https://www.bite-back.com/PADDLE WITH SAL MONTGOMERYExtreme kayaker, white-water expert and expedition leader, Sal Montgomery, has put aside time to spend on the water with the lucky winner of a prize draw to help raise money for Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation, a UK charity.Sal has toured the world taming rivers and gorges and has quickly become the go-to person for kayaking expeditions, including Steve Backshalls TV show Bhutan: White Water.Always adding to her skill set, Sal has recently become a scuba diver and since then a keen supporter of Bite-Back. To celebrate the charitys 20th anniversary and fundraise for its future, Sal said, Im so excited to help fundraise for this charity and support its important new campaigns. Thats why Im happy to take someones kayaking skills to the next level in 2025. If that sounds like your kind of thing, get your tickets now and it could be you in the boat beside me.For the chance to have fun on the water and learn from one of the best kayakers, visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw before 28 November and get your tickets for 5 each.MORE INFORMATIONCall Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.comhttps://paddlerezine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Sal-Montgomery.mp4

Learn how to fast tack with Josep Pons Top tips. Full technique analyze, to simplify the move.

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ARUBA HI-WINDS: ROAD TO THE BLUE HIGHWAYARUBA HI-WINDS: ROAD TO THE BLUE HIGHWAY After jetting off to the Caribbean, John Carter gives us the full lowdown on the Aruba Hi-Winds event, which also featured the first Youth Slalom PWA World Cup of the year. Meanwhile, local legend, Sarah-Quita Offringa explains why its her favourite time of year in Aruba.Words: John Carter and Sarah-Quita Offringa.Photos: John Carter.ARUBA Situated a mere 15km off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba boasts incredible wind statistics, tropical weather and stunning turquoise water, whats not to like? Home of 22-time PWA World Champion (14x Freestyle, 5x Slalom & 3x Wave), Sarah-Quita Offringa, it is a perfect training ground for freestyle as well as foil and slalom racing. The Hi-Winds has been running since 1986 and has been host to a hectic schedule of watersports competitions as well as several major PWA racing events. The concept behind the Hi-Winds is to gather the community to compete in a variety of competition formats on the water.Each day the full itinerary included windsurfing slalom, windsurfing long-distance, wing-foil racing, wing-foil long-distance, kite big air, kite long-distance, kite cross, kite foil long-distance, as well as a monster mountain bike schedule at the weekend. Throw in the Youth PWA slalom and foil racing and believe me, there was never a dull moment, from dawn until dusk at the event. A lot of the racing and events are competitive, but the focus is more on having fun, taking part and celebrating the beautiful conditions Aruba naturally provides. As you can imagine, pulling off this amount of competition, while also providing live bands, catering and bars etc, is no mean feat, and I must say I was particularly impressed with event organiser, Wouter van den Berg and his crew for seamlessly running the show.CALIMA A METEORELOGICAL PHENOMENON I flew with British Airways, who have one flight a week which flies to Aruba via a quick touchdown in Antigua en route. After checking in at the stunning Boardwalk Boutique Hotel, I was all set for an awesome week of flatwater action in the Southern Caribbean! I had arrived on Aruba two days prior to the start of the Hi-Winds hoping that I could score a few shots before the event even began. I was expecting blue skies and azure blue water from the get-go, but unfortunately the weather had other plans. Over in the Canary Islands they often have Calima weather, which is when the dust from the Sahara blows into the atmosphere and creates a white sky and hot muggy weather. Its about as bad as it can get in terms of photography as the sand in the atmosphere takes all of the usually vibrant colours out of the equation. Well, lo and behold, somehow that pesky Calima had made its way right across the Atlantic and it was now hovering over Aruba. How long would it last? I had no idea, but for the next two or three days it looked like game over in terms of photos at least. Fortunately, by the time the event kicked off this rare weather phenomenon was slowly fading away, as the traditional blue skies and easterly trade winds returned with a vengeance.ACTION STATIONS The event kicked off with awesome racing conditions and down at the Fishermans Huts the PWA Youth Slalom was scheduled to start at 9am. With twenty knot offshore winds it was perfect for foil racing and by midday we already had four rounds of racing for all categories of the youths in the bag. Not to mention we had also squeezed in four regular slalom rounds for the locals in between heats also. The beauty of racing in Aruba is that the water is relatively shallow right next to the starting area, so the competitors can literally stand with their equipment while they are waiting to race which is a pretty idyllic setup. Just where the start line is, the reef gives way to crystal clear turquoise water, which the locals refer to as the Blue Highway! Imagine racing in perfect clear flatwater with warm steady wind in this beautiful paradise bliss. As a racer it must be tough to ask for anything more, although if I had to complain, I would say that it was a bit too hot for me, but as the days went on I slowly became acclimatised to Arubas balmy temperatures.Whether you are a seasoned windsurf pro or just starting out, the Hi-Winds caters for all levels of competition from young kids who race in the shallows, right up to pro level. The likes of Sarah-Quita Offringa, Nathan Westera and Oda Brdholt were amongst the fleet taking part in the Pro-Am Slalom and there were plenty of heated battles going down with the girls giving the guys a solid run for their money.NEXT GENThe level in the PWA Youth racing was extremely impressive with the likes of Brendan Lorho, Storm Nicolai and Tycho Smits all showing amazing speed and skill on the racecourse, while in the girls fleet, Bobbi-Lynn (14), Kit and Lone (12) De Jong were all outstanding and are surely destined to become stars of the future.By 1pm we were done and dusted with the slalom racing for the day, but as for the Hi-Winds, the day was far from over. As we headed back to the beach in the boats, the kite big air was already underway with the likes of fellow Isle of Wight resident, Tom Court boosting huge airs right in front of the crowds at the waters edge. Meanwhile the race crew were gearing up for the various long-distance races which were due to start at 3pm. If you sign up for all of the competitions, as Sarah-Quita and Oda did, there is barely time to catch your breath until the next event kicks off. But, in a way, that is the beauty of the Hi-Winds, it is all about taking part and having fun on the water. Of course, the competitive ones in the fleet dont mess about, but there are plenty of people who enter just to immerse themselves in the fun loving vibe.LONG-DISTANCE So, once the big air was over, the race crew then had to handle the logistical nightmare of getting all the kites off the beach safely and out to the start line for their various categories. Somehow everything knitted together and there were certainly some spectacular starts especially when you see sixty or seventy kites all headed down the coast together in close formation.Once the kites had disappeared into the distance, the wing-foil fleet were next to race followed by the long-distance windsurfing race and finally the kite foil long-distance. The windsurf long-distance course took the racers on an exciting journey down the coast towards the California Lighthouse close to Arashi Beach, before rounding a mark, and then heading right across the bay to Eagle Beach before returning back to the huts. The fastest competitors were done and dusted in less than forty-minutes, which seemed impressive to me considering the they were covering about 20km.ARUBA VIBES By the time the long-distance racers from all categories were all checked back in, we were closing in on sunset, which is obviously the perfect time to rehydrate ahem and of course sneak down a few icy colds to quench the thirst. Around 6pm, the weather is slightly cooler, as the sun dips below the horizon, and the skies start turning gorgeous shades of pink and red. With everyone back at the event site after a great day on the water, the Aruba vibes were fully flowing, and it is just a great time to hang out and soak up the atmosphere.BACK TO THE GRIND Well, the first day was full power at the Hi-Winds, but the event was merely gathering momentum at this stage. For the next three days, right through to the final evening on Sunday, the schedule was jam packed, but still doable as long as you paced yourself to last the full five days of solid racing, while still allowing for a spot impromptu partying. I would have to say the atmosphere and vibe at the Hi-Winds is second to none and Aruba is the perfect venue for participants to join in the nonstop action and entertainment both on and off the water. The addition of the PWA Youth Slalom in 2024 added a flourish of international flavour to the Hi-Winds, and hopefully, it can be the stepping stone for more youths to come and join in, in future years. If you ever fancy an amazing week of fun racing in this slalom paradise, then the Aruba Hi-Winds is quite possibly the perfect event for you!LOCAL HERO SARAH-QUITA OFFRINGA REVIVALThe Aruba Hi-Winds was the event that inspired me to pick up windsurfing again, when I was young! I had almost quit some months before because I simply couldnt lift the sails, whilst my brother kept on practicing, and by the time the event came around he was blasting out on the blue highway with all the big kids. I went to the beach to watch and support him, and the all-around good vibes on the beach just immediately peaked my interests.There was so much FUN at the beach!BRAGGING RIGHTSIn the following years the Hi-Winds was the event I looked forward to all year and trained hard for. I competed in racing with the super kids (boys mixed with girls) near the shore. I still remember getting smoked by Kiri Thode every single time because he was relentless and pumped from one mark to the next and never dropped a gybe. Freestyling was a highlight back then and winning the King/Queen of the huts title gave you major bragging rights.I still remember feeling like I made so much progress once I was competing in the open womens class on the blue highway, plus there were always activities besides the racing. I made friends for a lifetime because of this event.BLUE PRINTSo, all in all, the Hi-Winds imprinted this image of what windsurfing, and a windsurfing event, should be like for me. It includes serious competition on the water and happy banter on the beach, as well as great food and entertainment. It used to be only windsurfing, but I love that it has actually grown to become this festival and celebration of wind/watersports. It gives everyone the chance to be part of this event and share their passion on the water with others.These days, I would say the event Lycras are somewhat of a collectors item even. And finally, the big highlight is the sign off movie of the event, which is such a nice souvenir to end an awesome week!BREEDING GROUNDThis year I was so excited to have the PWA Youth event there. The level of the kids is incredible, and I think its so important to give them a platform to showcase their talent to the world. Its the perfect structure to improve and gain more competition experience until they make it on the pro tour themselves, so I loved watching and cheering for them. Joey Ross was the youngest at just 11-years-old! I think he was the most stoked guy out there and I think watching the older kids compete was a huge boost for him to improve.GIRLS VS BOYSFor myself, the Hi-Winds felt like a marathon competing in slalom windsurfing, kite long-distance, and a couple of kite cross heats! Oda and I were the only women in the open slalom class to compete, so we were up against the men, which meant I had to go all out in every single race, which was incredibly good practice.Every now and then we would finish ahead of some of the guys and I even won a race off of them, so that was super cool.CAMARADERIEOnce the slalom was finished, we packed up the windsurfing gear and pumped the kite for one of the highlights of the event, which is the long-distance. We were 34 stoked women at the starting line, racing 14km from the Fishermens Huts to Arashi Beach, and then back towards Eagle Beach, where we were welcomed with ice cream and refreshing drinks before being brought back to the huts in a party bus. The vibe on the beach between the competitors after that race was just awesome. Its like overcoming this huge challenge all together and everyones thrilled to make it back to the beach!After 17 slalom races,4 long-distance races, and too much sun, its safe to say I was fried, but happy. It was very refreshing to be part of such a good vibes event and reconnect with local riders that Ive sailed with since I was a kid. The current organisers have a great vision and I cant wait to see what they do next year. It would be awesome to keep pushing the kids and re-establish Aruba as the perfect breeding ground for new water lovers!The post ARUBA HI-WINDS: ROAD TO THE BLUE HIGHWAY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

SHOREHAM: HURRICANE LEESHOREHAM:HURRICANE LEEWords John Carter, Nik Baker, Lucas Meldrum and Sarah Jackson.Photos: John CarterAfter a lovely spell of warm weather in early September 2023, it did not take long before the first of the Autumn storms were upon as the remnants of Hurricane Lee battered the south coast of England on the 19th of September. John Carter was dispatched down to Shoreham to photograph the action as Nik Baker, Lucas Meldrum and Sarah Jackson went head to head with the forces of nature! Of course, with JC involved things didnt go quite to planSTORM BREWINGAfter being away for two weeks at photo shoots in early September, I had four days at home before my next assignment for the PWA in Sylt. I had managed to completely miss the Indian summer and arrived back at home bang on cue with a monster storm, the remnants of Hurricane lee, which was set to hit on the 19th of September. My first thought was to stay at home and avoid any possible travel chaos that is usually associated with such wild weather but then after a message from Sarah Jackson, saying she was assembling her Duotone troops to face up to the wind and waves at Shorekipa, I felt drawn to head down to document the occasion. After all, I am never particularly happy when I miss shooting epic windsurfing in the UK and then seeing all the pictures and videos afterwards, FOMO they call it.CHAIN OF CONSEQUENCELooking at the tides it seemed the possible best conditions were going to be late in the day so, I decided to head east bound in the early afternoon, which would still give the guys and gal, plenty of time score two wave sessions at Worthing and then Shoreham on the dropping tide. The wind was forecast perfect west southwest gusting over 40 knots for most of the day. With that strength wind waves should not be a problem. I carefully studied all the timetables to make sure I would have a smooth passage of travel and in my estimation, I reckoned I could be from my front door to Worthing in around 2.5 hours.If you dont know about some of my previous missions along the south coast, I have a very particular set of travel skills which I have acquired over a long career. Skills which have made such journeys nightmare for myself and all involved. I specialize in missing ferries, losing keys, travel chaos and generally having a miserable time! Sure enough this trip did not disappoint.As I arrived in Ryde half an hour early, en route to the ferry from the Isle of Wight I was slightly perplexed when I spotted a boat at the end of the pier as they normally arrive ten minutes or so before departure. I immediately realized what I had done. I had looked at the timetable from Portsmouth to Ryde rather than the other way around so was totally out of sync with the times. All the hovercrafts were cancelled so this ferry was my only way of making it to the mainland. So now I had to wait a whole hour for the next ferry and that meant I would miss my scheduled train.I finally made it to Portsmouth after the frustrating wait, but when I went to buy a train ticket at the machine, there was a message saying that the line to Brighton had just had a problem with the third rail, whatever that is. The guard confidently assured me that if I took the Cardiff train to the next station at Fratton, I would be able to connect with another line and still make it to Worthing on schedule. Of course, at Fratton all the trains were also cancelled but the next guard assured me that if I continued to Havant that there would be another train headed to Worthing. Something was telling me just to turn around and head home but I can be stubborn when I am on a mission so jumped on the next train and made it to Havant. Time was ticking by. I could see outside the station the branches of the trees were swishing around like they do when its hellishly windy and that meant I was missing the action every minute I was stuck at this stupid station. Id suffered a similar journey at Christmas, last time Lucas Meldrum was involved and I was starting to wonder if he was a jinx!MISSING OUTMeanwhile, the messages were pinging through that Worthing was 3.3m conditions and epic jumping. I was already feeling doomed and FOMO was setting in. Every train headed east was flashing up cancelled and the clock was ticking away. Since arriving in Portsmouth, I had made it a mere two train stops in two and a half hours! I decided to call Nik Baker to tell him I was throwing in the towel. So far Nik had not sailed as he was about to go into the dentist to have a root canal procedure, which didnt sound pleasant either. Carter its firing down here, just keep on going, you cant have come this far and then quit! With his words of encouragement, I decided to soldier on, and after all I thought I would rather be sat on a train than have a dentist drilling into my gums, so my predicament was not that bad after all. Finally, a train headed east, appeared on the screen at Havant, which meant I would have to wait a further forty five minutes, but it was, at least headed to Worthing. I would be arriving late but wasnt that supposed to be the best time anyway?When I finally made it to Worthing, Nik Baker, who was fresh out of his torture session at the dentist was there to pick me up in his big silver Duotone van. He reckoned Worthing would be past its best on the dropping tide, so we decided to head straight to Shoreham which should turn on, on the drop.GAME ONAfter hours of frustration, we finally made it to Shoreham and I was relieved when I jumped out the van to be nearly blown over by the force of the wind. I was fearing it would drop off on arrival, knowing my luck or the effects of the Meldrum jinx. After a quick reconnaissance mission to check the waves, Nik was excited to see solid swell lines brewing on the outside, which should keep building with the outgoing tide. We were on! Nik sent a message to the rest of the crew who were packing up at Worthing to head down ASAP!The weather was overcast with some rain in the air, but the wind was howling and the waves were already solid by the time Nik hit the water, so that was fine by me. After all the angst of the travel chaos, I was content to just be out in the fresh air and was excited to shoot the next hour or two of wild action. Of course, Shoreham is Niks home spot and where he learned all the basics of wave sailing in his early days windsurfing. Sailing Shoreham certainly has its own special skill set and Nik knows these conditions like the back of his hand. By the time Nik had hit the water, Lucas Meldrum, Sarah Jackson, Dave Dobrijevic and Hugo Dobrijevic, had all arrived from Worthing and gathered where I was stationed to check the conditions. Now Nik was the focal point for the crowd and my camera, so the pressure was on to raise his game. Of course, he did not disappoint, on his first wave he threw down some beautifully linked backside airs, before bottom turning to hit the inside bowl with a perfectly timed vertical hit. After gybing close to the shore, he was fully powered as he headed out towards the waves, hitting a juicy ramp with perfect precision, he launched into a perfect push loop and landed bolt upright. Seeing that, was enough to send Lucas and the rest of the crew running to their cars to rig up as fast as possible. For Hugo, launching a wing through the shore break was going to be tricky!By the time Lucas hit the water, the tide was dropping fast and the waves were building nicely. He hit the water on his 3.7m Duotone Super_Hero and Grip 4 SLS to join Nik on the water. What ensued was some great comradery and also a battle of attrition, as each sailor traded off push loops, backside airs and frontside smacks in order to score the best shots. The beaches around the Brighton area are also the home stomping ground for Lucas and with Nik as a mentor, his skills have improved where he can give Nik a solid run for his money. Sarah was not far behind to hit the water and caught some decent waves before a small mission downwind after a crash but she valiantly fought her way back up wind to catch a few more decent rides before it eventually went too dark. Young Hugo Dobrijevic also put in a sterling effort on the water and was nailing some huge jumps out the back on his wing foil.THE JINXSo, after all that travel frustration, the day did not work out so bad after all with Storm Lee delivering the ingredients for an intense late session at Shorekipa and the Duotone crew obliging with plenty of epic action. With the action over Sarah was kind enough to offer me a ride back to Portsmouth which went very smoothly compared to the Southern Rail journey, although I just missed the 8.20pm ferry by five minutes and had to wait an hour and a half for the next one. Sarah was not quite so lucky! Maybe it is me that is the jinx as the next morning when she woke up her van would not start and she was due in Manchester the next morning to catch her flight to Sylt to work for the PWA. After calling out roadside assistance they eventually managed to get her faithfully van to splutter into life and it made it back to Manchester somehow despite the engine light being on all the way home!LUCAS MELDRUMWe have not had much wind this year and I had been a bit out of practise. I thought I would have a bit of a break this summer after university, so I was refreshed and super excited to get back into it. The wind forecast was south-west at about 35-40 knots which was perfect for the south coast. JC came down to Brighton at Christmas with a similar forecast and there was hardly any wind. This time Storm Lee delivered. It was nuking all day. When we turned up it was still a bit too high tide with the shore break but the tide dropped fast and it was just getting better and better by the minute. It was much better downwind where Nik Baker chose to launch. The wind was strong all the way to the beach was the key to making it so epic. It was great to sail with Nik, he is still doing the moves and still has that magic vertical style and power in the waves. That was definitely one of the best sessions I have ever had a Shoreham!.NIK BAKERI had not really windsurfed that much this year if I am honest, so I was excited when I heard Storm Lee was about to hit. I was keen to ride the new 2024 Duotone kit after the switchover. British rail let us down again for poor old Carter. It was nice to sail at Shoreham, where I was brought up sailing, especially after that horrible root canal. It is awesome to have Lucas around as he has been sailing in Cornwall for a few years, while at university. Hugo took the wing out and boosted some big airs. Shoreham does not look so big from the beach but where the waves were breaking it was solid. It is not an easy place to sail. I was fully powered on my 4.2m Super_Hero SLS, with the new Grip 3 79 litre. You need to be loaded off the beach with all the current that was running. I made sure I was powered. It could have been 3.7m weather but I went 4.2m as I am 92 blimming kilos. If you get stuck without power for the first fifty yards, then you are toast. It was a bit more onshore than I had hoped but I managed to get some backside airs, a few decent push loops and a couple of nice back loops. We have not had wind for a while but all in all it was a pretty epic day for Shoreham. That was the first big storm going into the winter and hopefully that lines up for a good season while the water is still warm.SARAH JACKSONWhat a day that was! For me it started perfectly a dawn patrol session at East Wittering was the ideal wake up to get a day of storm chasing started. And from that point onwards, the chaos erupted of course, that was when JC considered leaving the house. Looking back on our WhatsApp chat from that day still makes me laugh with the back-and-forth messages and photos in which JC seems to blame on the weather on his travel woes although Im not sure thats 100% of the story Yet despite all of the dramas, he turned up exactly at the right time, as always, to capture the end of a wild and stormy day on the South Coast with the DUOTONE crew. I dont get to sail much in the UK anymore, but I certainly made up for it with 3 sessions in 3 different spots all in one day! I will always be down for an Autumn storm chase if Im around and this one didnt disappoint.The post SHOREHAM: HURRICANE LEE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

#439 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024WINDSURF MAGAZINE #439 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024Autumn Gold: British Speed Demon Jenna Gibson; Snippets From 40th Windsurf World Cup Sylt, Julian Salmonns El Confital Bucket List; Positive Energy with Svein Rasmussen; Surviving a Danish Storm; Tested: 85L All-Round Wave Boards; Plus Technique with Harty and Hall.CoverLucas Meldrum slashes his way to the 2024 Tiree Wave Classic title.Photo Carter / pwaworldtour.comBIG JUICY READS2024 CITRON WINDSURF WORLD CUP SYLTWith the ever-changing conditions in the churning waters of the North Sea, Sylt provides some of the most challenging conditions in the world. We hear from a selection of sailors to see how they coped both mentally and physically.POSITIVE ENERGYSvein Rasmussen, the visionary founder of Starboard, tells us about his goals for the brand, his belief in synergies, as well as his dedication to protecting our planet for future generations.SPEED DEMON Jenna Gibson windsurfing reflects on becoming a four-time IFCA Slalom World Champion, finishing third overall in PWA Slalom X & having her sights firmly set on breaking the speed world record at the Lderitz Speed Challenge.SURVIVORS OF THE STORM Faced with 50 knot winds at the IFCA Slalom Worlds in Hvide Sande, Denmark, the race crew were forced to abandon the racing due to an extreme squall, which reduced visibility to almost zero. We spoke to a hardy crew who survived the storm.MY BUCKET LIST, EL CONFITAL Julian Salmonn has to pay his dues, but eventually, the stars align to allow him to cross off the infamous and dangerous El Confital from his bucket list.NAISH: THE NEXT GEN/HAWAIIAN WATERMENWhat defines a waterman? And more importantly, what does it take to be one?EQUIPMENT GARAGETESTED: 2025 85 LITRE WAVE BOARDSAfter getting their hands on a selection of the latest and greatest 85L wave sleds, our Test Team put them to the testTEKKERSPETER HART MASTERCLASS LOVING THE ONSHORES PT 2 THE RIDE BACK INThe waves are driven in by an onshore wind. Having coaxed you out the back last month, in part two Harty guides you through the riding options, how to hold station, and get back with a little style.BOARDSHORTSLATEST & GREATESTRoll up, roll up. Its time to feast your eyes on the latest windsurfing news and products.LOWDOWN: EXOCET BREEZEThe Exocet Breeze offers something completely different compared to the rest of the market, we hear from Exocet CEO, Patrice Belbeoch, to find out more about this unique design.SITTIN ON THE DUNNYSYLT SPECIALITYThe ed. discusses what makes Sylt such a special place for windsurfing once you eventually get thereAFFAIRSOF THE HART:HOW BIG?Harty debates the tricky business of measuring waves.The post #439 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

5.6m Black tip and 99 Flywave.. light winds Salema Beach, low tide.. fun sess until the wind dropped!

Every time I head out for a paddle, there he is: the old fella. Hes a fixture at the beach, hobbling down the sand with his busted shoulder, knee replaced, and the same weathered 5-foot board hes ridden since he was 15. Fifty years later, hes still doing, thinking, and playing the same way. And dont get me wrongtheres a huge amount of respect for anyone who gets into the ocean, especially when their bodys breaking down. But come on, man, there are other options!I ride a SUPyes, a stand-up paddleboard. Im out there on my longboard SUP or shortboard SUP, catching waves that others cant even dream of reaching. On small surf days, I paddle the entire stretch of beach, picking off waves, working my fitness, and growing stronger. Meanwhile, the old-timers? They sit in the same spot for hours, barely moving, barely catching anything, riding the same waveif theyre luckythat theyve ridden for decades. Its like watching a replay of the same old tape.Whats stopping them from breaking out of that cycle? Ill tell you: its not just the busted body or the aching joints; its the mindset. Theres a stubborn resistance to think outside the box, to even consider new ways of doing things. Its not just about riding a SUPits about trying something new, being open to change, and maintaining curiosity. SUP is one of the original water sportsit came long before shortboard surfingbut when I paddle out, Im met with sneers and scoffs, as if what Im doing isnt real surfing.But heres the thing: this rigid thinking doesnt just break your body; it breaks your spirit. These guys look worn out, not just from the years of wear and tear on their joints, but from the exhaustion that comes with living inside a narrow mindset. The ocean should rejuvenate them, fill them with life, and yet, you can see it on their facesagitation, frustration, tiredness.I once suggested to a surfing buddy that he give SUP a go since hes getting older and his body isnt what it used to be. His reply? Ill just go fishing. Cool, mate. You can sit onshore and fish while I catch 50 waves and stay in shape.But this response is tellingits more than just laziness or pride. I think its fear. Fear of trying something new and getting teased by the boys. Imagine that, at 50 years old, still worried about being mocked by your mates for thinking differently. It makes me wonderdid these guys ever have the confidence to carve their own path? Did they ever develop the ability to think for themselves? Or have they just been going with the flow, following the same tired patterns?What I see so clearly in the ocean every day is the failure to grow, to extend beyond the norm, to stay open. These older surfers are the same generation that once represented rebellion, freedom, and the thrill of new frontiers. Now? Theyve fallen in line, just like the people onshore they once swore theyd never be like. Its ironic, and its tragic.The lesson Ive learned from them is simple: original thinking keeps you alive. It keeps your body fit, your mind sharp, and your spirit full of zest. The moment you close yourself off from new ideas, new experiences, or new ways of thinking, you begin to break down. You become that tired old guy, sitting on the same busted board, stuck in the same place, while the worldwhile lifepasses you by.So, heres to trying new things, thinking outside the box, and paddling out into life with curiosity, confidence, and a whole lot of waves..Thanks Evan for kindly sharing your article. We totally agree! You can never have too many water toys! Evan Sutter is SUPer and ultra athlete based in Bar Beach, Australia, who as well as enjoying a mix of long distance river and ocean paddles and SUP surfing, is a well being coach and author. Evan has recently completed a 300+ km paddle down the Hunter River and is soon to be embarking on a 112km paddle (1 day) down the Hawkesbury River. To follow Evans paddling, work and wellbeing blogs check out his website.The post How Old Surfers Taught Me the Power and Importance of Original Thinking / Evan Sutter appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

The Aloha Classic is about to kick off. World titles will be decided and we are here to have a chat about it PVB is also over there in Maui so we can get the inside scoop!