east of maui boardshop: Outdoor Retailer Show.2014

Paddle, work, eat, sleep, repeat, as often as possible seems to have been my program since my last post, and actually most of the summer. I have simply lost count of the number of times I've paddled over the past several weeks. Before work sessions, after, work sessions, sometimes both. Group paddles, solo paddles, short paddles, long paddles. Calm days, windy days, sunny days, cloudy days. Each and every paddle session has been a good one.
Selling stand up boards, and teaching stand up lessons is my job, and stand up paddling is also what I do for fun. I'm a lucky guy.

Last week I was in Utah, attending the Stand Up Paddle Industries biggest trade show, The Outdoor Retailer Show. It is big business, a lot of work, and a whole bunch of fun.

The show began with a demo day on the Pineview Reservoir near Ogden Utah, very close to the Snowbasin ski area. I love paddling on the Chesapeake, but it was pretty nice be paddling with mountains in the background.

Pineview Reservoir

In addition to hundreds of boards available to demo, many of the who's who of professional paddlers, watermen, and waterwomen were in attendance. Literally within minutes of arriving, the very 1st person I see is Robby Naish. I've met Robby many times over the years, he is just a nice, normal guy, but it is still hard not to be in awe in the presence of such a great waterman. So much history, such a champion. I still get a little tongue tied every time I meet him.

Robby Naish out windsurfing later in the day

I talked to Joe Bark, I got a hug from Candice Appleby (I think I melted), and I finally got to meet and paddle with stand up fitness guru, and Naish team rider Suzie Cooney. Suzie and I have chatted for several years via e-mail, but it was a treat to finally meet her in person. Suzie offers great stand up training advise and tips though her website http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com. Suzie, Candice and all of the great athletes are always an inspiration for me to paddle and play just a little bit harder! I always learn something from them, and I hope it helps me do a better job of helping my customers. You simply don't get that level of experience when you buy a board from Sups "R" Us!

Suzie Cooney. Today Pineview, tomorrow Maliko

Sarah and I paddled from about 9:45 in the morning until quitting time at 4pm. We paddled boards we sell, and boards we don't. We paddled a lot of great boards, and a few that were not so great. We paddled until we were pooped! I won't go into the details here on all the different boards we paddled, but stop by the shop and I will fill you in. When it is all said and done, I'm still a huge fan of the entire Naish line, Joe Bark's Surftech race boards are still some of the best, and every board from all the different brands we sell at East of Maui has earned its place in the shop.

Bark 14' Phantom

We spent the next three days attending the show at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake. While not nearly as much fun as the demo, we saw more friends, met new ones, looked at lots of great equipment, got the rundown and lowdown on what was new and changed for next year. In addition to all of the Stand Up boards and equipment, the show is packed with everything you need to have fun outdoors. Climbing, camping, fitness, yoga, running, it was all there. You could spend a whole day just looking at different water bottles. Mind boggling. The Stand Up world was just a little part of the show, but I'm happy to say that it is my world!

Sarah and I wrapped up the show on Friday, and while it always sad to say goodbye to both old and new friends, it was time to get back to Annapolis, back to East of Maui, and back on the Chesapeake Bay.