Loving this sport into winter.

[Glowmaster]

All the water gear is stored in the Northeast. Docks are out, no motors anywhere. Surprise 45 degree day and I have some fin testing to do...

I got some ultra thin Makani Kawa prototypes and the designer wants my opinion since I have 100s of miles on the standard.

But who cares? Gorgeous day, and my friend Scotty Behlman is coming with me.  We had a great time, saw lots of wild ducks, no more osprey around.

No moorings to navigate around, no drunk powerboaters to avoid.  Bliss.  Quiet except for our paddles splashing. Tail wind and current.

5.4 miles in a little over an hour with no rush...

great day to know how to paddle board.

We did this route.

http://gps.motionx.com/maps/0e9ba72bfc9ccd762604e4f8ed08f2a0

Happy Holidays to all my zone friends.

[jpeter]

Nice winter run,  the whole Bass river.    My first paddle ever was on the Bass river from the 28 bridge to the sound and back.  That was two years ago,  finally got a board this spring.

 I got a surf session in last week on xmas eve.  Didn't even get cold despite 45 degree water and me falling in more than I needed to.  Quite a few folks out in RI,  about 15 surfers and 6 sups out at any one time. 

Say hello to Scotty for me,  Jay P

[BWilliam]

I agree whole heartedly!

This year I've been continuing to go out with the temps down into the 30's. Most of the time I'm solo and there is no one else out here. Occasionally I say hi to folks in their boats but they are few and far between. Yesterday was gorgeous and I'm heading out again today...though it's not as nice. I just like the solitude and the pump to much to stop for the winter.







William

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

I'm trying to do a regular winter paddle too on the Hudson. It's hard to get motivated. I genuinely don't like cold water, but that should not stop me. It's better to get suited up than to sit around and get fat.

[stoneaxe]

Except for the need for thick rubber winter is my favorite time on the water. That and I don't get out as often because of the short days. I need to get a drysuit for flatwater I think. I still fall in more often than most so i can't count on staying dry.

[supthecreek]

whoa yeahhhhh... nothin' better than a winter twilight glass-off.... the waterfowl coo and the background noise evaporates.... the sky darkens with rich colors. Life is good. I can not imagine sitting the winter out... it's simply too amazing.

[covesurfer]

Some of my best distance paddles were on the Columbia River in Winter. The river seldom freezes over and in the dead of Winter, the current has yet to pick up the velocity it finds in the Spring.

My bottom line was minimum air temp of 35 to 38 degrees, wind less than 5. There is really nothing like the silence and solitude of a Winter paddle in the cold, no boats, no motors, nobody on the beaches or shorelines. At 46.5 degrees North, which is the approximate latitude of Hood River, it gets dark early and there is hardly any sun between November and mid-February. The brightness you experience on the water gets amplified, a paddle session would always pull me out of the Winter blahs. And, it is such a cool feeling to be out on the water, getting a great paddle workout when no one in their right mind would consider doing it.  But, if you don't get out there, you don't know what you're missing.

3 to 5 mil booties and a 3 mil farmer john with a breathable polypro top were always warm enough, I never needed gloves. I paddled a 14' race board and was careful to stay out of the water. Always leashed, no matter how calm and glassy. The wetsuit was to allow me to get back in an emergency. Thankfully, I never tested it.

[BWilliam]

Another awesome paddle today! Other then passing a group of kids/small sail boats maneuvering around each other I didn't see anyone else out there. I've been sticking to the LPC Rover ever since it got cold out. I have faster boards but none of them are as stable as this one...and this time of year I would rather not end up in the water.

One of these days I'll have to spring for a GoPro so I can record some of these sessions.






Will

[supthecreek]

well... I never fall in, so....

[SlatchJim]

The History Channel Series, "The Vikings" called...  looking for a few good men...on ice.

[mrbig]

Winter glass in Brewster. Veils between the worlds thin tonight..

[SUP407]

75 degrees here in FL. Even that lessens boat traffic and makes it better.

[madmax]

75 degrees here in FL. Even that lessens boat traffic and makes it better.

Yeah man. It's camping time.  Load that tourer and get out there.  Oklawaha River, FL.

[supthecreek]

Well, I got in my first paddle session for the year. I wanted to start it off right.
Wind gusts to 30... 33 degrees for a high today.
Took my Prowave to double up on the balance work, and headed straight into the wind for 30 minutes.
Return took 15... and I was just standing on the board for some of the way back

I stopped on the beach at the turning point and had to leave the leash on, so I my board wouldn't fly away.