The Supconnect Weekly Recap: 12-24-2013

SAN DIEGO, California - Welcome to the Supconnect Weekly Recap on Christmas Eve! This is 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. STAND UP PADDLING ON ICE

~ HEAT SCORE {-12} ~ Winter does a good job of separating the wheat from the chaff when it comes to paddling. It takes commitment to crawl out of your warm bed, get into a wetsuit (or dry suit) and brave the elements - especially if you live in a city where it gets particularly cold. Faced with the choice of staying inside for a day under the blankies with Netflix and warm cocoa or a frosty paddle, many fall by the wayside. Without further ado, let us introduce you to Cameron McCreath, possibly the most hard-core SUP fan we've encountered. On a monumentally cold day in December, fueled by the stoke of watching the Pipe Masters webcast, he decided to suit up and take on his home break.

Click to read more about Cameron's freezing cold session.

4. SUP THE GRAND CANYON

~·HEAT SCORE {49}·~ There aren’t words or pictures that can do justice to the Grand Canyon. It’s one of those landmark destinations that really needs to be seen in person to fully capture the magnitude of the region. Whitewater rafting, kayak and canoe trips down the Colorado River, the aquatic corridor that runs through the canyon, have been popular for some time now, but with a growing SUP river and whitewater scene, paddle boards are becoming more prominent. Last week we caught up with Markus Leppaenen, an experienced kayaker from Time4Charity, about his 25 day SUP-Kayak camping trip down the Grand Canyon.

Click to see the full article on Stand Up Paddle Boarding in the grand Canyon.

3. Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association forms  

~·HEAT SCORE {50}·~ There is big news afoot for competitive paddlers and enthusiasts. On December 31, 2013, the Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association will become "a unified voice for stand up paddle athletes, while also representing the interests of stand up paddle board officials, sponsors, media, consumers and manufacturers." 

Click to read more about the Stand Up Paddle Athletes Association.

2. OCEAN MINDED HOST CHRISTMAS BONANZA

~·HEAT SCORE {65}·~ SAN CLENTE, California - This last Tuesday, December 17, 2013, Ocean Minded did an amazing job of throwing their second annual Holiday Board Bash, a festival of giveaways. It was a bright and cheerful occasion at Ocean Minded HQ in San Clemente, hosted by the mechurial due of Anthony Vela and Lanette Jorgensen who took center-stage and announced the winners. The Supconnect team was honored to run the webcast this year, which we've recorded for your viewing pleasure. Please watch, share and enjoy. 

Read more about the Ocean Minded Holiday Board Bash.

1. Paddle For Raelyn in 2014

~·HEAT SCORE {99}·~ Meet Raelyn Beckler, the toughest four year old you're ever likely to meet. For the last two years she has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She's been undergoing chemo since February 2012 and is still fighting for her life, with the nonstop support of her brave parents - her dad Greg happens to be an IMMENSELY tough paddler. Shane Perrin recently came up with a great idea to show her and her folks some support - and all you really have to do is come for a paddle to do it.  You can be anywhere in the world - all you have to do is show up and splash out a buck for every mile you go. Unless you're Shane Perrin, that's not too much.

Read more about his great idea here.

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