I have been back in Squamish after an incredible week back in my hometown of Sudbury, Ontario. Aside from relaxing on the deck and fishing for bass and walleye, i also had the chance to introduce friends and family back there to the sport of standup paddleboarding. Sudbury and Northern Ontario will be one of the hotspots in Canada for SUP with the incredible number of lakes and rivers to explore. I had big Jimmy Hann(dad) out on the 12 1″ Surftech Laird. He handled it with grace and ease until a rogue 6 inch boat wake threw him to the deadly flat waters of Ramsey Lake. Coniston rock solid friend, Derek Nixon picked up a board and quickly became addicted to the pure paddling pleasure and fitness of the SUP. He’s now exploring the lakes and waterways around Barrie, Ontario. Standup4GreatBear supporter and friend Paula Rivard also picked up two SUP’s and quickly “donated” them to her children Melissa and Michael. Lots of people jumped on board including my sister Stacey(fitness fanatic) and brother Brad, Pinnacle Sports owners Mia and Adrian, the Kolari family of Wahnapitae Lake, and Uncle John. Some of the first SUPers in Sudbury were Petey B, wife Renee and Aleah who have been patrolling the big waters of their home lake, Wahnapitae. They have been enjoying their Laird Surftech boards. Petey and I have partnered to bring SUP to Sudbury and Northern Ontario. We are really looking forward to the summer of 2011to bring the stoke to local lakes and rivers. Keep your eyes open for LakeSurf Paddleboards.

Petey had a blast towing me into the boat wakes behind his fishing machine. Hot summer days and flat calm warm waters are perfect for practicing inland surfing. The beauty of SUP is that it is such a multidimensional sport and everyone can enjoy it. Bottom line is that it is SO MUCH FUN.

Also while i was back i had the opportunity to present a slide show on Standup4GreatBear up at Laurentian University, a place i spent countless hours playing basketball for the Voyageurs. It was great sharing my experience with those people from my hometown who supported my expedition. Thanks to Melissa Rivard who presented me with my own standup4greatbear shirt that she created for me especially for the presentation.

After an amazing week on Ramsey Lake at mom and dad’s SUPing, fishing and canoeing Killarney Provincial Park, it was hard to leave Sudbury and all of my friends and family but i will be back next summer to offer SUP clinics, demos and fitness classes.