Kayak Huasteca

This is a short video of our time in Mexico. We at SUP Kentucky believe that its necessary to paddle all year long. We strive to stay on top of the SUP world by competing and running hard rapids. All of this experience transfers to our student through Knowledge and FUN!

Lets go paddle

WWW.SUPKENTUCKY.COM

In my relentless search for places to escape the cold, I found Mexico!  A refuge from the polar vortexes of the U.S. and also a paddlers paradise.  There is so much diversity of whitewater that you need multiple river craft to enjoy it all!

We recently did the most upper stretch of Santa Maria on SUP boards.  Its a 12 mile scenic canyon float with one class 4 rapid.  Our plan was to put on in the afternoon and camp beside the class-4.  Put ins in Mexico are sometimes an adventure in itself.  This particular part of the river is a favorite watering hole for local cattle!

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Heather and I used the Czar 6 and Baron 6 SUPs.  The extra flotation comes in handy when carrying camping gear and food.  I carried mosquito net, hammock, rain fly, jet boil stove and K-pump.  Heather took the extra clothes, water filter and head lamps.

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First day of paddling was a little more than an hour.  We found a nice spot on an island just beside the portage.  One of the amazing things about inflatable paddleboards is how comfortable they are to sleep on.  Let out half the air and you have a huge therma-rest bed.  The Baron 6 sleeps two people if they are friendly!

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We decided to avoid any bug encounters in the night, so i strung our hammock loosely over the Baron 6.  This hammock has mosquito netting built in and also comes with a nice rain-fly.  it looked like rain so we used the fly as well.

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After a good night sleep, re-inflate the board, take a nice river shower and we launched for the next 8.5 miles of class 2.  There are huge Sabino trees over 500 years old, a portion of the old Spanish silver train runs along the river right side.

​ The Sabino tree has one of the most impressive root sytems I have ever seen.  these old trees actually from the river back, their roots intertwine and become an unbreakable shoreline, incredible erosion protection!

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As we moved farther into the canyon the riverbed starts to become very sandy.  It makes for nice soft fall if you’re just beginning to learn SUP.  There are numerous springs that enter the river as waterfalls on river left. I counted at least 5 and all were quite a bit warmer than the actual river water.  As you can imagine they are also full of incredible vegetation.

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This section of the Santa Maria passes through the historic town of Conca, Queretaro.  A Franciscan mision was built here in the 1700′s.  There are 4 more, nearly identical throughout the region.  At one point the river banks to the right and you can turn and see the Mision.  Its just visible in front of Heather above the first row of trees.

If you are looking for new ways to enjoy and explore using a paddle board, I highly recommend the over night trip.  SUPs are a true SUV of paddle sports.  With the right board and dry equipment the experience is stress free and much easier than I ever thought possible.  Its your own personal watercraft and bed rolled into one.  Make sure the run isn’t too difficult because the weight of your gear does affect how the board handles.  I found that by moving back towards the tail balances things out and makes for a great workout too!

Words by Aaron  Photos by Heather and Aaron

I’ve seen a lot of SUP products over the last few years, some good, some bad.  Recently I had the chance to paddle some Glide SUP boards, traditional surfboard design with a bombproof GSS coating.   My Glide boards have fallen from the roof rack to the cement, t-boned other surfboards in the ocean and been ridden across thousands of rocks without any damage.

If you are looking for a lightweight board with durability for the river, Glide has the perfect ride.

Board sizes range from 12 foot 6 inches to the 7 foot long Sesh, all have the GSS and are river surfing machines.

One of my personal favorites is the 9 foot Mongo.  This board is stable enough for the river, and loose on the ocean.  360′s and awesome nose rides are waiting if you can just find some swell!

I spend  a lot of time on inflatable SUP’s because they are durable enough for the river,  however inflatables will NEVER surf as well as a rigid board.  Glide gives you a legitimate surfing board without the flex of inflatable and a ding-proof skin!

I hear rumors that Glide SUP will have a river running board that surfs and crushes rapids for 2013.  Stay tuned for more reports on this board when it becomes available, in the meantime check out the crew at WWW.GLIDESUP.COM  made in the U.S.A  and some of the best boards you can find!

SYOTR

Aaron

We’ve been making the rounds here in Mexico this year.  Water levels are on the low side so we have been using the SUP,s a lot this year.  After the Alseseca Race we went to the Rio Filobobos then down to Rio Actopan…and later everybodies favorite whitewater paradise  Rio Micos.

Boards we are using are the:  NRS Czar, Glide SUP Mongo and the Satrboard Converse 9.0

great times…enjoy the video and find us at        http://standupmexico.weebly.com/

Aaron

You have to choose your waterfalls very carefully when paddling a SUP.  You want the falls to be near vertical and not too tall.  The drop in these pictures is about 14 feet tall.

With these sliding drops it is very important to not use the skegs.  Either turn the board around backwards or choose a board with removable skegs.

Foot placement should be in the Kung Fu stance so you have maximum stability.  I have also tried surfer stance and it worked fairly well.

Your weight has to stay moving with the board.  If you are too far back the board will kick up and leave you in the landing.  Too far forward and it will sub out and become very unstable.

If you can get in a big stroke for the landing it will help to keep you connected to the board.  A change in velocity is what causes falls, whether it be the board or rider.

The downtime was pretty heavy on this drop.  I actually fell after the board resurfaced.  A board with a little more rocker will keep me from going so deep the next time.

At Kayak Huasteca we use Imagine Rapidfire boards and Werner paddles.  All can be Purchased at CKS.

See you on the river…

Aaron

Every photo below is a reason to get down and enjoy the beauty of Mexico.

Kayak Huasteca is operating for the 6th season this year.   We want to extend a huge Thanks and invitation to all our Friends and Sponsors.

Minas Viejas

Immersion Research, Shred Ready, Spokiz, CKS and Emotion Kayaks are all helping us explore and paddle the Turquoise waters of Mexico.

Banana rapid. Rafting first D

The season in Mexico is November through March.  Perfect for those wishing to escape the cold.

Dan D running the left line

Great food and incredible weather await you, south of the border.

350 foot falls on the Gallinas River, falling into the Santa Maria.

SUP or stand up paddling has become an incredible way to enjoy class 2 once again.

One of the many drops on MInas Viejas

Hope everyone had a great summer and when the snow starts to fall you know where to go!   We’ll keep the enchiladas hot and the beer cold!

See you on the River.

Aaron

The Middle Ocoee river is a summer time staple for the southeast.  Consistent flows and great class 3-4 whitewater make it a great proving ground for whitewater SUP.

There are many lines through all the big rapids.  Since we started SUP here 2 years ago we have graduated to many of the meatier raft lines.  Jon Shannon (above) is running the guts of Double Trouble!

Lines can be technical or stout, you choose!  Left line at Broken Nose (above)

Tablesaw is one of those rapids that flips kayakers, sends rafts crashing against the rocks and is very intimidating on a SUP.  This year we have been running main line.  250 feet of continuous waves 3 feet high or more.  (above)

If you are confident in class 2-3 on your SUP board, come out and see us on the Ocoee in Southeast TN.  Water temps are in the high seventies and we have releases from thursday to monday.  We have quiver of EmotionTraverse and some C4 inflatables.

See you all on the river

Aaron

The lower Micos is a gem of a run here in the Huasteca region of Mexico.  It is often overlooked, much like the Lower gauley, because of the 7 waterfalls upstream.

The run is an amazing class 2-3 section with about 25 rapids.  Since river SUP came on the scene, it has given us a new means to enjoy these easy sections of river.

There is a very nice hole about half way through the run.  it is a class 3 hydraulic with an island next to it.

You can run this drop multiple times.  right now with high levels it takes 1.5 hours to finish the run.

we are using the RapidFire SUP by Imagine Eco.  And the Traverse by WWW.EMOTIONKAYAKS.COM

If you are in Mexico and have the urge to SUP, come find us at www.kayakhuasteca.com We’ll be here keepin the stoke!

Aaron

Once in a while you come across a product that just makes sense.  Spokiz sunglasses make SENSE!  There are no arms to break, the frames are cast aluminum, lenses are poly-carbonate polarized and BOMBPROOF. 

Spokiz have unique built in chums.  There is no need to buy extra cords or straps to secure your glasses.

These glasses fit perfectly under bike, kayak, surf and snowboarding helmets.

The frames are held together with common bike spoke nipples, hence the name SPOKIZ pronounced Spoke-eyes!

Below is a short video promo for Spokiz glasses.  They are always looking  for more reps and people who want to help with the revolution.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR MOVIE     Spokiz Testing Procedures!

If you want the glasses check out  www.teamspokiz.com

                                   or   www.spokiz.com

Aaron