STAND UP PADDLING: White water SUPing basics - Part 2

WATER SPORTS

Words: Andrew Kellett ǀ Photos: Johan Swart, Billy Edwards & Kate Walton

WHITE WATER SUPING BASICS

PART 2

Entry into waterfall rapid on the Palmiet River near Kleinmond, Western Cape. Photo credit: Kate Walton

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IN LAST WEEK'S ARTICLE, I TALKED ABOUT THE BIRTH OF WHITE WATER SUPING, WHICH IS RUNNING RIVERS ON A SUP BOARD, AND THE FIVE KEY STEPS TO BECOMING A WHITE WATER SUPING SUPER STAR. NOW I WILL DELVE INTO

THE BASICS, AS WELL AS GIVE SOME GUIDELINES THAT WILL HELP YOU MAKE SMART SUP EQUIPMENT CHOICES, FROM HEAD TO TOE, SO THAT YOU ALSO LOOK THE PART OF A SUPER STAR.

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THE BASICS THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BASICS OF WHITE WATER SUPING. BALANCE - This is critical to all disciplines on SUP and starts with your stance on the board. Like any board sport, the wider your feet are apart, within reason, the more stable you are going to be. Slightly bent knees and feet placed around the handle of the board are always a good indication. Balance on the board is helped by keeping an active blade in the water at all times, even when stationary. Once you are moving, the board has more stability. When you have mastered this, you can try out a more traditional surfing stance with the one foot back at a 90-degree angle to the rail of the board and the other forward and centered around the handle.

There are many opportunities to stop and play in the river.

Unlike the ocean, rive waves are constant and never ending, surfers ultimate dream? Photo credit: Camdyn Kellett

DON’T LOOK DOWN -

If there is one piece of advice I can give you, it is to look forward towards the horizon or down river to see what is coming up. Looking at the board will make you unstable and limit your ability to gauge what is coming up. Your body follows where you look.

PADDLE STROKES -

Start with basic strokes to make your board move forward through the water. We use a J-stroke for this to help maintain directional stability (fancy term for going straight). This stroke starts with opening the blade to pull towards the nose of the board, following the length of the board and ending up in a rudder position to give the board direction.

Steering is best done with putting your weight towards the back of the board followed by a sweep from the front of your board all the way through to the back. The further back on the board you are able to go, the quicker the board will react.

Finally, there is the brace stroke and sweep brace stroke to stop you from falling off when you lose your balance. All of these strokes will need to be mastered on both sides, although you will find that you have a more dominant side. Once you’ve got your head around these, you can consider learning the bow rudder, cross bow rudder and draw strokes.

POWER SOURCE -

It’s not just your arms that generate power. This is one sport that gives you a full body work out and develops good core strength. Straighten your arms, bend your knees, twist your core and engage your stomach and back muscles.

Six pack here we come!

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Gear for expedition WWSUPing. These are the basics that you will require for a winter WWSUP. Photo credit: Johan Swart

TRIMMING YOUR BOARD -

Trimming is basically shifting the weight distribution on the board by walking back or forward on the board. This allows you to ‘punch’ waves by stepping forward or increasing the rocker and ‘climbing’ over waves and holes by stepping back on the board.

BAILING - Falling is part and parcel of this sport and there's no graceful way of doing it! This is a skill that needs to be practiced in a (large) swimming pool or on flat water. DO NOT fall feet first into the river. This will increase the risk of foot entrapment and injury to your lower torso. If you are on an inflatable, it is a good idea to try falling onto your board so that you can remount as quickly as possible. If you fall away from the board, you want to fall flat with a large surface area and on the side of your body to protect vital organs. Your leash should keep your board close and allow you to gain control quickly.

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REMOUNTING YOUR SUP - This is going to be a

fundamental skill for river SUP as you want to be able to get back on your board whilst in a rapid and recover for the rest of the white water. Basically, you will be doing a push up every time you spill off your board. A good way to practice is in a pool. You put both hands on the rim of the pool and try to do a press up while slipping you legs underneath, as if getting into a surfing position. This will make you stable in a low stance and able to assess where you are in the rapid before getting into a vulnerable standing position.

THE EQUIPMENT THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU MAKE SMART SUP EQUIPMENT CHOICES FROM HEAD TO TOE. HELMET - A helmet is a no brainer because you will be falling from a standing position with rocks below you.

I use a Sweet Protection helmet from Norway. WRSI is also available from Paddlezone, a one-stop paddling shop based in Cape Town.

PROTECTIVE GEAR -

Yes, river SUPing can be a contact sport so you will need protective clothing and gear for the section of white water you are paddling.

This includes thermal base layers and paddle jackets and

pants, and elbow and knee guards (you can use skateboard equipment for this). You will feel like you're ready for combat when all dressed up, but believe me, you will be happy when facing a steep, rocky rapid! Safety gear, including a throw bag, should be carried on the paddler, as well as two slings and two carabiners in case of a wrapping.

I use Palm Equipment's dry top and pants for cold conditions, from Paddlezone, with an Ice Breaker base layer pants and top. Available from various stores or contact Adventure Inc. for stockists.

FLOATATION DEVICE - You will need a PFD, personal floatation device, and preferably one with a releasable harness for a leash to attach to the board. It should have good foam protection for the body and storage pockets for safety equipment. Try choose a brightly coloured fabric for your PFD for better visibility in the water. I use a Palm Amp from the UK, available at Paddlezone. Local jackets are available from Palm Equipment. www.doitnow.co.za • 5

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER INTRODUCTION TO WHITEWATER SUPPING Join Gravity Adventures for a three day long trip on the awesome Orange River Gorge to explore the new sport of whitewater Stand Up Paddleboarding.

You will need to bring along your own inflatable SUP and we will provide everything else! Fully catered and guided, you can concentrate on learning new skills from instructor Andrew Kellett, all in a stunning desert wilderness environment. Take advantage of this special introductory offer for DO IT NOW Magazine readers: R2,995.00 per person. Contact us on info@paddlezone.co.za for more information.

SHOES -

You will need shoes that grip well and offer some ankle support and protection. This also helps when portaging bigger rapids.

I use Vibram Five Fingers ‘Maiori’, which offer great grip on and off the board, as well as some warmth.

PADDLE -

Paddles have come a long way in a short period and there's no reason to paddle with a heavy paddle these days. Every board manufacturer now has a range of paddles, which should offer a wide range depending on the paddler’s size and ability. If you are starting out on rivers, choose a plastic blade for your shaft. There are loads of rocks on the river and with the defensive stroke you will be using, your blade will take a beating! If you are competent on a SUP, you can take your carbon paddle, but know that it will get scratched!

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I use a Werner Fuse Paddle from the States. Available from Paddlezone or you could try out Starboard, one of the leading brands in SUP, for a wide range.

BOARDS - Choosing the correct board is

vital. Laminated boards, which are stiff with a foam core, are ideally suited to surf and race. Soft-top boards are covered in a layer of foam and give some protection from rocks, but the inflatable board is the new revelation allowing the sport of river SUPing to progress. They are light, durable and soft with rounded edges so not to injure the falling paddler, and easy to transport. Starboard is the first to have a dedicated river SUP board.

Starboard's river specific SUP.

THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN A BOARD: • Durable-build quality, with at least four handles.

• Minimum thickness of 120 mm to 150 mm, to counter the currents grabbing your rail on white water.

• High-pressure pumping up to 18 psi or higher, to give you the stiffness you need for white water.

• At least 32-inch in width throughout the length of the board for stability.

• Rocker (banana shape) on the nose of the board allowing it to climb over waves and holes • Low profile fins so you don’t catch on rocks. Flexi fins can also work.

• Deck area for lashing gear like your throw bag.

I use a Starboard 9.6 X 36 Astro Stream, available at Paddlezone. Another board to check out is the 11’2 X 32 Astro Blend, which offers more glide for river touring and covering more distance on lower grade rivers.

AstroStream

Astro Blend Deluxe

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Punching the bus size hole on Waterfall rapid.

Photo credit: Kate Walton

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LEASH -

You will need a leash that is not too long for the distance between your PFD and the loop on the board, but not so short that it prevents you from moving around on the board.

DO NOT use a traditional surf leash, as this could get wrapped around a rock or tree, trapping you in the current. Use a leash that is releasable!

IN NEXT WEEK'S ARTICLE, I WILL LOOK AT RIVER KNOWLEDGE AND WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN TERMS OF HAZARDS AND FEATURES, AS WELL AS

INSTRUCTION AND GUIDING; ALL KEY TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THIS INCREDIBLE NEW SPORT. • Andrew Kellett is a five-time National Freestyle Kayak Champion and an accomplished expedition kayaker with many first descents under his belt. In 2012, he started exploring the sport of WWSUP on rivers.

Personal Floatation Device www.palmequipmenteurope.com Starboard Astro Stream www.star-board-sup.com WRSI Helmet - www.paddlezone.co.za Feet - www.vibramfivefingers.com Paddle - www.wernerpaddles.com Protective clothing www.paddlezone.co.za All items above and accessories available locally from www.paddlezone.co.za TO CHECK OUT THE COMPANIES MENTIONED, VISIT: Paddlezone - www.paddlezone.co.za Adventure Inc - www.adventureinc.co.za Extreme Equipment www.xtremesa.co.za Vibram Five Fingers www.theoriginalminimalistshoes.co.za Starboard - www.star-board.co.za

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