Who is this for: If you are looking for a fast, non-inflatable, race-specific board to paddle then the Bark Contender Lite board is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Pro Elite construction which is somewhat durable and has both ups and downs. Due to its narrow width of 25 inches the board is very unstable however, its construction allows for the board to have 1.92 lbs per foot, weighing 24.12 lbs total, making the board very lightweight for its size. Its shape makes the Contender Lite a race board that should be used by advanced paddlers in competition. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for sprint racing. Retailing at $2,249, the board is among the premium price point boards but comes with some of the best the brand has to offer.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a stable, non-inflatable race board to paddle mid and long-range distances then the Bark Dominator Pro is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Pro Elite construction which is somewhat durable and has both ups and downs. With its width being 28.2 inches the board is relatively stable and the board has 1.97 lbs per foot weighing 27.6 lbs total, making the board very lightweight for its length. Its shape makes the Dominator Pro a race board that can be used by intermediate paddlers for competitive paddling. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for stand up paddle racing. Retailing at $2,399, the board is among the high-tier price point but comes with the best the brand has to offer.

Who is this for: If you’re looking for a fast, non-inflatable, race board to paddle then the NSP Ninja is worth a look. This stand up paddle (SUP) board comes in the Hybrid Carbon construction which is moderately durable and has its ups and downs. Due to its width of 27 inches the board is unstable however, the board has 2.07 lbs per foot weighing 29.01 lbs which is fairly light for a 14’ board. Its shape makes the Ninja a race board that can be used by advanced paddlers and is designed primarily for competitive SUP racing. Its construction and shape combined best fit this board for spring or long distance racing in flatwater conditions. Retailing at $2,599, the board is at a premium price point but is among the best that the brand has to offer.

Already one of the biggest and paramount paddle gatherings in the world, the West Marine Carolina Cup is expanding in 2017 with the addition of a one-day retailer-only trade show, a nine-mile outrigger canoe race with six-person teams, and a 6.5-mile junior championship standup paddle board race for youth under 18.

Following in the footsteps of SUP legends Travis Grant and Titouan Puyo, NSP is proud to add New Zealand’s Marcus Hansen to their international rider lineup.

Cali Paddler will be hosting a first of its kind retreat March 3-5 in Santa Barbara County for the paddling community. The all-inclusive Friday-Sunday event is aimed to bring together paddlers of all craft backgrounds and create a welcoming atmosphere for all skill levels.

Over 130 international, interstate and local competitors gathered for the World’s fastest downwind paddle race, the King of the Cut Race on Sunday, December 4, 2016 in Mandurah, Western Australia. Near perfect conditions blew in for the 24-kilometre race with southerly winds at 18 to 20 knots.

Film producer and avid stand up paddler Jesse Hieb recently completed a solo, self-supported SUP journey down all 430 miles of the Wisconsin River. Why? He wanted to create a documentary that tells the story of the revitalization of the river through experiencing all 430 miles of it. We caught up with Jesse to ask about his trip and documentary. Check out our interview:

The International Surfing Association (ISA) is proud to highlight the legacy that the 2016 Fiji ISA World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship, has left on the sports of SUP and Paddleboard as well as the host country of Fiji.

Can you believe 2016 is coming to an end?! With the gift-giving holidays right around the corner, it's time to think about getting something awesome for the SUP'er in your life so here at Supconnect, we've put together a gift/gear guide of the newest and coolest items to have recently hit the shelves and racks on the SUP market.

With the stunning visual backdrop of Fiji’s natural island beauty, day four of the 2016 Fiji ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship saw Australia’s Michael Booth and New Zealand’s Sam Shergold emerge victorious in the divisions of SUP and Paddleboard, respectively, in an exhilarating 17km race from Cloudbreak to Musket Cove in Fiji.

Four World Champions were crowned on the third day of competition at the 2016 Fiji ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship, as the Finals of the SUP and Paddleboard Technical Races ran in the pristine waters of Fiji’s world-renowned outer reef, Cloudbreak.