It wasn't long after Mike Darbyshire started teaching kayaking in Deep Cove that he took up the sport of stand up paddleboarding.
Also a passionate surfer, he quickly realized the opportunity the activity afforded in terms of offering him a chance to enjoy a taste of surfing at home in Deep Cove, obviously lacking in wave action, and viewed it as a means of combining his two passions.
"As I started doing it, I started to really like all the different aspects of it: the fact that you can race, you can go surfing in Tofino, you can go down the Capilano River or the Seymour River, you can do yoga, you can do distance paddling, you can do overnight trips. That's what's been cool about it for me. No matter what kind of person you are, what kind of goal you have, through the paddleboard you can get out there and do it," the 28-year-old North Vancouver resident says.
Today Darbyshire is a Starboardsponsored stand up paddleboarder and serves as operations manager for Deep Cove Kayak. He's also the brainchild behind Board the Fjord, a Stand Up Paddleboard Race presented by Deep Cove Kayak in its fifth year, open to both elite and recreational racers. Last year's event saw more than 100 people participate and according to organizers, it's the biggest stand up paddleboarding event in Greater Vancouver. This year's edition is set for Sunday, Sept. 20 in Deep Cove.
The event was founded in response to the growing popularity of stand up paddleboard racing. Deep Cove Kayak has a long history of involvement in kayak racing, for instance for the last 17 years has been presenting weekly Tuesday night races in Deep Cove, says Darbyshire. When paddleboarding started to come along they had a few people who were getting into racing and wanted to offer something similar for the burgeoning community. "We started seeing that there was room for an event in Deep Cove and we just wanted to make it happen," he says.
Darbyshire was further compelled to launch Board the Fjord out of an interest in exposing the paddleboard community to the natural wonders of the local area. The event's 14-kilometre course will take paddlers around seven different islands in Indian Arm, North America's southernmost fjord. "I think it's very unique in that way. I don't know any other race that is quite as scenic and that has the beauty in the race course the way ours does," he says.
In addition to the 14-km course (the course record of which is around 90 minutes), those looking for something more recreational in nature can choose from shorter course options - seven and four km in length. A four-person coed sprint relay (surfboard class only with boards provided), will also be offered, along with a one-km kids race. "By having the elite guys in there you obviously have that high level of competition that requires you to have a well-organized race and put a lot of thought and time into how the race runs. But then hopefully those elite athletes also inspire the weekend warriors or the recreational racers just to come out and do their own thing," says Darbyshire.
For info on other Deep Cove Kayak stand up paddleboarding programs, visit deepcovekayak.com.
Board the Fjord: Stand Up Paddleboard Race, Sunday, Sept. 20. Check in: 8 a.m. at Deep Cove Kayak, North Vancouver. Registration: $50/$60/$70. Kids and relay races are free. Board rental: $25. boardthefjord.com
