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I just got back from a great weekend in Tofino, for the first Paddle Canada Standup Paddleboard Surf course. We had really good weather and some pretty good swell to do the course in. Most of the group including myself showed up to the beach house on South Chestermans’s under a warm, fall sun. The

Paddle Canada SUP Surf CourseDate: November 4,5,6Location: Chesterman Beach, Tofino, British ColumbiaPrice: $525 (includes accommodation)Participants: 10 Max.… … Instructors: Norm Hann, Mike Darbyshire, Bodie Shandro Course Description:This course is designed to introduce novice paddlers to Stand Up Surfing moderate surf conditions (

Last Sunday i headed over to Bowen Island for the 34 KM Round Bowen Challenge. It’s a very short ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay to Snug Harbour on Bowen. Jen and i SUPed over to Snug Harbour for breakfast and coffee one morning and then took the ferry back, which was free. You only pay

This past weekend I went to the Kalamalka Classic hosted by Kevin and Michelle from Kalavida Surf Shop. It was an amazing weekend of SUP stoke. I arrived Friday night and ran a pre race skills clinic for some of the competitors on a flat calm beautiful evening on Kalamalka Lake. Saturday i raced in

Bella Bella Paddleboard Project Photo: Karen McAllister After starting in Kitimat on May 8th, 2010 I finished my Standup4Greatbear expedition 11 days later on May 18th in the Heiltsuk community of Bella Bella. It was an amazing place to finish as I was greeted by hundreds of community members and youth. I remembered being really

The past two Septembers I have taken Quest University to Hartley Bay and into the Greatbear Rainforest for their ecology class. Led by instructor Nobi Suzuki, the ecology class focused on the incredible wildlife at that time of the year, the wild salmon runs, Humpback Whales and of course the search for the rare Spirit

With the arrival of spring on our coast it was time to travel north to Prince Rupert to meet Quest University and take them into the Greatbear Rainforest for their Culture and Tradition Class. It’s an amazing time of the year to travel through BC as the leaves are coming out and things are coming

I recently had someone ask me what’s the most effective way to paddle in chop when the waves are hitting you from the side or from a quartering angle. Here was my response. I thought this may help other people when they find themselves in more challenging conditions. Paddling in the chop can be challenging

West Coast surf approach After a great time at the Icon Sports/Rogue SUP booth, and in the demo pool at the Vancouver Outdoor show I took home my 12’ Rogue Hotrod All Water SUP. Aside from having great looks, which all Rogue SUP boards have I was more interested in its acclaimed All Water performance.

This past week my friend and accomplished native artist Roy Vickers, presented me with a logo for Standup4Greatbear. I am not calling this a logo though, I am calling it a crest, since it has a story. I wanted to introduce the new Standup4Greatbear crest here to everyone and to tell you the story of

Not too long ago Amanda Sage contacted me to do an interview about my personal story for her website Kick Ass Canadians. A great friend, roommate and teammate of mine, Brad Rollo recommended my story to Amanda. I am honored to have been able to share my story on her site. Thanks Amanda and thanks

The stunning Greatbear Rainforest- Ian McAllister For those that missed the show this past Thursday online here is the podcast. A special thank you goes out to Leslie Kovolich, host of the show, for giving me the time to talk about Standup4Greatbear. Leslie and thousands of her listeners were affected by the BP spill and

Thanks to Leslie Kovolich of the Standup Paddle Radio show. I will talking about Standup4greatbear and no tankers tomorrow March 3rd at 9am pacific time. You can click here and listen online. http://www.my30aradio.org/

I flew in yesterday to Bella Bella for some meetings to determine the direction for the Virtual Rainforest Initiative project. It is cold and clear in Bella Bella right now with a nice coating of snow on the coastal mountains. I was pretty excited today to come in to Chris Williamson’s class to check out

It has been on my list for awhile now to get down to Costa Rica to spend the days surfing from sun up to sun down so i met Jen in San Jose on the 4th. Jen had just place 2nd in a 6 day staged running race so she was ready for some R

I just wanted to wish everyone Happy New Year. I hope you have set your goals for 2011 and that your year is already looking bright. 2010 was an awesome year for me personally, for Mountain Surf Adventures and for my new initiative Standup4GreatBear. I am really looking forward to 2011. Here are a few

Happy New Year!! Here is a 2010 update from Ian and Karen MacAllister of Pacific Wild. Click Here.

One day I went to the mail a found this beautiful postcard from WhiskeyJack Paddles, a company based in Montana but with inspiration from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, advertising their gorgeous wooden standup paddles. After perusing their great website I got in touch with owner Danny B who sent me a couple to try