The 2^nd Annual Gables to the Bay Regatta is a series of fun and challenging low-impact paddle races for canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and other divisions. Courses will run up to 5 miles through the scenic Coral Gables Waterway and Biscayne Bay with spectacular finishes at Shake-A-Leg Miami in Coconut Grove.

EVENT DATE: Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

The regatta is presented by the Waterway Renaissance to bring people together on the water and raise funds to support our programs to beautify, preserve, and promote healthy enjoyment of our region’s waterways and bays.

The races will be followed by a fun family celebration at Regatta Village where racers and others will gather for the awards ceremony, chance drawings, food & refreshments, and music by Live Bait. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to many race classes!

The Gables to the Bay Regatta is a scenic and challenging low impact paddle race from the waterways of Coral Gables through Biscayne Bay with a grand finish in Coconut Grove at Shake-A-Leg Miami. At the finish we’ll have a fun family celebration with our official band, Live Bait. The Regatta will include divisions for canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards, fun and a Shake-A-Leg division.

DESCRIPTION: The Gables to the Bay Regatta is 2010 on Saturday, October 23^rd will bring be a series of fun and challenging paddle races through the scenic Coral Gables Waterway and Biscayne Bay. We have divisions for Canoes, Kayaks, Stand-up Paddle Boards, and other non-motorized . Courses will run

All races will finish at Shake-A-Leg Miami in Coconut Grove be followed by a fun family celebration at Regatta Village with chance drawings, food & refreshments, and music by Live Bait. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to many race classes!

GOALS: The regatta is presented by the WATERWAY RENAISSANCE (WRP) as a fundraiser to bring people together on the water and support programs to beautify, preserve, and enjoy our region’s waterways and bays.

The Waterway Renaissance Project (WRP) is a donor-funded initiative to beautify and restore South Florida’s waterways and promote their healthy enjoyment by residents and visitors alike. The European Renaissance was borne out of the Dark Ages due to and Coral Gables is defined by 47 miles of unique and beautiful waterways with numerous bridges, natural limestone walls, and abundant bird and marine life. WRP is working closely with the City of Coral Gables to:

Beautify Waterway Bridges Lime paints and patinas applied in Mediterranean colors by artists and painters in a DERM-compliant process.

Landscape Surrounding Spaces Palms and Florida native plants installed by volunteers and City personnel at bridge entrances and on waterway embankments.

Clean-up and Restore Seawalls Removal of overgrowth and invasive plants by private contractors on public rights-of-way and residential seawalls and dock areas.

Preserve and Protect Protect the waterways from further damage and preserve them for healthy enjoyment by our children and grandchildren.

Involve and Enjoy Organize events for residents to learn about, experience and enjoy our waterways safely and respectfully. These include informal “paddle-parties,” clean-up days, receptions featuring experts in environment and history, and the Gables to the Bay Regatta on October 17th, 2009. (Please see more about the GBR separately.)

watch?v=TsDUmVmevZs&feature=channel

The WRP received major start-up funding from the Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Parknership Programfor its work on the Granada-Mahi bridge (see above). WRP will rely upon additional private donations for future bridge, landscaping and other projects in the future. There are many opportunities to participate and/or provide financial support. To learn more about the WRP’s programs, requirements and ways to help, please visit www.waterwayrenaissance.org.

The Gables to the Bay Regatta is the biggest event on the WRP’s calendar. It will offer many ways for people to enjoy the waterways and see the results of WRP’s initial beautification and restoration efforts. For more information about the Regatta please visit www.gablestothebay.com or e-mail gablestothebay@gmail.com.

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Operating 7 days a week at George English Park off of Sunrise Blvd. Paddles and Boards provides paddle boarding lessons, Tours and Rentals.

The company has been providing paddle boarding lessons / free demos and tours in South Florida for 3 years. They  are also the organizers and creators of the Florida Paddle Boarding Club with approximately 250 members and growing. The  instructors  offer  lessons which give clients an excellent foundation into the sport and teach them the skills needed to get started.

P&B is fully insured, and maintains the highest reputation in facilitating healthy, positive and safe paddle boarding experiences for  customers.  All instructors have been well trained and have the experience to responsibly care for adult s and children. Their  goal is to create an amazing paddle boarding adventure and give a healthy bonding experience for families and groups.

Their commitment is to continue to operate with the same level of personal care and safety by introducing the fastest growing  water sport in the world to South Florida.

Mario St-Cyr the company founder,  has a  goal  to promote  healthy lifestyles and to build an active community by making this sport available to the masses and to allow participants to enjoy  the magical experience referred to as “Walking on Water”.

The benefits, which are available to a much larger demographic of people in comparison to other water sports, are cardiovascular health, a strong core workout, relaxation and a total balance of mind and body.

More photos available on Facebook

Check them out: PADDLES and BOARDS

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Another Celebrity who loves paddle boarding!  Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born February 20, 1988 and is  better known as simply Rihanna. This Paddle boarding Diva is a recording artist a songwriter and an a model. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna made her home in  the United States at a young age of sixteen to pursue a successful recording career under the expert guidance of record producer Evan Rogers. Rihanna subsequently signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for then-label head Jay-Z.

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The following page contains mature subject matter and is suitable for adults only.

If you have a weak constitution or are easily offended by Beautiful woman paddle boarding in seductive swimwear, tiny string bikinis, micro bikinis, g string bikinis, Brazilian bikinis,  or just by girls playing in the water, please do not continue.

Please consider the warning before deciding to watch and abstain from viewing these photos while driving or operating heavy machinery.

Continue at your own risk . . .and of course… We Love Paddle Boarding! )

Girls on Boards

http://www.PaddleBoarding.com

“One Place For Everything Paddle Boarding”

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That’s exactly what Jay Granieri Marketing manager for Mix1 “all Natural protein” beverage did last Tuesday at George English Park in Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Accompanied by Dr. James the company co-founder and chief evangelist, the team paddled out for a 1-hour tour on the middle river.

Dr. James Rouse is mix1’s formulator and health expert. His credentials include a doctorate in naturopathic medicine, post doctorate work in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, a BA in transpersonal psychology and certification as a yoga teacher.

Headquartered in Boulder Colorado, this privately held company makes all natural sport drinks that are not only good for you but actually taste good too!

Mix1 drinks are great before and after workouts and can also be used as meal replacements. With 3 servings of fruits and vegetables these drinks have just the right amount of antioxidants, protein and soluble fiber.

Experts would suggest that real, all natural food drinks will promote recovery; so go Paddle boarding for a great core workout and then Mix1.

PADDLES and BOARDS in Fort Lauderdale

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This is the moment stand-up paddle-surfer Axel Ohm decided to grab a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the world’s mightiest beasts.

Fortunately, the Southern Right Whale also happens to be quite playful, as German photographer Michael Poliza was relieved to discover as he captured his friend in this extraordinary confrontation in calm waters just a few hundred yards off South Africa’s Western Cape.

Axel enjoyed unsurpassed views of the breaching whale as he inched closer and closer in Walker Bay, near Grootbos Nature Reserve.

Photographer Michael Poliza captures his friend Axel Ohm edging closer and closer to the Southern Right Whale off Hermanus

Poliza explains: ‘This shot was almost intentional. We were near Hermanus and saw a few southern right whales playing and frolicking near the shore. Axel and I looked at each other and he decided to jump on his board and give it a try.

‘I only had a 100-400mm lens with me, so chances of getting a very close shot were minimal. But in any case, one whale happily cooperated and breached about five times just in front of Axel. The whale was basically checking him out.’

Photographer Michael Poliza captures his friend Axel Ohm edging closer and closer to the Southern Right Whale off Hermanus

A Southern Right Whale crashes, mid-breach, into a sailboat in waters off Cape Town

Southern Right Whales, which normally weigh in at 40 tons, were hunted to near extinction when the whaling industry was at its height, but today people watch these acrobatic animals purely for pleasure.

It was a Southern Right Whale that was captured on film in July crashing, mid-breach, into a sailboat in waters off Cape Town.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1308002/Paddle-surfer-Axel-Ohm-enjoys-close-view-40-ton-acrobatic-whale.html

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A SUPer Enjoying Themselves

SUPs have been an area of a lot of debate for surfers over the past few years.  While the popularity of the newly emerging sport is unquestionable, the ethics of wave sharing and skill level of the average SUPer have come under question.  This article takes a look at some of the positive aspects of the stand up paddle boards in hopes of encouraging you to give them a try.  After all, true watermen enjoy the ocean in a variety of ways.

Why You Should Stand Up Paddle

1. It Is Flat: Wave conditions are one of the best reasons to have a diverse quiver of wave riding vehicles.  SUPs can be used in a wide range of conditions, (guys have ridden 20ft Teahupoo on them) but noting else can be ridden when it is 0ft.  If the only time you ever rode your SUP was when there was absolutely no wave action, you would easily get between 20-50 days a year of quality SUPing.

By paddling around on a SUP, you will get to enjoy the ocean, the sun and if you live in a reef populated area, you can check out whats underneath where you normally surf.

2. Pivoting Around The Paddle: By far the coolest aspect of the SUP is the paddle.  While it has a ton of benefit for getting speed, the real fun comes in using it to surf.  Typically SUPs are big and hard to maneuver.  However, when you dig the paddle in to the wate, you create a pivot point that allows you change direction quickly.  Many surfers do this with their hands when surfing, but the paddle allows you a much larger range.

You can put it in the water on the inside of a cutback to pivot quickly or you can put it into the face to stall.  You can go over shoulder, under the elbow, through the armpit in a squat position, etc.  There is a ton of style and versatility to using the paddle and it is new enough that cool ways are being discovered all the time.  When you do eventually try SUPing, do yourself a favor and when you catch a wave, don’t just hold your paddle like a suitcase… use it, you’ll be stoked.

3. Full Body Workout: SUPing works your legs, arms, back and most importantly core.  By paddling up the coast a few miles you can get a serious workout.  The constant instability of the board allows the workout to challenge all of the smaller muscle groups in your body.  Surfing can be a great workout, but SUPing always is.  It draws from many of the aspects of crew, which is one of the most difficult competitive sports.  The coolest thing about a SUP workout is that as much as it hurts the next day, it is pretty fun and doesn’t feel like a workout.  By taking a 2-5 mile paddle up and down the coast, you’ll combine a full body workout with a big of sightseeing and you might even bump into something cool (like one SUPer off the coast of San O did in July 2010).

4. SUPs Can Be Used Everywhere: Like most surfers, I plan my vacations around coastlines.  I love camping, but I can’t function without water.  SUPing has recently emerged as a great way to enjoy all parts of the world.  Along with the ocean, people are riding SUPs in rivers, lakes, harbors, streams, reservoirs, fountains etc.

By putting a little time into getting good at SUPing on the ocean, you will open up a whole new realm of areas to explore.  Imagine packing up a wetbag with your camping gear and taking a trip across a mountain lake at 10,000ft elevation.

5. The Legends Love SUPing: I’m sure you’ve noticed the trend in legends of surfing hopping over towards SUPs.  Laird Hamilton, Gerry Lope, Rusty Preisendorfe, Jeff Clark, Mikey Munoz, Dave Daum and the list goes on.  These guys have all experienced the best of surfing and switched over to SUPs.  While we’re not encouraging you to hop on a bandwagon, when a group of pioneers and legends all start to move in a direction, it is safe to bet that there is some substance to it.

Part of the trend might have to do that SUPing is friendlier to the body.  Surfing puts a lot of strain on the back and requires a lot of effort to catch a wave and pop up.  SUPing gives the rider more power and by starting in a standing position, it allows more freedom in how to engage the wave.  SUPs coming in a 10ft plus also offer a lot of wave catching ability, so much like longboards, they are great for a mellow session.  If the lengends of the sport are moving in a SUP direction, its a safe bet that one day you might too, (just like you eventually caved and got a quad) so you might as well give it a try now so you can slowly start enjoying it more and more as you hit your golden years.

Conclusion: A properly matched surfbaord should allow a surfer to enjoy riding it in a wide range of conditions.  The more boards you have, the more specific each one can be, but every board will offer its own unique benefits.  SUPs offer surfers a few features that no other board does and because of that, they are a great addition to a quiver.

As you learn more about SUPs you’ll find that there are actually a few sub-genres of the SUP, from the distance paddler to the noserider, the maneuverable hybrid and the flatwater board.  The more types of boards you surf, the more fun you’ll have and you might just find you really like a board.  You’ll never know if you don’t try.

Are there any other reasons you like SUPs?  Leave a comment below and let us know.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/types-of-surfboard/sup/why-you-should-stand-up-paddle-sup/

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