poll Awards “Favorite Male SUP Athlete” 2011

• 1st 2000m & Overall Winner-Sliver Blade Regatta, Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista, Ca 2011

• Chosen as one of the 5 Most Influential Stand up Paddlers for 2010

• 2010 US Champion, 14 ft. Elite Class Men’s, Hennessey’s Paddleboard

• 5 time podium finisher at the famous Gerry Lopez, Rainbow Sandals Battle of the Paddle

Originally from Florida, Slater spent his very early years learning to surf on the Gulf Coast. Now living in Maui, Hawaii, Slater has dedicated himself to the waterman lifestyle, SUPing, Surfing, Tow Surfing, Outrigger Canoe, basically anything that will keep him on the water. Slater’s passion lies in Stand Up…”There is something about standing on water that does it for me. The view is different. The fact that you have to use your total body all the time to maintain balance, makes it unique, and most importantly the people. I have met some of the coolest people from all walks of life, young and old, It’s a sport that anyone can gravitate to.”

To learn more about Slater visit http:/slatertrout.com/

About Boardworks Surf:

At Boardworks we are passionate about all things to do with the water lifestyle we all embrace. Our goal is to share that passion, to promote respect for the planet, it’s creatures and each other and to make stand up paddle and surfing more fun for more people.  Boardworks represents some of the best shapers in the world and bring their premier SUP and Surf models to the global water community manufactured with our proprietary construction technologies. Our SUP brands include Paddle Surf Hawaii, Rusty, Infinity, Badfish, Ohana, Morrelli and Melvin. Our surf brands include Hynson, Von Sol, Aipa, Kane Garden, Dewey Weber, Bruce Jones and more.

For more info go to www.boardworkssurf.com

or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/boardworkssurf

I am really excited about this class of boards, and this board in particular.  I take people out for lessons on most weekends, especially during the spring and summer months.  In many cases, the people I take out really take to the sport and love it, but what board to buy is often a problem.  We are landlocked here in Austin Texas, so most of the people that paddle here, are not looking for a board they can surf on.  They just want a good board to hit the lake on. 

I have a huge preference towards racing style boards for this purpose.  They glide better, go faster, and are more silent through the water.  The problem arises when these people, who are not yet completely sold on how much use they will get out of a paddle board, actually see the price tag.  Most race boards are $2000-$3000.  It is very difficult for a newbie to justify that kind of money on their first board.  Unfortunately, many of the same people that buy a cheaper Surf/All Around style SUP, end up eventually getting a race board anyway, as they become more experienced paddlers.  Not a huge problem, but it does mean you ended up spending more money in the long run.

Boards like this one from Riviera may end up solving this problem.  Its kind of like having your cake, and eating it too.  You can get a race shape inspired board, that is ideal for most flat-water circumstances, without breaking the bank.  In addition, they have opted to go a little wider than most race boards, which make this ideal for beginners, as it will be a very stable board.  One other thing to note, is this may end up being a good solution for people to fish from.  With its width and overall volume, it should make for a steady platform to fish from.  In addition it has lots of tie-downs.  Plus having a semi-displacement shaped nose will allow it to travel more quietly through the water, which is a requirement for fisherman, who are looking to sneak up on their prey.

I have yet to ride this particular board, but I know a few people that have, and were very impressed.  The feedback I received was, it wasn’t quite as fast as a traditional 12’6 Race Board, but had great glide, and great stability.  For the price they are asking, I think it really addresses the needs mentioned above.  According to a company representative, these boards are available now.

Make sure to watch the video for pricing and specs from Brandon!

Surfing America recently announced its team to compete in the International Surfing Association’s (ISA) 2012 Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard World Championships, Feb. 20-25 in Miraflores (Lima, Peru). It’s the first event of its kind pitting individual standup athletes together into a team event, much like the Davis Cup in tennis or golf’s Ryder Cup. The announcement comes on the heels of Team Australia’s release it would take a power-packed team led by 10-time traditional paddleboard world champ Jamie Mitchell.

The SUP World Championships encompasses long-distance racing, Battle of the Paddle-style races and surfing competitions as well as traditional paddleboard races to crown a team world champion. Each event will feature separate athletes and the points won during each event will go toward overall placing. Boards in all race divisions will be 12’6”. The event will conclude with a team relay (two men, two women). The athletes participating in the relay will be selected by coaches based on their results from the event.

U.S. representatives include Colin McPhillips and Sean Poynter (Surf), Danny Ching and Matt Becker (Elite Race), Rob Rojas (Distance, Ching will race Distance too) and Shane Skoggins (Traditional Prone Paddleboard, Rojas will also race in this division). Emmy Merrill will anchor the women’s team in surfing. Brandi Baksic will race Distance and Elite while Gillian Gibree will compete in the traditional paddleboard division.

Under ISA guidelines, Hawaii acts as a sovereign nation and represents with its own athletes. Expect a stacked team from that squad headed by Ranos Hayes.

Click here to keep reading from www.supthemag.com

My exit from Naish has been getting much more attention than I expected. There seems to be a lot of conjecture–some of it is pretty dramatic–so I feel motivated to give some insight as to what would make me walk away from a great company like Naish.

First, I want to acknowledge the huge debt of gratitude I owe to Robby for sponsoring me in the first place. He brought me on to the team at a very precarious time for me, because South Point had defaulted on both Timpone and my contract, which left a big void in my income. With Robby’s support I was able to continue my waterman lifestyle and support my family. I have a huge appreciation for Robby and the Naish company, and the friendship and support he has given me.

Like any relationship not everything was perfect, it doesn’t necessarily mean one or the other is at fault but rather an evolution of different paths. The Naish company path is naturally driven by corporate responsibilities. My path is driven by personal goals, the challenges of the lifestyle I follow, and creative freedom. Robby runs his company very efficiently, and like any good, strong leader it goes his way, and that’s as it should be. It is his company, he has taken all the risk and made all the decisions that go along with being successful. But unfortunately for me that meant more and more that there wasn’t much room to make my imprint on the company. At the end of my contract I had to make the difficult decision to renew and carry on with the status quo or do something different.

Had I not learned to shape a few months ago I probably would have stayed with Naish and carried on with business as usual, but the exposure to shaping got my creative juices flowing again and in the end I just could not deny what has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my whole career–the creative process.

Click Here to finish reading from Dave’s blog.

____________________________________________________________________

My take:

Wow, I did not see this coming.  I am very happy for Dave though.  Being a creative person myself, life just feels better when you have an outlet for your creative juices.  Someone as talented as Dave needs to be able to feel like he is leaving his imprint on things.  If he wasn’t really feeling like he had much of an impact in the product line, it is only natural for him to want to find a way to fill that personal need. 

Between the strength of Dave’s name as a brand, coupled with how much he knows about surfing, and stand up paddling, I doubt very highly it will be long before he signs a deal with Surftech, Boardworks, or Riviera, to start mass producing his designs.  Building custom boards is great, but the true business opportunity is having your designs mass produced so people all over the world can take advantage of them.

I wish Dave the best in this new adventure.  I am sure he will be wildly successful, and ever better, he will be personally fulfilled.

Casey

I’ve been using race fins made by Larry Allison for over two years now, and I really don’t need to try anything else. They do everything I need a race fin to do; track well, reduce drag and shed weeds.

My first Allison fin was the Eric Terrien Bat Wing. I was amazed at how well it made the board track and how many more strokes per side it allowed me. It made the stock fin look like total junk.

Then, last year I discovered the Gladiator fin, made by Larry with design ideas from fellow SUP racer Casey Gotcher out of Austin Texas. He runs a great SUP site called SUP Gladiator. http://www.supgladiator.com/

Casey and Larry just came out with the new Hybrid Gladiator fin that is a slightly smaller version of the original. I used it for the first time in a race last week and won the race on my 14′ Bark Dominator.

There are some very different designs attributes between the different models, and Larry can explain the advantages to each… he talks like a hydrodynamic/physics engineering doctorate student, but all you really need to know is that any of these fins are probably better than what you use now.

If you live in Washington, you can buy any of these fins at Perfect Wave Surf Shop in Kirkland, or order the Gladiators directly from Casey.

See the rest of the review here at:

http://www.paddlesurfnorthwest.com/2012/01/race-fins.html

Beau goes through some of the different fin designs and the purposes for each.  Well worth the read if you are into SUP Racing.

Casey

Enjoy!

For more of Taylor’s videos, check out his Youtube Channels.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RivieraPaddleSurf1

http://www.youtube.com/user/rambofilms

January 3, 2012 | Author Leslie Kolovich

Leslie Kolovich talks with Casey Gotcher in the studio of 30A Radio as he and his family happened to be vacationing in area!

Casey Gotcher SUP Addict, SUP Blogger, Product developer with Larry Allison creating the Elite Gladiator, and Hybrid Gladiator fins.

Casey, born in Southern California of course loved surfing. Later in life moving to land locked Austin Texas he missed surfing, but found SUP. Casey has helped arrange a SUP meetup group that now has over 500 members paddling the Colorado River, Lake Lady Bird in Austin. Casey’s wife Tanya and two sons are now following in his footsteps with all of them not only paddling, but racing. However, Tanya wasn’t so easily hooked on SUP when she started. So Casey brilliantly bought his wife a Joe Bark Custom Race board the rest is history….She now is a certified SUP instructor in Austin and “gets it now”.

Casey is a very big part of spreading the SUP Stoke with supgladiator.com blogging. If it’s happening in the SUP World Casey will know, he has his finger on the pulse of it all. Big Announcement: He and Larry Allison have come out with some new custom painted Gladiator Fins for the LSU Fans and the LA Laker Fans, and if you by chance are a Texas Longhorn fan don’t worry Casey has one for you too!

“I am super excited to be representing the Honolua brand. The team consists ofguys I admire and respect. To be apart of such an elite team, blows me away!” — Honolua Surf Co. team rider/ brand advocate, Dave Boehne

Dave is no stranger to the waterman community. His family owns and operates Infinity Surfboards and Surf Shop in Dana Point, CA. Dave, his brother, Dan and his father, Steve all shape, design surfboards and Stand Up Paddleboards. Dave’s parents are World Champions in Tandem Surfing, being named one of the “First Families of SUP” by SUP Magazine.

Dave grew up, encouraged by his parents to enjoy the ocean. He found himself riding and experimenting with every type of surf craft; shortboards, longboards, stand up paddleboards. Dave’s love for the ocean has led him to be a versatile waterman. He designs surf and SUP boards, he can ride any surf craft well and he lives his life in and around the ocean. He has been a professional surfer for half his life and this past year in 2011, Dave has put a concentrated focus on being a respected SUP racer,  by training and competing in SUP surfing events.  Boehne recently finished 4th place in the annual SUP Poll Awards.

Together Dave and Honolua Surf Co. plan for him to compete in the Standup World Tour Race selected events and travel the globe in search of surf.

From the manufacturers

They Look Good
They’re Super Safe
They’re Stylish
They’re Versatile in the Extreme
Very Good Anti-Fog Ventilation
Super Comfortable
They Even Float

Ocean produces the best polarized lenses on earth. Ordinary polarized lenses corrupt your vision and don’t block nearly as much glare as they should. Ocean polarized sunglasses achieve 99% efficiency in blocking polarized light waves.

The Tierra del Fuego have hydrophobic coated lenses which repel water along with oils and dust particles – your glasses will stay clean for longer. When they do get dirty, hydrophobic lenses clean easier than normal lenses.

The comfortable, stylish, lightweight design is perfect for other sports as well.  You can use the Tierra del Fuego for hiking, cycling, basketball, kayaking, fishing, soccer, and surfing.

Other Benefits of Ocean Sunglasses:
Special atom lens material stops every wavelength of ultraviolet radiation.  UV protection cannot be scratched off
Optical alignment for sharp, accurate vision
Geometries that extend peripheral view

My take on the glasses after 2 paddle sessions with them.

Pro’s:

• They were pretty comfortable to wear
• I appreciate that they float.  I have lost several pairs of glasses on paddle trips, including a $200 pair of Oakley’s.
• They exhaust air better than most glasses, which helps to keep them from fogging up.
• The polarized lenses seem to be pretty good at reducing glare.

Cons:

• They are a little more expensive than some of the other glasses out there that have similar characteristics.
• The way the foam is attached makes them look a little odd compared to normal glasses.  Not a problem, just something I noticed.

You can find more information at the following web addresses:

www.WearSurfGlasses.com and http://www.wearsurfglasses.com/Sunglasses-for-SUP.html

The Motherload is here! On December 10th we are hosting the biggest Holiday Parking Lot SALE in history… Stand Up Paddleboards and Accessories from Riviera Paddlesurf… Snowboards, and gear from Flow Snowboarding, Clothing from Stella & Dot, Bloq Generation, Hinano, Independent Trading, and Saltwater Society… EFX Performance will be there, as well as Jen Optics, Capo Beach Watercraft, Zebra House Coffee, and Kona Brewing Co. will be spreading the Liquid Aloha. Don’t miss out… The Motherload SALE is one day only! Saturday Dec. 10th, 9am – 4pm. 1341 Calle Avanzado San Clemente, CA 92673

For more info on “Chill” check out our Gladiator Story on him here:

http://www.supgladiator.com/2011/05/13/gladiator-of-the-weekchris-chill-hill/

Santa SUP Sale!

December 1^st – 24^th

At Ohana Paddle Sports

311 S. Topsail Dr

Surf City, NC 28445

15% off all New SUPs

40% off all Used SUPs

30% off all Clothing, Jewelry and Sunglasses

Please Call (910) 328-1009 If You Have Any Questions

Or Visit Our Website at www.ohanapaddlesports.org

The event is being put on by Austin Paddle Sports, but is also being sponsored by some big names, such as Maui Jim’s, Pacifico, C4 Waterman, and several other companies you are likely familiar with.

There will be great events, such as:

- A Slalom Buoy Course

- The Angry Balls Obstacle Course

- A Water War

- Jousting!

- and probably the biggest event of all, The Run for the World Record on SUP Zilla.  See the video for more info.

Don’t miss this event.  Unlike most SUP competitions, this one isn’t necessarily SKU’ed to the best surfers, or the racers who have the time to get in the best shape.  Anyone can win, since these events are different from the SUP Norm.

The event is being held on Quarry Lake, just off of Braker Lane.  See map below for directions.

For More information, click this link.

http://www.sup-games.com/Austin_SUP_Games/Austin_SUP_Games.html

The first one is a good BOP recap type video.  The second one is one of the commercials they showed on the live Webcast.  Make sure you watch the “Depression Hurts” video too.  I think we can all identify with the message. 

In my case, I write these articles, reviews, and stories just because it’s something I enjoy.  I don’t sell advertising on my site.  I give it away freely, to people and companies I like and believe in.  I am fortunate enough that I have a good job that provides for my family to the point, that I don’t really need a second income at this point.  What I do with this site, is just for fun and for sharing the stoke with others.  Even the revenue generated from the fin sales, usually just gets dumped back into the community, in the form of sponsoring racers/surfers, charities, etc.  Even in a situation like mine though, it can get ugly from time to time.

Sometimes even when you are genuinely trying to do someone a favor, or help them out, they may get pissed off at you.  Reviews are the toughest part.  You can say 10 great things about someones product and only 1 thing you would like to see improved, and all they seem to see is the 1 negative.  This happens almost every time I write a review.  Let’s face it, there are no perfect products.  Even the best board, paddles, and accessories could stand some level of improvement if people are really being honest with themselves.  An example might be the weight of a board.  Boards that are super light, are also usually prone to damage easier.  They are also often made of Carbon Fiber, which means they are less tolerant to heat.  Boards that are more durable, also tend to weigh more.  Point any of those things out though and someone will be upset with you.

The problem arises when the “Business of SUP” gets in the way of the “Enjoyment of SUP.”  Even when you try to do things the right way, and for the right reasons, drama will still find you.  There will always be people that are unhappy with you for some reason.  In some cases, people or companies, you dearly love will sometimes turn on you without you even seeing it coming.  I have heard from several of you recently that you are in a similar situation.  In some cases you are being pulled in multiple directions by your sponsors, or you find yourself “in the middle” of 2 companies/competitors, that have motives and objectives that may not always line up with yours. I have heard from a few of you that you have had to sever relationships or ties with one manufacturer, because a sponsor of yours has a relationship with another company.  This sucks when it happens, especially when your heart is still with the original company.  This is when friendships often get destroyed for the sake of business.  Its sad, especially in our sport, which owes a lot of its growth to the premise of Ohana, and the Aloha Spirit.

Others of you have told me that the competition has gotten so fierce, you have had to train to the point where it has completely stripped away your love and enjoyment for paddling.  In other cases, it’s just the pure drama of the “he said-she said” that happens sometimes.  What this has resulted in for many of us, is “SUP Burnout.”  I have been feeling it too this summer.  The worst part is, over the last 2.5 years, SUP has been my escape from the problems and stresses of life.  Lately though, SUP has been the source of a lot of those problems and stresses.  I have learned one thing through this experience.  Never let your Sanctuary become your source of stress.  When you feel it coming, the best thing I have found to do, is just pull back.  I was so busy with work, and keeping the site up, I was having almost no time left to paddle.  Over the last few weeks, I have made it a priority to just Go Paddle! I have been trying to go 5 times a week.  That is pretty challenging with my work and travel schedule, but it’s a goal worth chasing.

What I had to do to make this possible is change my mindset.  In the past, I wouldn’t go paddling if I didn’t have a full hour or more to spare.  It just didn’t seem worth it, when I figured in changing twice, loading up the board and paddle twice, having to shower again, etc.  I have abandoned that line of thinking and started going even if I only have 30 minutes to spare.  While I can’t do any distance paddling in 30 minutes, I can do 20 minutes of intervals, and 10 minutes of just sheer cruising and enjoying the water.  It’s just enough time to get a sweat going, and get some endorphins pumping.  When I get off the water, the stress is gone.  Plus, I have lost 10 pounds over the last couple of weeks, because of it.  In addition to the stress relief and weight loss benefits, just getting back to paddling for the last 3-4 weeks and forgetting everything else, has really rekindled my love for the sport.

The only piece of advice I can give, is to be watchful for this happening to you and make adjustments as needed.  If you find this type of thing happening to you, just pull back.  Take time off, spend it with friends and family, and just get back to paddling for fun.  Forget the drama, and competition, and all the rest of it for a bit and just recharge.  You won’t regret it.  I realize for some this is not as easy as it is for others, but hopefully you get the point, and can make some type of adjustments to get back to a better place.  I have always heard that most things in life are good in moderation.  The flip side of that, is that even good things, when done to excess, can become bad.  I feel this old piece of wisdom applies here too.
Casey