I just never get enough of these.

The whole video in-the-barrel point of view thing never gets old for me. Here's a really good one:

Life is so much more than wave riding.

Outstanding Wayne Lynch piece. Day in the Life series- Bravo!

The youngsters rule- especially this kid.

Alright, I've got a new favorite paddlesurfer. Noah Yap- this kid's been on the radar for a long time now- I remember watching the first vids his Dad would shoot of this little dude spinning all kinds of board tricks when he was like eight years old. Now he's tossing down man-hacks, legit. But you want to know why he's really much better than 99.9% of the stando surfers out there? One reason: No, absolutely none, paddling while on the wave. Watch this kid- he's not jack hammering his paddle to make speed on a wave, he's really surfing it; finding the little speed grooves, pumping his board through little juice sections and then smacking the shit out of it off the top. My one gripe? I'm not a fan of the little fins out off the tops- but what do I matter? I'm fat, old and slow. Rip on, little shredder, rip on.

Man... gotta get back to slashin'!

Found this old photo... made me want to get up right now and go for a good paddlesurf session. I've got to get back to my inner-slasher. That does it, DogPatch this Wednesday... tweaked knee be damned!

Stand Up Paddle Surf Sinaloa Surf Adventures

Twisted knee, too many cutbacks, all lefts, surf with just 7 other friends, clean water, good food, cold beer... 'nuf said?

Ahhh- sweet anticipation.

Dr. John... slotted.

Paddle Surfing Sinaloa Mexico

Seven days of paddle surfing- details coming:

Kiwi- checking it.

Morning surf bus... load it up!

I want to be different, just like everybody else.

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt 

Great surfers just surf, average surfers stand around and talk about surfing, small minded surfers hate everything.  

I just saw a post on the Surfer Magazine forum. Classic. Titled something like, "Everybody hates SUP" or something like that (by the way, go to that link and check out the hot photos of the SUP guy getting seriously barrelled). There was a reference to a battle between some entitled dingy sailors back east somewhere and the stand up paddlers who were bobbing in the water around their launch/land site. Evidently, a dinghy under sail, coming in for a beach landing with rudder up is eventually going to kill a stand up paddler so the sailors are trying to get SUPs banned from the water. Nice. Would hate to get some SUP blood on Chip's topsiders or tweak a pinky finger in a drastic, full rudder, avoidance maneuver. 

In the forum, you can read all the other posts as the SUP hate circle jerk winds up. These guys crack me up- in a sport where individuality is supposed to be admired (if that wasn't the case, Ozzie Wright's style would have had him banned from all surfing ten years ago) they can't stand to hear that one of their very own has gone over to the dark side. I have to salute the contribution by a longtime Oxnard local, talking about his friend, an acknowledged local shortboard ripper who's been dabbling in SUP: 

You know what I like about all this? I like thinking about the mindset of the stando/surf guy, who one day decided to give SUP surfing a shot. What do you want to bet that the results of his actions, the unbridled derision of his local Oxnard ripper brothers, NEVER ONCE CROSSED HIS MIND. Ironic in that in a sport and region where the punk rock anthem of, "fuck all of you because I ain't you." was nurtured and germinated ('Nardcore anyone?) - these guys are all confused and don't know what to think about a guy who truly separated himself from the 6'4" thruster flock. For small minds, the world is a much easier place to comprehend when you're, "different, just like everybody else."

Of course nobody got their head cut off...

Wow. I didn't think I'd alarm anybody with that last post but it turns out a few out there thought something went down on that Mex run. Breathe a little easier, Manny and Tyra had a great day of surf and killer Mexican food and made it back safely. 

I often see all kinds of forum questions about safety down south. Here's my take: Act foolishly and it can be dangerous. Will the cartel single you out, kidnap you and chop your head off? Well, if you roll down in a black Escalade with huge rims, roll around Rosarito Beach with your tinted windows rolled up tight, your snapback on sideways bumping Lil' Wayne you'd pretty much be tilting the odds in your direction just a little. Kind of like putting on a bacon suit in a chum cloud in off the Farallon Islands, you could do it and get away with it- but I don't advise it. The sharks, like the bad guys, are definitely there, there's no denying that. Are they hungry that day, can you tempt them to bite? Well, that's always going to be an unknown.

Put it this way, roll like that and there are eyes that would take notice and probably a couple cell phone calls put in about where you are, how you look and where you're headed. Me? I'd rather not be on that radar- that's why I like rolling with Manny in the Manny-mobile. It's all about being low-key, knowing where to go, when to go, when to leave and, best of all, where the best tacos are to be found. Go with someone who knows and keep your head on your shoulders.

Northern Baja Stand Up Paddle Surfing: Empty waves

Do not go stand up paddle surf Northern Baja, you will die. The cartel will cut your head off. It's totally dangerous- I repeat do not go surf Northern Baja:

Manny V. and Tyra Moe CreedSUP team members just before getting kidnapped by the lobster burrito cartel. Read more about Tyra Moe here.

Manny V. trying to flee... he was not successful.

T. Moe also trying to escape with Manny yelling at her to run!

The most interesting surfing in stand up paddling in the last 5 years.

Watch the clip. Fresh, new, no headsnap... nuff said:

Hey- remember me?

Whoa. Where has the time gone- literally almost a year with barely any posting... wow. I haven't completely forgotten about old p.net (that's been my pet name for this here site), in the back of my mind I keep thinking that I should post something worthwhile up for all of you who do check back occasionally to see what's up.

But that's the problem- in stand up paddle nothings up. I haven't been amazed or wow'd or blown away by anything lately in this great past time of ours (well, actually that's wrong- I was blown away by the stando surfing video of the guy on the finless paddleboard at Leo Carrillo, the vids out there somewhere and this guy is doing something fresh and new). I mean, really, what's new? SimSUP, yawn. More guys racing a bunch? Yawn. And I've been doing some new things (if you're really dying to read me twice a week, that's a total of 8 posts per month! check out the blog I write for here) because I'm an ADD type individual who get's distracted easily. So here's somewhere to go if you're curious about what's going on with me- check it out here:

Basically, it's irreverent, eclectic, self-inflated, useless stuff that I'm compiling. It has almost nothing to do with stand up paddle and it's most likely a total waste of time. But it's my waste of time- until I go on my mainland Mex standup paddleboard surf trip second week of June- now that will be something to check out!

Donde Es Juan?

Good Monday Morning.

Okay, I talked to a few of you over the past couple  months and the question was raised more than once... where's John?

No need to worry. He's alive and well. In fact, I haven't seen him this pumped in a long time. He is now part of Creed SUP. He handles the ton of customer emails and is involved deep with company direction and marketing. We all know he knows SUP. Randy at Creed SUP knew this as well and was wondering why no one else has whisked John under their wing. Randy didn't waste any time and saw the value, huge value that is, that John can bring to the Creed SUP table. So now John will be holding down the Creed SUP hotline, blogger extraordinaire and will be one of the main faces of Creed. In fact, I'm in the process of making the window decal for the new Creed SUP shop. You'll be able to see John riding a wave from the freeway as you drive by Creed's new location (1085 Bay Blvd, San Diego).

He'll continue to post here on Paddle Surf but will also be guiding his fingers on the keyboard to deliver cool stuff on Creed's blog as well.

 Check it:
http://blog.creedsup.com/

-Manny V

Braddah Tim and John on a surf check deep in Baja.

Grab The Popcorn

What up people? Manny V here. As John is enjoying his time off from work, I thought it'd be a perfect time to share another person's travel stories. We know over five thousand of you have already seen the latest Dave Kalama Stand Up Travel video clip but for those of you that haven't... sit back and start from episode one. You won't be disappointed. Props to Constantin Gross for the amazing imagery and shout out to the SUP surfers for making us all see what's possible. Rock on.

Dave Kalama - Stand Up Travelling - Episode 03 "Fiji Perfection" from Constantin Gross on Vimeo.

Super Exclusive! Super Stoke!

What up people? Manny V here! You're going to hear it first on PaddleSurf.net! I don't want it to sound like a sales pitch for Standup Journal Magazine but why not!? I'm pumped! Check it...

Standup Journal's biggest ever (182 pages!) "Spring 2013"  doesn't even hit newsstands til March 21st, but Clay and the Journal staff have given me the ok to let the cat outta the bag!

I GOT MY FIRST COVER SHOT! Yes, I'm pumped! Plus, I get a little write up near the contents page. I've been shooting Sean Poynter while he's in town. He's my go to guy when it comes to pulling into barrels on his SUP board. Obviously, it paid off!

Here's the plug... Subscribers who sign up by Feb. 24th, midnight, will get this issue TWO WEEKS before the March 21st newsstand date. Get on it! www.standupjournal.com/subscribe

I'm stoked! Plus, I get a paycheck. Next round on me.

The San Diego Hoʻolauleʻa & Keiki Hehei Waʻa is growing!

Aloha kākou,

The San Diego Hoʻolauleʻa & Keiki Hehei Waʻa is growing. This year we once again have our youth only Hawaiian outrigger canoe regatta on Saturday May 4th. However, on Sunday May 5th, we have our 1st annual "Stand Up For The Kids" Stand up paddle race fundraiser.  this race is open to youth & adult racers. Enter our opportunity drawing to win a Creed SUP Board. Visit our website for details at: www.nakoakai.com

 At this point we have several teams from the State of Hawaiʻi representing over 70 youths committed to attending and supporting our regatta.  Of course all the teams from the U.S. Mainland are invited and encouraged to attend. On Friday evening May 3rd, there will be an imu (underground oven) workshop for all youth paddlers so please plan accordingly.  See the race packet for details. 

Special shout out to Creed SUP™

On behalf of Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club I would like to give a heart-felt mahalo nui loa to Creed Stand Up Paddle Boards for being our SUP board sponsor and for being there to "Stand Up For The Kids"™.  I would also like to say Mahalo nui loa to our other sponsors which IncludeTeradata Corporation, Mays Meats Hawaii, and of course Alaska Airlines. 

The OTHER Side

The last few posts have been about what Baja's west coast is capable of delivering. Obviously, perfection. I know there are a few of you that love to get on the race board or on the 11 footer and scope out the scenic side of things. Well, Baja could very well be SUP heaven and cover all your urges to paddle.

On the east side of the Baja peninsula, you've got miles and miles of some amazing coast line. During the winter months the winds tend to stick around more often than not. If you're on the east side when it's calm be ready to be amazed. My favorite spots would have to be between Mulege and El Juncalito to the south. It's about an hour drive from end to end. You'll get epic bays that have warm crystal clear waters and islands that you can paddle to. La Ventana, south of La Paz, has some epic SUPing from what I hear. I have yet to hit up that location. Soon.

Baja California, Mexico SUP heaven? It is in my book. Manny V out.

My wife, Mailei, loves this place.

Sunrise.

Then we surfed this Left...

A left pointbreak... three of us out. Up at dawn tomorrow going to get it one last time before the weather changes.

Magic Day: Southern Baja comes together... we score.

Got a lot to say and tales to tell- but I'm fried, burnt, cooked and surfed out. Baja magic still exists...

Offshore all day... drove away from perfect, empty, a-frames... didn't matter, couldn't move anymore.

Same wave, same crowd... going right.

Insane.

I call this one, "The Dirty South". These guys had this wave all to themselves and we left them to it... why ruin their dream session when there were good waves popping all over the place? This one particular spot was kinda, all-time though... and probably too fast for this goofy foot.

Greetings From Baja

Good January 2nd morning my friends. Manny V here. As John mentioned, I'm going to be popping in twice a month and give you the perspective from someone that is just starting the process of spending more time, money and research on stand up paddle surfing.

I've been at it for over a year and a half now and I have to admit... just like you, I'm hooked. I'm a bodyboarder and photographer by trade but once I'm in the surf on a SUP board, it's like I've discovered the ultimate cheating machine. I can now catch waves further out than your average longboarder. What?! I play by the rules, of course. Etiquette and board/paddle control are crucial when in the surf with other peeps.

Enough about me, let's talk Baja! This place is the best. If you truly want to find your own perfect peak or point break, it's here. You'll have to make the effort to find it but it is here. Again, keeping respect and etiquette at the top of the list, you'll have the best time of your life. But like any wave rider that makes their way down Baja, we'll keep the surf break names out of the blog posts.

Each session must begin with a quick whip of your gear (wetsuit top, trunks or shirt) to evacuate the possible scorpions or spiders that may have taken refuge overnight. Then you're off. As usual, the best time of your surf is going to be at first light. Sleep in and you're going to have deal with the possible crowds at the more popular spots. I'm done talking for now. I'll let the photos and captions tell the rest of this post. Next stop... the east side of the peninsula.

Once the light hits the water, it's already too late. Get there early for some waves to yourself.

Kiwi making his way into the warm waters of Baja.

Believe it or not, we didn't ride this peak. It was by it's lonesome for about three hours.

This is what we were after. Shallow cobble stone bottom made for perfect shapes.

It's about two and a half feet deep here. Luckily, no dings this day for me.

I waited for months to ride this wave. I was happy.

Kiwi on a sickie. Pre-crowd.

My goal is to never wear a full suit while SUPing. Suit-less in Baja.