by Mariel Devesa
Brad Fyffe, a surfer from Hawaii, took up stand-up paddleboarding to spend time on the water when there are no waves. He works at Tarsan Watersports in Hermosa Beach, where he has taught hundreds of visitors and locals to stand-up paddle (SUP). One of his students is 71-year-old Manhattan Beach resident Rusty Doms. He took up the sport eight months ago, at the suggestion of a friend. Now he stand-up paddles one or two days a week to keep in shape.
Starting with lessons is a good call to ensure you develop the proper technique and save your back from unnecessary strain. Women have an advantage because their lower center of gravity helps with balance.
King Harbor’s protected, flat water is a good place to practice. Once you gain confidence, you can move outside the breakwater. On most South Bay days, the ocean is calm enough for paddling from pier to pier, checking out coves in Palos Verdes or even heading out to the oil tankers off of El Segundo.
On weekends you’ll find the oceanfront speckled with paddlers, evidence of the sport’s growing popularity.
Olympus Boards owner Jeremy Godokiss was the first person in the South Bay to offer stand-up lessons and tours. “In 2006 a friend from Hawaii told me SUP’s were taking off. So I bought two boards to rent. Now I have over 30 for tours. We call ourselves the Gypsy Paddlers and every Saturday paddle out of King Harbor or off the beach in Palos Verdes. Or we go south to places like the Huntington and Newport harbors. Racing and surfing are becoming so popular that some people are starting out with advanced boards because they know they want to race or surf,” Godokiss said.
Manhattan Beach Rotary Club president, Bill Bloomfield, an independent candidate in the June 5 primary election for the South Bay’s 33rd Congressional District, said stand-up paddling gives him a sense of peace. He often cruises from the Manhattan to Hermosa pier for a solid, one-hour workout. One of his favorite moments was the first time he came across a pod of dolphins. “They breached right in front me. It was marvelous,” he said.
For Manhattan Beach architect, Michael Lee, having fun while not getting frustrated waiting for waves to surf was a key motivator in learning the sport. His daughters are National Jr. Lifeguard champions and his wife Beth has swum the Catalina Channel. Lee grew up surfing local breaks and took up stand-up paddling five years ago.
He said he catches five times as many waves on his stand-up as he does on his surfboard. Standing up on the board gives riders a better view of oncoming waves and the paddle makes it easier to get into waves, he explained.
Jason Shanks, a Hermosa Beach graphics designer, took up paddleboarding six years ago to improve his surfing, at the suggestion of a top pro. In March, Shanks opened the Nikau Kai paddleboard shop in the 1300 Highland Avenue building in Manhattan Beach. He stand-up paddles almost every day.
“On the water you can clear your mind and just think about what you are doing. It’s the perfect break from the day-to-day,” Shank said. ER
South Bay stand-up paddleboard shops:
Dive N’ Surf
504 N. Broadway Ave.
Redondo Beach, 310-372-8423
Nikau Kai
1300 Highland Ave. #103
Manhattan Beach, 310-545-7007
www.nikaukai.com
Olympus Boards
4807 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, 310-214-1800
Olympusboardshop.net
Tarsan Stand-up Paddleboarding
936 Hermosa Ave. #105
Hermosa Beach, 310-798-7878
www.tarsanstandup.com
