SUP Revolution

So this whole SUP-thing has been an incredible adventure.  I bought an Oxbow SUP over the July 4th from Delmarva Board Sports Adventure (see http://www.delmarvaboardsportadventures.com/sup.html) weekend and ever since I have been addicted to that thing.

I have met a number of people as a result of SUP-ing and have had the pleasure of introducing a good number of folks to the sport. 

Now...two really random and wonderful things happened as a result of SUP-ing.  First, I got interviewed for an article that will run in Delaware's News Journal newspaper in the next week.  Second, I received a free carbon fiber SUP paddle.


The Press
So the story goes that I reserved a spot with Delmarva SUP to join a group SUP-ing around Cape Henlopen State Park to hang with the dolphins and watch the sunset.  The owner of Delmarva asked me to talk to a reporter who would be paddling with the group about my experience as a new SUP-er...of course, I was happy to help.

The trip to the Park was truly AMAZING.  There were dolphin all around us and when I was alone rounding the lighthouse a small pod swam all around the front of my board.  Heaven...well it was pretty darn close.  Let's just say that I had a permanent smile on my face and I may have even giggled to myself a few times.  It only got better when the sun set.  I wish I had a waterproof camera because there is no way to describe the view.  Luckily Janis was taking pictures of all of us and hopefully there will be some really cool pictures from the newspaper photographer too.

[Here I am walking my board into shore with George paddling around me.  I have no idea what we are talking about, but do know that I decided to walk my board in because it was so hot all I wanted was to be in the water!]

[Here's a picture of that sunset I was talking about --- courtesy of Janis.  Imaging sitting on your board watching that.  Amazing!]

Anyway, I randomly hooked up with the reporter while cruising around the Park and later he taped a handful of Q&A's.  He's got the best gig ever.  He writes a column called "Anything Once"  (see http://www.delawareonline.com/section/LIFE06/Anything-Once).  Very cool guy and I'm looking forward to seeing the article very soon.

The Goods
It pays to strike up conversations with folks you don't know but who you encounter in your everyday adventures.  A couple weeks ago I struck up a conversation with two ladies as we were warming up for SUP bootcamp with HipAHA.  As luck would have it, her husband works at my firm and we have mutual friends in the area. Small world!

Anyway, she was admiring my SUP and I told her all about Delmarva --- how helpful they were, great concept of allowing you to try out their fleet and being able to buy a new board on the spot.  Bonus that it's tax-free Delaware and any new SUP owner also has access to any excursion free for life.  Kinda sweet.

A couple weeks later I heard from Delmarva that this woman I had chatted up ended up buying not one, but TWO SUPs for her and her husband!  As a thank you gift, Delamarva gave me a FREE carbon fiber Oxbow paddle.   I am beyond PSYCHED!

If Oxbow is good enough for Laird Hamilton...

The new paddle!