Page 34 - 2022-08-01 Paddling Magazine

PADDLEBOARDING

PRO
TIPS

PHOTO: COURTESY MADDI LEBLANC PHOTO: COURTESY JONAS LETIERI

MADDI LEBLANC JONAS LETIERI
Team Canada National SUP Athlete, SUP instructor, SUP and surf athlete, parasports athlete/
founder of On Board SUP fundraising event adaptive paddler, author and speaker
STATS: 5'2" // 135 LBS “For my race board, I like 14 feet by 23 inches. It’s perfect for open
“My go-to race board is 14 feet by 23 inches, with roughly 300 liters in volume. For ocean but also very fast in flat water. For whitewater, I use an in-
teaching, I look for something wider, and it doesn’t need to be fast—10.5 feet by 30 flatable 8.5-foot by 28-inch board to have more stability and I like
inches. I like to be focused on my clients and not worry so much about my balance to use very small silicone fins to be more agile on the rapids. For
while explaining stroke techniques. Shorter and wider boards tend to do the trick.” SUP surf, I’m using a 7.2-foot by 26-inch board.”

PHOTO: CATHRINE YDE PHOTO: GEOFF ORTIZ

CASPER STEINFATH ROBIN PACQUING
Ocean SUP racer, SUP surfer, Red Bull athlete SUP instructor, SUP surfer,
STATS: 5'8" // 163 LBS co-founder of Lake Surfistas
“It comes down to choosing a SUP board based on what you want to do, your STATS: 4'11" // 150 LBS
skill level, and weather conditions. I generally look for stability first. That trans- “I’m always looking at performance suitability for the types of
lates into making sure to look for a board that is wide and thick enough so that conditions I’ll be using that board for. I look primarily at specs,
it carries enough volume. This is fundamental to a successful time on the water. shape and construction. For example, if I’m in the market for a
Whether you are going for a cruise on the lake or charging into waves, you do shortboard SUP, I’m looking at something around 100 liters with
not want to feel like a ballet dancer.” a width of about 28 to 29 inches for the Great Lakes, and about
26.5 to 28 inches for the ocean. I’m usually open to most brands
out there, as long as the specs and the shape match my needs.”

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