Ok . . . so it’s not the Maliko Gulch. But as Jerry Lopez says, “Surf
is Where You Find It”, and we've found it in our own back yard. Lake
Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin to be exact. When 35 mph gusts have
cleared our 9,740 acre lake of recreational boaters and fisherman, we
know it’s on.
In the past month we've had some great runs across our hometown
waters. It's a thrilling and fresh way to enjoy our unsalted
treasures. We shuttle our boards and gear to the take off point, after
leaving one vehicle at our destination. This gives us a straight shot
with the wind solidly at our backs. We learned our lesson early when
trying to go across the wind or even against it, a workout like no
other.
When the conditions are just right, the rides we're getting are a
blast. We've done this on both Naish 14’ Glides and the Surftech Joe
Bark Expedition 14' boards. The Bark is nice and stable, but if you
have the balance to handle the Naish Glides, they're rockets. Every
time we go out we learn more about reading every little swell that
picks up the back of our boards. It seems like a natural tendency to
want to paddle hard and dig deep to get your speed up. But Connor
Baxter shared some great insights with us on the more efficient way to
do it - quick little strokes. Just a few and the board is jumping into
autopilot. The sensation when the wave takes you is a welcome friend to a
surfer and an epiphany to a newbie.
After getting comfortable riding the little swells, we've started
connecting them, giving us really nice long glides. These are not big
spaced out ocean swells, these little guys come quick and often. The
experience lies somewhere between surfing and white water kayaking. It's like riding an endless wave pool across the lake. Not only is it
fun, but it's an amazing workout. Our chilly 55 degree waters offer a
nice way to cool off mid-paddle.
There's a very zen-like feeling when taking a rest in the middle of
the lake and looking out to see that you're all alone, except for
your fellow paddlers, on such a beautiful mass of water. It's just
another reminder of how paddleboarding has given us more and more
opportunities to get out and enjoy our lakes. Down-winding across the
lake might not happen everyday, but that just leaves room for nice
peaceful paddles with friends and family, or the chance to generate
your own speed at a race. No matter what, there are always
opportunities to enjoy the lake standing up.
For more specifics on the
Naish Glide series of Stand Up Paddle
Boards visit
paddleboardspecialists.com or give us a call at
1-877-473-1199.
