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DFW Boat Expo: DFW Surf’s Top 3

DFW Boat Expo: DFW Surf’s Top 3

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The annual Dallas Boat Show aka the Dallas Boat Expo, is the place to be for watersport lovers, boaters and wakesurfers.  It takes place twice a year, winter and summer sales event at Dallas Market Hall.  Everyone wants to know what the best surf boat is, what the best boards are, which Marina to join and where to make their summer plans.  Here is our advice, our Top 3 Reasons Why you should check out the DFW Boat Expo

  1.  New Boats–  The Winter DFW Boat Expo you can check out all the new boats and features.  Each year wakesurfing technology and boat designs get bigger and better
  2. The Deals–  This is the opportune time when dealers mark down prices.  Winter show is the time to check out all the brand new boats, 5 months later is when the summer show takes place and you will find some great deals on new boats as dealerships start to make way for the next year’s models
  3. The Industry–  Everyone in the industry will be there even popular wake athletes.  This is a great time to talk to industry boating and lake enthusiasts, athletes and experts

More info about the Dallas Boat Expo at dallasboatexpo.com

Attention Wakesurfers!  Be sure to check out the upcoming SURF THE LAKE annual wakesurfing competition on Lake Lewisville.  More info HERE

SUP Yoga: 3 Reasons Why You Should Try

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Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, and I’m not judging, then you have heard at least a little bit about the latest outdoor enthusiast trend called Stand Up Paddle boarding (SUP).  Since the arrival of SUP to the United States circa 2005 its popularity has exploded in the last decade!  It didn’t take long for yogis to discover this was a great new place to take their practice.  Now you can find SUP yoga classes in almost every city and every vacation spot! If you have been living under that rock, it’s time to get out and get on board the SUP Yoga craze.  Here are three great reasons to give SUP Yoga a try.

  1. Your yoga practice will improve. SUP Yoga takes your practice to a whole new level.  Obviously, you might be saying. But hear me out. How many times has your yoga teacher asked you to ‘engage your mula bhanda,’ ‘draw your navel up and in,’ ‘wrap your muscles around your bones,’ ‘breathe like it’s your job,’ and other unknown requests that leave you feeling tense and confused about what you’re supposed to be doing and feeling?  When you step on your paddle board your body automatically does all of the above!  Getting on a paddle board completely changes the way you carry your weight.  You are literally gripping the board with your entire body.  This is the same kind of energy, solidarity and grounding you would want to feel on your yoga mat.  But let’s face it, standing on the ground is not that hard. Well at least not until you start standing on one leg or standing on your hands.  The point is, regardless of what you’re doing on the board, you have to pay a little more attention, be a little more present in your body and trust your ability to stay upright.  Even going through a warm-up of sun salutations, the first and often most basic yoga flow sequence we learn, can become a very rich, intense and powerful experience on the open water.  This will build your confidence on your yoga mat to extend more, go deeper into your postures, try new things and breathe . . . like it’s your job.
  1. SUP yoga is not as hard as it looks. The boards average anywhere from 9-12 feet long and more than 2 feet wide.  It’s not like it’s a 4 inch wide balance beam.  You have ample room to move and explore.  Plus, the body is incredibly responsive.  When something is hot, or coming at us, we move.  When we get a nice warm hug, or something feels good we linger a little longer.  It’s the same thing when working on the water.  You notice an imbalance right away and adjust.  When everything is flowing, you keep going!  The best part is that falling in the water is much more fun than falling on land which eliminates a lot of fear.  Provided water conditions are mild and free of high boating traffic, you can swim and you have a good guide, preferably a certified yoga instructor, it’s a very safe activity.  I took my three boys for the first time when they were 13, 10 and 8 years old.  All three were pros by the end of our session and there were no tears! My stepmom even did it.  Remember it was Woody Allen who said, ‘Ninety percent of success is just showing up.’  Attitude is everything and you never know until you try.
  1. SUP Yoga is good for you!  Plato said ‘you can learn more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation.’  Laughter is the best medicine.  There are many health benefits to simply being outdoors, as well. According to a study from the University of Michigan, exploring nature, getting away from technology and just being outside has been linked to improved feelings of positivity and to significantly reducing feelings of stress.   Put play and laughter together outside and you are a walking talking poster child for happiness and vitality.  We all know a healthy dose of vitamin d has numerous benefits from aiding depression to preventing osteoporosis.  In addition to stronger immunity and better health, getting out for some serious SUP yoga playtime will make you feel youthful, strong and super hip because all the cool kids are doing it!

So there you have some inspiration, encouragement and motivation to try SUP yoga.  It’s great to do with friends, family, team building or a fun date! Most of all, you leave feeling both energized and peaceful.

 

About Jenn Bodnar:

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Jenn is the co-founder of Yoga Digest Magazine and a Life Power Yoga Teacher Trainer and Group Fitness instructor at Life Time Fitness.

Wetsuits: A Brief History of

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Special thanks to club member Jeff Stearns for his blog contribution:

A Brief History of Wetsuits:

In 1951 a guy named Hugh Bradner, who was working for the Navy got an idea that if a small layer of water was trapped between the skin and something it could act as an insulator against the cold water. That something became neoprene, a buoyant, flexible material and in the mid-1950s the idea of the wetsuit was born.  It was not until Jack O’Neill (O’Neill Wetsuits) from the San Francisco area with surfing roots and the Meistrell Brothers (Body Glove Wetsuits) from Southern California with scuba diving roots did the idea become a marketable reality.  However, neoprene is a very sticky material and is extremely hard to take on and off.  I remember more than once laying in the sand, locked in an un-winnable wrestling match with a piece of neoprene only to lose as the waves got the better of me and the material finally ripped.  When you tossed in the other elements, like salt, sand and sun you would be lucky if a wetsuit in the 1960’s would last a year.  Then came the invention of nylon, which made it a lot easier to take on and off.  Nylon worked so well on the inside that it was also added to the outside of the wetsuit in the 80’s for color and flexibility.  Stitching the neoprene was as important to the wetsuit as the material itself. In the beginning, the pieces of neoprene were simply sewn together, but this created holes that water eventually could flow through.  Big Mythbuster—water can pull heat away from the body 26 times faster than air. This is not a factor if the water is in the 70’s and it is sunny, in fact, most wetsuits in the 1/2M range have a stitch, which is called the flatlock stitch.  So for use in colder waters the seams were sealed with nylon and glued.  This process is found in wetsuits called steamers, semi-dry suits and drysuits.  Today you can find wetsuits that have titanium strands in the inside which helps retain a larger amount of body heat of the users body, wool/fleece are also used as an insulator on those really cold days and if you are really interested there are electrically heat wetsuits as well.  Batteries, however, are extra.  Today’s wetsuits are even lighter and more flexible than ever before with the introduction of lycra, spandex and advancements in neoprene material.

Also thanks to our surfer/shaper friend Todd Johnson for his contribution to the wetsuit discussion including his:

Top 5 Wetsuit Tips:

  1. The wetsuit seams are very important to keeping the warmth inside the suit. Taped seams leak less than stitched ones and a rubber coated/welded seam is the best.
  2. Flexibility is key especially when buying a thicker suit (say over 3/2mm). Don’t buy too thick of a suit if you don’t need it, check your water temps and buy the right suit for the conditions.
  3. Different brands have different cuts. For example, one brand’s Medium Tall (MT) might be another’s Large (L). Always try suits on whenever possible to find a suit that fits your size and body type.
  4. Exposed stitching, cheap or dried-out neoprene, and improper sized suits will give you wetsuit rash and will make you very uncomfortable in and out of the water.
  5. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOP

For winter time surfing or paddling we definitely recommend a wetsuit and some booties from Body Glove.  Pick up yours today at DFW Surf Shop.

New Year’s Resolution at DFW Surf: 4 New Activities to Try

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At DFW Surf our New Year’s Resolution is to get even more people involved in the lake lifestyle that we love. Here are 4 activities you don’t want to miss in the New Year:
1. Wake Surfing/ Surfing the Endless Wave

The majority of you out there have not tried wake surfing yet, why? Maybe it is because the sport of wake surfing is not easily accessible. Not everyone has a boat and not everyone has $140/hour to cover the cost of a boat rental, let alone the right equipment, big enough wave and knowledge of how to wake surf. This is what we want to change in 2015 especially for kids. All kids should experience the feeling and attitude of surfing. So new for 2015 KIDS SURF FREE! That’s right, kids will get the opportunity to surf for free this summer once a week starting June 1. Stay tuned for more info for your kids.

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2. Friday Night Fireworks SUP Glow
One of the top summer activities you don’t want to miss at our Lake Grapevine location. Every Friday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day the City of Grapevine sponsors a fireworks show and DFW Surf hosts its one of a kind- SUP Glow Tours. Light up the night with your friends and family, glide across the water, get up close and personal and enjoy the show.

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3. A Fitness or Yoga Class
All of our classes with our professional fitness or yoga instructors will leave you feeling complete. Vitamin D plus fitness training, stretching and meditation at one of our lakeside locations, can you really go wrong? New for 2015—free yoga classes for our yearly club members.

Sunset-Tour-Grapevine-Lake

4. SHARE your Experience
If you are already a fan, a regular or a member, then we urge you to try and bring out someone new who has never experienced DFW Surf. You keep coming back for more, i’m sure that your friends and family would do the same if they were given the opportunity. Did you have a great time in 2014? Click HERE (Surf Shop) or HERE (Grapevine Lake) and write us a review and next time you come out to the lake, mention your review and grab a free t-shirt. Beyond DFW Surf, we invite you to share what you love throughout 2015 at DFW Surf and beyond.

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Great year at DFW Surf. Click HERE to check out some of our favorite photos of the year.

Hawaii to DFW Surf and the Inland Connection: Featuring Mike Kekoa, Don Anderson, Tyler Marshall, Bill Souder and Jim Wright

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So how are Mike Kekoa, Don Anderson, Tyler Marshall, Bill Souder and Jim Wright related?  Well the story starts 10 years ago and today as we celebrate our 10 year anniversary at DFW SURF, we look back and smile ….

The top moment over the years might have been an epic day on Lake Grapevine, a lakeside bar-b-q and video shoot for DFW Surf’s most popular video to date called “Inland SUP” featuring drive by boat swells and some wakesurfing to cap off the day with DFW Surf founders- Tyler Marshall, Nate Richard, Mike Kekoa, Don Anderson and Ted Vitale.  All smiles ….


Growing up in Hawaii the ocean is a way of life.  Surfing was like riding a bike and “community” meant teaming up with a surfing, canoe or outrigger club.  Our soccer or football was there racing and diving.  This is where it started for guys like Don Anderson and Mike Kekoa- Home Sweet Hawaii.

The funny part is that twenty years later Don and Mike met each other at local grassroots surf and paddle company, DFW Surf, on Lake Grapevine. They grew up next to each other in Hawaii Kai, paddled in the same outrigger canoe club, yet never knew each other until now.  What a small and connected world in which we live that can unite two waterman together on the same lake after so many years. Why now?

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Left: Mike Kekoa, Tyler Marshall, Don Anderson following Austin Paddle Sports annual sup race back in 2011- the Coldorado Classic

Today Mike works on planes from Southwest Airlines, now servicing direct flights from San Diego to Love Field.  Mike works at Love Field where until now could receive flights directly from San Diego.  Why Now?  Because in 1979, Jim Wright, a close friend of my grandfather William Souder created an amendment that would limit Love Field’s flight production in line with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s priority to receive domestic and international flights.  Southwest was limited to flights within Texas and some of the surrounding Southwest states.  Both Jim Wright and my grandfather Bill Souder died last year within 2 months of each other, May and July of 2015 a year after the Wright Amendment was fully repealed in 2014.  May in July just happen to also be two of the “wettest” months in North Texas history.  “The flood of the century” or was DFW crying?  Two miles from DFW Airport is DFW Surf on Lake Grapevine.  Luckily, that amidst the worst flood in Texas history, if you owned a boat at the marina, you could still get out on the water and surf.  We were all back on board by September when a new star was born, my son- Garon “G-Man” Marshall.

Tyler, Taylor and Garon Marshall
Tyler, Taylor and Garon Marshall at the Dallas Arboretum 5 miles due east of Love Field. Garon Lee Marshall was born in Fort Worth at JPS.

In 2016 Don has just set up communications for the new Toyota facility in Frisco.  San Diego (SAN) to Love Field then north up the tollway is Toyota and Jerry Jones World 2.  We get calls once a month from families who are not sure about leaving San Diego unless they can find a community to call home.  Since then we have welcomed new Toyota employees and San Diego immigrants to our little community on the lakes.

Today it’s 2017 and we celebrate our 10 year anniversary and lift our glasses up high to 1o more great years to come.  If you are apart of our community then you know about its connection.  Enjoying each day and be-ing present in each connecting moment is the way of the watermen.

Mike Kekoa of Southwest Airlines and grandson
Mike Kekoa of Southwest Airlines and grandson

“Life is sweet.  You’d be surprised of its connection.  Cheers and Thank You”  by Tyler Marshall

7 Best Pictures in 2014 – DFW Surf

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Another great year at DFW Surf. Good times at the lake, fun memories and friendships that last a lifetime. 2014, in our seventh season, DFW Surf has continued to introduce new people to the watersports that we love and a lakeside lifestyle that lasts into the winter. So many great memories this year it was hard to narrow it down to just 6 photos. 2014 was the year of Team DFW. We our proud of our athletes like Ashley Kidd who won this year’s World Wake Surfing Championship, Parker Payne taking second at National’s in Georgia and Nate Richard and Tyler Marshall who took first in class for WPA Region 12.

So, here it is. A look at some of this years best pictures:

1. Sunset Surf with Parker Payne. It was the perfect evening at DFW Surf @ Lake Lewisville and a sunset surf session with the Payne’s. Mark Payne, Parker’s Dad, captured a great shot of Parker surfing into the sunset and boosting big on his pro model Day 1 Wake Payne Killer wake surfboard.

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2. A great picture of the fun and exciting SUP action at this year’s SUP Cross Championship at the fifth annual DFW Surf Open and Grape Paddle. And here is one of our newest club members, one of the top amateur figure skaters and up and comer SUP racer, Ms. Kirsten Knowell. If you have not tried SUP Cross then just imagine a tight little race course with multiple turns, bumping, splashing and falling in. Special thanks to Bounce SUP who sponsored the event and everyone had the same advantage. Bounce fell in love with this picture and this will be the featured picture at the upcoming Winter 2015 Surf Expo.

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3. As always the annual Big Boat Invitational is one of the highlight events of the year for wake surfers. An opportunity to surf behind one of the biggest man made waves thanks to Captain Michael Wilson’s power yachts and Texas Powerboating. In this picture Todd Johnson is stoked with his hands up on top of the boat to witness four surfers: (in front) Dominic Lagace, Ashley Kidd, Parker Payne and Tyler Marshall quad surfing the lengthy yacht wave.

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4. Check out DFW Surf’s Danny Braught in the Centurion Boats spread in the December Lights Issue of Boarders Magazine. Danny looks priceless here with his red curly hair in a photoshoot on Lake Lewisville on the new Centurion FS models. Special thanks to our big sponsors for the year including Freedom Powersports and Centurion Boats. Have you ever wake surfed behind one of these? There is a reason why it is the official towboat of the World Wake Surfing Championship. Get on board for 2015 and see what you’ve been missing.

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5. What a great event at this years Little Elm paddle board WPA race on Lake Lewisville and DFW Surf founder Tyler Marshall taking second in class and making it to the finals here of the sprint races. Think you can paddle fast? Think again. Try racing against some of these guys like Infinity racer’s Sean P (center right). This really marked the first year of international competition within the Texas SUP racing scene and it was a significant moment for the short lived sport and international sup racers who are making their travel plans to Texas in 2015.

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6. DFW Surf Club member Konae Knowell with Olympic athlete and QuickBlade Paddles founder Jim Terrell. It is exciting to see the influence we have had upon some of our customers at DFW Surf including second year club member, Konae Knowell, who has grown to become one of the top SUP racer athletes in Region 12. Konae is so into the sport that she contacted Jim here and set up a private lesson with the mad scientist. Read the full story at boardersmag.com.

Konae-and-Jim-Terrell

7. The Dallas Stars girls rocking Bounce Boards at the fifth annual DFW Surf Open and Grape Paddle (headlining picture at top of page). It was great to have Dallas Stars Ice Girls come out to DFW Surf @ Lake Grapevine and try paddleboarding and paddle board, or SUP Yoga, for the first time. For 2015 we will look to book other local professional organizations for team building and corporate events like this one. Special thanks to Jen Bodnar and Magen Berry for their help here with SUP Yoga for this team building exercise.

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Besides the top 7, here are 3 more of our favorite pics from our instagram page. Follow us on instagram- @dfwsurf:

1. Oscar Aguillar wake surfing with his daughter on Lake Grapevine. Classic hang loose shot. Thanks again to Oscar for his support; he has three kids and is getting all of them involved in wake surfing at an early age.

DFW-Surf-Wake-Surfing

2. Summer Kids Surf Camps! This year kids had a great time surfing with “Lewi” the surf dog. They learned how to wake surf, paddle board, flowboard and bodyboard. Stay tuned for our 2015 summer surf camps, dates TBA March 2015, more info on our kids camps page

Summer-Surf-Camps

3. DFW Surf Kick Ball team representing their hometown local surf company in the City of Grapevine quarterly kickball league at Dove Field. All though we did not take the victory this year, we had a lot of fun kicking some grass.
Team-DFW-Surf-Kickball

Great year, thanks again to all of our fans. See you on the water in 2015! Take a look at the rest of the 2014: Best of Pictures on our DFW SURF facebook page. Get on Board!

Paddleboarding: What is an A-Frame?

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One of the most used terms in the SUP world is the “A-Frame.” Paddleboarding: What is an A-Frame? And why is it so important?

Well it is pretty simple really, the paddleboard a-frame is the position created by the body and arms while executing a proper paddle stroke. This is created by extending the top hand up above the head and the bottom hand out and away from the body, which creates the shape of an A (as shown in the picture above).

The A-Frame is the foundation for some very important paddle basics like the “reach” and the “catch.” The “reach,” or extending your bottom arm out as far as possible will result in a solid forward stroke and a greater distance per stroke. Imagine a paddleboard stroke without reaching out, a stroke that starts just before your feet and ends two feet passed your heels, is this efficient? Will it generate power? The more efficient part of the stroke is in front of your body, so a good stroke is one that exits at the toes or at the heels and this starts with a good reach, followed by the “catch.” The “catch” is just like it sounds, like catching a baseball. This is the point where the paddle blade catches the water. Be sure that you catch your blade completely in the water first before applying power.

Paddleboard-A-Frame-Nate-Richard

The A Frame, reach, catch and release can be translated into a speed and racing stroke. Notice DFW Surf team rider, Nate Richard, executing a speed stroke wile maintaining an A-Frame foundation. The perfect looking A-shape is tilted here as Nate is generating power by bending at his waist. Notice how his paddle is straight up and down following his catch- this is where power is produced. Lastly, the arms do not have to be completely straight- you will want some bend in your lower arm, especially if you want to increase your stroke rate.

Paddling the Secret Spot with Dan Gavere

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Are you ever adventurous enough to drive to new places, to lakes or rivers that have been untouched and un-paddled? The quest for the paddle trail of gold! It starts with a map really, or simply your smart phone. Imagine the paddling possibilities and the fact that you can paddle wherever there is water. My advice to you- locate the blue lakes and rivers, pack up the truck and let the adventure begin.

Paddling the Secret Spot with Dan Gavere

For Columbus it was towards new and undiscoverable land, for paddlers like Dan Gavere and Tyler Marshall it is towards the blue itself. Since day one these guys have had a passion to be on the water, to find new trails and the next sacred spot, for Dan these spots are on the rivers, on a kayak or on his pro model- the Starboard Astro Stream. “I picked up Dan from Love Field airport in Dallas and we were ready to get on the water. I was excited that we were heading to paddle a new trail, not too far from the airport and near where I was born,” says DFW Surf founder Tyler Marshall.

Tyler took Dan to the secret spot. A small lake tucked away, just behind new apartments and a golf course, un-touched and in a perfect location near the highway, a mini lake with a connecting river and a wildlife tour full of ducks, exotic birds and an occasional beaver.

“This is what it’s all about,” says Dan. “For 2015, my goal is to get away at least one day a week and get back to doing what I love, a place where there are no phones, no computers and no emails.” “I grew up playing in the creeks behind houses and twPaddling the Secret Spot with Dan Gavereenty years later I live and breathe watersports and lake life,” says Tyler. “Doing what I love is being active and outdoors.” So where exactly is this secret spot? The secret is the journey.

Be sure to check out Dan Gavere’s Ultimate Guide to Stand Up Paddling, or his river SUP pro model, the Astro Stream. For more adventure stories, pro tips on lakes and rivers and the lifestyle of inland surfers, check out Tyler’s latest articles at boardersmag.com.

TCU Yoga Club Gets on Board

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While attending grad school years ago at TCU, DFW Surf founder, Tyler Marshall, was drawing  “D-Wave” logos and brainstorming about ideas to grow a surfing lifestyle in the metroplex.  Nearly seven years later, Tyler decided to go back to where it all started and to introduce students to his passion of the water, on a board, with the TCU Yoga Club at TCU Rec Center on a Wednesday night.  “At one point we had up to 10 students on boards in the diving area trying to do headstands on their boards,” says Tyler.  As Tyler took photos, instructor Jenn Bodnar, co-founder of Yoga Digest, taught the class.  “There was a great response from TCU students and many were eager to get involved on a regular basis,” says Jenn.  Check out the rest of the pictures from the event on the DFW SURF facebook page.

Ashley Kidd Surfs with Veterans

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DFW Surf team rider Ashley Kidd surfs with veterans. On Lake Austin for Veteran’s day, Ashley pays homage to Senior Airman Codie. A huge surprise for Codie, a big fan of Ashley and wake surfing, to come back home from Afghanistan and get the opportunity to surf with the champ for the day. Codie was awarded a brand new Erie Wake wakesurfer to surf with behind Ashley’s beautiful Centurion boat.

DFW Surfers in Costa Rica

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There is a place in Costa Rica that is magical. A little place called Tamarindo on the West Coast and an all inclusive lodging and surf camp called Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. Being in shape is a big part of being able to participate, especially surfing and once a year veteran longboarder Danny Mitchell flies from his home in Grapevine, TX after weeks of preparation on the lake.

DFW Surf’s Kristen McGregory has now fallen in love as well, officially, she says, “after taking my first surfing lesson.” She has already been three times and has another trip planned for February. She’s got to catch up with Danny who has been around fifteen times. “The beauty of Texas is that even through fall and winter I know we’ll get some nice days that you can still get out and get some paddling time in to maintain strength to gear up for those winter surf trips,” says Kristen. Kristen joined DFW Surf Club last year and has had the privilege and convenience to get on board and experience a similar pura vida/aloha-like feeling on the lake via wake surfing and paddle boarding with DFW Surf. There is nothing like the real thing, on a beach with breaking waves and Kristen is pumped to go back in February. In the meantime she tells us that paddling is an important part of her off season training to get ready: “SUP keeps me in shape and on the water when I can’t be on the ocean/at the beach.”

I remember being there with Danny and Mike O. a couple years back and we caught the early boat ride to a place called El Golfo. What’s great about WRSC is that they take you wherever the best waves are breaking up and down the coast, Ollie’s Point, Avellanas, Witch’s Rock itself, you name it. That day it was really big and breaking offshore and I remember our faces after we got back on the boat. The kind of feeling and adrenaline high that lasts a couple days.

-by Tyler Marshall

WPA Region 12 Champs- Nate Richard and Tyler Marshall

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Congrats to the 2014 WPA champs for Region 12:  DFW Surf’s Nate Richard first in 14 class and Tyler Marshall first in 12’6.  These guys completely dominated this years race lineup that mainly included races in Texas, but also sanctioned races within Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana.  Noteably, Nate took first place in the 6 mile downriver race, the SUP Cup, in Bastrop and seventh overall at the Big River Regional 13 miler in Louisiana.  When asked about the secret to this year’s success, Nate would like to thank his beard.  Have you seen this thing?  Meanwhile DFW Surf founder, Tyler Marshall, focused a lot his energy on introducing more individuals into the racing scene.  “The race scene is really starting to bloom, especially in the Texas area.  Stay tuned for more athletes getting on board and more sanctioned races.  For 2015 we are going to sanction our 6th annual Grape Paddle through the WPA and we are happy to have Casey Gotcher on board as the new regional director.”

These guys, along with Galveston’s Joe Cerdas, have been leading the way for region 12 SUP racing for years, yet outside of the Texas SUP racing scene there is a bigger playing field and athletes like Danny Ching and Chase Kosterlitz are nearly impossible to catch.  “There is a huge difference between athletes that succeed locally and international athletes who train every day of the week.  At this point it might be nearly impossible to catch up to some of these guys, but the great part is that there is hope for the average racer and different divisions in each race.  Not only is SUP racing inviting for anyone and everyone, there are so many races to choose from,” says Tyler.  Nate and Tyler went on to compete in the WPA Championships in St. Pete Beach, Florida last week against some of the bigger names in the industry and placed top 20 in both races; Tyler fourth in class in the 12’6 distance race.  “With more training, focus and diet, the goal for 2015 is to travel to more races internationally,” says Nate.  “The key is technique and dialing in your equipment and race preparation.  For 2015 we will be offering more clinics and private lessons for new SUP racers throughout region 12.”

2014 Collegiate Wake Surfing – Dallas Stop

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This past weekend we attended the 2014 Collegiate Wake Series event on Lake Lewisville put on by Empire Wake.  Wake surfing is a new discipline to the Collegiate Wake Series being towed by the best wake surf boat on the market: Centurion Boats.  With DFW Surf being the local experts on wake surfing,  Empire Wake contacted us to help run the event. We had a great time and had the chance to help the college competitors improve their wake surfing too.   Little did the competitors know Centurion Boats had treat on site as well with World Champion wake surfer Keenan Flegel showing up to ride too.  Check out the short video recap put together by our friends at Freedom Powersports!

Mr. October – Jeff Stearns

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eff Stearns is this year’s Mr. October.  We had to give out the award to one of the most avid wakesurfers in the metroplex aka “The Stearno.”  Jeff rocks a killer mustache and supports the heck out of DFW Surf, meanwhile his son is a SUP instructor on Lake Grapevine.  When Jeff is not off flying planes you can probably find him on the lake.  He blames Tyler at DFW Surf for getting him involved in the sport of wakesurfing and ever since that very first day Jeff has been hooked.  He bought a boat, got a custom board, then two other boards, then more fat sacs and now a new device that lengthens the wave on his 22 foot Malibu.

It was a glassy day on October 15, Jeff had been surfing all year long, but this day was different.  80 degree air, cool waters and not a cloud in the sky.  All of the boat ramps at Lake Grapevine were closed so Jeff pulled his boat over to DFW Surf Shop on Lake Lewisville.  Danny and Cody were at the shop, minutes later, they all hopped in the boat and took off.  The lake . . .  glassy.  The surf . . . epic.  This was, according to Jeff, “the best day of wake surfing in his life.”  After those great days on the water you might be buzzing for a couple hours, your smile is endless and you dream of doing the same thing again the next day.  “I’m coming out there again on Friday,” Jeff texted us the next day.  You can’t stop the passion, the aloha and the sweet mustache from growing.  Jeff, thanks for all your support over the years and glad we could lend a hand towards your new passion.

Konae is in Love with DFW Surf Club

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Konae is in love with stand up paddle boarding at DFW Surf. Ever since she first got on the water she has been hooked and you can find her paddling 4-5 times a week at our Lake Lewisville location. Konae recently took a trip out to California to meet up with QuickBlade founder “the mad scientist” Jim Terrell and team rider Anthony Vela. What a great story about her experience from flatwater to ocean for the first time.

DFW Surf Club:
The experience at DFW Surf is beyond words. The convenience of a lakeside surf shop, top of the line equipment, paddles and racing boards from brand names like Bark, Surftech, Riviera, Bounce and Fanatic for only $29/month. Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more info about our club and why so many like Konae and her family are getting hooked.

Lakeside convenience, great equipment and great people. Check out the video: