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SUPing with Dolphins in Texas

SUPing with Dolphins in Texas

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On a recent car camping family vacation on Mustang Island Texas, yes there are beaches in Texas, my family and I got to paddle board with wild dolphins. I have to admit this experience is one of those highlight moments in life, one I’ll likely never forget. The best part was it was a total surprise. We had no idea we would be seeing dolphins that morning, much less paddling with them a mere 4 feet from our SUPs. Best experience ever. Since then my husband and I have become obsessed with getting a board and having a repeat experience. OK maybe I’m more obsessed then he is but if you’ve ever had this experience you will know, it’s a life changer. The water was perfect;y clear that morning, no red sea weed blooms cluttering the edge of the beach, no murky visibility or tar globs washed ashore. Just a clean stretch of sand and crystal clear water unlike any I had ever seen in the gulf coast before.The clarity of the water added to the magic. You could literally see 15 feet down onto the sandy bottom. Apparently October is the time to go to the beach in Texas because of the way the currents run in the gulf that time of year all the usual muck from the oil industry and industrial shipping lots gets moved out to sea more quickly. Great for visiting, still bad for the environment. Anyways, the encounter with the smiling dolphin led me to have two very important realizations. One, that we are through and through water lovers. Water makes us happy, it lifts our spirits, washes away the blues and inspires us. The second insight was that I didn’t want to live a life where I wasn’t in the water, fresh or salty, the majority of the time. I wanted our daughter to grow up knowing the ocean and swimming in natural pools fed by fresh water springs. That’s pretty much how this blog got started. As a way for us to share our love of the water and our favorite water sports with other kindred spirits. Enjoy, and Keep Seeking! Alina

A Brief Chronology of Modern Stand Up Paddle Boarding

A Brief Chronology of Modern Stand Up Paddle Boarding

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  • 1778 Captain James Cook arrived in Hawaii and saw local Hawaiians surfing. This was the first recorded time in history that a European saw surfing. Traditional Hawaiian boards were anywhere from 6.5-16.5 feet long. It’s been noted that some Hawaiian’s surfing on longer boards, usually Chieftains, would use a wooden paddle to assist them in getting out to the open sea and past the breaking waves.

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  • 1940 The term “Beach Boy Surfing” enters Waikiki’s local lingo and defines surfers and surf instructors who stand up on their surf boards for increased visibility and use a paddle for added support.
  • 1955 John Zapotocky aka “Pearl Diver” learns paddle boarding from Duke Kahanamoku and Pops AhChoy. He becomes one of the first pioneers of modern stand up paddle boarding. A Hawaiian legend, he caught waves at Waikiki beach till he passed at age 95 in 2013.John-Zapotocky-A-história-do-Stand-Up-Paddle-Foto-Bobby-Achoy
  • 2001 Laird Hamilton, a legendary American big wave surfer, orders his first custom SUP paddle from Malama Chun, a re-known Hawaiian paddle maker.
  • 2002 Sept. 11, Laird Hamilton stand up paddles at First Point Malibu with a paddle topped with American Flag. This historical moment marks the ushering in of modern day SUP-ing into mainstream media.laird
  • 2003 “Beach Boy Surfing”  is added to the roster of Buffalo Big Board Contest by Brian Keaulana.
  • 2005 Clark Foam closes it’s doors and board shapers are forced to switch to EPS polystyrene foam and epoxy resin. Suddenly boards are 10 lbs. lighter and much stronger than before.
  • 2007 First SUP race held on the continental United States is kicked off at the North Shore of Lake Tahoe California. Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival is born.Tahoe-Nalu-e1438786850277
  • 2008 The US Coast Guard classifies SUP boards as vessels. Paddle boarders are now required to wear life jackets when outside the surf zone just like kayaks and canoes.
  • 2008 Charlie McArthur stages first ever river SUP-ing event in Vail Colorado.

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  • 2008 Chuck Patterson wins the Inaugural Battle of the Paddle held at Doheny State Park, California.
  • 2009 SUP-ing is recognized as the fastest growing paddle sport in North America.
  • 2012 Kai Lenny wins the first SUP racing World Championship at Turtle Bay Resort in O’Ahu Hawaii.
  • 2013 SUP Yoga becomes gains popularity in the yoga community.
  • 2014 Update Coming!
  • 2015 Update Coming!
  • http://www.supthemag.com/stay/