The lineup to try our Stand Up Paddleboards was sometimes 30 or 40 minutes long, and we spent the better part of the day explaining the sports origins in Hawaii, and the parrallels with the African Pirogues and Guatamalan Cayuco's used for war and fishing respectively.
Of course other subjects like finding another words for Pirate Treaure (left) and explaining the concept of the eternal wave behind Habitat 67 were constant themes of the days, but the buzz was certainly around Sstand Up Paddleboarding.
Right before the festival in 2008 we started our first movement into SUP, but it never occured to us the excitement that was bound to happen in Montreal around this exploding activity. In fact, the promotion that we've been doing of this sport is making it so popular that we're making an inexpensive $750 plastic SUP Called the "Stand Up 12" (that's half the price of a normal SUP!!) Given that this can be done all 4 seasons in Montreal (if you're dressed properly) makes it really attractive to everyone frommthe relaxed "I just wanna enjoy nature" people to the "Hard Core" work-out fanatics. Nothing gives you an all body workout like a SUP, and thats coming from someone who kayaked for 30 years, and has surfed for over 20.
Everyone from 72 yr old Hugette Durand and her 63yr old sister Louise to 6 yr olds were out there on the SUP and found it instantly fun and easy to do. Of course, we have boards designed specifically to make recreational flatwater SUP as easy and accessible to everyone, and the massive age and demographic range we had on the boards all weekend was a testiment to the appeal to all ages from all walks of life. Our record in fact was a 78yr old man who simply loved it.
I think we're going to see a lot more about SUP in Montreal soo. As an island suppounded by water, and a canal cutting right through its center, its jsut the logical thing. Easy, inexpensive to get into... and too much fun to miss.
