The core workout can't be beat. I burnt off 40 lbs while adding muscle. I haven't felt this good in 20 years.

Standup
Resources
Favorite places to learn about standup

Ke Nalu
Brother PonoBill's Standup Webmag...Home to the Maui 2008 Board and Paddle Showcase. The best single source for gear info on the planet!
How-To's, Tips, Places, Articles (my favorite..the visit to Malama's shop where he builds his beautiful paddles)

StandupZone.
The webs premier standup forum. (You'll see I spend way too much time there) A great group of friendly folks willing to share their knowledge and stoke.

StandupPaddleSurf.net
Evan continues to put up great coverage of the happenings in the Standup world. One on One interviews with the folks that are shaping this sport.

Maui Surf Report
While not strictly a SUP site you have to love Giampalo's style. Windsurfing, surfing, standup, loving life. GC's quality of life index is at a whopping 95% and it was his 1000 Peaks SUP vid that 1st got my heart pounding. Still my favorite today.

Standup Paddle Surfing Magazine
100% Pure Stoke

Standup Paddle Surf UK
The blokes across the pond are rippin. Lots of great stoke for Standup in the UK and it shows by the quality of the content

Standup
 

In the early 60's the beach boys of Waikiki would stand on their giant all wood boards and paddle around using outrigger paddles taking pictures of tourists learning to surf. More recently some of the worlds greatest watermen started doing standup as another way to get on the water for a great alternative workout and to push the bounds of what was possible.Now Standup or SUP is the fastest growing watersport in the world.

Respect
Standup allows you to catch smaller waves, bigger waves, earlier waves. That doesn't mean you should catch all the waves. Catch a couple and sit some out, call out sets. Don't be a kook. http://www.paddlesurfhawaii.com/site/page11.aspx  If a lineup gets crowded paddle to an uncrowded break. You don't need to stay with the crowd.

What it Means to Me.
I had to think about whether I wanted to tell this story or not. One it's personal and two, this paddle isn't about me. But I do want to use this opportunity to not only raise some money for a good cause but also maybe encourage a few folks to join me on the water. Especially if they are dealing with issues similar to my own. 

How can you adequately describe your feelings for a sport that has changed your life? I know that sounds a bit ridiculous so I guess a little background is in order.

When I first thought of the challenge last fall I didn't think it was something I would be participating in....just organizing was my original thought. You see, five years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a vestibular schwannoma, growing on the vestibular nerve. Since then I've undergone radio-surgery to kill the tumor. The ongoing side effects of the tumor and radio-surgery caused severe headches, vertigo, and dizziness, also deafness and tinnitus on my left side. I was fortunate that my employer allowed me to work from home when necessary because I often was unable to drive. The most disabling issue was loss of balance and vertigo, being unable to trust my body to do things, especially driving..

Then brother Bill gave me his 12-6 Starboard Cruiser when he thought it might be good therapy. It has proved to be one of the greatest gifts I've ever received.. Nine short months ago I was approaching 50, an overweight, out of shape balance challenged guy on a downward spiral. On my 50th birthday, January 24th, I was surfing at Nauset Beach. 

A near perfect birthday present to myself.

 I had already seen a change by then. I had retrained my system to balance visually. By pushing my need for balance to the extreme on a standup board it makes the normal possible. I've been driving my car.....freedom. I went from barely being able to stand on a board to going out in 10' waves in a nor'easter in mid May. Wild wind, heavy chop, and 8-10' waves and I'm not only standup paddling out into it but catching a few waves as well. Talk about feeling alive.

Here I am 9 months later, 40 lbs lighter, despite adding a lot of muscle, able to live a more normal life all because of a sport that is incredibly fun to do. I hope to see many of you that read this out there soon, especially those that might be facing issues like mine. I'm not saying that this negates the need for medical care. I've just been painfully reminded of that. Unfortunately after 4 years of no growth I've just found out my little friend may be growing again. You can't argue the obvious benefits however. The not so obvious may be just as important. I don't think I've ever felt so at peace as while I'm out paddling. I return from every session refreshed in spirit.

One thing that standup definitely gives me is a much better outlook on rehab if I need  treatment again this time. My 1st question is going to be how long before I can get back on the water?

What is so unique about Standup is that it can be done almost anywhere in almost any conditions. Calm lakes, raging rapids, the worlds largest waves. Half the fun of surfing is now fighting the whitewater on the way out

How
To
The Basics

Ke Nalu
How to book....in the making

StandupZone.
The zone again. Technique page. Post a question have 5 experts answer. Of course I might answer too but you can ignore that one.

Paddle Surf Hawaii tips.

My Youtube How to Playlist 

Hardcopy
Standup Surf and Sail Journal
A gourgeous photography focused magazine you'll look at again and again. Coffee table quality. Pure Standup and Sail porn.