Full Moonrise Event Series
Every Summer, we look forward to a variety of paddleboarding adventures across Pennsylvania. Perhaps the most visually stunning and the ones we dream about all winter are the opportunities to watch the full moonrises over the water at Moraine State Park. For years we have dialed in the perfect watching locations to give a stunning moonscape that starts above the rolling hills and reflects off the water of Lake Arthur. These experiences include all the fun accoutrements of the Glow SUP experiences (glow necklaces, full LED board lighting, and free photography of your adventure) with the added activity of watching the moonrise (subject to weather of course).
Watch SurfSUP Adventures on Start Up Television Show!
Learn about how SurfSUP Adventures came to be on the Start Up Television hosted by Gary Bredow! The show provides an in-depth look at the fascination of standup paddleboarding and how Ian Smith uses the pursuit as a catalyst to inspire conservation of waterways and mentorship for underserved youth throughout Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania.
5Point Adventure Film Festival + Premiere of First Waves Pittsburgh
You are invited to join us on Friday, September 16th for the 4th annual 5Point Film Festival in conjunction with the celebration and premiere of the First Wave’s and the Watersmith Guild’s latest film! The event is held in conjunction with Ascend Climbing Gym and 3 Rivers Outdoor Company at their Regent Square Location. The event will also include sweepstakes, prizes, food from local Regent Square Eateries and drinks from Goodlander Cocktails and Old Thunder Brewing!
PA SUP Championship Race Recap and Results
The 8th Annual Pennsylvania SUP Championship Race was held in conjunction with the Moraine State Park Regatta on August 6th, 2022. While the racers gave it their all, the events ethos held true to its roots in providing an inviting atmosphere that promotes the paddleboarding community and raises awareness for the Watersmith Guild’s First Waves program for underserved youth and watershed conservation.
As Seen on "Finding Adventure" with Kinga Philipps
Season 1 of the Very Local television show, “Finding Adventure,” featured a variety of outdoor experiences in the Pittsburgh region. SurfSUP Adventures had the pleasure of guiding show host, Kinga Philipps, and guest, Daniel Johnson on a river surfing and whitewater SUP session in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania!
SurfSUP Founder Delivers Keynote Presentation for Student Research Symposium
Watch now as SurfSUP Adventures Founder and Watersmith Guild Executive Director, Ian Smith, provides a keynote presentation for the Allegheny College / Creek Connection Student Research Symposium! The Creek Connections program has forged an effective partnership between Allegheny College and regional K-12 schools to turn waterways in Northwest Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh area, and beyond into outdoor environmental laboratories. Emphasizing a hands-on, inquiry based investigation of local waterways, this project annually involves over 40 different secondary schools and the classes of 50 teachers.
3 Best Ways to Experience Fall Foliage at Moraine State Park
To many, fall foliage is Pennsylvania’s apex for natural beauty, and, perhaps the most beautiful visage of the ephemeral display can be seen in the reflection of Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park. A short drive from Pittsburgh, the lake is surrounded by rolling hills in a historic moraine depression that seems to cradle the Autumn colors and amplify the experience. Here are three great ways to experience the foliage at the iconic Park.
Earth Day Film Premiere
Prep for Paddleboarding Pittsburgh!
With warm weather and sunny skies in the forecast, surely you are thinking the same thing as us - time for paddleboarding season! Whether you’re looking to plan a fun family outing, a safe, socially-distanced group activity, or just escape for some time on the water in and around Pittsburgh, we are ready to provide you with the standup paddleboarding experience you’ve been dreaming of all winter!
Ian Smith Earns Master Instructor Title With PSUPA
SurfSUP Adventure’s founder and lead guide, Ian Smith, was recently awarded the title of “Master Trainer” by the Professional Standup Paddle Association (PSUPA). With this designation, Ian becomes one of only four Master Trainers internationally. He teaches instructor certifications in the disciplines of Flat Water, SUP Camps, and Whitewater SUP / River Surfing. Here’s an excerpt from the PSUPA press release:
Film Premiere of Contours - a story of first waves
Valley Falls - Waterfalls on a SUP
With the heat of summer, minimal water leaves Pennsylvania and West Virginia a graveyard of dry rivers and creeks. Only a few destinations with either dam releases or sustainable summer flow can offer relief for whitewater paddlers. Valley Falls in Fairmont, WV might be the best place in the region during these times. A series of spectacular waterfalls with multiple lines of varying difficulty make this a paradise for intermediate to expert paddlers.
Surfing the Frankenstorm
Though Halloween was approaching, the eerie warnings flashing across the TV, Internet and from friends and family were real. Hurricane Sandy was moving in from the Atlantic and threatening devastation throughout the North East. As the weather turned grim, most people were staying indoors and watching the “Frankenstorm’s” progress on the news. For whitewater enthusiasts, however, it was like getting week-long private admission to an amusement park. The creeks and rivers that had been dry from the summer’s drought were finally open for exploration.
A Quiet Excitement - A Paddleboarding Adventure Through Butler County
The official launch of “A Quiet Excitement,” a film by Wild Excellence Films in conjunction with Butler County Tourism and SurfSUP Adventures. The film explores a multitude of ways to explore Butler County’s array of stand up paddling. Everything from fly fishing float trips, sunken forests, standing river waves and nighttime adventures are featured.
Winter Paddleboarding - Paradise Found
Last week, a deluge of powder snow coated the mountain laurel and hemlocks and encapsulated the stream in blinding brilliance. I hiked from near the confluence of the Allegheny, pulling my board like a sled behind me. I skulked through tangles of mountain laurel and eventually made my way to creek. With heavy rain prior to the snow, the stream was the color of milky coffee and at the perfect level for a descent on my paddleboard. I set off through the first rapid and crouched under the branches draping overhead. The weight of the snow had bent them into arches like a wedding arbor guiding my way downstream through a winter SUP paradise.
An Interview with Great Lakes Surf Filmmaker, Andrew Wyton
On Monday, November 11, we will be gathering at Patagonia Pittsburgh to celebrate the waves and personalities that comprise Pittsburgh’s inland surf culture. We will be talking story and showcasing films from local filmmakers, including Ontario’s, Andrew Wyton. Wyton’s films include Boom Lagoon, Lake Lyfe, Hot Toddy and Sweet Water. We had a chance to chat with Andrew to learn more about his foray into the wild world of Great Lakes Surf filmmaking…
SUP Yoga and Eco Adventures with Alison at Moraine State Park
Film Event with Patagonia Pittsburgh
Attention Pittsburgh surfers, paddlers, water enthusiasts and adventurers - First Waves and SurfSUP Adventures will be partnering with Patagonia Pittsburgh as they host a Never Town Film Screening with professional surfer, Dan Ross, on Tuesday, October 23! There will be refreshments, food, raffles and more that will all benefit the First Waves program to engage underserved youth in river surfing, watershed conservation and filmmaking! We hope to see you all there!
Making History with Envision Blind Sports
SurfSUP Adventures has been working with Envision Blind Sports for a little over 3-years now, but this year marks a milestone of accomplishment. Thanks mostly to executive director, Wendy Fagan, and the incredible volunteer network from Slippery Rock University’s, Adaptive Sports program, Envision has become the largest blind sports camp in the country. In total, 70 visually impaired youth ages 6 to 18 participated in 20 sports over the course of the week-long program in June of 2018.