The Supconnect Weekly Recap, 11-12-2013

SAN DIEGO, California - Welcome to the Supconnect Weekly Recap, our countdown of the biggest news, reviews, interviews and features surrounding the world of Stand Up Paddleboarding. This week we’re bringing you another sample of the best stories covered by ourselves and other publications. If you’ve got anything pressing, impressive, relevant, weird or worth reading to add to the list, don’t be shy to share the scoop via Facebook.

5. Supconnect October Photo contest winner revealed

Thousand Petaled Lotus, submitted by Katie Love.

~   HEAT SCORE {32}   ~ This week we announced the October, 2013 photo contest winner, who had the most votes and will automatically advance to the December final. The picture is titled "Thousand Petaled Lotus" and was submitted by Katie Love. The photo description explained that "with the salt water below, the bright sun above, and the sound of the waves and palm trees swaying in the wind, Yoga is everywhere. This posture, Eka Pada Rajakapotasana, is an expression of love which comes from experiencing this Union: Oneness." Congrats to Katie and good luck in the December contest. Congrats Katie.

Click here to see the other contest winners.

4. PADDLE BOARDS STOLEN FROM AUTISM PROGRAM

Kellie Maier and her boards prior to them getting stolen

~·HEAT SCORE {35}· Three stand up paddleboards were stolen from a backyard in Virginia beach. As much as it sucks for anybody to get robbed, these boards happened to belong to Kellie Maier, a teacher turned social worker who runs KelsKids - a nonprofit organization that "offers services which enable diagnosed disabled people of the world to gain a sense of freedom through our aquatic programs." Thanks to some scum bag, the kids in her SUP classes can't go paddling - and we all know how grumpy that can make a person. On a very serious note, they are an important tool for generating confidence in the water and providing a form of exercise that we know becomes more of a lifestyle than a workout. If anyone out there has the means to help or replace the boards, you can get in contact by following the link to her website.

Click here to read more about the story.

3. 5 tips for sup surfing big waves

~·HEAT SCORE {36}·~ Winter is fast approaching. This means colder water, longer swell periods and hopefully bigger waves. For those of you looking to step your performance in the solid stuff, we’ve put together a list of tips with the help of South African charger, Greg Bertish. We've covered equipment, conditions, limits, ettiquette and most importantly - SAFETY.

Click here to see the full article and some amazing images.

2. Champion's Choice - Nicole Pacelli talks about her favorite fins

 Nicole Pacelli and her favorite fin - the JW1| Image: Ju Martins

~·HEAT SCORE {39}·  Fins are one of the most crucial parts of our equipment setup, but we don't always put that much thought into what makes them tick. Without them we'd all be doing 360's on the way down a wave's face - or just falling. So what makes a good fin and why? This week we asked the new Women's Stand Up World Tour Champion, Nicole Pacelli, about her choice and reasons.

Click here to see what she had to say.

1. SUPCONNECT grom OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

~·HEAT SCORE {85}·~ After two months of voting, we are very pleased to announce and congratulate the Supconnect Grom of the Year - Itzel Delgado Naranjo. As per the previous years, the Supconnect Awards are based on an open voting system that puts you, the reader, in charge of who wins. The criteria is still based on four qualities that we ask YOU (the reader) to vote on, which makes the awards are open to paddlers from around the world, be they pro’s, amateurs or ambassadors - contest results are not the most important thing to us.

Click here to see the full list of finalists.

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