Stand Up Paddle Surfing Global News

On Friday 25 June Simon Bassett owner of 2XS / X-train and BSUPA head coach, Matt Argyle BSUPA Ranked 2nd overall 2009 and Jock Patterson, BSUPA champ 2009 set a new record for paddle surfing across The English Channel. The relay from Dover to Calais took just over 5 hours 38 minutes (it took Laird Hamilton 7 hours after he ran from London to Dover !)

The record which is currently being ratified should stand as a new relay Guinness World Record. This will be confirmed in the next few weeks.

RRD International in collaboration with Nissan and the CITY OF VENICE and participation of INVENICE a.s.d. AICS and Remiera Settemari Venezia is really proud to announce to the family and the world a new incoming great event:

Stand-up paddling (SUP) came full circle back to its home of Waikiki, Hawaii, this weekend (June 13th 2010), surpassing every conceivable expectation with the ultimate combination of sport and lifestyle. Over 600 paddlers from around the world gathered for the inaugural Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle Hawaii, presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection, and thousands turned out to watch. When all was said and done, everyone had a story to tell.

Following on from the successful first BSUPA race of the series at West Wittering BSUPA are proud to be running the next distance race in conjunction with The Environment Agency and Share the Smile.

BSUPA ROUND 1 National series
West Wittering MAY 15/16 2010
Sponsored by 2XS

The first of the BSUPA UK national series for stand up paddle surf and distance. The event will comprise of a surf event in heat format (subject to surf conditions) and a down wind distance race. We have the new board categories for racing of up to 12ft 6" (Stock category) and 12ft 7" plus (Open category).

Entry is available to all BSUPA members (new members welcome) -membership is available on the day. There will free test stand up paddle boards for newcomers to try. Also there is a chance to see the latest new paddles and stand up paddle boards.

Local stand up paddle surfers Neal Gent 2008 BSUPA surf champion from Bracklesham, Bobbie Cooper ladies number two from West Wittering, Holly Bassett Junior 12 year old rider from Itchenor, Matt Argyle from Bracklesham second overall in 2009 and current ladies champion Claire Blacklock will all looking for good results. Stand up paddle surfers from all over the UK will be travelling to compete in the event.

My name is Arnaud Frennet, for those who don’t know me, I am a Naish rider for both SUP and Windsurfing based here in Chile.

As you sure know we have been hit by a devastating 8.8 Earthquake, that was followed by a Tsunami.

My family and myself have been very fortunate given the circumstances, despite some material damage (the tsunami reached our house in Punta de Lobos but did not destroy it…too much luck). Unfortunately around us some of our friends and neighbors did not get the same fate and lost everything. We have put all our energy into helping them for recovery.

All the Surf, SUP, Kite and Windsurf community has come together to help for recovery. The most damaged area extend from Tirua to Pichilemu, which is the most famous area for those sports in Chile, and for sure one of the most intense on Earth. The tsunami hit many World Famous beaches for those sports like Curanipe, Llico, Matanzas, Pichilemu & Punta de Lobos, just to name a few.

Funky Puffin, the lifestyle brand that’s growing out of Jersey (Channel Islands), is the 2010 sponsor of the Paddle Round The Pier Euro-Enduro stand-up paddleboard (SUP) race, taking place on July 3^rd and 4^th 2010 in Brighton, England.

Funky Puffin, which produces a range of eco-friendly surf and beach products, has chosen Paddle Round The Pier for its first sponsorship deal outside of the Channel Islands because it is Europe’s largest free beach festival and raises thousands of pounds for charity.

The 20 mile charity SUP race in association with SurfAid International is renowned as Europe’s toughest. Competitors will race from Brighton West Pier to Worthing Pier and back in the hope of winning the £1000 prize money for first place in either of the two classes.

Anyone who surfs or stand up paddle surfs in the UK will have heard the name Chris "Guts" Griffiths. Chris is a legend who has been a well known face of surfing for over 40 years, he has won over a dozen Welsh titles, split between longboard and shortboard divisions, he won the Europe pro longboard tour in 1997 and 1999 and had a top five ranking in the ASP in 1996.