Bird Island (my first SUP adventure)

In an effort to get a more balanced (upper) body, I purchased a used stand up paddleboard in August (SUP, also called stand up paddle surfing). After a half a dozen training trips at some local reservoirs and lakes, I decided to paddle out to a small landmark in Utah Lake, called Bird Island on September the 30th (2011). I had not been there before. The forecast was for a pleasant 87F. It is 2.2 miles from the Lincoln Beach Boat Ramp (no fee like the State Park near Provo). I had printed the coordinates as found on a local website, but that sheet of paper failed to make it with into my car. I did have my GPS however. I made a GPS waypoint at my car and then I proceeded out into the lake hoping I could see the island. After 10 minutes of paddling and not being able to see any evidence of the island, I paddled over to a nearby fisherman and asked which direction the island was. He pointed in a NE direction towards Provo and said “be careful.” Using the distant mountains as a guide I proceeded in that direction, but still no site of the island. Eventually I decided I better just stop and I use the browser on my cell phone to find the coordinates. As it turns out, the “island” was in the direction of Lehi, almost due north, and not northeast as I was traveling. It indicated that the island as 1.1 miles away. I was half way there.

I used the low point near Lehi (or Point of the Mountain) as my guide and continued on, arriving at this tiny landmark, surrounded by 3 or 4 fishing boats. I was a bit surprised to find there was no dry land on this so-called “island.” After taking a few photos, I quietly paddled over to one of the boats. One of the fisherman, clothed in a classic wife-beater shirt and smoking a cigarette, remarked “you came clear out here on that?” I asked him if this island was always submerged. Apparently it is typically not always under water, but because of the banner snowfall the previous winter, it was submerged this season.  Afterward I reversed my visual coordinates and paddled back to the prominent tree, visible near the boat ramp, some 2 miles away.

Stats
GPS Coordinates (UTM, 12T zone):
Lincoln Beach Boat Ramp – 0431557 E, 4443892 N
Bird ”Island” — 0431781 E, 4447528 N

Gear Tested
• 10′ 6″ “much too short” Wave Storm board with a custom Velcro PFD tie down strap system which I made that morning (I’m in the hunt for a deal on a 12’6″ board — if you have one, let me know).
• On my training trips I wore a running waist pack with a water bottle, but found it very awkward to drink while standing and paddling at the same time. I cobbled together a hydration pack system using components from my photo belt system which I sell (Kinesis Photo Gear, my day job), and a new compact 50 oz. Camelbak bladder, which I pulled from my DistanceBiker online store inventory. I tucked the hose underneath my left armpit and connected it to the harness of my pack. This enabling me to drink and paddle at the same time, w/o having to pause and fumble with a waist pack. This week’s project: make a prototype SUP minimalist hydration pack.
• I also noticed that the smooth shaft of my carbon fiber Surftech San-O paddle became rather slippery due to my sweat (on the lower hand position). Upon arriving home, I added several wraps of photographers gaffer tape around the center of the shaft to provide more grip. This paddle, while advertised as a 91-inch paddle, came uncut at 88-1/4″ (34.75cm). I cut it down to 86″, which is 10 inches more than my height. The weight of this wispy paddle was 552 grams, after cutting it down and before adding tape to it. The shape of the shaft is round and it has a traditional-looking with a 8-inch wide blade. Overall it is an OK paddle, but I believe that Werner makes a better mousetrap (but their advertised one piece paddles are too short for me, so I went with Surftech instead).

Author: Rando Richard

I’m an old guy (age 69 in 2023) who enjoys aerobic, endurance sports. I call myself a cardio-junkie. Perhaps the more appropriate term would be “ultra” endurance sports. Since I was a teenager I have always enjoyed “slow twitch” outdoor sports like backpacking, ice climbing, running, mountaineering, hiking, alpine skiing and randonnée skiing (alpine touring, backcountry skiing or skimo). In 2005 I starting running with more regularity — except this time it was not for the intent of getting ready for a mountaineering trip, but as an end to itself. From 2005 to 2007 I managed to eek out two seasons of ultramarathons — that is competitive trail runs up to 50 or 100 miles. Due to a nagging ankle injury from the 80s (an accident while ice climbing in the 1980s where my lower tib and fib were badly broken), I had to cease that grueling, but rewarding activity. I then migrated into ultra distance road cycling or randonneuring. The rides are called brevets (pronounced bruh-VAY, it’s French) and are minimally supported — they are similar to ultrarunning and backpacking where one must be self reliant. Although brevets are non-competitive, they do have have cut off times to qualify as a finisher. They are usually are done in groups, which can have a competitive slant to them. Today, I continue to participate in long distance cycling including some ultra-racing, randonnée skiing (a blend of cross country and downhill disciplines) and still get out on an occasional mountaineering trip. Since 1996 I have been designing, manufacturing and selling camera bags. That is Kinesis Photo Gear (kgear.com). In 2005 I started selling cycling bags under the Kinesis label and eventually expanded it to including other sports like SUP (stand-up paddle boarding and some skimo). Consequently, it become eoGEAR — the “eo” stands for endurance outdoor. My wife and I are empty-nesters now and we live and work out in the boondocks of central Utah, half way between Salt Lake City (great powder) and Moab (great red rocks). Well, I guess that is all for now. Safe travels mate! Perhaps I’ll see you on the road or trail. — Richard Stum View all posts by Rando Richard