by Hannah Greenstreet

Want to know how to be a professional paddler while living at almost 7,000 feet of elevation? Well then the person to learn from is Mr. Mike Gabor, the head coach of the South Lake Tahoe Outrigger Canoe (OC) Team. With 8 years of extreme and dedicated experience in outrigger canoeing, Gabor is not only a powerful OC athlete, but also a talented standup paddler.

In this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin, Gabor explains his deep passion for OC, but also shares his love for SUP. According to Gabor, he was skeptical of SUP at first, but just like so many, was immediately hooked after discovering the fun of simply standing on the water and paddling. “It’s a great way to hang out with friends.” And that’s the beauty of standup paddling; it’s a sport that is social and brings nature to the foreground of your experience.

Gabor is the owner of the local company Mountain Paddler, a company designed to publish Gabor’s book, Training the Average Person to be an Extraordinary Athlete, that holds the secrets to becoming an top water athlete high in the mountains. Not only has he written a book with his extensive knowledge, but he brings the newest technology to Tahoe for optimal training. There is a combination row-paddle training device by Concept2 that morphs a typical rowing machine into a paddle machine. It’s the perfect way to train through the winter and cold spring months here in Tahoe. And Gabor has all the skills and treasures of how to be a supreme athlete.

You can catch Gabor and friends at Wednesday Night SUP Series this summer at Eldorado Beach. Gabor believes it’s the best way to spend a Wednesday evening, truly a “fantastic fun experience.” You can also look for the second edition of his book coming out in the coming months. The first edition is currently available on Amazon, iBooks, and Kindle so grab yourself a copy and get training today!

by Hannah Greenstreet

It all started back in the 70s when Tom Gandt, long-time Tahoe local, chose to drop out of high school and join the US Coast Guard. Who knew that 10 years later, Gandt would begin to build his lifelong passion of watersports. The Coast Guard was Gandt’s first experience with being out on the water. As the 80s rolled around, so did Gandt’s love for the ocean. He started by sailing the water, but once he met windsurfing, it was love at first sight and he was hooked! Hear about his first unique and unbelievable surfing experience in this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin.

Gandt racing in the Wednesday Night SUP Series 2012

After moving to Tahoe, Gandt followed the waves to the flatwater and picked up outrigger canoeing, which Gandt believes is the “marriage of all water sports!” It combines surfing, windsurfing, sailing, SUP, and most importantly, teamwork! You will see Tom out in his outrigger canoe throughout the summer and at the upcoming Race the Lake of the Sky event on June 29-30.

Gandt is also a huge fan of South Tahoe Standup Paddle’s Wednesday Night SUP Series, where he’s always at the head of the pack or tandem racing with Tahoe Outrigger Team’s Coach, Mike Gabor. Gandt claims that the Wednesday Nights are the “most enjoyable racing, the best possible racing you can get for 20 minutes!”

Gandt and Julianne Brackett shaking hands after a close race 

After years in Tahoe, Gandt is soon moving back to the waves at the Hawaiian shoreline. Come race alongside Gandt on Wednesday Nights or at Race the Lake of the Sky to say aloha and mahalo! Check out this entertaining and informative podcast to hear from an incredible athlete who has been in and on the water for decades.

The Tahoe Outrigger Team practicing

by Hannah Greenstreet

After years of competitive skiing, sailing, racquetball and a myriad of sports, Mike Day has turned to standup paddling as an outlet to athletic adventure. This journey has morphed into the sought-after board company, Flatwater Paddle Company. Why? Because FPC produces the fastest board on the planet! The infamous piercing bow design is now seen across numerous SUP board company’s lineups. Mike Day has led the way to efficient racing boards that are taking the sport to a new and competitive level.

In addition to spearheading the industry into the fast lane, Mike Day, in partnership with his wife Tracy Day, will be coaching the South Tahoe Standup Paddle Junior SUP Team this summer. In this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin, Mike explains how the Day team plans to highlight and grow the talent of young paddlers, perfecting their skills so that SUP continues to monopolize water sports throughout oceans, lakes, rivers, bays, you name it. As Day says, “if you don’t pay attention to the kids, then you have a really good chance of the sport crumbling because there’s no ‘up-and-comers’. The kids are the foundation.” And this summer, STSUP will build the sport starting with the youngsters. The potential is endless to reveal elite athletes here in the Tahoe Basin. And the potential for Flatwater Paddle Company is limitless. Hear from Mike Day above and contact chris@southtahoestanduppaddle.com if interested in hearing more or joining the STSUP Junior SUP Team 2013.

by Hannah Greenstreet

Standup Paddling is not only an adult sport. Thanks to Ocean Minded’s top athletes, Candice Appleby and Anthony Vela, youth are taking the spotlight this year at the first annual Youth SUP Fiesta on May 5. Moms and Dads will have to be cheerleaders from the shoreline because this event is strictly reserved to celebrate young paddlers and all their talent on the water. In this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin, Anthony Vela explains the myriad of benefits his service-based company, Performance Paddling, offers to SUPers. Not only do Appleby and Vela provide personal coaching and corporate team-building events, their main focus is working with youth. Performance Paddling organizes three kid’s camps to underprivileged young people around the world each year. It is where service meets SUP.

Beyond the glam of being a top athlete, Appleby and Vela have committed to giving kids the unique chance to explore the fun of standup paddling. They also are striving to highlight the young people who have joined the top rankings in the SUP world. The SUP Fiesta event in Huntington Beach, CA includes youth-only, ages 17 and under, SUP races and the first ever Junior-Pro (invite-only) race. It is the moment where youth get to shine and unveil the potential in the future generation of SUP. In addition to the festivities, the Fiesta SUP event is in partnership with Standup for the Cure in support of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. And even more, there’s $5,000 in cash prizes, making this event a top-hit to all ages. Check out the event Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/performancepaddling.

With this sport growing faster than the kiddos themselves, Vela explains in the podcast how they want to provide special opportunities to recognize young paddlers. This year’s Race the Lake of the Sky event on June 29-30 in South Lake Tahoe, CA will also provide a chance for youth to make their stroke seen in the water. Register for both events today!

Whether you do it as a hobby or as a sport, standup paddling is really about having fun. You can do it on the ocean; you can do it across lakes and rivers. But no matter where we paddle, we do it because it’s fun.

In this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin, we learn from 11 year-old, 4 foot-something, Joshua Brackett that the best part about paddling is “having fun”. Even from a star athlete who is sponsored by 404 and Riviera Paddlesurf, it comes down to the basics. As the youngest member of the 404 team, Joshua paddles because it is a more than a sport, it’s a whole lot of fun. And he gets to do it with his whole family, too!

Standup paddling brings us back in touch with our inner child, where we are driven by fun and seek out adventure. One amazing benefit of SUP is that we can constantly discover unwalked territory on our boards. In addition to adventure, SUP offers us a unique one-on-one connection with the outdoors.

Combined that with community and it’s a hit! When Joshua speaks of racing, he comments how
holding the trophy is not the most important part, but having fun. And if Joshua can paddle 22 miles across Lake Tahoe at 8 years old, I think we can do it too! Standup paddling balances challenge with the integration of non-stop fun. Even falling off is fun! So it’s time we all get out.

Join us for the Wednesday Night SUP series this summer, starting May 29th where the energy is high and the community is growing. We look forward to a wonderful season and look out for Joshua Brackett. And check out Joshua on Instagram @joshuabrackett for awesome photos of FUN!

P.S. “Thanks 404!” (Check out this podcast above!)

by Hannah Greenstreet

Touched by his grace of wisdom,

Inspired by his thrill for passionate pursuits,

Our lives were enhanced by the influence of Dr. Robert Bender.

Known as “Bob” to friends and family,

He lived as an expression of pure excellence,

Striving to capture the essence of life,

Bob engulfed his life in faith,

Surrounding himself with the light of trust and the wealth of family.

Bob was the king of compassion,

The father of prosperity,

Where innovation combined with the forces of vulnerability,

To produce a raw, intelligent, ever-changing being,

A soul that encompasses the Lord’s inherent goodness,

Bringing to life four magnificent children,

Kari, Tiffany, Sammi and Spencer.

Filling his family with the spirit of selfless execution,

Loving beyond boundaries,

Blending hardship with happiness,

Our lives were enhanced by the influence of Dr. Robert Bender.

Despite the demons of cancer,

Bob expressed everlasting connection with his environment,

Lending a helping hand,

Offering a handshake that said, “I love you”,

A smile that said, “Thank you!”

“Thank you for being in my life!”

And as his body vacates the Earth,

His true soul is now shining brighter than ever before,

It shines through the eyes of his grandchildren,

Lexi, Dutch, Jacob, Emma, Sara and Annie,

Through the heart of his loving wife, Robin.

Bob left a legacy,

An unforgettable tale of respect, strength and perseverance,

The unique expression of God’s intentions,

The balance of struggle and celebration,

Bob sacrificed good through all the evil,

And it is now our turn to say…

“Thank you for being in our life Bob!”

And each time we smile, we say, “Thank you, we love you!”

Our lives are still, and forever will be, enhanced by the influence of Dr. Robert Bender.

September 22, 1939 – March 8, 2013

For many beginners to the standup paddle world, it only takes once to realize that we are in LOVE and could never live without paddling again. We get addicted to the feeling of gliding on the water, being outside, and the building of physical and emotional strength. Those moments on the water calm the mind and open our eyes to the beauties of the Earth around us. This experience is true for South Lake Tahoe local, Jude Markward.

Jude with her “Most Awesome Award” after her first race in 2011

In 2011, Jude was hesitant to give paddling a spot on the long list of outdoor activities she enjoys. In this week’s podcast with Dreu Murin, Jude tells us how once she got out on the water, she was “surprised how easy it was [to begin].” Only just after getting on a board once, she entered her first race as part of the Wednesday Night SUP Series. Now, Jude is a regular at every Wednesday night race. A passion for paddling that grew out of surprise, bloomed into a sport that helped Jude achieve and set new goals. Now, SUP is on the top of her favorite list of activities.

And what’s Jude favorite part about SUP?

1) How great her body feels

2) How great her mind feels

3) The wonderful SUP community she is now apart of

Jude now loves to compete! You can always count on seeing her on the lake practicing and training for the next race. Jude has paddled the full 22-mile distance of Lake Tahoe; a feat few have accomplished! Last year at the first annual Race the Lake of the Sky event, Jude completed the most challenging and longest race: the 14-miler. Listen to the podcast above to hear the excitement of Jude crossing the finish line.

To prepare for this upcoming season, Jude has stepped it up to the next level in SUP and ordered a custom-made race board from Flatwater Paddle Company, a local company founded by two members of the very community Jude stepped into. Jude is now a key component to the South Tahoe Standup Paddle’s community. It’s a community that has become family. For those of you who haven’t joined the SUP community, you’re always welcome! And as Jude says, “Just got out and DO IT!” That will be her mantra for this year’s Race the Lake of the Sky event. Watch out for her there!

Jude’s new “Hey Jude” board by Flatwater Paddle Company

February 11, 2013

The feeling of finding adventure is exhilarating and spontaneous, but the feeling of finding adventure on the water is a joyful, freeing experience known well by the masters at Lakeshore Paddleboard Company. Since LPC’s beginning four years ago, finding freedom on lakes and rivers is the name of their game. What makes LPC unique to the flatwater world? Well, unique to the industry a few of LPC’s boards are hollow-core versus foam-core, using a technology done by few in the world. LPC’s boards can be up to 6-8 lbs. lighter than your standard standup paddleboard. The Betty Board is the lightest board on the planet weighing in at only 19 pounds!

Julianne Brackett cruising the Betty Board
Fall 2012 – South Lake Tahoe, California

From STSUP’s beginnings in 2010, Lakeshore Paddleboard Company has played an important role in providing South Tahoe Standup Paddle with quality product designed for people of all ages and abilities. This has enabled STSUP to provide a memorable experience for people getting out on the water. For us here in Lake Tahoe, we are a fan of their lightweight, stable, and durable product that is consistent and good looking, too! But LPC’s boards are used all over the country, including a world-record 2400 mile journey down the Mississippi River! Check out this video to see the details of his epic trip…

LPC’s boards provide stability and glide as well as a light frame for easy accessibility to the beach or even through the narrow, shallow patches of the Mississippi. No matter where your lakeshore is, LPC has a product that is worth every dollar.

Scott and Leah keeping their toes dry on the River Rover, the ultimate in stability.
Mid-Winter 2012 Valentine’s Day Adventure

For now, they’re keeping distribution domestic only throughout the US and Canada, but in this week’s podcast, Sean Adleo, shares LPC’s vision for going global in the years to come. As standup paddlboarding sweeps the world, companies like LPC and shops like STSUP prepare to help people experience the benefits and joys of standup paddling. LPC will be present with plenty of boards to demo at this year’s 2013 Race the Lake of the Sky in late June here on the South Shore. The lakeshore will be home to thousands of paddleboards that weekend and a multitude of festivities, both on and off the water.  And until then, STSUP has the complete lineup of 2013 Lakeshore Paddlebaords for you to come in and test drive! We are here to help you “Find your Lakeshore.”

by Hannah Greenstreet

We made it! We survived our busiest summer yet and have arrived in the beautiful and bountiful 2013! As we step into the new year of resolutions, goals, and hopes for the future, we’d like to take the opportunity to reflect on the highlights of 2012.  STSUP expanded to two locations with the opening of the boat ramp concession at El Dorado Beach/Lakeview Commons, hosted the first annual Race the Lake of the Sky, were awarded the Blue Ribbon Award for Tourism by the Tahoe Chamber and received the Best Participation and Most Enthusiastic Award from the City of South Lake Tahoe for the 1^st Annual Lightup South Lake Tahoe Holiday Lights Event.  2012 was a tremendous year of growth and success and we thank each of you who participated in that success.  With excitement, the planning for the second annual Race the Lake of the Sky event in late June 2013 is well underway.

No matter the season, even with all this amazing snow, we are reminded how beautiful and precious our lake truly is. We want to give a special thanks to Tahoe SUP’s, Ernie Brassard, for helping to pioneer standup paddling around Lake Tahoe.   Although this sport is young, it is taking over water sports on Lake Tahoe. As Ernie says, summers now look like “surf city” around the lake where many have a board strapped to their car.  Check out Dreu Murin’s podcast above to hear from Ernie about the roots of standup paddle around Lake Tahoe, as well as about his company, Tahoe SUP.

What’s one of the best things about standup paddling? Besides the fact it’s fun, easy to do for the whole family (including dogs), and a great workout?? It’s ECO-FRIENDLY! We all know the truth…it is time to conserve rather than consume. By joining the standup community, you actively conserve while enjoying the surrounding beauty and have a blast working out at the same time! Whether you are an athlete or a lover of the outdoors, it’s a virus that Ernie calls “pandemic” in the Tahoe basin. Here in Tahoe we are in dire need to preserve the clarity and beauty of our lake and unite as a community.  Standup paddling is a source of conservation, connection and contentment. The power of community is growing…and for that, we say HAPPY NEW YEAR! Join us, have fun and get your board wet as many times as you can this year!

by Hannah Greenstreet

This year has been full of family, fun, and lots of prosperity in our beautiful community of South Lake Tahoe! Team Brackett and everyone at South Tahoe Standup Paddle feel deeply grateful for our growing standup family, both in Tahoe and around the world. Check out this week’s podcast and hear from Chris, the head of Team Brackett, and how South Tahoe Standup Paddle began back in 2010. As we head into the new year, we are fortunate to recount the past year and look forward to a bounty of opportunity in 2013. Stop in the shop to see the Brackett’s, say hello, and support local business! Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!