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.
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 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:
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.
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.
We are heading into our 8th season of providing standup paddle boarding experiences in Pittsburgh! In that time, we’ve been honored to introduce thousands of people to standup paddleboarding (SUP), river surfing, watershed conservation, and whitewater SUP. Our love for paddling got us started, but it’s been the people we’ve met on this journey that have truly inspired us. You are the ones we have to thank as we celebrate being named Pittsburgh’s “Best Outdoor Experience” in 2018 by the Manual Awards!
Nestled in the urban sprawl of Pittsburgh’s East End, The Mount Ararat Community Activity Center provides innovative programs and experiential learning to the area’s families and youth. Earlier this summer, the Center debuted a new program for a select group of students, part of which involved teaching them to surf in whitewater rivers.
As the racers make the first turn in the PA SUP Championships at Moraine State Park, they are met with the sound of live music from the main stage of the Regatta at Lake Arthur. Thousands of people are sprawled out listening to the music, sifting through food trucks, and watching the sailboats, paddleboards and windsurfers jetting by. A backdrop of thick conifers gives way to blue skies above the horizon of the lake and this is only the beginning.
At SurfSUP Adventures, we have been dealt the opportunity to work with amazing partners and volunteers. The latest project in conjunction with VIP Sports was one of the most memorable. By working with Slippery Rock University volunteers and VIP Sports instructors, we were able to provide a standup paddleboarding experience to more than 60 youth participants that were blind or semi-blind. Here's a short film documenting the training process and the event itself! Enjoy!
The Stonycreek Rendezvous is one of the best whitewater festivals in the country. Held at Greenhouse Park in Johnstown, PA, you can set up your tent on the shores of the Stonycreek River and surf the park wave under the lights at night while listening to local bands and the stomping of dancing feet as the river passes by.
The city of three-rivers is paddleboard paradise, but a first-time paddler standing at Point State Park, the junction of the three major rivers, might feel differently. In the downtown areas, the rivers are wide with concrete borders that create turbulence that is uncomfortable for beginners. Additionally, commercial and recreational boating is a formidable challenge for peaceful, non-motorized water travel. So where can you go for a safe, friendly, and memorable first SUP session? Here are three options for you!
T: 724.989.7259
E: info@surfsupadventures.com
