Tahoe SUP boards - sold

These WERE sweeeeet boards... sold!

2009 Tahoe Woody, used for demo events for less than a year

2009 Tahoe Rubicon, paddled just a couple times

Located in my warehouse in Anacortes.

Standup Paddling grows again

Just saw this link from Ruby Creek supplier Doug Erwin at Tahoe Board Works...

Check it out --

Sweet! Standup Paddle TV!

Dealers & Suppliers come together for planning & partying

Our host gets set to grill up some of the 30 lbs of salmon provided by Don & Pam at Boston Harbor Marina.

Planning & partying...or was it the other way around? What a time at the officially-named "Pickin' & Paddlin' Retreat", and many thanks to my bro Ethan Ebersold for putting the whole thing together. Ethan's River House on the Cowlitz, which he maintains for events just like this one, served its purpose well for 5 solid days.

Training for a crucial boater skill... the 11-person shuttle in a 5-seat Land Cruiser.

Preliminary pictures are here (click to enlarge for a better look), provided by Tom "Big T" Strauss of Emotion Kayaks. Meeting Tom was a highlight of the event -- he definitely lived up to the hype -- and he was joined by industry giants Ed Vater of Aquabound/Bending Branches; Tom & Lisa Derrer from Eddyline Kayaks/Swift Paddles; Doug Erwin of Tahoe Board Works; and Stohlquist Waterware's Jake Wisse. Ethan's dad, Mike, helped out with grilling and general hospitality; and canoe instructor/Esquif pro boater Nick Jacob filled out the host crew.

This grin never left Big T's face.

Paddlesports dealers and outfitters from all over the Northwest and California joined in the fun for some dee-lectable food, two nights of rockin' to the Moon Mountain Ramblers, paddling in the unseasonably warm fall weather on the Cowlitz, and some gittin' down to business in the Ebersold showroom, all tricked-out in the garage.

Zack and Elizabeth from Bellingham's LFS Marine find shopping for paddling gear can be pretty fun when you bring along Big T.

If you were there, thanks for coming! If you missed it, enjoy the pictures (click any pic for better detail; more to follow) and stay tuned for the next River House function.

New friends, a festive beverage, and an awesome view of the river... yeah!

Ethan proves Tahoe Boards are rock solid!

Emotion's new Mojo, rockin' the eddies on the Cowlitz. Comfy and ultra-stable, even for a big dude. The 2010 version includes the integral seat back and a tad more width and a harder chine. Check it out.

One-way ticket to a beach near you

The Ruby Creek rig rumbled out of Burlington, WA this afternoon with the first two demo model Rubicon Standup Paddle boards from Tahoe Board Works to hit the Northwest. The boards would have headed straight for the beach but they're still waiting for fins. Your first chance to hit the waves on this hot new board will come real soon. Keep an eye out. Meanwhile check out Tahoe's web site and promotional video including a surreal image of hundreds of paddlers walking on water at the start of a race event. Crazy, but fun.

These links capture some of the excitement of Tahoe SUP and the sport.

http://www.tahoesup.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGO-Jy6UE_4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gW3NXk65ME

The thermoformed Rubicons (MSRP $1,350) are being made for NW dealers by none other than the pros at Eddyline Kayaks in Burlington. The boards are already winning races and capturing the respect of the best SUP paddlers on the water, for durability, speed and tracking ability inherent to the displacement hull design.

Stay tuned!