Recreational SUP

paddling in winter

All week long the weather repport had been calling for a mild weekend - someting around -2C. However I was dissapointed to wake up this morning and find it was -16C. I was so eager to go for a nice long workout and paddle from LaSalle to St Catherines on the far South Shore of of the St Laurance. However bu lunch time it was still only -14C so it was looking like my plans were ruined.

But I couldn't resist. I just got in my new 12' Trainer and I really wanted to take it out and do a good workout. So I said the hell with it. I loaded up, and drove up river towards Dorval before finging a good spot to put in. I figured I'd paddle down to the top of the Lachine Rapids (but get out above them - getting dunked into the water was not at the top of my list of things I wanted to do.

The trip down was awesome. First of all, I never got even remotely cold and by the end I was so warm I took off my hood to cool down. Both the board and paddle were laden with ice, as were the legs of my drysuit, but I was fine. The board rocks - fast, easy and smooth. It glides along really well keeping its speed, and was effortless to accelerate and keep tracking. I was really happy with the board, and even happier to get out for a paddle.