When I first opened the store just over a year ago, I didn't want to carry products that I couldn't talk about as an "expert", and so Soposup was born as a dedicated Sup shop. A part of me also felt SUP deserved its own place. But as time has passed, I've realized that notion is more about me than about the sport. And lets face it, Portland needs a decent surf shop. We now have over 20 surfboards in stock, shaped by East Coast shapers who know and surf the same waves you do.

Come share some Coronitas and chips with this summer's Soposup crew on Sunday, April 1st, between 5 and 9 pm. Our first shipment from Boardworks should be in, and we will be restocked with Soposup t-shirts and embroidered hats. You can also get a look at some of the custom SUPs that are now being built on site, and talk with Raf about getting your own board made.

"It starts with standing up, on water.

Everything that follows is secondary and ultimately lesser. And everything that follows is also unbelievably fantastic so that will put into perspective just how essential the standing on water part is.

This is the Gremlin, Soposup's new High Performance Surf Sup. After riding a dozen different shapes at our local breaks, I have a pretty good idea of what I want in a surf-SUP.

Come and paddle Portland harbor dressed in your best Santa Costume. We will meet at S. Portland's Bug Light boat launch around 10:15am, and get on our way by 10:30. You will need a good wetsuit, a PFD (vest type is great to wear beneath your Santa costume to give you that extra Ho-ho-ho) and a convincing Santa outfit. We will paddle towards the Casco Bay Bridge, and then back to the boat launch. Its important we don't disrupt any boat traffic, so I ask that we stay on the South side of the harbor. If the weather is bad (ie; below 30, windy, snowing/raining) consider the cruise cancelled.

I finally got the basement workshop finished, pulled a blank off the rack and got cutting. What a mess styrofoam makes. This 1st board will be for Dylan, my 8 year old. I can't wait to take him on the water next spring and then hopefully get him surfing quickly! In a couple of years, he'll be teaching me a thing or two.

8'9" x 28" Custom Kid's SUP

This summer I had a chance to hop on a Surftech Pearson Arrow and I knew I had to have one of these amazing boards for myself. Unfortunately the Surftech models cost upwards of $1800. I thought, why not go straight to the man himself? So I called the shop in Santa Cruz and told them what I wanted. A couple days later, Bob Pearson himself called me back and we had a great conversation about SUPs and I told him what I was riding, and what I liked, and we agreed on building 4 boards; one for me and 3 more for the store.

Pearson Arrow Lairds

We will be selling our demo/lesson boards and discounting all new SUPs. 3 and 2 mil wetsuits will be reduced by 40%...get refitted for next spring now! Prices will not be set on used equipment until store opening on the 20th, but come in before then and you can still get your new board at the Sale discount!

Starting this winter, we will begin to stock surfboards as well as SUPs. This was an option when I first decided to open the store, but for a few reasons I decided against it at the time. For one thing, I felt (and still feel) that SUP offers a more satisfying experience in waves than traditional surfing. Obviously thats just my personal opinion, and I recognize it certainly is not a majority point of view (yet). That ties into the second reason, which is that I have no particular expertise on surfboards.