Anne-Marie Reichmann SUP11 City Tour 2008 solo expedition . Photo : Reichmann family
BRING YOUR OWN SUNSHINE
Choose the right gear and your paddling need never stop for the weather – with PFDs , suits and layers that keep you dry and warm year round .
Dangerously sunburnt and deliriously dehydrated , we completed our mission just before sunset , finally cracked a smile and decided to never , ever paddle that far again . If only I knew .
Do you have any evidence to show how this side of SUP racing is growing ? The sheer number of events in the ‘ ultra ’ category is probably the best growth metric . When I started working on The Ultra Paddle League , I created a list of 53 potential events . Not all of those are SUP – we owe a lot of credit to the North American canoeing community , where ultra-marathon events have existed longer than our sport . However , even these canoe races are beginning to embrace SUP . For example , the Yukon River Quest expanded their team entries from 125 to 150 slots this year , and quite symbolically , we have 25 stand up paddlers signed on for the mission .
Have you found the paddlers who take on these longer challenges have a different mindset ? Absolutely . It takes a special kind of paddler to ‘ want ’ something like this . Paddlers looking for an adventure and not just a race are inherently attracted to the ultras . Those who wish to push their mental limits should also apply .
For me , the contrast between your average 10k race and an ultra is
that the former is a competition against others while the latter is an internal battle – you ’ re primarily competing against your own body and mind when you paddle that far . Your ego grows more defensive as it becomes weaker , and as the miles drag on , your inner voice starts trying to justify why you should just quit and go
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