This summer I had a chance to hop on a Surftech Pearson Arrow and I knew I had to have one of these amazing boards for myself. Unfortunately the Surftech models cost upwards of $1800. I thought, why not go straight to the man himself? So I called the shop in Santa Cruz and told them what I wanted. A couple days later, Bob Pearson himself called me back and we had a great conversation about SUPs and I told him what I was riding, and what I liked, and we agreed on building 4 boards; one for me and 3 more for the store.

Pearson Arrow Lairds

We will be selling our demo/lesson boards and discounting all new SUPs. 3 and 2 mil wetsuits will be reduced by 40%...get refitted for next spring now! Prices will not be set on used equipment until store opening on the 20th, but come in before then and you can still get your new board at the Sale discount!

Starting this winter, we will begin to stock surfboards as well as SUPs. This was an option when I first decided to open the store, but for a few reasons I decided against it at the time. For one thing, I felt (and still feel) that SUP offers a more satisfying experience in waves than traditional surfing. Obviously thats just my personal opinion, and I recognize it certainly is not a majority point of view (yet). That ties into the second reason, which is that I have no particular expertise on surfboards.

The Oxbow Scout series are the perfect board for anyone living on the coast who wants to do a little of everything; surf, explore the marshes, surf some more, paddle to Peaks, surf again, and get some good cardio in before you head off to...surf some more!

So summer is indisputably here. We have a had a fair run of decent surf almost every other morning. As we get into August, there will be more and more people in the water vying for a limited number of waves. Almost every time I go out I meet someone who has just started SUP. In a few years, half the surfers at Higgins will be on SUPs.

Ok, so next year we'll have a snazzy logo, posters, killer swag and prizes, and possibly even a real, live pig-roast...but who wants to wait until next year!? Get down to the Spurwink River boat launch off Rte 77 on Saturday morning and paddle to the sea and back for fun and fame (and a t-shirt if you finish in the top 3). Bring a board, a paddle and a pfd (you don't have to wear it, just have it strapped on board).

Battle of the Paddle, Spurwink style

SUP is still a very new sport. Almost anyone who surfs in Maine knows about it, but very few have tried it themselves. A few older surfers, with busted knees and lousy backs, have discovered they can once again paddle out and ride waves in comfort. The cold water doesn’t bother them as much when they are gliding over it. They can stand tall, and look around. Soon they realize their paddle isn’t a crutch at all, but a powerful set of wings that open up a vast, new horizon of possibilities.

Kai Lenny, 18, flying high

We just wrapped up our first SUP Yoga session and it was awesome! Brenda is an amazing instructor, bringing 15 years of Yoga experience and a great attitude to the waters of Cape Elizabeth. Even if you aren't much of a Yogi, and have little to no experience on SUPs, you will love this class.

Next session will have 2 weekly dates: Thursdays 9:30-10:45am and Wednesday evenings 6:00-7:15pm. Classes will be held on August 10,11,17,18,24,25. Sign up for 3 classes, either mornings or evenings. Cost is $60 for 3 classes, plus $20 per class for board rental.

Come join us for a casual paddle around Kettle Cove from 10:30 to noon on May 22nd. You'll need your own board and paddle and at least some experience to join us on the weekly Sunday trips. We are going to start small and easy, but by summer's end I'd like to have a group of paddlers able to tackle some serious long-distance, half day excursions.

Kettle Cove

Got a SUP you want to sell? Put it on the racks, name your price, and get 100% when it sells as store credit, or take the cash minus a $50 stocking fee. Looking for a new board but need to trade one in first? I'll deduct the value from your new purchase, or pay you on the spot.
Used SUPs don't stay in the shop very long, and usually sell within the 1st week.