Chuck Patterson, the Stand Up Paddler

Written by Andre Niemeyer, Editor

An Extreme Sport Athlete Who Raised the Bar of Performance and Ambassadorship

Chuck Patterson on a Chat with Sup Connect.

Athletic Background

DANA POINT, California – To put it simply, Chuck Patterson is the iconic extreme sport athlete, and some more. Born in San Leandro, California and then quickly transplanted to Germany, the blond, blue-eyed, burly kid lived quite a few years in Europe, where he was introduced first to skiing and later to snowboarding. Once back in Northern California, Patterson had to learn the English language but not how to ride snow. In fact, he was ready to begin adding meaning to ‘extreme’ in ‘extreme sports’ through his skiing and snowboarding adventures. Riding (or better yet, ‘free falling from’) precipitous cliffs, jumping over roads, and testing the limits of Newton’s gravitational pull became routine practices. The adventures, however, didn’t stay limited to the mountains. The next stop was Maui, Hawaii. Windsurfing and kite surfing became the next thing. Steep cliffs were replaced by massive waves, jumping over roads turned into kiting over rocks, and the tests of gravity evolved into hydraulic experiments. That, in a nutshell, is Patterson’s life before stand up paddling.

Sup Introduced

Now back in California, this time Southern California, the stalwart athlete, measuring 6’2” tall and weighing 218 pounds, had the silly idea of trying to stand on a surfboard while propelling himself with a paddle – something he had seen being done in Maui, by none other than Laird Hamilton, another stalwart athlete bent on bending limits. The year was either 2004 or 2005. Stand up paddling equipment was scarce. Boards used were primarily tandem surfboards and paddles were beginning to be modified from outrigger canoe paddles. Patterson went out on meager surf, fell a bunch of times, and had the time of his life. From then on, the extreme athlete has embraced the sport wholeheartedly. “There are so many facets to the sport that keep you going back for more,” says Patterson. “I truly haven’t gotten bored with the sport. Everyday you’re stoked to do something different, whether it’s a windy day when you go downwinding; whether it’s just to go to explore a river or paddle the coast, or do a little training, or get some surf. There are a lot of different facets to the sport that keep you captivated.”

Equipment Preferences

SURFING

And of all these facets, stand up paddle surfing and racing have taken a special place in Patterson’s life. Since the good ol’ days of standup paddling on tandem surfboards, equipment has evolved quite a bit. Surfboards have changed drastically in sizes, weight, and overall construction. A 10’6,” which before was considered cutting-edge short, is now more of a standard board size. 6’6” sup surfboards were unthinkable but now are seen in the lineup. And in all this short evolution of the sport, Patterson has now found a comfortable board size that accommodates his large frame while also permitting him to drive some turns. “I really enjoy paddle surfing, so I like shortboarding and I like the characteristics of sharp turns, and going down the line fast, and being able to really express yourself on the wave” says Patterson. “So I’ve graduated to the shortest board that I can ride that is pretty progressive: between 8’6” and 8’8.” I really like to experiment between the different fin ideas and also the different shapes of boards, being a little more narrow, some are gunny, have a narrow tip, some have a wide tip.”

RACING

On the battle of racing gear, Patterson has now found his board-size of choice after juggling through quite a few races and divisions. “I really enjoy racing the 14.’ It fits my size and bigger guys perfectly; versus the 12’6,” which we’ve all endured and used in the Battle of the Paddle, and which I think is a great size but for bigger guys (anyone over 200lbs.) it brings the weight/speed issue and it doesn’t work for me. But 14’ is pretty much the best board. I find it to be the equalizer for guys that are going from racing an 18’ unlimited board to guys that are on a 12’6” looking for more glide. The 14’ is pretty much by far my favorite board.”

Career Highlights

Now putting the controversy of board size aside, when asked about his career highlights, Patterson puts forth both a competitive and non-competitive feat. “One of the biggest highlights for me was concentrating on a new sport in my time,” he says. “But the biggest one was winning the 2008 Battle o the Paddle. That really set the mark for me that all my hard work and focus really meant something.” And here is where he became one of the most recognizable faces of the sport, no doubt. But (if I may interject) Patterson’s biggest highlight of his career comes from a combination of performance and ambassadorship. Not only has he undoubtedly raised the bar in the stand up paddle race scene, but he has also been the most active stand up paddler around, attending numerous events and (to put it in Hawaiian terms) helping to spread the sup aloha like no other. That, I submit, is not only one of the highlights of his career: it’s one of the most important elements of his legacy.

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