Jaime Mitchell Puts a Paddle to Big Waves

ESPN recently published a short article about Jaime Mitchell's desire to paddle into monster waves all over the world. Follow the link below to read the article for yourself.
ESPN Article: Hard Paddlin' Man
We had the chance to meet Jaime last summer when he was here for (and won) the Great Lakes SUP Classic at Holland State Park. From the little that we talked, he seemed very down to earth and took plenty of time to hang out with everyone...even the kids (see picture below).

In 2011, Jaime won the amazingly hard Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race for a record 10th time in a row. Not many, if any, professional athlete in any sport can claim 10 world championships in a row. The process of winning his tenth championship is documented in the movie Decade of Dominance...worth a watch for sure!

View From The Other Side

When this time of year comes around, I start jonesing for blue skies and warm water. Just because its still winter (plenty of cold, snow, and ice in the 616), doesn't mean that your paddling has to be put on hold until spring. With the right cloths/gear, you can get an entirely new perspective of your favorite paddling areas. Once you're able to safely get into/out of the water and paddle without too much ice getting in the way, you should check it out!
While many of us in West Michigan have ventured out onto the ice that forms on the shore of Lake Michigan, few people get the opportunity to view the ice formations from the other side...from the water. My friend Jim from The Outpost of Holland has a couple of very cool videos that show how cool this perspective can be. Check one of his videos below...part one of his SUP Winter Wonderland video can be found at The Outpost of Holland.

Reeds Lake SUP Race

Although not much information is available yet, it looks like the 2nd annual Reeds Lake SUP Race will be held on Saturday, August 31st.  I wasn't able to race last year but I'm planning on checking it out in 2013.  This race will be a good tune up for the Great Lakes SUP Classic that is scheduled for September 14th.  For additional information (when available), check back periodically or visit the race website at the link below.

Reeds Lake SUP Race

Stand Up Guy

If you have a few minutes free (actually 25 minutes), check out this awesome video/movie about Shane Perrin's amazing paddleboard journey.
This documentary is the story of Shane's 340-mile paddle down the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles in October 2011. Shane competed in the 6th annual Missouri River 340 and became the first person to attempt as well as first to complete the race on an SUP. This historic achievement contributed greatly to his rise to fame in the stand up paddling community, and it propelled him to accomplish further incredible feats on an SUP.
Check out what Shane is up to these days on his blog... shaneperrin.blogspot.com

Stand Up Guy - The Documentary from Duncan Wilder on Vimeo.

Stand Up World Tour - Sunset Beach Pro 2013

If you're like me and and are dreaming of warm weather, nice waves, and paddling, check out the 1st stop on the Stand Up World Tour....the Sunset Beach Pro 2013 on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Although the event was called off today due to large surf (what?) and inconsistent conditions, you can check out the live feed tomorrow afternoon (Michigan time) from the link below.
Live Feed - Sunset Beach Pro 2013 (Check back on Monday 2/11/2013)
If you need your fix today (or any other time), check out the highlights below from the first day of the contest.

2013 Race Schedule Released!

Progressive board shops and SUP enthusiasts in the Midwest joined forces to create a series of events that feature friendly competition and a host of fun activities, in an effort to foster athletic growth and broaden interest in the sport. The Midwest SUP Racing Series aims to provide a platform for serious paddlers to test their skills against their peers, while encouraging others to take their first stroke on a SUP board and see what the sport is all about.
I know from experience that these events are awesome for paddlers of all levels. Check the 2013 SUP/Beach Events list (at right) for more information on each race or follow the link below.
Midwest Stand Up Paddleboard Championship Series