#33 english version
UP SUPING Stand Up Paddle
SUP BREATH OLIVIER
DISCOVERING
in the snow
DARRIEUMERLOU
THE THAMES
AUGUSTO GARCÍA
WARM UP
DIRECTOR
www.argazkimahatu.com
Nicolás Arnedo info@upsuping.com
www.jamesstewartjefferspanter.blogspot.com.es
DISIGN AND LAYOUT Nicolás Arnedo info@upsuping.com
UP SUPING Stand Up Paddle
TEXT AND COLLABORATORS Pablo Codesido, Pedro Gutiérrez, Bea Felipe, Majo Pellicer, Anya y Coco, Barbucias Lifestyle, Rubén Salvador, Sensi Graves, Amadeo Viera, Julia Castro, Tom, Sphie Matthews. Martine, Antonio Morillo, Up Suping.
PHOTOS Argazki Mahatu, Desde el Mar, Albert Laborda, Kurro Díaz, Goutier Boudat, Mayola, SUP11 City, Olivier Darrieumerlou, Chore Waterman, Mario Portilla, David Villa, Ramón Blanco, @standuppaddle.tricktionary, Fátima Labra, Barbucias Lifestyle, Axis, Starboard, Amanda Cantor, Cosme Arostegui, Amadeo Viera, Ronny Kiaylehn, David Jodar Fotografía, Up Suping.
You can see all our magazines in: www.upsuping.com
PHOTO COVER / BACK COVER Starboard International. Colaboration:
If you are interested in collaborating with Up, you can send us your proposals to this address: info@upsuping.com
Reproduction in whole and in part of the texts, photographs and drawings published in this issue is strictly prohibited unless expressly agreed with the publishers. Supp Suping is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the collaborators or texts or photographs that reach our hands without being sued.
Up Suping
info@upsuping.com
@upsuping
@UpSuping
Up Suping
DIGITAL MAGAZINE / WEBSITE Stand Up Paddle
#32
#32
#32
#32
Edito Life goes on, the world keeps turning and we paddling. Or did you think that something or someone would stop us? ¨Time does not stop¨, is a phrase that has not been out of my head for a long time, because time determines that internal clock that we carry inside and tells us to make the most of every moment. What will the weather be like tomorrow to go rowing? How much free time do I have to go surf some waves with my Long SUP? We live with this word every day, it even determines emotional states and it will interfere in many of our decisions. We must adapt to it, follow its flow and even be precise…but not always. Sometimes it is good to break the rhythms of our lives and receive the unexpected...And the next pages you will see are the clear meaning of time.
The time that favoured us to row in the snow, the time that our collaborators had to go out to row in still confined cities of the world, the time that did not affect a family enjoying themselves in Portugal. The time we have been waiting to go out to compete and see the family ¨Supera¨. The time that you are going to dedicate to this magazine will be the time that will never end by thanking you once again for being here with us. A glorious time of great reading. Ladies and gentlemen… Welcome to Up # 33! Chore Waterman
Índex 12 Olivier Darrieumerlou 22 SUP Breath 28 The Doctor´s Spot 36 SUP Surfers foto 40 Descovering the Thames 48 Portugal SUP Trip 54 Warm Up 66 Up to the Foil 78 Material 82 Test 88 Border Line 104 Inner Sea 108 Augusto García 122 Crossing Lyon
¨Trust NIN¨...
Manuel Hoyuela
OLIVIER
Mayola
DARRIEUMERLOU
Up Suping
Mayola. SUP11 City. Olivier Darrieumerlou
Bonjour Olivier. We love how you present yourself on your Instagram profile: Waterman & Hearthman. Describe yourself in Up Suping to get to know a little more of you among our readers. Hi Nico, thank you for this share with you and your readers, I’m just a sportsman who leave this life with the earth and the water. The more I become aware of this over the years, the more energy nature offers me. We are nothing without it. Your home is the southwest of France. You couldn’t have a better place to practice and enjoy Stand Up Paddle...It´s fantastic! Yes it’s alright, I can’t dream a better place to enjoy SUP, we have perfect world class spots here: Sei-gnosse, Hossegor, Capbreton with all kinds of waves...for short boards, long boards, SUP foil. We have also nice lakes and finally our nice river l’Adour who join Landes and bask country. So...¡the perfect playground! We really like your great performance in the Ultra SUP Race competitions and other modalities. Tell us how you prepare, physically and mentally, for these races. I prepare myself with a rather precise method developed over the last few years thanks to a team of very professional people that I have had the chance to meet. They are all passionate, like me, about sports performance for pleasure and fulfilment. Our method has proven itself over the last few years and many people have contacted me to help them prepare their goals. During the year 2020, I decided to set up a training structure to meet this demand.
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This training structure is called TOPP (Training Olivier Paddle Performance) and started at the end of 2020. It has 12 athletes in its ranks for the 2021 season. Each athlete in our team has his or her own objectives. Whether it is to prepare for a world championship or a more modest personal sporting challenge, each of our athletes benefits from the skills and experience of our staff in a totally individual-ised approach. The TOPP staff is composed of several competent people, including our physical trainer who has been working at the highest level for 25 years. And above all, they are very good friends of mine with whom we share strong values. Our method is based on 4 pillars: * The muscular approach that meets the specific needs of rowing sports. * The precision of the intensity of the sessions on the water thanks to an objective indicator. * Monitoring of objective and subjective data of athletes. For this, we use an application that allows us to have daily feedback on the training plan of our athletes. * Performance through and for pleasure.
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In addition to this we also offer: * coaching on rowing technique. * Tactical and strategic support during races. * Support in choosing the right equipment for the race programme. Then on the mental level, I practice sophrology and apnea. I am also lucky enough to have one of my best friends who is a mental trainer for high level athletes. I am convinced that the need for a mental approach will exceed the need for a physical approach in high level sport in the years to come. Finally, I am applying the approach of nutrition, hydration and sleep which allows me to potentiate my training. And with a bit of discipline at this level, it allows me to have a good meal with my family or friends from time to time.
And what feelings do you have when you are paddling with such demanding distance conditions and adverse elements? It’s all a question of envy. The one and only question that needs to be asked is why I do this. If the an-swer makes sense deep down inside then it will be “relatively” easy to overcome the difficulties of distance and external conditions. But after having answered “what is my goal”, we will have to ask ourselves the question “how do I get there,” “what are my intermediate objectives” and for that, we will have to put in place a preparation that is equal to the challenge so that it becomes a pleasure. 15
To finish a 1h00 race, few things are decisive. To finish a 10 hours race, 24 hours or more... everything becomes important and must be taken into account. I think that our limits are very far from what we imagine in our minds. The idea is to harmonise body, mind and spirit and then feelings become magical, whether they are unpleasant or pleasant...it may sound crazy but the initiated will understand. Ultra long distance is a good method for this, it is a kind of dynamic meditation in which one can discover the flow.
What have been your races with the best sensations and results? The circuit of the Spanish Basque country has my debut, the Dordogne Intégrale 2020, the CJ31 in the USA in 2019, the French championships... But if I have to give one, it will be my victory in the 11City Tour Non-Stop 220km 2018. This race is the culmination of many years of work and passion. I felt extra ordinary emotions before, during and after the race. With this victory, I was able to thank all the important people who have surrounded me for several years without whom I would never have been able to do all this. 16
The waves of Les Landes and the entire south-west of France are known for their strength. How do you surfingr with your SUP Race board in such powerful waves? You have to be focused on the wave periods and your placement. In SUP racing you have two im-portant advantages for surfing powerful waves, you can move fast and get an early start on the wave. Then it’s like everything else, to progress you have to go to the contact and accept to take some series on the head.
How is your relationship with the 425 PRO brand? We see progress is seen in it´s material and design in recent years! It’s been 4 years since Jerry Mihimana, the founder and creator of the Tahitian brand 425Pro, gave me his trust. He gave me the perfect race board to go for my ultra long distance goals. I gave the best of myself and with his help, I won the 11 City Tour Non-Stop 2018, the Dordogne Intégrale 2020 and I did 2nd in the CJ31 USA in 2019. I owe him a lot and I try to give him back this trust on each of my races. Concerning the new 425PRO structure based in Eastern Europe, I am pleased to be associated with the brand. There are 4 of us, Oto DENIS the PRESTOALS BOATS factory manager, Rei-is ABELE CEO, Jerry Mihimana founder/Designer and me the brand’s relay on the field as 425Pro Rider-Manager. 17
Jerry is well known for his shape and board design. Oto has a world famous factory in compo-sites, he makes bobslegs and inline kayaks for federations that equip their athletes for the Olympics or World Championships... He is our production manager for our entire range of rigid boards. Reinis is our director who takes care of the commercial part and the management control of the company. This year we are releasing a major evolution of our models with a new super fast Manea with a sleek design. It is offered in many sizes in EPS carbon construction. And our big news for 2021 is the Manea Hollow 14 x 22! The first boards will arrive in France in a few days. Our Out-law is also improved this year with a few touches to gain in ocean glide and stability.
In addition to this, we have to add our sup surf sup foil surf foil wing foil kite foil range, our accessories range, our clothing range and finally our partnership with the foil brand AM-STRONG that we also distribute on our website! Yes, indeed 425Pro is now ready to develop on the market of premium brands! All our prod-ucts are available on our online shop! www.425pro.com 18
The SUP in France and the rest of Europe doesn´t stop growing. What do you think and how do you feel in the environment between all the rider, and the organization of events and circuits? Yes, clearly SUP is growing and I am very happy about that because I love this sport and I believe in its ability to bring people together. SUP is at the crossroads of many sports and if the federations develop and promote this versatility then this sport of stand-up paddling will grow thanks to the high level and especially thanks to the general public. I had the chance to meet many people during the races I participated in France and abroad, I must say that the atmosphere in the world of stand up paddle racing is excellent. I think that the physical difficulty of this sport has a lot to do with it and forces mutual respect. I think the physical difficulty of the sport has a lot to do with it and forces mutual respect. SUP racing is a young sport in full development and with Olympic ambitions...I hope that the development towards professionalism will keep the good state of mind that exists to-day. The events, the circuits and the organisers are mostly excellent because they are all passionate about promoting the sport of rowing, its culture but also the athletes and the natural regional sites where we race.
We see that you enjoy with your family doing many activities related to the ocean... right? Yes, our life is turned towards the ocean. We live next to it, it is our playground and it gives us a lot of energy. I have lived like this since I was a child and it is a pleasure to share this with my family today.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken our lives but it has also taught us to enjoy life much more. Do you think the same? Certainly, this virus has changed a lot of things in the life we used to have. There are many, but one of the main ones in my opinion is the deprivation of freedom that we experienced during the various lockdowns and curfews. Being happy in life starts with small simple things like being aware of how lucky we are to be free. Free to move around or free to undertake a dream that moves us and that we want to achieve...
Thanks to… Thank you for sharing Nico and I would like to take this opportunity to give a big thank you to all my TOPP team, my partners 425Pro Beautysané, Natisis, Damien Guilhot Otique, who work with me and help me every day in my different projects. See you on the ride :) 20
SUP BREATH a breath in the snow
Nicolás Arnedo
Chore Waterman. Mario Portilla. David Villar Peña. Ramón Blanco . Up Suping
I still remember with emotion and enthusiasm when less than 1 year ago, after the first confinement practically in the whole world due to covid-19, when they let us leave home to practice SUP. We were limited with schedules, we went out to paddle at 7:00 a.m. and we had to be home before 10:00 a.m. And of course, there were many people who took to the streets and into the water during those hours with the aim of activating the body, exercising, breathing.
The last spring and summer showed us the imperative need for contact between human beings and nature. A discovery for many, a reality of always for others. This, as we have discussed in previous issues of Up Suping, has generated a large volume of people paddling in every cubic centimetre of water all over the planet. We became even annoying (laughs), but there is plenty of room to paddle without problems. The months went by, the European cold was making an appearance and obviously, fewer people in the water doing sports.
The point is that after many changes that we have been enduring due to the damn virus in our lives, we have realized that we need breaths like eating. A “Breathe” is always good for a new oxygen charge, while we remove the dioxide we do not need. And make no mistake, we can do this at any time of the year...and what better plan than to have started 2021 doing it at 800 meters altitude, with 50 cm. of snow and oxygen to get funny! Several ¨SUPers¨ have taken advantage of some of the snowfalls of last winter to break with the monotony of always rowing in the same places, moving to the Ebro reservoir in Cantabria, Spain. You can see more information about this place to SUP in our Up#5 magazine. And many others have also paddled with a similar landscape in other parts of the northern hemisphere around the planet. But if you are one of those who have not yet had this experience, do not be in a hurry to do so. It will just happen one day...the best moments happen like this. My colleagues ¨Chore¨ and Ramón so decided, and making our way between ice sheets and under a radiant sun, we breathed like never before. I dare say that the same thing happened to Mario and David, leaving their beautiful Suances beach to make their way through the snow in search of freshwater.
There is something about the white of the snow that always attracts us. The change in routine also attracts us. Or do you usually go out to paddle with so much snow around you, a cold that dries up your bones and that great fear of falling into the water that you don’t know how cold it is? Damn, it’s exciting! All your senses are activated, you are saving every image you see, every feeling you perceive...not even the images that we publish in this article do reality to that bunch of great sensations.
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And later you come out of paradise. You return to the place of each day, of your routine. But you’ve breathed, possibly better than any passerby you’ve come across all the way home looking for that hot shower. Your eyes, your hands, your body…everything has breathed. And I wouldn’t mind waiting until the following winter to repeat it...
Se vaticinaron excelentes competiciones; y aunque se había cancelado el Campeonato de España de SUP Race en este evento, no impidió que muchos ¨SUPeros¨ se trasladasen desde diferentes puntos del país para medirse en las aguas del Mediterráneo. Y dividido en dos jornadas y bajo un excelente cuidado por protección frente a la pandemia que estamos padeciendo, el evento salió adelante estupendamente.
EL SPOT DEL DOCT
R
SUP post Covid Pablo Codesido
KDF Fotografía. Up Suping
The pandemic that we have suffered throughout this last year has left an indelible mark on our lives. We have stopped meeting, competitions, events, individual and group outings, training...We haven´t been an exception within the world of sport. And maybe I should start by rectifying today’s title because COVID will be with us for a long time. Many of our readers have already passed the disease and will even be facing some of its consequences so the post COVID is really a longCOVID in many cases. COVID will probably be another disease to face in the future, but we will never underestimate its effects on our health of which there is still much to know. As we have done previously, I advocate from here on the need to bet on science and research that supports a society of well-being that allows us to enjoy activities like ours.
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But as always we will be practical. We will try to give a series of recommendations to those who have suffered from the disease, which is becoming more and more, and also a series of recommendations to those who have not suffered from it, to continue doing your favourite sport in the best possible conditions to reduce the chances of contagion. The Spanish Society of Sports Medicine (SMD) classifies surfing and similar water sports such as SUP, as low risk. This is already a point in our favour. There is no doubt that practising an outdoor sport makes things much easier. But it is also true that in events and competitions we must for now avoid unnecessary crowds and meetings as long as the health authorities do not decree otherwise. The SMD in May 2020 established a safety distance for runners ranging from 5-10 meters based on the litres of air mobilized per minute at a certain effort. We could make some similarity in SUPrace riders although the scientific evidence is constantly changing and the appearance of vaccines gives us a very hopeful short-term safety forecast. For now and as I said, as long as the health authorities do not dictate otherwise, we must continue to practice basic hygiene measures such as hand washing and the use of disinfectant products, the safety distance and the use of a mask still being one of the most effective to reduce infections. It is true that in our sport the presence of waves, wind, water, in general, makes the use of a mask very difficult, but it is true that when leaving the water we must immediately respect the established rules. Let’s hope that little by little all these measures will be relaxed as herd immunity is achieved with the use of vaccines and the incidence decreases. Even so, we must not relax, since many unknowns remain unresolved, such as the possibility of virus transmission despite vaccination or the appearance of new strains. In any case, vaccination is necessary, and their safety levels, despite the appearance of minimal adverse effects, have been scrupulously determined by the corresponding control agencies. To this day, not getting vaccinated seems completely unconscious. 29
A fundamental aspect to take into account is the return to the sport of those people who have suffered from the disease. The SMD indicates as absolutely necessary a medical examination prior to joining sports activity. SARS-Covid-19 is a virus that has been shown to affect multiple organs and develop very diverse symptoms, even in people who have had the mild or moderate disease. For this reason, in athletes, a recognition that affects cardiological and respiratory alterations that can endanger the athlete’s health is essential.
The tendency to chronic fatigue and muscle pain that occurs in many people due to neurological and locomotor disorders is also known to all, so the need for such recognition is insisted, thereby minimizing risks to our health that can be aggravated by excessive physical activity. Of course, sports incorporation must be gradual. Many times the desire to enjoy and return to the levels before the disease makes us rush. But no, let us be aware, serene and intelligent because our safety comes first. Finally, I would like to make a small mention of travel and organization of events. In the case of SUP, competitions usually bring together athletes from different areas of the peninsula and even international, so it is essential to follow again the rules established by the health authorities, and I would even recommend that the organizers seek specialized medical advice in addition to follow the current recommendations, to avoid unnecessary upsets.
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A competitor from a given country can be a transmitter of an unknown strain, so passing the corresponding health controls should be a fundamental requirement to enter the competition. And these recommendations can also be applied in a personal capacity for those of you who are already thinking about the next adventure trip you overcome. That trip will be possible, of course, but in no case relaxation due to the decrease in the incidence make you lower your guard despite vaccines and protection measures, no matter how excessive they may seem. A single contagion has resulted in thousands of deaths. Let experience serve as a guide.
COVID has not disappeared, but together we can ensure that its impact does not deteriorate our passion to continue enjoying the sport, and SUP is no exception. We will continue rowing. Take care.
Pablo Codesido Specialist in Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery
www.drpablocodesido.com @PabloCodesido
PabloCodesido
Antonio Morillo Desde el Mar. Albert Laborda. @standuppaddle.tricktionary
LONG SUP SPAIN REVOLUTIONS
It was born spontaneously and it is cooking slowly, passionately and with great interest from a group of ¨SUPers¨ from all over the Spanish geography already integrated into the group and who have been doing Long SUP for some time. The objective is to promote and publicize this modality of SUP Longboard, and thus meet the athletes from all corners of Spain. In this way, exchange information, know the tables and different technical aspects of the surfer of this modality.
Desde el Mar
A. Laborda
The Cantabrian Federation and the Cantabrian Surf School have organized championships in previous years in the town of Somo, parallel to the SUP wave championship. That is why our intention, in addition to staying in the spanish geography, encourage the organizers and help by encouraging participation. On the other hand, we would like to invite any athlete who doing our modality to join and form part of the group, in such a way that if we form a big group, we could even choose and request the federation to consider Long SUP as an official modality within the federation, with their respective championships.
A. Laborda
standuppaddle.tricktionary
As a group or modality, they have been organized in other countries for years, even with international competitions. And throughout the Spanish geography: Cantabria, Galicia, Asturias, Andalusia, the Canary Islands and in the Mediterranean there are incredible waves and spots for longboarding and we would like to advance as a group with all those surfers who want to join. So a lot of encouragement, a lot of foam, a lot of souls and a lot of joy. This is our philosophy...always positive. Surf, laughter, nature and some beers...
standuppaddle.tricktionary
ANDALUSIAN SUP SURFERS
2
FRED BONNEF
FERNANDO PÉREZ
0
@standuppaddle.tricktionary
2
FERNANDITO PÉREZ
JUAN DE LOS REYES
1
2021
ANDALUSIAN SUP SURFERS
@standuppaddle.tricktionary
ANTONIO MORILLO
FRED BONNEF
DISCOVERING
THE THAMES WITH ANYA Y COCO Coco Adventures. Anya Williamson Fátima Labra
After more than a decade in the world of SUP in which I have travelled the world with my board, my latest adventure is in the cold waters of the United Kingdom and more precisely focuses around the Thames. My love for the water, whether above or below, has no limit. When we sail the Thames we see ourselves gliding in the footsteps of corsair fleets, the bombings of World War II and the entire history of the British Empire. The Thames begins in Gloucestershire and wanders about 215 miles through the southern region of England, passing through the city of Oxford, the town of Reading or the historic Windsor Castle and of course without forgetting the capital: London...to end in the North Sea. Throughout its journey, 45 locks with their respective dams must be passed until from Teddington it extends and forges its strength with its impressive tides and sea currents. The Thames was biologically dead in the ‘50s and that is still on the minds of many people, unfortunately. Today the Thames has recovered, its fauna and flora is so extensive that we can see from salmon, trout, seals or otters. The seals are super famous here for coming up and playing with the ¨SUPers¨.
In these 3 years, mostly alone, but sometimes accompanied by my friend Anya, I have been able to travel the entire Thames from its source to its mouth. But my heart is set on the no tidal zone from Oxford to Teddington. Teddington marks the midpoint between those two faces of the Thames. A rough and furious river against a more placid river but which in turn can enter winter with a lot of currents and also become a dangerous area. In this quieter part of the river, we can contemplate a true scenic beauty both for its Victorian houses and for its nature that stands out with its green tones. It seems incredible that with a population as dense as London we have sometimes paddled without crossing a soul and on other occasions we have been able to spend very good times chatting with the locals who told us, for example, how they opened and closed the gates to let pass the material of the world war. The history of the cities and towns through which we pass is unique and can be shared at the obligatory stop at the typical english pub. It is in this less tumultuous part of the river where we met, Coco the girl from the international south and Anya the girl from the frozen north of Scandinavia, but with a common passion Stand up paddle from which at the same time we become attached to a great family. throughout his “Flow” and these years. Passing Teddington and sailing to the North Sea, the mouth is face to face with the Netherlands. We are located in a river with much more personality, more alive and more intense and demanding not only at a sporting level but also due to its regulations and restrictions.
As I explained previously, this part is the most obtuse where the force of the river and the sea mix and, to tell the truth, it is not a navigation area for inexperienced or cowards, since everything can get complicated very quickly. It is an industrial river, tourist with its fleets that pass from one shore to the other, the walkers or the constant swaying of the construction barges, or simply the sailors who live on the ships that pass from one channel to another in the United Kingdom, do that this section can become a very busy and insecure hell. But, on the other hand, the view is filled with its castle, Tower Bridge, the famous Big Ben or Palace of Westminster as well as the London Eye passing by those buses and red telephone boxes. Some more modern monuments also mark and give their original touch to the capital of the United Kingdom. In the same way that cyclists greet each other when they cross the ¨SUPers¨ of the river they greet each other, they stop to exchange a few words about how you are, the river or the weather! When I arrived in London, I saw very few people paddling, and from October to April, I was completely alone. Sometimes I came across the skiff, rowing boat o punting (they are the 3 most famous and storied sports on the Thames).
The truth is that the english weather is not famous for its sun and heat. This last year there was a boom because of the covid-19 since they only let us do outdoor activities and suddenly everyone became a ¨SUPer¨. There were people everywhere during the two summer months. We were able to see all kinds of nationalities, ages and sex in the water. People we probably wouldn’t have met on the street, but on the river our family suddenly became giant. While Anya has only been paddling for 3 years and I have been paddling for more than 12, our love for the water and outdoor activities has completely united us in a beautiful friendship that we do not want to separate, but to expand through trips and encounters. The beauty of this river is that everyone helps everyone, but let’s not fool ourselves, this year more than 20 rescues have been made because people think it is super easy to get up but they forget that there is wind, current or simply because they don’t have enough strength or experience to get back to shore. Let’s SUP but with a little head, please! The Thames is nothing more than a Guadalquivir in all its splendour British version. We both think that the Thames is worth discovering and navigating from its source to its mouth, but do not forget the raincoat and warm clothes that here the water dominates below and also falls overhead!
Unlock yo r Freedo
southern
PORTUGAL SUP TRIP Barbucias Lifestyle
We wanted to end 2020 as we had started it, surfing in the warm waters of Fuerteventura, together with the OR Training team. But with mobility restrictions, we had to change plans, so we loaded the caravan to go visit an uncle of mine who lives in the south of Portugal.
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The wave report was uncertain, with a fairly large swell that was expected a few days after arriving. Without knowing the spots in that area well, it was a bit of trial/error, but it is one of the inherent parts of surfing and one of the parts that I enjoy the most; meet new waves, new places, the excitement of reaching the top of a dune and seeing that the stars have aligned and it is breaking perfectly for you...
In recent months I had not surfed as much as I would like (who does not happen this hahaha) but the truth is that I have an incredible feeling with my board, a Dani Vila in 7´4 x 26´7 already with a few years on top and With my paddle, a custom Rolstick in 70, so it was not difficult for me to get to the waves in the area.
We were lucky, and Santa Claus found our caravan despite being in a somewhat remote place with hardly any coverage. And while the rest of the family opened their gifts, mine did not need wrapping because they were somewhat ephemeral. In the water, it gave me the feeling of having behaved very well throughout the year, because few things could have made me happier than those waves with hardly any people enjoying it, with a good inlet channel to go up effortlessly, the sun shining at the top, and a water temperature of about 17º that made us forget the date we were in.
After several very good sessions in the area, the expected storm arrived with very strong winds that made me fear that the touring board that I had on the roof would fly away, so we went a bit inland, giving a rest to the body of so much surfing that I had been doing the last few days. But the warrior’s rest is brief, and after a little more than 24 hours and after analyzing both the google maps and articles about the surrounding spots, we returned to the load in another wave that had not yet been tested. After observing it for a long time without being convinced to enter, since it gave the feeling that it was not a long wave, the desire can and I was able to surf several hills that did not displease me at all.
The trip was nearing its end and as it often happens to me (I never lose hope), I had a great feeling with the forecast for the last session, on December 31st. The idea was for me to take early surfing and go back home, but there was an inconvenience in the form of that “session-I-had-been-waiting for months” and we had to delay the return a bit. When I looked at the beach I was breaking a wonderful left, which curled at the beginning and then became more docile for a couple of turns, the problem is that there were already enough people there, in addition to looking like there was an important current that I would demand a lot from my already tired legs. I opted to get to the other side of the beach that although the wave was not so perfect, there was no one. There were very good waves falling while the point was filling, sometimes the comebacks were a bit hard but it all made up for the size of the series and the good ramp that the waves had.
Leaving the water later than planned and not counting that it was an hour more in Spain, we headed home between storms almost all the way, which we laughed, delayed just long enough for our New Year’s Eve dinner to be a ham sandwich York and cheese and having to take the grapes (in our case we had bought a kind of Portuguese ¨conguitos¨) in the caravan just 30 minutes from our house without wheels. What for many would be a problem, we spent it laughing and making a live video since we were listening to RockFM thinking that they would give the spanish bells and it was not like that, so we invented them (laughs). 52
This is how this SUP Trip concluded, in which I think that Neptune rewarded me from the previous trip to Portugal 2 months ago, in which it can be said that I only caught a good wave, and from which I came back quite upset. Waiting nervously for the next surfing ... Barbucias salut you !!
Surfers Castellón with the main headquarters in Grao de Castellón, with 10 years of experience in the world of teaching and training in water sports, renews and improves its services. For this year of change, we have a new website adding an online store where you will find all the material you are looking for to perform your sliding sports both on land and in the water. We offer courses and equipment for: Surf, Paddlesurf, Kitesurf, Wingsurf, Surfskate, Kayak as well as accessories and wetsuits. You can also book your course rentals quickly with online payment. Without forgetting the activities that we carry out of Crossing, Aerial Yoga and Massages. We are distributors of the NSP brands,, Stardboard, Airush, Seland, Oceanearth, Radz Hawai, MVsurfboard, Carver, SPS.
T. 627 037 062 / www.surferscastellon.es Carrer Astrónomo Frances Aragó S/N Playa del Pinar Grao Castellón, 12100. España
WARM UP
General and specific warm up to SUP Majo Pellicer
Up Suping. vecteezy.com
Warming up is defined as a set of activities that are progressive in intensity and specificity to gradually prepare our body. Performed before any physical practice, sport or competition in order to have the muscular, coordinative and psychological functions of the SUP rider for the maximum performance of him or as preparation for the imminent physical activity. This “type” warm up will be aimed at people trained with an average level, who practice this sport regularly; in order to seek that optimal activation at the neuromuscular and bioenergetic level. In turn, we will have joint mobility exercises that will focus on improving our range of motion and joint amplitude. This warm up can help us to prepare prior to any aquatic activity, having the possibility of varying the order and times as well as the exercises proposed in the following pages, depending on the purpose or objective of that day. We will divide it into a general part, activation and joint mobility exercises, to then focus attention on a specific part, orienting it to our sports modality. Finally, what we are going to try with this proposal is the example of what a warm up can be, taking into account that not everyone will be served the same; therefore the importance of individualization, within each training, or consequently knowing what each person can do better or worse in search of their objectives or their characteristics.
GENERAL WARMING (10’) WARM UP
Activation
5 min. of continuous running, from less to more intensity (40% - 55%). Within this time period, we will add a round with the following exercises:
5 BURPESS
5 STRIDES
5 PUSH UPS
5 SQUATS
JOIN MOBILITY 5 min. of joint mobility. 4 series of 20 sec. 20 sec. of rest in each exercise:
SHOULDER ROTATION
FRONTAL ELEVATIONS (shoulder flexion)
LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE ELEVATION (abduction / adduction)
CAT - COW
LOUNGE PECTORAL OPENING LEFT AND RIGHT
DOVE
SPECIFIC WARMING (10’) WARM UP 10 min. of paddling (50%) BPM. 110-140
YOUR FAMILY SCHOOL
LA MARINA. VALENCIA EL PERELLONET
633046000
www.supskull.com
P U S U L A N E O H R A D N E CAL
We are already having a calendar with 2021 events around the world! Do you want to go or participate in a competition but you don’t know which one to go to? Enter our ¨Hoenalu SUP Calendar¨ and plan your next getaway. Click on our logo and you will access directly!
UP SUPING Stand Up Paddle
In the first edition of Up to the Foil we info you about this device and its boom to be used in water sports… But do you really know how it works?
Rubén Salvador
Axis . Starboard
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Foil has entered as a sport for fun, which is already becoming a hobby. Because it really is something very easy, and in need of a short term material change. Although our consumerist interior will turn on all the alarms for you to buy a team, the first is better to rent it, with large material and then choose the style and objective.
How does the Foil work? The operation of a foil is the same as the wing of an airplane or a hydrofoil. As simple as that. It is basically about talking about pressure differences: and in the case of the foil, when the water enters from the front of the wing, it has to separate and come back together at the end. The wider the start of the wing, the more distance to travel, and the more pressure is exerted. But the faster the water can rejoin, the less pressure there is. The more pressure generated below the wing and less above, the wing rises (we call this lift). It is the push from the bottom up.
Lift
Important note about the wing profile: the thicker it is, the more it sustains but it goes slower. If you are going to use a thinner one, use it for more powerful sea conditions. Size matters here... Another simple example of how to spin a soccer ball. Depending on where the blow and pressure are exerted, the ball exerts a parabola towards one direction.
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When buying your material, there are several factors to take into account. In addition to being advised by an expert, you will have to see and check the operation of the foil and the board. That is, it will depend on your weight and the minimum speed you think you are going to catch, where you are going to use it and other external conditions, etc. Another important factor is whether you are going to use it with a paddle or wing. It depends on the environment where you practice it and your physical conditions, this also influences. You have to take into account the pressure play, depending on the speed, waves, etc. The shorter the wing, the more reaction (1400 for speed, 1100 for waves or less). Remember that the foil is based on cm2.
Tail wing Dependiendo de su forma: 1º. Sustentación hacia arriba. 2º. Simétrico, mantiene. 3º. Invertido. The tail wing should help to support the front wing, but do not go overboard because otherwise you can get out of the water. You have to play with your weight on the table. There are stabilizers that are adjustable in inclination, with lift to have support in case there is more speed. To evolve, you will have to touch and place everything. We advise you to take note of every millimetre of the foil elements that you are moving before each session, so you will be more clear about how the whole team has to be depending on the external conditions.
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Mast It is recommended to wear a short one at the beginning (60 - 70cm), to have more margin for errors. Because if you accidentally take it out of the water, it falls quickly when it loses lift. And if it is larger, the board will tend to stick in the water and you will come out ahead. When you have gotten the hang of it, I recommend a longer one (82-92), to have a tighter fit. The mast has to be a certain length to prevent the wing from coming out of the water. Also, play with its height when using it with the wing foil or with the paddle, you will have to check which height will have to be the most appropriate.
You can see where an Insta Live with Rubén Salvador where he gave us a lot of information and great details about the functionality of the Foil for this article.
CLICK HERE
At just 11 years-old, Bobo Gallagher became the youngest person to make the Alenuihaha crossing. The Alenuihaha crossing is an epic and legendary crossing from the Hawaiian island of Maui to the Big Island. The channel is 30 miles across and deep and dark. It is formidable.
BOBO GALLAHER’S ISLAND CROSING
¿Hasta dónde te puede llevar el Wing? Sensi Graves
Amanda Cantor
It’s considered the most dangerous channel in the Hawaiian islands. In the words of Kai Lenny “you are really exposed to the strongest winds of all the channels of the Hawaiian islands”. The channel is considered to be a proving ground for true watermen of the Hawaiian Islands. Just to hear legendary watermen talk about it, it is foreboding.
How long have you been wing foiling? Sky Solbach and Ken Winner let me try the Duotone wing in July of 2019, right at the beginning when the wing first started coming out. I was nine. I really liked foiling and had just finished solo SUP foiling the Maui to Molokai race a few weeks before. Sky gave me a short, onshore lesson at Kanaha and I went out and had so much fun that I had my Dad bring me back to Kanaha for five straight days. I was hooked. I hadn’t done wind-sports before so it was so fun to go upwind or ride the foil continuously without having to “pump out” everywhere. I could go so fast. And then the jumps. Later in the week, I put foot straps on the board and started jumping. It was so fun. What made you want to do the crossing? My dad and I had talked when I was eight about doing a big, multi-day crossing using SUP foiling, a race-board, and kiting going from North shore Maui to Oahu before I ever heard of “wingfoiling.” I wanted to channel cross all the islands but the Alenuihaha (channel between Maui and the Big Island) seemed impossible. Only Kai (Lenny) had done it once on a SUP foil but the strong winds pushed west through the channel, creating huge wind swell waves and a wind direction pushing away from Maui and out to sea. Up to that point, the downwinders I had done would eventually push me into other islands at least. The Alenuihaha was different so people almost always stayed away from that one. Once I found the wing, it now seemed possible to do it. I could use the wind to cut across the channel if I could manage the waves. So, crossing the Alenuihaha seemed like a bigger, more exciting challenge than even doing multiple, smaller channel crossings over a few days.
How did you prepare for the crossing? I prepared for the Crossing by winging a lot. I did a lot of Maliko runs on my Duotone ECHOI. During the two months leading up to the crossing Day, I would build my endurance twice a week by going 30-35 miles a day. That usually meant two or even three Maliko runs back to back and then going back and forth in Kahului harbor till my watch told me I went 35 miles.
Were you nervous? Yeah, I was a little nervous. I had put in the training but you never know what can happen on race day. Would the wind be good? Would the wing stay inflated for that long? Would I see a shark? Where was the boat? I mean I had never been in the Alenuihaha channel before so yeah, it was a little scary. I just told myself to take it one step at a time. I knew I had a knife and an Epirb and some extra Duotone wings and even a back-up Fanatic Sky Wing board if I needed them.
How long did it take you? It took 4 hours and nine minutes to cross the channel. I could have done it faster, but we had a camera crew with us who wanted to take pictures and get video (YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO HERE). I did get to do a lot of jumps; that was fun. There were a few times when I had to wait on the boat because it would get really choppy and I could foil over the chop, but the boat couldn’t. It would be fun to do it again and have a helicopter follow me and see how fast I could get across the channel. What were the conditions like on the day of the crossing? The conditions on the day of the Crossing were good but a little different than what I was expecting. The wind was lighter than we thought it would be. I thought it would be 20-30 knots the whole time. At the end as we got close to Maui, the wind dropped to 10-15 knots. The waves were big sometimes, but it would have been even more fun if they were bigger. My boat captain said that the conditions turned out to be pretty good for that channel and that even the day before when the boat crew crossed the channel from Maui to go to the Big Island that it would have been much tougher. There were a lot of birds and animals in the channel.
How did you determine what would make the best crossing-conditions? What did you look for before making the crossing?
I felt like the best crossing-conditions would be like the conditions I had been training in…about 20knot winds. Not too much wind and not too little wind was my worries, but I had my 2.6, 3.3, and 4.0 Duotone ECHO wings ready just in case it got too light or too windy. In the end, I used my 3.3 wing and never had to re-pump it up. The wing was perfect.
Did you eat anything during the crossing?! Comí algunas cosas durante la travesía. Tenía unas barritas energéticas. Comí unos burritos de frijoles de Taco Bell porque el barco tenía microondas, pero no salió tan bien. Traté de agarrar un burrito de Josh Riccio (mi compañero de entrenamiento y mi oficial de seguridad) en el lado del downwind del barco, pero me caí del foil tratando de cogerlo. Estaba demasiado cerca del barco y el viento casi empujó el barco por encima de mí, pero el capitán del barco Matt Smith consiguió alejarlo. Es muy divertido verlo todo ahora en el video.
FOIL FEATURES FANATIC
SKY WING
The Sky Wing is the ideal board to make Wing Foil. It is designed with the best performance in mind when sailing with a wing and a foil. It is light and small in size to offer agility when moving it, but on the other hand, it has a wide surface that allows safe driving and a volume that offers greater stability. In addition, with the footstraps installed, the grip is clear and we can start doing riskier manoeuvres without fear of losing the board.
LENGHT 4´8” 5´0” 5´4” 5´8” 6´0”
SIZE 142 cm 152 cm 163 cm 173 cm 183 cm
WIDTH 22” / 56 cm 24” / 61 cm 26” / 66 cm 28” / 71 cm 30” / 76 cm
WEIGHT 5.79 kg 6.58 kg 7.27 kg -
VOLUME 55 L 75 L 95 L 110 L 130 L
STARBOARD
FREEWING
FreeWing Air is the new Wingfoil wing presented by Starboard developed together with Airush, its sister brand of Kite. It is a wing that perfectly combines lightness and manoeuvrability with a perfect range of use for all winds. It is a very intuitive model thanks to its wide range of uses. It is perfect to combine with any SUP, Windsurf and Foil board to practice all Wing modalities ÁREA 2 m2 3 m2 4 m2 5 m2 6 m2 7 m2
WIND 27-50+ nudos 25-40 nudos 13-27 nudos 11-24 nudos 8-20 nudos 6-15 nudos
INFLATION PRESSURE 10 9 8 7 6 6
FOIL FEATURES A XIS
BLACK SERIES The High Performance Speed (HPS) wings are FAST. Designed for the ultimate in performance, but yet still usable by most levels of riders. Since the HPS wings use their own foil section with less camber and narrower chord, we developed a special fuselage that will accommodate all the HPS and future performance front wings. The HPS wings are the ideal performance wings for WINGING and DOWNWIND. High level riders they also SUP, PRONE, WAKE and WINDSURF foil the bigger sizes, while the smaller sizes are perfect for TOW, freestyle WINGING and KITE foiling. AXIS Serie B de 1050 mm HPS
AXIS Serie B de 980 mm HPS
WINGSPAN: 1050 mm / 41 inches MAX CHORD: 170mm MEAN AVERAGE CHORD: 123mm ASPECT RATIO: 7.55 ACTUAL AREA 1502 square cm CAMBER (as % of CHORD): 2.5 VOLUME: 1665 cubic cm / 102 cubic inches
WINGSPAN: 980 mm / 38.6 inches MAX CHORD: 160mm / 6.3inches ASPECT RATIO: 7.49 ACTUAL AREA 1323 square cm CAMBER (as % of CHORD): 2.5 VOLUME: 1379 cubic cm / 84 cubic inches
NSP
AIR WAVE
Designed with performance, hydrodynamic efficiency and durability in mind. It can be adjusted for all types of foiling: surfing, SUP, downwind, tow, windsurf, wake, kite and wingfoiling. It is extremely versatile with all the necessary add ons to customize your NSP Airwave across the entire spectrum of watersports, regardless of your weight or ability. NSP wings feature a reinforced foam core, laminated with 100% prepreg 3k carbon fiber. Although more expensive to build, this construction offers the best durability. This means that the NSP Airwave wings will withstand regular wear and tear and the inevitable stranding. DISCOVER ALL THE COMBINATIONS OF YOUR AIR WAVE FOIL HERE
M AT E R IA L www.sup.star-board.com
STARBOARD STARLITE LONGSUP Within the wide range of Starboard SUP boards, the Longboard series stands out for its behaviour in small and medium waves, combined with the wooden esthetics reminiscent of the first surfboards. An esthetic that combines perfectly with the use for which these boards are designed, eminently long style and that also offers spectacular performance in aspects such as the flex and weight of the board, together with a sustainable, environmentally friendly manufacturing. Length 10’0’’ 10’0’’ 9’0’’ 9’0’’
Width 26’’ 28’’ 29’’ 31’’
Weight 7.3 kg. 7.6 kg. 8.7 kg. 8.7 kg.
Volume 95 ltr. 101 ltr. 123 ltr. 147 ltr.
www.fanatic.com
FANATIC RAY PURE AIR RED Fanatic’s Ray Pure Air range has two different sizes to meet the needs of riders according to their preferences or needs. Its touring shape is ideal for cruising, whether exploring the coastline or paddling inland waters, and its aerodynamic design will keep you moving effortlessly with each stroke. Length 11’6’’ 12’6’’
Width 31’’ 32’’
Weight 7.9 kg. 9.2 kg.
Volume 299 ltr. 339 ltr.
M AT E R IA L www.nspsurfboards.com
O² CRUISER FS Inspired by the most popular Allrounds of this brand, the new O² Cruiser FS inflatables are perfect for sailing, traveling and exploring. Rest easy knowing it has an additional dual floatation chamber in case you run into a problem. Length 10’0’’ 10’6’’
Width 32’’ 33’’
Weight 11.2 kg. 11.9 kg.
Volume 288 ltr. 308 ltr.
www.vitasurfboards.com
ALAZNE AURREKOETXEA CUSTOM BOARD Custom board for international SUP Surf competitor Alazne Aurrekoetxea:
• Epoxy construction. • Tail Squash. • Future FIN - Trifin.
Length 6’5’’
Width 23’’
Volume 56 ltr.
M AT E R IA L www.windparadise.com
OCEAN FAAST PRO Is a race board designed for rough ocean conditions. With a downwind focus in design the board works well upwind and crosswind also. Great board for those who are lucky enough to live in an area where the wind blows a lot. Or a board to add to the quiver if you want the perfect board for downwind conditions Length 14´ 14´ 14´
Width 24’’ 25 1/2¨ 27’’
Weight 12 kg. 12.8 kg. 13.5 kg.
Volume 297.7 ltr. 316.3 ltr. 334.9 ltr.
TORPEDO FAAST PRO Was originally designed as a board for the Red Bull heavy water and then added to the lineup because of its race board fun factor. The race board to surf or downwind. An allrounder with some downwind and surf bias. Most likely the most versatile race board we have. A race board that’s fun to use in the surf or downwind. Not the fastest board in the range, but the most fun.
Length 14´ 14´ 14´ 14´
Width 24’’ 25 1/2¨ 27’’ 28 1/2¨
Weight 11 kg. 12 kg. 12.5 kg. 13.5 kg.
Volume 254 ltr. 271 ltr. 286 ltr. 305 ltr.
M AT E R IA L www.spsurf.com
TOURING LITE 11’6×31”x6” Touring Lite, is the new SPS model. Enjoy a super light and resistant board, and it rolls up very easily which allows it to take up half the space. With a special suitcase adapted to your size, it will be easier than ever to travel with your SUP board. Length 11´6¨
Width 31’’
Weight 9 kg.
Volume 299 ltr.
www.sup-one.com
SUP ONE RED STAINLESS BOTTLE High quality, large capacity 800 ml bottle in stainless steel. BPA free easy opening system and carrying handle. • 800 ml. • Stainless steel. •BOTTLE SIZE : 28 x cm | 7.1 Ø | 168 gr.
BLACK PROJECT by Nicolás Arnedo
When you think you’ve seen it all, this paddle appears. The Black Project Hydro FlowX leaves no one indifferent, especially at first glance for its design, and then once in the water, an avalanche of sensations. This brand completely renewed its design, what’s more, I can say that they even played it and got it right. This time I have tested the size M, according to my height and weight. These approximate 400 gr. On the palm of my hand they already transmitted a good vibe to me from the first moment. Balance and weight very well distributed, where both the union of the pole with the handle, and with the blade, transmit good grip and no tension. But surely you will be intrigued by how that elevation that stands out enters the area of the joint of the pole and the blade...right? Well, the goal of this new design called AFT (Advanced Flow Technology) is aimed at reducing turbulence and instability, and I can say that it delivers what it promises.
Between 15% -80% of the paddle’s drag travel when paddling, you can feel a lot of water evacuation thanks to its 82.2 ”paddle area, but between the AFT and the dry side edges, you feel a lot of stability. If it is true that it takes a few time to perceive it and be focused on the paddling, but it can be seen in the images that you have in this article.
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HYDRO FlowX Majo Pellicer. Up Suping
This fluidity gives play to generate more power in the paddle as you feel more control over it, and in a matter of seconds, you see yourself generating a large number of strokes, possibly greater than other paddles you have. The angle of attack of the blade is a bit larger than the original Hydro, which makes it catch more water without hardly noticing the difference. When doing the paddle movement out of the water to return to the nose of the board, a very lightness is felt during its movement in the air; and this is also due to the design of the AFT, since I have felt how it breaks that flow and displaces the air to the sides of the blade. And as soon as a few minutes pass, you realize that it is a fast paddle, and you have to go with it.
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I have to highlight the shaft, I loved it. It has a sure grip and a great flex with its 100% kevlar and carbon. The handle the same. At first I had my doubts about how these parts would work considering the AFT, but everything combines perfectly generating paddling quality. Quick, I won’t tire of saying it. On a physical level, the transmission of effort and energy is very good. With a good paddling technique, there are no consequences of overexertion at the body level. What’s more, by getting more speed with the Hydro FlowX, you have intervals to accommodate your paddling rhythm and allow your body to breathe and your muscles to oxygenate. This is very important, especially if you use it in long-distance competitions.
And even if you don’t see any images here, we have tested this paddle in the open sea and with more gentle swell conditions, and its behaviour practically does not change. Its lightness and fluidity help to achieve speed to connect a small bump, and in a slight upwind condition, it has no resistance. The AFT system also manages to offer great results in other types of conditions outside the flat. A fantastic paddle for riders who already have many hours of paddling, I honestly do not recommend it for a beginner, because it would hardly get all its potential. But for those of us who are already ¨old dogs¨, the Hydro FlowX should not be missing in our quiver. Different, special. A paddle that due to its construction, material and design, can have a long life and durability.
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VITA SURFBOARDS
I´m Alazne Aurrekoetxea, I compete nationally and internationally in SUP Surf and I am part of the National Stand Up Paddle Team. The beginning of this 2021 has been wonderful in terms of the material with which I surfing, since from now on I have a board of the Vita Surf Boards brand under my feet. And the first sensations could not have been better!
With the concept of the Skiff, one of the SUP Surf board models that this brand develops, we have devised creating the ideal board for my surfing with the following measurements: 6´5 ”x 23” x 3 5/8, and with a 59 ltr. volume. Carbon has been added to both sides of the board. This has given it rigidity and stability. I like it because I feel it a lot in the central area of the table where I rest my feet, and that gives me more confidence and radicality at critical moments.
It has a very fine double concave and a not too exaggerated rocker, this gives me much more speed than I had in previous boards. Edges that are reduced as you approach the tail, make the final flatten as if it were a short surfing board. This helps me get more edge into the wave and make fewer flat turns. I feel that my body goes with the board...a great leap of evolution for my surfing. Because as soon as I react to do a manoeuvre, the board helps me and I draw the wave much better. 86
by Alazne Aurrekoetxea Cosme Arostegui
Regarding its flotage, I admit I was scared at first, but the weight distribution is fantastic…especially in the center of the board. Its stability is incredible, it keeps me fine even on choppy days. The tail is square and narrow, this helps me to go out with more speed when I do a cutback and I link the manoeuvres better. I repeat, a board that gives me much more confidence every day that I use it. I have tried it in all kinds of conditions and sizes: in medium waves of 1 meter it moves wonderfully and small waves do not resist it. When it comes to paddling, you get into the wave very well and I have rarely stayed at the top. It is a multipurpose board. It has the same ¨leopard¨ design that I have used for years, including the edges. It´s a board for the day to day with the conditions that I have where I train and enjoy. Sergio (the shaper) and I are going to work together to have more specific boards for rock bottoms and more tube waves. I have to thank very much for the attention of Sergio and the Vita Surfbaords team towards me, since they have listened to my doubts and explained to me how each millimetre of the board works.
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Amadeo Viera Ramos
BORDER LINE
Like the one who comes home for Christmas, like that famous TV commercial from the 90s, in this Up Suping of spring 2021 that also coincides with the 1st. pandemic anniversary, we collaborate again in this magazine that we saw born and grow a few years ago. And as unfortunately we live in this time in which we have to and suffer the famous “mobility restrictions”, we think it would be nice and different to “challenge” it in our own way and, when possible, take the opportunity to discover and show the “super” treasures that surround us and that we did not show in our previous articles in this magazine.
TARIFA - ALGECIRAS
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To challenge that confinement of municipalities that we had at the time of making the report, it occurred to us that we could go to the border point between Tarifa and neighbouring Algeciras, in the Strait of Gibraltar, and there we would meet @fonsydelgado from @algeciras_experience, at who we had the luck to know years ago and start in this SUP and who, today, is a pioneer and reference in his city, Algeciras. Here there have proliferated in the last 2-3 years “groups” of fans to ride SUP taking advantage of the calm and protection of that municipality and its bay. This is a sign that, although it has cost there, also due to the comfort and proximity of Tarifa, this sport is in good health.
As * NOTE *, we still remember that “THE TARIFA SUP RACE” organized by the “Asociación Tarifa SUP” and “Only SUP Tarifa” in 2015, final test where the team that would represent Spain in the ISA World Cup in Mexico was selected, with Laura Quetglas, Pepe Oltra, Jurgi Zulaika or Susak Molinero among others and that, due to the east of Tarragona, the “beach race” test had to be performed in that algecirean beach of Getares, even though the sport was not known in that city and We have the support of Fonsy Delgado and the Algeciras City Council, without knowing what we would do, to everyone’s surprise.
This is a steep, rocky coast with cliffs, inaccessible for the most part, with some sand spots that make the contrast of the water something wonderful, with unusual colours also thanks to the continuous flow of water from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. As it is steep and almost inaccessible, without beaches, this means that it is dangerous due to the rocks and difficulty of a possible rescue, in addition to the strong incoming or outgoing currents. But all of the above makes it beautiful and full of life, it is indeed a Natural Park, green rocks plagued by algae and shellfish, clean waters, ornithological reserve, with populations of cetaceans, etc ...
With so much “difficulty”, to emphasize that it is not an area to do SUP safely. It is necessary or advisable to have a minimum level of paddling and stability, knowledge of the environment, currents or wind. Especially the latter, since the strait is changing and treacherous at times.
As we said, it occurred to us that, since we were living in perimeter confinement, we could meet on the “border line”, in the Strait of Gibraltar: I, @eolotarifa, would go rowing from Tarifa, and @fonsydelgado from Algeciras. A coast, like the entire southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, full of “watchtowers” from the Middle Ages that warned of incursions by Berber pirates continue to watch us, this time while we sail with other types of oars and, sometimes, other sails (read windsurfing); towers such as Guadalmesí, in Tarifa, or Punta Carnero in Algeciras. Although we can also find fortifications still standing dating from the 16th century until recently closed barracks of Artillery of the Coast, although some are still in operation.
Among so many towers, so much fortification and so many barracks, curious Flysch rock formations, which only exist in the Peninsula on the coast of Guipúzcoa and the Strait of Gibraltar; green blankets of algae, dolphins, rivers that flow down in abundance due to the great rains of this Autumn, migratory birds from and to Africa, since we are in the Ornithological Reserve, and much more. that can only be seen, felt and enjoyed by getting wet in these waters. Special thanks to @aztronsupspain for the assignment of the tables to carry out the report.
Julia Castro
Ronny Kiaylehn
SUP & ME Although I live on a paradise island in the middle of the Atlantic (Fuerteventura), I am not the typical case of a girl who was in the water surfing from the age of 8 like most of the pros. Believe it or not, in Fuerteventura we do not have a culture of surfing or water sports in general. The boys and girls of Fuerteventura practice football or handball, but not water sports despite being surrounded by water and having a good temperature all year round.
I still can’t quite understand why, but I think that the sea has always been seen here as a work tool (fishing and shellfish) and not as a leisure tool. It is also true that surfing came to the Canary Islands relatively recently. So I am hopeful that all of this is changing, and that little by little we will start to have generations of local children growing up with and in the sea. So wow, I didn’t start surfing until I was in my 20s. It is true that I did a 1 week surf course in Morro Jable, but I did not hear about surfing again until years later.
For those of you who don’t know me, I started kitesurfing when I was 17 years old and, although we have wind in Fuerteventura practically all year round, out of season, the wind is more variable, it comes from more directions and sometimes there is no wind. So if you want to be in the water all day like me, you have to find an alternative. Surfing always gave me a bit of fear, or respect...And just at that time when I wanted to try a nautical sport for which the wind was not necessary, my friends started to practice SUP.
It seemed to be a much simpler sport mentally than surfing and with a faster progression. I dared to get into bigger waves from the beginning since, standing up…it’s less scary! On the other hand, I realized that it was a sport that was very good for me to work the muscles that I do not work with the kite. So it was really good for me as preventive work. SUP is really a super sport. You work all the muscles, you work the balance, the proprioception, it is a sport with low (zero) impact… All are advantages!
That is why, since I started doing it back in 2014, SUP surfing has become one of my favourite activities to have fun, to get in shape and to enjoy the sea. Another advantage? It can be practised by anyone, practically, regardless of their physical form. I love taking my little brothers to the beach and putting them on a SUP, they catch waves, they have fun…It is a sport for the whole family. Of course, Stand Up Paddle has stolen my heart and will probably be part of my routine for a long time. You can follow my adventures on the networks at @fuertejulia
David Jodar Fotografías
Barbate
Off the African coast Big sailor Phoenician, Roman and Arabic Barbate south of the south ... Between pine forests and junipers Yerbabuena smells like salt to me Surf Barbate Surf I want foam on the high seas
Fernando Pérez NSP
Juan De Los Reyes Fanatic SUP
Kuki
Dani Vila Shapes
INNER SEA Stop being you Beatriz Felipe López
Ronny Kiaylehn. KFD Fotografía. Up Suping
It seems that we are already getting the batteries. That little by little we are resuming contact with the water wearing our best clothes and we are preparing for what is about to come: the competitions. We already know some dates and although the uncertainty of what will happen is palpable in the environment, something within us resists waiting. There are already many of us who have programmed the objectives and are training, so nothing better than to continue knowing our mind so that it can accompany us in our set-up. In previous posts, I have discussed visualization and observation as tools to improve performance. Today I bring a variant that has helped me personally to internalize movements that with simple instructions or observing I was unable to make my own.
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I just had to stop being me to be someone else and put my mirror neurons to work.
THE MIRROR NEURONS I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of them, but you will have experienced yawning when someone else was yawning. Even without fatigue and wanting to avoid it, you yawned. What’s more, you may have yawned just by remembering it right now. Another moment that you may have also encountered is that of falling off your board when you see another partner you were looking at fall. Causality? Of course not! It’s all due to your mirror neurons. These types of neurons were discovered in 1996, not so long ago. At first, it was believed that it was an imitation system that reflected the behaviour of others but they go much further. Later studies showed that this mirror system allows the actions, sensations and emotions of others to be made one’s own. That is why we get excited when we see someone cry or that we suddenly get stuck in a way of speaking without being aware of it. The psychologist Anna Badia on the website Psychology-Online says that mirror neurons are considered an invisible network that unites people and allows people to learn from others. I love that definition! Not only because it reveals another piece of the mind to use in our improvement, but also because it highlights the strength of the team.
For this reason, being part of a group in which the same interests are shared makes us stop seeing ourselves as someone isolated to identify ourselves as comrades for a common good. Now let’s take this to a team from any SUP club. A team is made up of a group of people of different levels. Thanks to that, two magical phenomena are produced that lead to increased performance without even realizing it: competitiveness without pressure and the little teacher.
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THE IMITATION It is evident that within us we have a system that can facilitate our evolution on the board. You can’t see it at first glance, but now that you know it, you can trust more in your possibilities. Within the observation technique or vicarious learning, we find imitation. Although it may seem silly to you, I am simply talking about imitating the movements of another person, of being her shadow, of transforming yourself into body and soul in that figure that you have next to you. It is not only to replicate what you see but you have to make your thoughts disappear, that you get to silence your mind so much that your body stops feeling to start flowing. Just watch and act. There is nothing else.
If you manage to generate that atmosphere of evasion, your mirror neurons will be working to the maximum, internalizing every detail, making the movements and technique of the person accompanying you their own, teaching your body that it can, that there are no barriers or excuses. I will not tire of repeating it, the mind is very powerful, you just have to know how to use it to be your great ally.
MY EXPERIENCE I have to confess that my mind is very capricious and although my training is linked to understanding and empowering the human mind, I assure you that understanding one’s own is more complicated. Even so, I always watch myself to make the most of it. In my opinion, my SUP life is relatively short if I take into account how sporadic I am, but it really has been a few years. In this time I have come across people who have taught me a lot but from whom I have not always learned because my mind was not prepared. What’s more, sometimes I felt bad. I have noticed that in certain environments my mind collapses and its rhythms stop assimilate information slows down.
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In my beginnings on the board I received several instructions while I felt eyes sink on me, it was very frustrating: stand up, look straight ahead, do not take out the paddle, row, do not bring your knees, relax your feet, but look straight ahead...Uf! my brain made sparks and despite hearing it my whole body did not coordinate. What did I do before cutting radically? I stopped to listen to myself, to feel myself and to analyze professionally what was happening inside me. Thanks to that I took measurements, applied methods, got resources and now everything has changed. I remember that one day the orders were given by me to whom I was taught “I don’t want you to tell me anything, just stand up and don’t paddle quickly. So I began to teach my body everything it had to do. First I looked at her posture going from one end to the other. I noticed how he held the paddle, how his wrists turned, the path of his arms and I let myself be carried away by the fluidity of his movements as he released the tension in my muscles. I limited myself to replicating her movements without orders from anyone and silencing my internal voice as to whether I was doing it right or wrong. He just watched and mimicked her movements to the point of being in sync. What was frustrating at first, I was doing effortlessly. My mind saves each of those moments of work and when I encounter some resistance I bring them to the present to remind the body how to do it. If one day you see me paddling with you, do not think that I may be imitating you, I am just continuing to learn.
Beatriz Felipe López Psicóloga y Coach
#islacristina #garcíafamily #SUPgeneration
AUGUSTO GARCÍA
Up Suping
Augusto García. Up Suping
We are happy to see your growth in this sport, how much fun you have in the water and already being a very young reference of this sport in Andalusia. What is SUP for you? SUP for me is a sport that allows me to be in contact with what I like the most, the sea. In addition, I can participate in competitions and that forces me and at the same time motivates me to continue improving and enjoying myself.
Has your father been the one who introduced you to Stand Up Paddle and taught you everything you know? Do you think you have that sporty gene that the Garcias have? Undoubtedly, everything I know about this great sport I owe to my father, also, I am learning from other high level ¨SUPers¨ whom I admire to continue evolving. As for the competitive issue, I think that gene is dominant, for good and bad, just like my father...(laughs).
And of course, in recent years you have achieved great results in different races. Does it create pressure for you to get on the podiums being so young or does it give you more strength to get future goals? When I get on a podium being so young, in my case, it motivates me to keep fighting for him in the next competition. Even so, when I do not reach it in a test, I do not get discouraged and it helps me to try to improve the next time. I like to compete and even if I don’t get a good result, I have a great time.
Tell us where you usually row and train on the beautiful Isla Cristina in Huelva. It’s a paradise! Isla Cristina, for me, is unmatched. Isla Cristina faces the Atlantic Ocean and is very well located and with a great variety of conditions. Normally, we usually leave from the Central beach, which is the beach where the buildings end and the pine forests begin and we usually reach the breakwater of this wonderful town, once there, we enter the estuary and we usually return enjoying a downwind.
Do you organize yourself well between studies and other hobbies to make time for Stand Up Paddle? In winter, it costs me a bit more, since the days are shorter and when I get home from school it’s a bit late with little daylight and I go out less during the week. I take my studies very well and that allows me to take more time for SUP, of course, on weekends there is no problem in combining one thing with the other. In spring, the days are longer, it allows me to train more often during the week, and that is something that is appreciated later. My other hobbies are related to SUP and I think they complement it quite well because they help me to gain ease in the sea are: kite, wind and now I have also started with the wing.
Who are your favourite riders in Spain and in the rest of the world? Who do you look to learn new techniques and improve your style? Internationally, I’d say Connor Baxter, Schweitzer, and Kai Lenny. And on a national level, I admire many of them, because I know them, but I would highlight Román, Rafa...and above all because of the progression and how strong they are now, I would highlight Fernando and Antoñito. I look at the way they prepare for races, how they dose themselves in competitions and of course, their paddling technique.
And that summer we have seen your sister paddle and she does it great. Do you also go out on the water with her and the rest of her family? My sister has great qualities for Paddle Surf and she does it very well. Many times we go out as a family and we are encouraging her so that she becomes more motivated at the competition level. Now what she likes the most is catching waves.
Tell us which boards and paddles you usually use: measurements, model, etc... For several years, I have been fortunate to be sponsored by Starboard, as you know, they are ¨top¨ boards. Specifically, this year, when I will do some races in 14 ‘, I have caught the “Sprint 14’x19.75”, which is great for me. In 12.6 ’, which is the measure that corresponds to me for my age, I wear a 23 Allstar and for the downwind, an Ace. As for paddling, I use the Lima model in size ¨M¨ and ¨L¨. For waves, I take a 7’x26 custom and the 7,7’x28 Starboard Pro, and Enduro paddle, size ¨S¨.
What do you think are your strengths when you are paddling on your board and what do you think you should improve to continue growing? I think my main strengths are my power/weight ratio when it comes to paddling and that I have good manoeuvrability with the board. I like to paddle in rough seas and with some wind. And I I think I have to improve my mentalization in the races because sometimes they make me very long and it bores me when the sea is flat.
What do you think of the current level of boys and girls your age who also do Stand Up Paddle all over the country? How do you get along with all of them? Honestly, SPECTACULAR! And that’s very good because it forces all of us to up the motivation. I have a good relationship with all of them. We have a great time when we compete.
What national and international events would you like to go to, and also simply to paddle and enjoy the surroundings? At the national level, I would like to go to the Spanish Cups and Championships, and to some tests of the SUP Costa. Internationally, maybe my father will take me to a EuroTour, although I hope to be able to do the Molokai one day. And to have fun with SUP, what I like the most is going to catch waves in Portugal.
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Thanks to... First of all, to Nico from Up Suping for having thought of me for this interview, to my sponsors: Starboard, Wikonans and Inmobiliaria Central, who are the ones who help me to continue doing what I like, and of course, to my father who always gives me good advice.
CÓDIGO DE DESCUENTO ¨UPSUPING¨
-10%
POCKET AIR EDITION
GRECIA
Island of Zakynthos
Tom. Sophie Mathews
L uggage allowance, it’s one of life’s great burdens when looking to take a trip to your chosen destinations for action, adventure, luxury, chill or a combination of them all. Whether windsurfing, kiteboarding or SUPing, the fact is, we’ve become a generation of watermen and women looking to access all areas and do it all.
The stumbling block we’ve always encountered is that being over-
weight, not in body but in toys, is frustrating, expensive and detracts from the overall experience. However, with the evolution of materials and manufacturing techniques, gear has got lighter, safer and all-accessible, just pick your destination.
R ecently I took a different kind of trip together with Tom Court. Normally
we are off to far flung destinations with jaw dropping amounts of gear, ready to make the most of what’s on offer. However, the only way this is doable is by flying long haul, researching sports baggage allowances and taking a risk.
This trip was to revisit a childhood haunt of mine on the Greek Island of
Zakynthos. My journey into watersports started on this Island at the Peligoni Club, as a windsurfer and natural progression introduced me to kiteboarding, SUP, surfing and now I’ll take any opportunity to get on the water. Over the 30 years it’s existed, it has never lost its character but has grown to become one of the island’s best kept secrets of boutique accommodation, culinary delights and a beach club with master crafts, windsurfers and other watersports equipment hosted by a team of boat boys and girls to boot.
With the crackling summer heat and all-inclusive hubs in the sun, we
turned left out of the airport and headed to the northern port of Agios Nicolas, where in 15 years, nothing has changed, and I love that. This was a family trip, the first in 15 years, and as we’ve grown to become our own people, the word ‘holiday’ certainly means something different to everyone. For Tom and I, send us to a barreling beak break in Indo or an uncharted destination, this is work, our lifestyle; home would be a holiday.
After raising a family of four in the city, mum and dad want nothing more than to kickback, stay in the gorgeous house on the hill, take the boat to a stunning bay for lunch and snooze. My younger brother and girlfriend relish the Vitamin D and salt water, forgetting about the daily and relentless grind of London. Me? An air of the unknown led me to wonder what my restless sports-nut of a husband was going to do. Then it dawned on me, no wind no worries¨.
Our usual quiver of toys underwent a makeover and the wind-powered
setup stepped aside for something new. Hand luggage of 10 kg each became the new Fanatic Pocket Air Edition, plus a few cables, laptops and hard drives. Hold allowance of 15 kgs each accommodated a foil and in the other the Sky Surf board, leaving a couple of kgs each for the necessities. After all these years had we found the ultimate formula for a windless, family orientated week that genuinely met all baggage criteria, as well as the opportunity to learn something new, pump foiling, and share our passions with friends and family? Apparently so.
Day’s washed by in a haze of magic, ease and satisfaction. Watching
mother, brother, whoever, learn, laugh and live a little in a way that we get to enjoy daily is unforgettable. To experience a gifted waterman get to grips with pump foiling and then inspire others to give it a go only shows that there is not limit to the ways we can enjoy the water.
A mongst the Cicadas, Retsina, Ionian deep blue and a group of 6 indi-
viduals, the lightweight Pocket Air Edition has changed the game of SUP for all. Undeniably the foil played a huge part in Tom’s happiness, but the Pocket Air gave us the opportunity to share our lifestyle and sense of adventure with a family from all walks of life.
This was an Island that had so much to offer, the age old story for the active individual looking to combine action, adventure and ease of travel. When working out where you want to go and how your going to get there without having to leave the necessities or toys at home has been or working out how you’re going to take it all.
Winter Argaski Mahatu
Crossing Lyon Martine
Gautier Boudat
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uring 2020 we have had to adapt and update our sports practices. Living in the city of Lyon, I am lucky to have a large playground for water sports. From Lake Geneva, the Rhone flows into Lyon, which crosses it, then continues to Valence and finally empties into the Mediterranean. The Saone, on the other side of the city, comes from the Vosges, crossing Burgundy to merge with the Rhone south of Lyon. The Rhone and Saone rivers run through the city centre and are accessible with remodelled piers. In summer, the latter are crowded with Lyonnais who picnic on the Saone and fill the terraces with barges on the Rhone.
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o the southwest of the city, you can see the museum of the confluence, symbol of the fusion of these two rivers. Also converted into a mythical monument of Lyon, it is visible from the Autoroute du Soleil, which every respectable tourist has had time to look at, waiting for traffic to resume its usual course (another great classic of the city).
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o, now that we have everything clear and we know where we are, it is time to go to what interests us, a short crossing of the city from the water, to start this new year on the right foot! Aware of our impact on nature, and eager to want to reduce our footprint as much as possible, we have thought, to start with better habits this 2021, not to use our car. I currently live in the 7th arrondissement, near the Tony GARNIER room, a legendary place in Lyon along the Rhone. Well, there are two options available.
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irst option: descend the Rhône directly from Doua, at the level of the natural park of Fessyne. But be careful, because with this one, you will have to cross “Hawaii on the Rhone”, located to the north of the park, where there is a mythical wave worldwide in the world of kayaking! Depending on the water levels, it can be difficult and even dangerous. But for surfers, it is worth the time to enjoy the wave and try SUP surfing. The wave is formed from 650m3 in the right arm and 800m3 in the left arm (very vertical wave).
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econd option: go down the Saône from Vaise, calmer and wilder, but which will require going upriver along the Rhone after the confluence, to return as close as possible to home. This option is quieter and a little more “human” than the Rhone. These two options are accessible by public transport from Lyon, and there is the possibility of extending the route by taking the train to Villefranche sur Saône. On the Rhone, the most accessible by public transport will be the Grand Large. Higher up, many obstacles make the descent difficult and thus make the exit more restrictive and require more organization. With the indicated temperatures (close to 0 ° C) and our desire to visit the old Lyon, we decided to take the option for the Saone.
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o, we walked from home to catch the Jean Macée metro. Line B. We cross the popular neighborhoods of Lyon and some ecological neighborhoods that make our walk pleasant. Once on the metro, with our backpacks and our paddles, we have to make a change in Saxe to take line C, and finally reach our terminal: Vaise station. There, all you have to do is find the Saona, 500 m away. under the Schuman Bridge. A descent to board the boats is our starting point, under the gaze of some passers-by who walk their dogs.
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or our first session of the year, we chose a Starboard Tandem 16x33, for Julie and I, and an Igo Deluxe SC 10x34 for Gautier, who will be taking his photos with his camera. We chose to bring two enduro paddles, an M for me and an S for Julie. We have brought some waterproof clothing, to be able to keep our ¨street¨ outfits as an undergarment, and thus reduce the amount of equipment we have with us. Of course, as the Saona is high, and to be calm in the water, we put on buoyancy accessories.
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he moment of departure arrived, for which a good motivation was needed on this frigid morning of January 1 with 2 ° on the thermometer, and a north wind to freeze the blood. We are happy to wear our beanie and have hot herbal tea in the bag. The Saona at 850m3, well above the average level, goes fast and lets us loose. But with the cold and the random, destabilizing currents under the bridges, it’s best to be careful not to fall into the water! The descent begins by following the Coline de La Croix Rousse and we can see in the distance, in height, the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière, dominating the entire town. The lower you go, the closer you get around the basilica and the more pleasant the view becomes.
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he Saone shares the old Lyon, you can see from the water all the architecture of the old Lyon and the particular roofs, specific to this great city. We repeat, you have to be careful; high water levels create large currents in the bridge piers and could become dangerous. Further down we pass under the railways and the first barges begin to appear on the banks. 127
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ith the SUP we have this freedom to be able to appreciate the different types of boats, whether they are tourism, transport or even home, of which we can get a good idea of the interior distribution. Maybe to motivate us to live every day of our life in the water?
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he entrance to the Confluence harbour appears between the barges, in the middle of the buildings of the new district. The small water outlet gives direct access to the Confluence shopping center, and if it weren’t for this strange period, we would have gladly stopped for a glass of wine or tapas in one of the bars overlooking the river. On the contrary, we have taken our thermos full of hot apple juice (with star anise and cinnamon sticks) and we take the time in the water to warm ourselves with a good glass. The new neighbourhood of the sugar mill that follows the port, with its modern architecture, gives a beautiful contrast to this rehabilitated space. The bright colours reflect off the water and leave a surprising and explosive spectacle!
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inally, we see the confluence between the two rivers, with a beautiful line of demarcation between the two waters. The water of Sâone, warmer and siltier, gives brown spots to the cold and azure water of the Rhone. We get to the Confluence Museum at the bottom, this is where we are offered the best view of Lyon. In the shape of a cloud, the ultramodern museum is the symbol of this Lyon that remains in tune with the times.
ow, is the time to stop for a few minutes to enjoy life, empty the rest of our thermos and chat with the curious, who are surprised to see us in the water. We think we have created some new ¨SUPers¨ despite the weather! And no, paddling sports don’t just do it in summer...We have empty glasses, it’s time to go home. For that, we only had to go upstream on the Rhone to get to the landing. Calmer, the Rhone along the banks is easily climbed.
he arrival, after the AVIA station that supplies cars and boats, provides us with a very accessible and easy disembarkation. Here we are definitely on dry land, we put our deflated SUPs in our backpacks, as well as our vests. But we keep our waterproof clothes for the part of the walk, to save a little time until the shower that extends our arms…More than 500 meters on foot, and voila, our micro adventure is complete. Quick, but happy to have seen Lyon from another angle. We will do it again, with a higher temperature, and to be able to try all the possible options!
UP SUPING Stand Up Paddle
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