Larry Cain

Did my first paddle on the 2021 14 x 23 All Star on Saturday. Nobody to paddle with so just me, my icing up GPS, and 19,000 sq km of a windy Lake Ontario with a small east swell. To me this board is similar in feel to a 21.5 Sprint. A little twitchy at first but after a few hundred strokes it feels solid as a rock as you realize the big side walls give you incredible secondary stability. The dugout is really deep which I love. I’m standing right at water level as there’s ...always a little water coming in the drain holes when I’m going slow. When I go harder and get the board higher in the water it’s a dry ride. It accelerates more like a Sprint than any All Star I’ve ever ridden, including the 2020 which was fast, and once on plane is very easy to maintain there. It tracks really well, again better than previous All Stars, likely due to less rocker, but at the same time is quite responsive to foot steering. Today’s conditions were hardly extreme and normally would be Sprint conditions but with the sub zero temps I thought I’d give the All Star a go first. The team at Starboard has done it again. This is a tremendous board and one that will only become even more fun with familiarity. If you’ve got a chance to demo one jump at it. I’m gonna have a lot of fun with this. Bring on the bigger conditions! Thanks Starboard SUP Starboard SUP North America #2021starboardallstar #fastpaddleboard #standuppaddling #livethetikilife Paddle Monster See more

In the middle of a February deep freeze we’re still on the water in Oakville, Canada’s paddling capital and tropical paradise. If you’ve never paddled here you’ll have to come join us once the pandemic is over. #Oakville #OakvilleOntario #Canadastropicalparadise #standuppaddling. Starboard SUP Starboard SUP North America QuickBlade Paddles Supskin Paddle Monster. Thanks Kirsty MacMillan for the photo and company on the water.

Winter paddling is cold but has its charms. Today was particularly chilly under a really beautiful winter sky. I can’t get enough of being out there on days like this. Thanks Paddle Sport Performance for the cool photo, no filters, all natural.

This photo popped up in my memories on FB this morning. January 2011 in my first ever SUP race at the Cold Stroke Classic in Wrightsville Beach. I think I paddled all 6 miles on the right. Lots sure has changed since then (see second pic of a recent morning out on Lake Ontario) but one thing hasn’t - the absolute joy I feel every time I get on the water with a paddle in my hands. There’s been no better way to stay fit, learn new skills, explore my limits and meet awesom...e people than paddling and the last 10 years doing SUP have been amazing. Thanks to everyone who have shared the journey with me and helped me out along the way. I’m looking forward to every moment on the water in the next decade! #paddling #standuppaddling #itsbetteronthewater QuickBlade Paddles Starboard SUP Starboard SUP North America @barkboards Supskin Paddle Monster See more

With no gym because of COVID I’ve been mixing it up a bit with more specific strength. Here’s the recipe - wide board (24.5 All Star), a bungee, and some high intensity sprints with some willing partners (in this case the Merry sisters). Do I recommend this for everyone at this time of year? Nope, do as I say and not as I do and focus on your base for another 6 weeks or so. But since I’m old, have put in more than my share of distance over the years, and sometimes you just gotta do what makes you happy it seemed like the right call this morning. Feeling like a teenager out there. Thanks @emilycmerry for the photo. #58isgreat #sportforlife Starboard SUP Starboard SUP North America QuickBlade Paddles Supskin Paddle Monster

I never had the benefit of working with a nutritionist when I was an Olympic athlete. That type of support just wasn’t available to us back then. Do I think a sports nutritionist could help a high performance athlete be the best they can be? Absolutely. That’s why I’m excited to have Victoria Burgess of Tactical Athlete Nutrition and Performance working with us at Paddle Monster. Victoria is a Phd in Exercise Science and a certified sports nutritionist (she’s also a kic...k ass paddler and really good coach). If you want to be the best you can be you should leave no stone unturned in your preparation, something Paddle Monster is all about, and nutrition is a huge part of the performance puzzle. I learn something from everything Victoria posts for us and am fortunate to have her as a colleague. If you’re an athlete looking to maximize your performance you definitely should consider connecting with her. See more

Had a fun chat with Nick Robinson from SUPfm Podcast the other day, covering how I started paddling, the Olympics, transitioning to SUP, paddling through a Canadian winter and Paddle Monster. Check it out and consider subscribing to the SUPfm Podcast.

It’s been fun getting to know this champ and share his enthusiasm for paddling and for SUP. I have a feeling we’re going to hear a lot more from him in 2021!

Exciting day with the release of Starboard’s 2021 product line! I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on the all new, dugout 14 x 23 All Star and the redesigned 14 x 19.75 Sprint. I can’t say enough about Starboard and their ability to keep turning out boards that get better every year. It’s actually really remarkable. My new boards should be here soon so stay tuned for some unwrappjng pics and a full report on these two new boards. For those with questions just reach out and I’ll be happy to answer them, or if you’re in the west end of Toronto and want a demo let me know. Starboard SUP Starboard SUP North America #fastestpaddleboards #standuppaddleboarding #livethetikilife

I know this is a recycled photo from some time in the mid 90s (when people still paddled Deltas and before Santa discovered SUP) but I just couldn’t find the time to come up with a new one this year. Doesn’t mean I’m taking Christmas wishes for everyone lightly though. It’s been a crazy year and everyone deserves a peaceful and joyful Christmas after getting through it all. Here’s wishing everyone a safe and happy holidays and a healthy, successful and COVID free 2021. Starboard SUP QuickBlade Paddles Supskin Paddle Monster Planet Canoe #merrychristmas #happyholidays #christmasonthewater

I love this. Paddling is truly a global sport.

I talk a lot about loading and then unloading without any lag or delay by reloading your hips forward under your body and straightening your legs to their original bend. Here Andrey Kraytor does this pool paddling better than I have ever seen. It’s a perfect demonstration of what I talk about and the idea to do it facing into the pool and exiting before the wall is brilliant. You’ll note that although he’s exiting so early it doesn’t diminish his ability to load in th...e least which is really high level. No wonder he can sprint so fast! Thanks, Andrey, for the demo! https://www.instagram.com/p/CH7Io38nJlB/?igshid=jdhx1d5z1c7d