I saw this kind of late.
I'll try be there and hopefully meet you.
Hi,
Sorry we missed you. There will always be a next time though.
So, I got a blow up paddle board for my b-day! Unfortunately I still need a paddle and a wetsuit, but let the spring time boarding BEGIN!
I took my board out for the first time today. The water is still pretty cold, but my wetsuit saved me from that. I'm looking forward to more time in the water as the weather warms up. Keep me posted if any of you wanna join in. I also heard that the board shop 2 Legends in Kilchberg does a group paddle every Thursday. Might be worth checking out....
I've got my SUP board in the loft here. I learnt on the ocean in South Africa where we lived until moving here at the end of last year. I'm shipping it to my in-laws place in Portugal late-May (great surfing so leaving it there) but I wanted to do at least one paddle on the Rhein before then. Thinking Stein-am-Rhein to Schaffhausen minimum, maybe even start in Konstanz. Would be good to have company.
BTW anyone aware of any permits or rules required for this? Or just crack on? Presumably shooting the Rheinfalls is not allowed, Swiss being killjoys and all that!
Cheers John
John, I am happy to paddle from Konstanz to Shaffy almost any Sat or Sunday. I have done it several times before and am always happy to have company I have a feathercraft k1lite ( Probably not worth the effort of the train trip up from Basel and assembling the boat if just doing the Stein-am-Rhein section.)
The Rhine Falls have actually been kayaked several times, although I understand that it is not allowed.
But, if you want to set yourself a challenge, how about paddling down to Basel on your board - doing it in stages. All the dams are very easy to portage. I am also happy to do this again ( last time I camped along the way, to Mainz) just in daily stages.
These plans are sounding very adventurous to me! I paddle the Rhein once. It was hard for me to go against that current! I'm tough, but not always strong. Plus I have a blow up board and don't wanna put it too much to the test, so the falls are off my list. Ha ha. If you guys plan something, keep me posted!
Ashlee O2, technique is far more important than strength. Paddling against a direct current is always going to be difficult, but learning to read the water and paddle "with" it, ie: knowing paddle strokes and techniques of railing a boat or a board makes it all a lot easier to skim across waves and currents in the rivers and lakes. There are several caoue/kayak clubs in the Zurich area, as well as around Lake Konstanz and down the Rhine sections to Basel. The learning curve is quick.
cool!
I surf and I always get sick of waiting so long till I can travel to a place with waves.
Now I tried SUP and I think it would help my poor heart ))
I live just at the lake of Zurich so I think I ́ll just buy myself a board. I ́m short so I tried shorter boards that I could even take to Portugal for surfing on real waves ...
I ́d love to find some company to do this sport as I ́ll always be lonely out there ...
Is it true that I need a life west????
Wetsuit I have already )) Aaaaawww its gonna be awesome! )) Already know which board I want and where to buy it but if anyone knows a good place to buy SUPboards pls let me know ;D
cheers
I bought my paddle from a place called 2 Legends in Kilchberg. They have a good selection of stuff and I guess they have a group that goes paddling every Thursday night. I haven't been yet though.
I bought an inflatable board from a place in the UK. Well it was a gift, but I could get the info for you if you're interested. It feels a bit different, but works great!
You only have to have a life vest WITH YOU (not on) if you are more than 300 meters from shore. Seems kindda silly to me, with you but not on, but whatever.
One of the nicest things about SUP is that it's quite social - you can stand and chat past the break, and less attitude than a surf lineup - so recommend getting a group together.
I'm going for Konstanz to at least Waldshut starting tomorrow - I have only 3 days so Basel unlikely. Then unfortunately board goes to Portugal, so no more SUP here, but should really do it on the ocean if possible anyway.
BTW someone else was mentioning Portugal - taking a board, even a large SUP on the plane with TAP is pretty cheap.
Also, regarding life vests, I suggest considering a kite-surfing impact vest. It's not a life vest (you may drown if unconscious) but it gives protection in the surf zone (these big boards can really hurt you), warmth, and additional buoyancy if you find you have a long swim on your hands. And you'll look cooler than a Concordia-sinking victim.
I def. wanna buy one as I live so close to the lake it will be perfect!
I live in "Kreis 8" close to there where the big grass field is. between that grass field and the chines garden AND stadelhofen
does anyone go paddle boarding in that area???
thank you ashlee for the link
You're welcome, easygoing.
i don't know if people paddle around Keis 8, but it would be a nice place to go.
Would anyone be interested in taking one of these classes? http://www.paddlefit.ch/site/index.php/classes/
If so, I was thinking that we could try organize something and make an event out of it.
Hey Ashlee, good to hear you got your own board! Believe it or not, I just took mine out for the first time since we last went a year ago. Yep, took the dog for a hike and then a paddle in Innerthal.
Strange circumstances in my life to complex to explain, but I'm looking to sell the board maybe next month or end of this month, if anyone is interested. 11.5 ft. Surftec Laird Hamilton model from REI, with carbon fiber paddle.
Hey Duke! Awesome that you got a chance to take the board out for one last ride. Bummer that we didn't get to go again. If I know anyone looking for a board, I will send them your way. Otherwise the Swiss eBay Ricardo might be a good way to sell that and some other stuff, depending how "strange circumstance" your life has become.