The Five Biggest 'Things' in SUP 2014
2014 was awesome though! The biggest year for stand up paddling yet, with massive events, new developments in technology and paddlers pushing themselves harder than ever. With so many moments in stand up paddling, we had a hard time narrowing down just five of the big ones, but here they are!
1: The Kai and Connor Show
This year Kai Lenny and Connor Baxter engaged in a battle that will be talked about for seasons to come. After niggling and stirring each other all season, it all ended in a
2: The winged paddle
Companies all over the world are looking at the next big innovation in paddle, winglets. Well, they’re not the winglets you’re accustomed to seeing on a Boeing, but they do the same thing. Little raised edges on the paddle blade are meant to stop vortices (and therefor drag) during the power phase of each stroke. Will it stick around, or fade into the corners of stand up paddlers garages in 2015?3: Travis Grant and Beau O’Brian
Aussie paddlers through-and-through, these two are at the bleeding edge of racing. Standing on podiums all over the world, from World Championships to local events like ‘King of the Cut’, these two are on track to dominate the season yet again in 2015. What’s the difference between these two and Connor/Kai? They don’t push each other off waves!4: Angie Jackson
Labeled as ‘Australia’s leading lady’ in the Stand Up World Series, Angie Jackson did us (and her major sponsor Fanatic) proud all year in the sport of stand up paddling. From running a shop in Cururmbin, to the world stage, Angie has been right up there for a couple of years now. Will 2015 be the year she cracks the top of the podium?5: The flat nosed revolution
Taking not only surfing, but stand up paddle surfing by storm, the ‘Vanguard’ inspired surfboards are making their presence known this summer. With surfers all over the world taking a hacksaw to their noses, Stand Up Paddle boards are getting shorter and shorter, with many now measuring in at the sub 7ft mark. Combine this with the combination fin setups in surfboards allowing 3, 4 or 5 fins, and Stand Up Paddle Surfing is getting pretty techy!
Melbourne, VIC
