First SUP Race storms the Kootenays!

First annual Kootenay Stand Up Paddle Race goes off!!

In the last few years. Stand up paddling has slowly crept it's way into the Canadian scene. SUP or Stand Up Paddle has gone viral south of the boarder but Canucks seem slow to jump on board. This slow start might have something to do with the many lessons learned while trying to stand up in Canoes in order to get a better view of a passing beavers. Now, SUP is here to stay and races are starting to emerge in different areas of the country. A few local SUP paddlers decided to put on the first ever race in the Kootenays and what better place to host than the historic Columbia River.

The event consisted of two races-- one beginner oriented and one more advanced. The first race had participants paddling a 5km stretch of slow moving water with a buoy on the opposite side of the river racers had to paddle around. Kai from Nelson won the first race with Rob Porter of Cranbrook tailing in second. The other race started in Robson and headed down river to Millennium Park around a river bend where current picked up significantly and challenged racers to stay afloat while trying to navigate the course. The last race saw most of it´s action at the finish line with a real tight finish between racers with leader Rob Porter and Kai close behind. In between races Endless Adventure and Kalivida Surf shop hosted a free SUP demo for spectators to try their hand at the exciting sport. People of all ages took the opportunity to stand up and paddle with a slew of different board types and brands to choose from.

The day ended with a apres paddle party at the Lions Head Pub who hosted the event. A sunny hot day, big smiles, SUP racing, and cold beer in hand, the perfect ingredients for an event sure to become a classic.