Stand Up World Tour

[Casso]

Is it going to be a world tour or a big wave tour ? I think there should be also some locations with perfect "rippeable" waves.

Good call. I'd actually rather see guys ripping it up on a high performance wave (like Trestles or Snapper Rocks) than gunning it straight on a big, heavy wave (barrel or no barrel).

Here's what the guys at SwellNet think of the whole thing :

Stuart Nettle
July 6, 2009

I'm still not convinced this isn't an elaborate joke.

If it is, the person who conceived it has done remarkably well. If it isn't....then Lord help us.

Last week I got sent an email from a group calling themselves the Waterman's League. The email explained that the Watermans League were starting up a competition circuit called the Stand Up World Tour.

According to the Watermans League, the Tour is being created "to embrace the emergence and exponential growth in the sport of Stand Up Paddling". Then, to give the sport some credibility, they mention that celebrities such Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey and Pierce Brosnan are doing it!

So you can see why I thought all this was a joke. But anyway, I thought 'Stand Up's have had a good run', it's time for a rant.

Before I go on though, let me state my position vis-a-vis Stand Up Paddleboarders (SUP's). That being: I've got no problem with them in the surf. I even use their presence to better myself. Yep, when I see one in the surf I recall the Buddha's lesson about thanking your enemy because from them you can learn tolerance. So I tolerate SUP's as I slowly ascend toward Nirvana.

And, fortunately for me, my ascension is being sped up with the rapid proliferation of the bastards.

So back to the..ahem...Waterman's League.

When it comes to SUP's, it's one thing to stand astride a tanker for a bit of a lark on a small day. It's quite another to be competing on one. And another thing altogether when the competiton is at Teahupoo, which is the first stop-off for the SUP world tour.

From what I can gather, the main difference between a SUP and a surfboard is that you paddle standing up. Once the wave is caught the game is the same, except you are encumbered with a board that possesses the turning ability of the QE2 and a paddle that turns to shrapnel come wipeout time.

If I'm a bit perplexed by competition SUPping I'll admit that I've never understood the sport of 'walking' either. Walkers are basically trying to get from A to B in the quickest time, but with limitations on how they do it. I've heard competition walking described as 'trying to whisper the loudest' and I reckon competition SUP'ing is the marine equivalent.

And what's with the name? Waterman's League? Lord help! I thought the 'waterman' creed was to ride the craft that was best suited to the conditions? Teahupoo and SUP's don't exactly go together like peaches and cream so who then came up with that idea?

I'll bet it was Laird. If so, it's got nought to do with matching wavecraft to wave, but more to do with providing a podium for him to prove his prowess. I know I'm dissing him, but so what? If push comes to shove I reckon I could beat Laird by at least 100 metres.

What I really want to see is Laird, or any of the other 'watermen' out there, take up another sport with an authentic historical lineage -- namely Sit Down Paddleboarding. Although you and I know it as goat-boating. And I don't want them to do it in a funny or ironic way either. I want to see them take on Sit Down Paddleboarding with all the earnestness and rippling machismo that they show in this Waterman's League caper. Maybe even include it in the Waterman's Agenda of Accepted Craft (a list that I like to think is hand-carved in granite).

So step on up all you 'watermen' and show us how manly you are: ride a goat-boat at Chopes.

stuart@swellnet.com.au

[Scotty Mac]

Yep it sad to say, we have total losers in Australia as well as all round good blokes like myself!
Got to admit though, not sure I am into all the "waterman" hype but I am more than happy to see anyone charge chopes or anywhere, on any surf craft for that matter.
Rant, yep that's about the extent of it!

[Strand Leper]

Good for you Stewie... you rip.  Come to my beach and let's trade.  I weigh 190 pounds, if you weigh within ten percent of my bodyweight... give me your shortie and I will ride it... I will give you my shortie (SUP) (7'6") and you can ride that one.  I can be found at my office in Anaheim, California, or at my home at the Strand in Dana Point.  On your shortboard, you may land more airs than I, and your snaps may be a little more vertical and you know what... good for you.  But I guarantee you that you will look like Wilbur freaking Kookemeyer on my SUP.  Like I said though, good for you.

Here are all of the things that Stewie is likely upset about:  (1) in basketball, sometimes people dribble; (2) baseball games are played at night once in a while; (3) the forward pass in football, now that sure messed everything up; (4) when he was watching Wimbledon this weekend he was super angry that neither Roddick nor Federer were wearing shirts, ties and pants; (5) Those f'ing snowboarders... who do they think they are, I shred on my skis!!!!; (6) Have fun with this list.

Tim (strand leper)

[Admin]

Tristan Boxford of the Waterman League emailed over their new promo vid:

[Honolii]

^^^^YEAH!!!!!^^^^^

[poppi]

OOOhhh Yeaa!!!.........The music  alone gets your blood pumpin'.
HEAVY STUFF!!

                           Aloha
                           David

[DavidJohn]

Wow!!.. that vid is just awsome.. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.. 

DJ

[stoneaxe]

Damn!

[Tom]

After watching that video, all I can say is  the main difference between a SUP and a surfboard is that you paddle standing up. Once the wave is caught the game is the same, except you are encumbered with a board that possesses the turning ability of the QE2 and a paddle that turns to shrapnel come wipeout time

[lamontweaver]

These guys are making the best quality Stand Up Paddle videos I have seen. I can't wait for more.

[watermanleague]

Thanks for all the great feedback. We are really trying to show the edge and intensity that SUP can bring to the ocean as well as the sport of surfing itself. We are going to keep our video content to the highest standard to showcase our athletes and sport.  Keep checking into http://www.watermanleague.com for more. We have profiles on more top athletes coming soon, and more promo videos in the future.

Again thank you, and we look forward to seeing you

If you havent already swing by the site to see Kainoa Mcgee and Ekolu Kalamas profile.

[surfpainter]

Maybe I missed it but if they don't include The Outer Banks of North Carolina during the fall Hurricane season, they're missing one of the top spots on the East Coast. How about Montaulk?

[Tree]

Night Nor'easter... stay tuned. 

[motopilot]

Great video!   Gets me stoked for the knee high session we will have tomorrow.  Now how about an east coast event to the list?  Like surfpainter, hurricane/noreaster season?

[Strand Leper]

I hate to admit it... but the manner in which this tour is being promoted seems a little bit lame making SUSurfers subject to more ridicule than we are already getting.  It just seems a little bit over the top... and the Watermen League is a little bit presumptuous too... as to the name ASSUP... are you kidding me??? Really???  Don't mean to be negative, and I wish the riders and their companies well in this endeavor... but wish they were promoting a skydiving and bungee jumping tour with their marketing rather than one that involves SUSurfing.

With how amazing SUSurfing is... it is inevitable that a contest circuit develops, but ASSUP and Watermen League seem like inviting ridicule... and the name of a bad superhero movie, respectively.

Good luck, though.

Tim