The Amundson Source 11'6" x 32" is a well- executed all water design. It has a unique combination of stability, glide and tracking rarely found in an all water design. Whether you want to take your dog, do SUP Yoga, or go for a sunset paddle with one of your kids on board that Source paddles beautifully. Its thermally molded AST construction strike ... read more
The Amundson Cross 11’ is a true crossover design. Unlike many all-around SUP boards its straighter rails and wider square tail combined with a more subtle rocker profile allow the Cross to be a delightful flat water tourer, SUP yoga master and fun board to play on. It also is an ideal first entry into small surf.
Blk Box race boards are for the serious racing enthusiast. . They are unbelievably slippery, surge forward with every stroke, are awesome upwind, downwind and crosswind. Hand crafted in Michigan to precision tolerances and available in three all carbon configurations and in 27 and 28” widths with square tail outline. The Carolina Cup was where I r ... read more
The Starboard 14’ Touring is a performance touring board with very high stability for paddlers up to 250 pounds. It has plenty of load capacity front and rear with its 10 tie down points and handles a wide range of water conditions with ease. In this review Starboard designer Brian Syzmanski reviews the details of its shape and its features are rev ... read more
The newest Starboard race boards have gone through an evolutionary transition for 2013 making them faster, more stable and more finely tuned to various conditions. Paddleboard Specialists owner Gary Stone spent a weekend with Starboard designer Brian Syzmanski thoroughly testing the new models. Enjoy the commentary from Brian in this video clip. Pa ... read more
Looking for an Ultra-fast race SUP board? Blk Box designer Matt Campbell has the answer. His design won the 2012 Midwest SUP race series. Blk Box eps blanks are precision CNC cut, finish shaped by Matt himself then laminated by his superb staff. Blk Box is the only SUP manufacturer to offer Spread Tow carbon on their boards, a super high end carbon ... read more
We’ve tested quite a few inflatable boards now and this is the first one we have tried that has a true touring shape and qualities. It combines speed, glide and tracking in a compact easy to inflate package. After over 10 hours of testing from flat water to wind chop we whole heartedly give this board a high rating. In this video Paddleboard Speci ... read more
After over 5 hours of testing in conditions from dead flat to a 7.5 mile downwind run with wind gusting to 20 knots I know this board well. In quite flat conditions it is surprisingly fast for an all conditions race board though it does not have the glide of the best flat water boards I compared it to. (Very close in speed to a Bark Dominator in ou ... read more
Starboard has done an excellent job creating a new design with all the elements a touring paddler wants. Light weight, lots of tie down points, excellent glide and tracking as well as good maneuverability and stability through a broad range of water conditions. This board is available in 12'6" x 29" width as well and in a 14' x 30" version too. Pa ... read more
After months of anticipation we finally got to give the Amundson TRX 14 carbon a serious workout. The board is amazingly stiff with no flex whatsoever and delivers excellent tracking, better than a majority of 14’s we have tried. It’s moderate rocker line gives up just a touch in flat water speed but the board handles very well through a broad rang ... read more
We've been fans of Joe Bark's designs for quite some time now, so when we heard a new Bark 14' hollow carbon race board was going to be available to test at the Outdoor Retailer trade show we could not wait! Gary arrived early at the Surftech booth at the on water demo day to find the board was still in the box but the Surftech team set it up for h ... read more
From the first moment I heard about the Flume I knew I had to go there to train with Quickblade mad scientist Jim Terrell. I considered myself a good paddler but I came away with much improved form and performance. Now I can share everything I learned with you. He built the training flume to share his knowledge of stroke technique from 4 Olympic c ... read more
Last fall we heard that Jon Amundson was working on a replacement for the TR-X model in his lineup. We’ve been testing a custom prototype of the new TR-X2 model since last October. When we got our hands on a production board we got really excited. This board is one of the nicest touring/recreational boards we have ever had the pleasure of paddling ... read more
This new compact touring design from Tahoe surprised us with its stability, tracking and glide for a board of its size. With its beautiful bamboo deck, light weight, 8 tie down points and recessed standing area this board is a standout. Paddleboard Specialists owner Gary Stone details goes over the details of the board in this short review. ... read more
The Coreban 11'6" Pure is a classic all round design. In this clip Paddleboard Specialists owner Gary Stone shows you close up views of the board and shares his comments on its paddling fun!
... read more
The Naish Nalu 10’10” is a departure from other all water boards we have tested. We admit when we first saw it we were skeptical. To our surprise the Nalu works fantastically well. The concaves keep the board tracking straighter than any other all water board we have tested while maintaining maneuverability for small to medium wave riding and tur ... read more
What happens when you take the most famous America's Cup boat designers and put them to work on a race/touring stand up paddleboard? The results are impressive. You'll appreciate seeing the board from many angles and hearing Paddleboard Specialists owner Gary Stone and sales manager Cris Rosario's feedback on the new Morrelli & Melvin 1 ... read more
Bark touring and racing boards have been our go to boards for lake, bay and open ocean paddling for a year and a half now so we were really excited to get Joe's latest production offering on the water. It didn't disappoint by delivering classic butter smooth Bark glide, exceptional tracking and impressive stability. Check out the board clo ... read more
Meet the new Naish Glide 14'. This board is the ultimate weapon for
downwind runs. In this clip PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone
goes over all the details of the new Glide design for 2012.
Also, check out the clip from PaddleBoard Specialists Cris Rosario,
who compares last year's Naish Glide to the all new 2012 model.
read more
PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone joins Hobie designer Mark Johnson in Dana Point, California to paddle the all new E-Series. These are the latest bamboo Hobie race/touring stand up paddle boards. Gary also tests the boards on our home waters of Madison, WI. Check out the video for a complete detailed description and view of the new E-Series ... read more
Our good friend Connor Baxter claims the crown at the 2011 Battle of
the Paddle
Connor Baxter has been a very close friend to PaddleBoard Specialists
owner Gary Stone for a very long time. This is why we were so thrilled
to see Connor take first place at the 2011 Battle of the Paddle. It
was by far the most exciting finish of any ... read more
Think you're too old to try Stand Up Paddling? We have a feeling this
video may help you reconsider. Thanks to our friend Virginia for
showing us that SUP really is for everyone.
We would love to help you get on the water, no matter what skill
level, age or athletic ability. Give us a call today at
1-877-473-1199 or visit read more
Looking for the board you can take down your favorite rivers? Or maybe
you want something that you can tie up to your dock and not have to
worry about it getting banged around. The Surftech B1 is the the
ultimate board for those looking for durability. The board is actually
coated with plastic instead of traditional epoxy. We witnessed this ... read more
Take one part Laird Hamilton, one part Joe Bark and you have a concoction for great Stand Up Paddle boards. The new Surftech/Bark lineup for 2012 was one of the highlights of the Outdoor Retailer show this year. We caught up with Joe in this video and test paddled every new Bark for 2012. The new Laird collaboration is made for larger paddlers who ... read more
Beautiful! That is the first thing that comes to mind when seeing the new Hobie 2012 Bamboo Elite race series. We were really blown away by the speed and stability of the 2011 Hobie line. Now Hobie has taken their race and touring even further. Their new construction not only looks great, it increases performance too. Check out the video to hear al ... read more
Chris Aguilar of Soul Surf Media produced this great video of our
Midwest Stand Up Paddle Festival. Chris is the producer and director
behind the first stand up paddle feature film, Destination 3 Degrees.
It was a real honor to have Chris at the festival preseting his film.
Chris was gracious enough to capture the days events and put toge ... read more
Debbie Garten of Paddleboard Specialists tests the new Amundson Aquaglide TR 11'4". This is a great board for paddlers 150lbs. and under who are looking for a board to tour flatwater or catch bumps going downwind. It is sized perfectly for smaller paddlers but still has a high degree of performance. At 27 lbs. it is nice and manageable for smaller ... read more
Thanks to everyone that came out to the first annual Midwest Stand Up Paddle Festival. We had approximately 130 participants and close to 70 racers enjoying the 3 mile rec course and 6 mile open courses. It was an afternoon of learn to SUP clinics, stroke clinics, SUP yoga, SUP body mechanics, how to choose a paddle, board design talks and more. We ... read more
Want to give SUP a try? We have some great opportunities for you to get out on the water and experience Stand Up Paddling. We have taught hundreds of people to paddle over the last year. In the first 10 minutes of your lesson our seasoned instructors will have you standing and paddling comfortably. Below is a list of our many lesson opportunities. ... read more
We really love the all-water/surf boards that we carry from NSP. They are comfortable, and easy to paddle. Now you can get that same comfortable feel with the new NSP 14' Cruiser. This board not only paddles great, it looks great too. It has a very sli ... read more
Matt Lennert is a man on a mission. He is planning a 50 mile Lake Michigan crossing on a Stand Up Paddle Board. A chicago chef and avid paddler, Matt is out to show that Chicago is a great place for SUP. Not only is Matt doing the run to promote stand up, he is also raising awareness of two of his favorite causes, Lake Michigan and healthy eating. ... read more
One of the most versatile and beautiful paddles we have seen, the Sawyer Rip is a go-to for someone that wants an adjustable without the extra weight. Also available in fixed length at 26 ounces. At 30 ounces this paddle is very comfortable. The blades have been completely redesigned for 2011 and are still works of art. The blade has a deep dihedr ... read more
In our continuing series of posts on all-water boards we compare the Amundson 11'3" with the Starboard Blend 11'2". The Amundson is one of our favorite beginner boards with it's nice glide, tracking, light weight and solid feel in the water. The read more
Hard to believe it is only one month until the biggest standup paddle event the midwest has ever seen. People from all over the country have stepped up to help the event. It seems like every day we are getting news of more paddlers and companies that will be at the festival. We already have a great list of pros on board including: John Becker, Matt ... read more
As more and more races add 14' classes we've seen quite a few new boards come out in the last year. We're really excited to offer the Coreban 14' Alpha. It's a beautiful board with a shape that's unique and constructions that are beautiful, strong a ... read more
One of the great things about Stand Up Paddling is that people of all sizes and shapes can do it. That is why it is great to see SUP companies that are making equipment that is specific to a wide range of paddlers. Jim Terrell, the mad paddle scientist at Quickblade has been at the forefront of designing to accommodate every size paddler.
read more
If you're a larger paddler and are looking for a super stable board, we have many options at our shop. Two of our favorites for big paddlers are the Starboard Atlas and the read more
In our second installment of our series of posts on all-water boards we take a look at three of our favorites. The Naish Nalu 11'4" is a little surfier than the 11'6" Naish in our last post. It still has nice glide and is great for those that want an all-wa ... read more
We are really excited about all the new 2011 boards that have arrived. So testing has begun. We took out three of our 11'6" all-water boards to compare differences in glide, turning, and overall comfort. In this first video in our series of all-water boards, we tested the read more
The Amundson Aquaglide TR and the Tahoe Zephyr are two standouts for the paddler that wants a versatile and stable board for touring and even an occasional race. In this video clip PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone compares the features of both boards.
For info on our entire line of stand up paddle boards give us a call at 1-877-4 ... read more
We are really excited to be working with the Henry Vilas Zoo again this year to bring you Paddle for the Polar Bears. This fun filled event features Stand Up Paddling Lessons for beginners of all ages. It also raises funds for Madison, Wisconsin's Henry Vilas Zoo. 50% of all proceeds will be donated toward building The Arctic Passage, a state of th ... read more
We had the wonderful opportunity to paddle with two of our great customers this week. Cindy and Brad little came down from Duluth, MN to pick up a new board. PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone took both Brad and Cindy out for a nice morning paddle and gave some tips on paddling technique. We are always so grateful to have such loyal and dedic ... read more
We caught up with Mike and Will of SUP the Coast while at the Carolina Cup. These guys are truly inspiring. They are paddling the entire East Coast from Key West to the Eastern Seaboard in order to raise awareness of veterans issues and ocean cleanup. In this video clip Will and Mike tell us about their adventure so far and their personal efforts t ... read more
We caught up with our good friend Kevin Vangritis at the Carolina Cup and spoke with him about our SPT Lockable Tie Downs. These rack tie downs are a unique system that combines stainless steel reinforced webbing tie-down straps with an integrated ... read more
We are always looking for ways to improve our stroke technique. This video clip from Quickblade is one of the most thorough and inventive that we have seen . Jim Terrell gives a great explanation on catch, stroke and release. The graphic representation of the stroke is one of the best we have seen.
Jim will be at our Midwest Stand Up Pa ... read more
PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone is headed to Wrightsville
Beach, NC this weekend to experience the Carolina Cup. The Carolina
Cup is the Mid-Atlantic's Premier Stand Up Paddle Race. As the race
site says, "It Isn't a race. It's a 3-day paddle event that'll make
your head numb." Gary will be at the event to meet fellow padders,
ra ... read more
A couple of SUP boards can start to take up a lot of space in your
garage. The Gatekeeper wall racks solve this problem by getting the
boards up and off the floor. Not only does it make storing boards
easy, it keeps them from getting dinged up. This rack system is super
easy to install . It's sturdy construction and nice padding is sure to ... read more
As soon as we pulled the Starboard Ace out of it's box we knew we were about to experience something different. Starboard shaper Brian Szymanski keeps pushing the boundaries of what a SUP board is. While most of the boards we see still have ties to surfing shapes, the Starboard boards seem to borrow from a different vernacular. read more
We truly believe this is the year that SUP hits big across the
midwest. That is why we are stoked to be a part of an amazing race
series that will finally unite paddlers from all across the midwest.
Paddle Board Specialists along with five other shops will be hosting
race events in a series that will stretch throughout the summer.
The Werner Bent Shaft is a new leap in the ever evolving sport of SUP. Werner has been in the paddle business for a long time. It is a no-brainer that they would use their huge bank of knowledge from the canoe and kayak world to push the envelope with stand up paddles. Werner's bent shaft paddles result in two big improvements over traditional stra ... read more
We love the Bark 12'6" Competitor. Until now all of the other 12'6" flatwater/race boards we paddled did not come close. But that was until we tested the new Hobie production race board. This board is fast, stable and a joy to paddle. One noticeable difference between the read more
Looking for something to wear when a t-shirt isn't enough and a wetsuit is way too much? The Breeze Breaker is a great piece from O'Neil. It is based on a jacket they made almost 20 years ago. It is perfect for paddling on a cool morning. The tors ... read more
We are stoked to announce the first annual Paddleboard Specialists Midwest Stand Up Paddle Festival set for Saturday July 9th! This will be the biggest Stand Up Paddle event in the midwest. It is all about letting more people discover the joy of stand up. The festival will be a day for everyone from first-timers to seasoned paddlers to enjoy the wa ... read more
Fast. That about sums it up. But more than fast, this board is smooth. Joe Bark continues to impress us with his mastery of shaping SUPs. The 14' production model by Surftech is the bigger brother of the 12'6" competitor. Both of these boards have am ... read more
We love packing a lunch and heading out on the water for the day. That is why we love this deck bag. It's low profile keeps it out of your way while paddling, and there is plenty of capacity for your gear, food, etc. The Seattle Sports Deluxe Deck Bag offers unique window-view access, high cap ... read more
In this video clip PaddleBoard Specialists owner Gary Stone shows us
the new Quickblade Kanaha adjustable 3 piece paddle. The paddle
features an extremely well-balanced lightweight design. It has an
adjustment range of 8", and the full carbon construction ... read more
We now have the new Danny Ching race fin by True Ames in stock! The fin could be mistaken for a piece of art with its beautiful bamboo core. The is the design that Danny has been racing lately. Including his win at the Battle of the Paddle. We had the opportunity to talk with Danny Ching and fin designer Chuck Ames at Surf Expo 2011. Check out the ... read more
It's not everyday that Madison, Wisconsin has a Stand Up Paddle pro navigating it's waters. Especially when it is January and the air temperature is only 26. The chilly conditions did not stop Paddleboard Specialists owner Gary Stone and Connor Baxter from venturing out on Madison's Yahara River. Connor is a longtime family friend of Gary's and was ... read more
PaddleBoard Specialists had the priveledge of interviewing Kevin Vangritis. Kevin recently purchased a 14’ Double Carbon Bark from us, and raced it in the 3rd Annual Cold Stroke Classic held in Wrightsville Beach N.C. Kevin finished 1st in his division and had the second fastest time overall. In the following conversation, Kevin tells us about his ... read more
We're stoked about our exclusive interview with filmmaker Ran Kalif.
Below Ran gives us the lowdown on the SUP scene in Israel, along with
some great footage of some of the great SUP waveriders coming out of
Israel.
Can you tell us your background in SUP?
I used to surf when I was a kid, we lived by the sea and it
was ... read more
We call Madison, WI home. And as owner Gary Stone says in this clip,
“Madison is surrounded by water.” Which makes it a perfect place for
the largest selection of SUPs in the country. Whether you are a
flatwater racer, beginning recreational paddler or a wave fanatic, we
have you covered. Not only do we have the largest selection of boards, ... read more
We taught over 600 new paddlers last year in Madison, WI. One of our
go to board lines for all beginners was the Amundson Aquaglide Series.
These boards are perfect for anyone looking for an all-around board to
paddle with friends on flat water, or take ... read more
It's here! The new 404 Danny Ching race board arrived at the shop just
a couple of weeks ago. This is the production version of Danny's weapon
of choice at the Battle of the Paddle. We know how well Danny does
on this board (two back-to-back BOP wins). We were really excited to get out on the water and
test the read more
Many paddlers have been caught between the choice of a comfortable
touring/flatwater paddle and a racing paddle. Now, you can have the
best of both worlds in one blade shape. The Werner Fuse is a new
development that mixes the blade shapes of the Werner S ... read more
“What length?”, “What size Blade?”, “ What construction?”... These
are very common questions that face everyone ready to make a new paddle purchase. We spoke with Quickblade owner and designer Jim Terrell at the Battle of the Paddle to see how QuickBlade has made it easier than ever to choose the right paddle for your needs.
We had a great time at the Battle of the Paddle last week. It was
great to see one of our close friends Connor Baxter. Connor competed
in 4 of the 5 races over the weekend. He was kind enough to let us re-
post his race recap on our site for all of us to enjoy and to get
inspired. Thanks to Connor for the insightful words and to his mom
K ... read more
We're really excited to be travelling to Battle of the Paddle this
weekend at Dana Point's Doheny State Beach on Saturday, October 2nd &
Sunday, October 3rd. Shop owner Gary Stone and local racer Cris
Rosario will be participating in the races this weekend and testing a
large variety of boards, paddles and accessories. With many SUP board
... read more
Werner has a long history of paddle innovation, so we were not surprised when we laid our eyes on the brand new 2011 Werner Bent Shaft Paddle. According to Werner the idea behind the bent shaft is to, “create a stable leverage point during paddling which increases comfort and control”. We have been paddling the Nitro version of the Bent shaft and r ... read more
The right SUP paddle can make all the difference in comfort,
efficiency and overall enjoyment on the water. We have been paddling
several new models along with our usual standbys. In this video clip
PaddleBoard Specialsits owner Gary Stone gives a review of three high
quality paddles. We have been paddling read more
This summer was the first year that we saw SUP really take hold in
Madison. We were very happy with the dedicated paddlers who joined us
for our Naish Race Series. The races were a mix of beginners and
seasoned paddlers. No matter what the skill level, everyone was out to
have fun. After tabulating our results we are very happy to announce ... read more
We first paddled both the Bark and Hobie race boards last fall in California. Both boards blew us away. After a full summer of paddling these SUPs we have come to know them quite well. We have tested in flatwater, chop and light downwind conditions. Paddle Board Specialists owner Gary Stone has also raced both boards. In this video clip Gary compar ... read more
The Amundson Aquaglide line of stand up paddle boards have been a
staple in our beginner quiver. They are well designed and affordable.
That is why we were psyched to hear that Amundson had a more advanced
board in the works for flatwater, downwind, touring and racing. The
Amundson 12’6” TR, which stands for touring and racing, is a great n ... read more
We caught up with the one and only Joe Bark at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT last week. Joe was happy to show off the new Surftech Dominator 14’ race board. Joe calls this the big brother to the Surftech Competitor 12’6”. In Joe’s own words, it is the “Magic Board”. We know we love the Competitor 12’6” and can’t wait to get this o ... read more
This summer we have seen SUP races start to take root in the Midwest.
We kicked it off with our Paddle for the Polar Bears/Naish race
series, and now more events are starting to pop up all over.
One of the most interesting races was the Paddle and Portage which
took place in Madison on July 17th. Nearly 10 SUP pioneers took to the ... read more
We love the Naish Glide series. The 14' has been our weapon of choice
when doing downwinders, so we were thrilled to find out that Naish
would be releasing a new 12'6" class race board. While Paddle Board
Specialists owner Gary Stone was at the Gorge earlier this summer he
had the unique opportunity to paddle the new? Naish Catalina. Here i ... read more